There are a number of advantages that kayaks have over Canoes. One of them is speed; the narrow, long touring kayaks are very fast. Due to the fact you are sitting low in the boat they are relatively stable. But with a boat like this you are limited to what you can do. For example your gear is usually stashed away in a compartment that's inaccessible while paddling. In a Canoe, there are many options for you gear which can go behind your seat or under the seat. You can also spin around 180 degrees in the bow seat of a tandem, or center seat of a solo canoe to reach the cooler. Go and try that in a kayak.
Kayakers will tell you that on open or offshore water, a closed kayak with a skirt is the only way to go. Well, I might tend to agree, but the question is how many recreational paddlers are looking for that sort of extreme paddling. In far more cases most people are looking to use their craft on protected rivers and lakes in which case canoes have the recreational advantage.
You may not want to be confined and restricted in a skirted kayak so you may be thinking about a "sit-on-top" kayak. One thing you would quickly realize about sit-on-tops is that they are fair weather craft, they sit low and most have a drain hole in the seat so you are constantly getting wet. They are not really suitable for a crisp Autumn day on the river, which can be some of the best paddling days of the year. Keeping dry is also an issue with closed kayaks. I've heard many people complain as to how irritating it is to constantly deal with water dripping down your arm from the kayak paddle. Even with drip guards, when one blade is in the water, the blade that just came out of the water is draining that water down the shaft and down your arms. This is not an issue with a single bladed canoe paddle.
Another subject that often comes up is sitting comfort. Many people find it very uncomfortable to sit feet forward with no alternative position for long periods of time, (To see if this position might be comfortable to you, try sitting on a two inch cushion, with your back against a wall with your feet straight out in front of you). Canoes are very versatile in this respect, with the use of a standard seat back the positions are many; leaning back with both feet forward, cocked to the left and one foot forward, kneeling, sitting with both knees bent, you get the idea. Getting into and out of a kayak can be challenging, especially in situations where the kayak is not beached. A good example of this would be if you had to get out and drag your boat over a fallen log. Getting in and out of a kayak in these conditions is often very awkward with the result that some of the best times at the launch or take out site are watching people entering and exiting their kayaks. This process is whole lot more simplified in a canoe.
FISHING
There are many advantages to fishing from small craft; low profile, quite approach and launching in waters not accessible to larger craft. The advantages of canoes over kayaks are obvious; the easy storage of fishing gear and being able to easily access it are a big factor. In a canoe, whether it is a solo or tandem boat, there is plenty of room for multiple tackle boxes, a few rods and a cooler while still leaving ample room to move about.
The fact that you're sitting up high has major advantages while spotting fish or identifying water conditions. I often talk to people who confess to standing in their canoes while site fishing. Definitely not something I would recommend but it is an impossibility altogether in a kayak. A popular thing is fishing from a tandem canoe by yourself. Not an easy task, but very comfortable due to the extra stability and room that is a latent feature of a canoe’s design.
I mentioned one of the disadvantages of kayaks is the paddle getting you wet, but the use of a double-bladed canoe paddle while paddling a tandem canoe solo can really help make up for the missing paddler. A DBCP can also help a solo canoe keep up with the kayaks while retaining all of the advantages of the canoe.
RECREATIONAL PADDLING
As for recreational paddling the typical family for four would be hard pressed to beat the practicality of a 16 or 17 foot tandem canoe. With weights of 59 and 66 lbs. loading and unloading for the average couple is easy. To get the same room and capacity in a 16 or 17 foot tandem kayak in a conventional material weights will go from 75-96 lbs. which requires a lot more effort to handle. Let’s talk about room again. Because of the closed-in nature of a kayak the usable space in a tandem canoe versus a tandem kayak is quit noticeable. Carrying passengers besides the two paddlers in a 17 foot canoe is done easily which is just not the case if using a kayak. When they say tandem kayak that is what they mean; it’s for two people without passengers. Another advantage solo canoes have over solo kayaks is that a 13 foot solo canoe is lighter than most roto-molded solo kayaks in addition to all the conveniences of the open canoe.
In summary let me say kayaks have their place on the water. But I believe that most people seeking recreation on the water would be better suited in an open canoe, be it solo or tandem, fishing or bird watching, camping or simply messin' about. |
