Any advice on whether kayaking or canoeing is easiest for paddling beginners who are over 60 years old?

Question

Man and wife who love the outdoors, not looking for the excitement of whitewater and not for fishing. Mainly looking to canoe/kayak creeks, lakes, large ponds where wind and weather may have an effect. We have canoed and do enjoy it, but never kayaked. We want safety and ease. Possible overnight trips.

Answer 1

You'll find plenty of safety and ease of use in both canoes and kayaks, depending on the models you choose.

Something you might want to consider as you get older is what kind of condition your knees and lower back are in, and what kind of condition they'll be in in the future.  

Many paddlers kayak in their younger years, and migrate over to canoeing as they age, simply because of the seat position.  Canoe seats are up off the floor of the boat, allowing your knees to be bent at a comfortable, normal sitting angle.  You also have the option of straightening them out, etc.  This will allow you to stay out on the water longer, with greater comfort.

Kayakers, even young kayakers, will complain of a numb or tingling leg from sitting too long with the pressure / weight of your leg on the heel of the foot.  This is actually something to really be careful of, as kayakers of late have had episodes of deep vein thrombosis from being stuck in one position for so long.  (Just like on long plane rides, you need to move your legs around from time to time) .

The other issue to consider is how far you're going to have to move the boat - is it heavy?  Will you be car-topping it a lot?  Or is it going to be on the dock behind the house?  

If you're looking for an all round boat, I would go with a Prospector style canoe.  Yes, they can weather-c**k in the wind, but they are very solid and have great secondary stability.  They also have barge-like capacity, without sacrificing maneuverability.  For frequent car topping, if you can afford it, go with a Kevlar layup to save your back, but just be careful to avoid rocks, etc.

Try a few boats out if you can - find a dealer who will let you test paddle them.

Answer 2

I would check and see if there any kayaking lessons nearby.

Renting kayaks is a good way to try out too.  (some renters have dry land lessons prior going into the water)  I just bought myself a kayak  (poly-with 2 hatches/rudder, leg braces and high density foam seat)  I only plan to do lake kayaking where I can go to beaches and have a nice lunch, take photos, read, relax,exploring.    Fiberglass you have to be a bit more careful not to damage your boat from dragging onto beach and more expensive.  Poly is more forgiving, tougher and cheaper to buy.  Great for beginners.  Just make sure you have all the safety equipment (lifejacket, extra paddle/float, whistle, 2 way radio, extra food,water,sprayskirt,etc) as well.  Always be prepared.

Good luck and happy paddling.

Answer 3

Personally, I would recommend kayaking. Kayaks come in many varieties and can be set up for all sorts of uses. There are plenty of kayaks that are good for both small rivers and flat water, many have dry wells to store food, clothes etc. Kayaks are also useful in that if they end up capsized they are much easier to recover than a canoe. Kayaks also handle much faster and easier than canoes. There are plenty of good websites to help you in your decision. Good luck and happy paddling

Answer 4

well if your looking for ease go for the canoe its much easyer to keep going  then a kayak  and you can hold more stuff for a over nighter. I own a kayak and personaly think its much more fun then a canoe, but i like whitewater and can cary eveything i need on it.