Draw stroke

Draw strokes bring out the differences between advanced paddlers and intermediate paddlers. Advanced paddlers use them all the time. Static draws side slip the advanced paddler into position. Dynamic draws move boats sideways and for really good paddlers in frisky boats, aggressive dynamic bow draws called Duffeks turn boats "on a dime".

As the name implies, a draw is a stroke where the paddle is placed into the water and the boat is pulled -- or drawn -- to the paddle. In a static draw stroke, the paddle is fixed relative to the boat. In a dynamic draw, the paddle is in motion relative to the boat during the draw stroke.

In a good draw stroke, you want the forces to be used to move the boat relative to the paddle. This requires a paddle to be as near to vertical as possible. This means very aggressive body positions where both hands reach way out over the side of the boat. You can only do this fully if you aren't afraid of a capsize, so to really master the full range of draw strokes, you need to have a bombproof roll.

The effect of a draw depends on where it is placed. When the draw moved to the stern, the stroke is called a stern draw. Similarly, when the stroke is placed near the bow, you have a bow draw.

The most common dynamic draw is directed at the center of gravity to move the boat side ways. The paddler twists his/her body to face the direction of desired travel. You want to come around as close to 90 degrees as your flexibility will allow. If you want to move the sideways to the left, reach up with your right hand over the left side of the boat. With your lower, left arm reach way out with the paddle with the power face turned towards the boat. Now firmly pull the paddle in to your boat keeping the upper arm fixed to provide a high pivot (i.e. to maximize the moment arm on the stroke). When you get to within around six inches to the boat, turn the paddle blade 90 degrees so it can slice out to the starting position for the next stroke. Then rotate back so the power face is facing the boat, and repeat the stroke.

Done right, this stroke can rapidly move a boat sideways through the water.

There is so much more I could say about draw strokes. They are fun and really stress your basic skills in paddling. Working hard on them will pay off tremendously in your basic boat handling skills.

Let me close with a comment about white water kayaking. In white water kayaking, the boat handling is radically different than with sea kayaks. Basically, you start a turn with a short sweep, and then control any turn with draw strokes to the inside of the turn. A whitewater kayaker needs to master them right away.