Old Town Canoe Co. 15 用户手册

REPAIR

Your canoe or kayak is built to last. 

With proper care and maintenance, as 
described on the previous pages, your 
boat should give you and your family 
years of enjoyment.

Though our canoes and kayaks 

are built to withstand years of use and 
abuse, mishaps can occur and your 
boat may at some point become dam-
aged and need repair. In the event of a 
problem, we recommend you contact 
your local dealer for the appropriate 
repair kit or parts. These same dealers 
can repair the boat for you or give you 
assistance in getting started in the right 
direction. 

Remember that no kayak is com-

pletely watertight. It is normal to take 
on a cup or two of water through rivets 
or hatches. However, if your kayak is 
taking on signifi cant amounts of water, 
you may have a pin hole leak. Either 
locate the leak yourself (by fi lling the 
boat with water and observing leaks), 
or take it to your dealer for servicing. 
Contact us any time for assistance, and 
we’ll see to it you’re back on the water 
in no time!

 INSTRUCTION

Before you set out, it is important to 

get good instruction. Check with your 
dealer or local club to fi nd out about 
classes offered locally. You should look 
for a course that covers basic strokes, 
braces and rescue techniques. With any 
outdoor activity, it is also good to be 
familiar with fi rst aid, especially CPR 
and treatment of hypothermia.

The Paddle: Place your hands on the 

paddle shaft a little further apart than 
shoulder width. As a guide, hold your 
arms out to the sides then bend them to 
90 degrees at the elbow. This is about 
how far your hands should be from 
each other as you grasp the paddle. 
Remember you only want to hold the 
paddle, not choke it. Over grip can tire 
your arms.

You may notice some paddlers us-

ing off-set or feathered blades rather 
than blades that are on the same plane. 
Feathered blades are sometimes used to 
lessen wind resistance, but are largely 
a matter of personal preference. For 
beginners a straight blade arrangement 
is easiest.

The Paddler: Sit all the way back 

in the cockpit of your kayak. Careful 
adjustment will make your backrest a 
comfortable aid in maintaining proper 
body position. 

Also adjust your foot braces before 

you leave the shore. To properly adjust 
foot braces on a sit-on-top kayak, 
straighten your legs all the way then 
bring them in one foot well. On a sit-
inside kayak, foot brace adjustment 
should provide a snug fi t for your knees 
and thighs. The fi t will depend on the 
paddler and the kayak bracing system. 
Remember if your legs are too straight, 
you may strain your lower back. 

Some boats are equipped with thigh 

braces. For boats with easily adjusted 

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