A setting pole is a pole, handled by a single individual, made to move watercraft by pushing the craft in the desired direction. Because it is a pushing tool, it is generally used from the stern (back) of the craft.
A setting pole is usually made of ash , or a similar resilient wood, and is capped on the ends with metal to withstand the repeated pushing against the bottom and rocks. It can range in length from eight feet (2.5 meters), to over fifteen feet (4.5 meters)
A setting pole is best known as the means to propel gondolas in Venice. It is also used in river canoeing for navigating portions of river where the water is to shallow for a paddle to create thrust, or where the desired direction of travel is opposite a current moving faster than paddlers can paddle.
