[header] How to paddle a canoe alone using the j stroke [title] Unload your canoe into the water (guides on this can be found elsewhere). [title] Seat yourself in the canoe. [step] When paddling a two person canoe alone you should sit in the bow seat (the one closer to the middle of the canoe) facing backwards (toward the stern). 
This position prevents the other end of the canoe from rising too far out of the water due to your weight. Steering a canoe with one end out of the water is extremely difficult, especially in windy conditions.