Paddling to the sound of silence – quiet-water paddling

Words: Marc Ornstein

Photos: Marc Ornstein

Paddling to the sound of silence – quiet-water paddling

One of the hallmarks of FreeStyle is the ability to paddle quietly, virtually silently. Paddling in silence is invaluable if you are a nature photographer or simply an observer of the natural world. Paddling silently allows one to get closer to wildlife. It allows one to hear the natural sounds, which may help you find that wildlife but also help you to experience the natural world, the way it was before you arrived and the way it will be after you leave.

Silent paddling requires specific paddling skills. One must be able to propel the canoe forward and in reverse using in-water recoveries. Likewise, directional control must be accomplished without removing the paddle from the water. Each time the paddle is removed from the water, it drips, and even if your paddling skills are nearly perfect, there will be a bit of a splash when it re-enters. I’ve experienced first-hand how these small sounds have spooked birds, turtles, otters and other wildlife that I was stalking. One also needs to paddle without touching the paddle shaft against the side of the hull or the gunwales. We teach these skills at most of our symposia. Here is a link to an article that I have written about this topic (https://freestylecanoeing.com/in-water-recoveries/)
proper equipment

Paddling silently is easier with proper equipment. If stalking wildlife along the shore of a lake or pond, a canoe that manoeuvres readily will be easier/quieter to control than one designed to track straight and which requires stronger methods to coax around turns. Aluminium canoes should be avoided, as they are nearly impossible to keep silent. Beyond that, any composite, Royalex (or other plastic) or wood/canvas canoe should be fine.

Placing foam pipe insulation over the gunwale on your paddle side adds assurance against a clunk from the paddle shaft. Another piece of insulation on the forward thwart will allow one to lay their paddle down silently across the gunwale and thwart when taking a photo. If pipe insulation is too bulky or you’d like something more securely attached, self-adhesive foam weather stripping works well but is essentially ‘single-use’.

paddles

A refined paddle is a significant advantage. Many plastic and even some wood paddles have a pronounced spine that continues way down the blade from the throat (where the shaft and blade meet). Some extend almost to the tip of the blade. Such a spine makes it impossible to make silent, in-water recoveries. The spine creates turbulence and gurgling sounds during the recovery and often during the power phase of the stroke. A more refined blade has a minimal spine or none at all. In the right hands, it can be silent during all phases of the stroke.

Soft padding or a layer of carpet on the bottom of the canoe will dampen sounds and help you kneel more comfortably. If you’re taking pictures, that same padding will provide a silent place to put your equipment. Wear socks or soft booties that slide easily and are quiet when moving across that padding – same thing with trousers. Direct skin on boat or padding often squeaks or doesn’t move smoothly. If it’s cool outside, wear soft clothing. Some outerwear, especially rain gear, can be noisy as you move about. For more discussion about this, see https://freestylecanoeing.com/kneeling-part-1/.

cameras

I won’t get into the pros and cons of various cameras and lenses. That is far beyond the scope of this article, but I’ll share some ‘universal’ tips. Except for DSLRs, most modern cameras have electronic shutters and do not inherently make any sound when you press the shutter button. The click that you hear is electronically generated and is not necessary for its operation. Somewhere in the settings menu, you can generally shut the sound off. DSLRs make some noise as a mechanical mirror must flip up and then back down whenever a photo is taken.

Many have a ‘silent’ mode which dampens the sound considerably. If the camera emits any other sounds, such as on start-up or shut down, silence them as well. Lastly, keep the camera out and sitting on your kneeling pad or on a soft towel. Taking the camera out or putting it back into any dry box or bag will undoubtedly alert the local wildlife. It’s been my experience that if the camera is locked away, the photo opportunity will be gone before it can be retrieved and gotten ready.

Lastly, pick your paddling buddies. Paddling solo is best. But if it must be a group, the smaller, the better. Chatty paddlers are not welcome. All of your efforts at silence will be thwarted (pun intended). If you must communicate with a group member, use subtle sign language. Sudden movements such as waving arms are a surefire way to scare off wildlife.