db wrote on Mar 7^th, 2007 at 9:09pm:

- The stern paddler gets out of the canoe first whenever possible.

DB, I have a question regarding the stern paddler out first rule??
WHEN, I paddled with a partner, I usually had the stern position, since I was heavier and had more experience.
When we came into a put-in, before we bottomed out, I would have my bowman step out, while I braced canoe with paddle and then he straddled bow, steadying the canoe for me to step out??
WAS, that all wrong or just different strokes for different folks??