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.
[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).