Explaining the differences between canoes and kayaks is a common conversation we get here on the Boardwalk. In this blog we will take a paddle to find out the answer.
What is a Canoe?
A canoe is a wide, open craft typically used for recreational paddling with the family, touring and camping. They also go by the names ‘Canadian Canoe’ and ‘Open Canoe’ for ones which are used for touring and camping.
In comparison to a kayak, they are larger and heavier but with the right skills they are really quite manoeuvrable and stable.
The paddler will face forwards (it’s not a rowing boat), sitting on a seat or kneeling inside the canoe resting on a thwart.
They use a paddle which has a single blade and a T-shaped grip. Canoe paddles come in various lengths and blade designs. They are great for energy conservation, good news if you’re going the distance. You can also get some very beautiful looking wooden paddles which are great for those who have more refined canoe skills.
There are lots of paddle strokes you can use in a canoe, including the ability to paddle on one side and keep in a straight line and not zig-zag.
The design of a canoe with its large open cockpit means it can carry lots of kit and multiple people without being too cramped. The space gives you a lot more freedom to move around inside the craft. This makes them great for camping and long-distance trips. The space in a canoe can also accommodate a 4-legged companion, meaning you can take your beloved dog on your adventures with you.
The design of the canoe makes it ideal for those who aren’t as mobile, as it’s easier to get in and out of than a kayak.
At first, some may find a canoe is quite unstable. However, you can get the rim of the canoe (called the gunwale, pronounced ‘gunnel’) right down to just above the water and not tip over. This is considering the canoe is balanced properly and you are the right position.
What are the different types of Canoes?
There are a few variations in canoe designs, namely whitewater canoes and ones designed for races and sprints.
Slalom Canoe – a slalom canoe is designed to be maneuverable, to allow the paddler to put the canoe in the right position to be able to navigate the course efficiently.
Whitewater Canoe – a canoe specifically for whitewater is normally shorter than it’s more traditional version. This means that the majority of the boat is full of air, using air bags or buoyancy blocks to make the boat as buoyant as possible. There is only enough space to fit the paddler in.
Sprint Canoe – sprint canoes are designed to be long and narrow to make it as fast as possible to win the race. They are very narrow so hard to keep it stable and upright when you first get to use one.
What is a Kayak?
A kayak is smaller and sleeker than a canoe. There are lots of designs of kayaks on the market; there are kayaks that are used for whitewater, freestyle, touring, sea paddling and slalom for example. They are designed for maneuverability and speed to make them a more adventurous craft to paddle.
The paddler will face forwards, and sit inside the enclosed body of the kayak, much closer to the waterline than you do in a canoe. Your legs are stretched out in front of you with your feet on foot braces and your thighs put in to braces which give you better connectivity with the kayak, and therefore getting better control.
A kayak uses a two-bladed paddle, the blades are slightly off-set in their angle to each other since you paddle on both sides alternatively.
With the exception of a sit-on top, the majority of a kayak is enclosed and the paddler wears a spray deck, designed to seal the boat from water getting in when things get wild. However, this means that they tend to be mostly single seaters, although there are tandem (2-seaters) available, and unless designed for touring they don’t have much storage space.
Kayaks are great for speed and their efficiently shaped designed means paddlers can get some fantastic performance out of their craft. With a bit of practice and refinement of paddling technique you can pick up the basics fairly quickly and get pretty good at it.
You’ll see kayaks in more competitive and challenging water environments which is always great fun.
What are the types of Kayaks?
Whitewater Kayak – variations of them are also called ‘creek boats’ and ‘river runners’ as they are designed to be used on more challenging water. They are longer than freestyle kayaks so more stable and have a higher volume of air to keep them more buoyant.
Touring Kayak – also known as ‘general purpose’ or ‘all-around’ kayaks. They are very similar to a whitewater kayak but with added storage compartments for carrying kit. Sometimes they will be fitted with a skeg (a pop-out fin) to help it track straighter in the water.
Sea Kayak – they are much longer than the whitewater and touring kayaks, but narrower. This allows them to track better in the water and have more space for carrying kit. The narrower shape allows them to cut better through the water, making them more efficient over long distances.
Freestyle Kayak – a freestyle kayak is also called a ‘Play Boat’, they are very short and stubby. Their design allows the paddler to move the craft extremely easily. This is so they can perform cool tricks and moves.
Slalom Kayak – a slalom kayak is designed to be maneuverable, to allow the paddler to put the kayak in the right position to be able to navigate the course efficiently.
Sit on Top Kayak – a sit on top kayak is a common recreational style kayak. Popular with beginners and fishermen. They are very safe as they can be climbed back onto with little practice if you capsize and almost unsinkable.
What are other types of Canoes and Kayaks?
There are many weird and wonderful designs of canoes and kayaks on the market.
You can even get:
Just remember, when you’re on the water you should always wear some form of Personal Floatation Device (PFD) such as a buoyancy aid.
We hope that you are now fully educated on the difference between a canoe and a kayak.
If you have any questions or need recommendations and advice then feel free to get in touch with us here at Canoe2 by emailing [email protected] or connecting with us on social media.
You could even pop into The Paddleboard Shop here at our site here at Rushden Lakes to have a chat, or come and visit us online at https://shop.canoe2.co.uk/
We are in The Boathouse, Boardwalk, Rushden Lakes, Northamptonshire, NN10 6FA.
