While there may not be one specific moment that stands out to a person when they are learning how to drive a boat, many people do remember the person who taught them or had the most influence in their learning about boating. And more often then not, this person is:

• My ex father in law. He was a seasoned fisherman and boater.
• My Father a great sailor loved being on the water cruising the different lakes in the Muskoka’s.
• Dad
• My family – they owned three water taxis, grew up around boats

I learned from my Dad from a very young age. Starting from being laid on the floor of his canoe between 2 thwarts from when I was 2 months old as Mom and Dad paddled many lakes including the one I enjoy to this day near Parry Sound. Next was learning how to get in, and out of the canoe. If you’ve been in a canoe you know ‘low and slow’ and ‘in the middle’. Paddling was next. Paddling from the middle is a bit more challenging due to being in the widest part of the canoe. The reach to paddle and watching that you don’t pinch your fingers on the gunnel. Then progressing to sitting ‘up’ in the stern. Learning the ‘J’ stroke was fun and how to use your paddle as a rudder. I still have that canoe that is now over 100 years old. I’m not ‘quite’ that old… Lol! Still enjoying canoeing!

Anna Small

Living in a cottage on the River Thames in the UK in the 50s! We had a rowboat, but there are a variety of boats from dinghies to large river trip boats!

Valerie