Why are paddlers 3 and 4 often the heaviest and strongest paddlers?
9.0 Six Person Canoes In order to create a stable canoe, it is preferable to have your heaviest paddlers in the middle of the canoe between the two spars (iako). In this way their weight stabilizes the canoe by ensuring that it sits reasonably deep in this mid section and therefore that the float (ama) on the outer spar (iako) maintains contact with the water. Ideally three and four need to be concerned with little else, other than following the front two paddlers and applying maximum leverage. Beyond this, the canoe is widest at its mid point and therefore physically large paddlers can fit in these seats but often have trouble fitting into seats 1 or 2! 9.9 Why does number 4 take responsibility for bailing? When water enters the canoe it will tend to pool first of all in the mid section of the canoe. Number 4 can recognize this and react by bailing. They can also sit up on the spar (iako) to do so, so that the canoe remains stable whilst they do this.
