"Gene Cosloy" wrote in message
om...
Hi,
I'm relatively new to the sport and currently paddle a light touring
kayak in fla****er rivers. Am I missing something by not doing the
same with a canoe?

Maybe. The only way to find out is to try a canoe.

Fundamentally, why choose one over the other?

I started in kayaks & switched to canoes. Reasons were the ability to carry
a family & big packs, problems with my back in a kayak, the ability to
easily portage, no drip from the blade in the air, easier entry & exit at
wilderness landings. You'll have different reasons for your choice.

Are kayaks faster?

That depends on the individual designs. In general though, a kayak is
noticably faster than a canoe of similar length, because it has a narrower
waterline width (lower wave resistance at high speed) & a 2 bladed paddle
(more strokes per minute). It may be slower over long distances though. If
it has greater wetted area, it'll have more frictional resistance. The
extra weight of the 2 bladed paddle may be more fatiguing. If you're like
me, you'll have trouble slowing your kayak paddling cadence to avoid
fatigue. It's easy to slow the cadence with a canoe paddle.

My son & I did a 6 day trip in Algonquin Park in solo canoes. He had the
faster boat & started with a double paddle. As the trip progressed, he
switched to a canoe paddle. He was a bit slower, but could paddle more
distance each day without tiring.

Are canoes safer?

I'd much rather have a kayak than a canoe in rough conditions ( stormy lake
or big rapids) because it has a deck to shed water & the low seating
position gives great stability & control. With training, you can learn to
"eskimo" roll a kayak to self rescue. Canoes need floatation bags or spray
decks to handle big rapids, essentially turning them into fat kayaks.

The chances of being trapped in a pinned kayak in rapids may be a lot
greater than in an open canoe.

What about wind and current? Is it
harder to control the direction of a canoe than a kayak under the same
conditions?

That depends on the individual design. However, kayaks are generally much
less affected by wind because they are lower & their decks streamline them.

Lloyd Bowles
www.madcanoeist.4ever.cc