Kayak and canoe questions?

Question

I am wanting to buy a canoe but don't know what to look for... here is the deal. I have been canoing a few times and love it. I am looking for a good cheap canoe for me any my girlfriend or any other friend who may want to go... but I started looking at open sit in kayaks... I have found several that are 2 seaters and are open like a canoe ??? so my main question is.... what is the difference between a canoe and a 2 seater open top kayak?? is the kayak easyer to tip? faster? easyer to navigate?

Answer 1

A canoe would be more comfortable for two people.

Answer 2

It depends on where you plan on going.  There are different types of canoes and kayaks, each has a particular usage.  There are canoes for expeditions, which track very well, but feel more tippy.  There are canoes that are great fishing platforms, but are a little harder to paddle because of their wide base.  Same thing with kayaks.  You have ocean going kayaks equipped with rudders to help deal with current, to small kayaks designed for swift rivers.  Its tough to make a decision.  If I just wanted an all around boat for inland water use, I would go with a canoe, maybe a multi use one such as the Old Towne Discovery.  Its tough to tell you what is perfect for your own use.

Answer 3

For your first boat, definitely buy used.   Search Craigslist and Ebay, and look for a deal on a used, but not abused boat.  

But, before you commit to anything, you should test paddle a variety of boats.  Depending on where you live, you may find a paddlesports dealer who carries a wide variety of canes and kayaks that you can try out.  They typically offer rentals as well, and many do sell used boats too.  Some will allow you to rent boats, and use part of the rental fees as credit towards a purchase.

In a typical recreational canoe, you'll be seated on a bench style or tractor style seat, and your legs will be bent, much like sitting in a chair.  In a kayak, you will be seated on a seat that is on the floor of the boat.  Your legs will be out in front of you, with a slight bend in them so that you can put your feet on foot pegs to provide bracing for paddling.  

There are a good number of kayak styles out there, and to keep it simple, there are sea kayaks, recreational kayaks, whitewater kayaks, and sit on top kayaks.  (There are more variations, but we'll start with just these).  The tandem boat you describe sounds like a recreational kayak, something like this: http://www.oakorchardcanoe.com/oldtownka...

Recreational kayaks and sit on top kayaks are VERY stable.  In fact, many of them feel much more stable than canoes, simply because you are sitting closer to the water.   A higher center of gravity will cause greater instability.  So, relatively speaking, you may feel less steady in some canoes than you would in a sit on top or recreational kayak.  

The stability issue being stated; NOT all kayaks are going to be faster than a canoe.  The speed of a either style of boat depends the principals of hull shape and length.  

A longer water line will lend itself to greater speed.  

A wider hull will give you more resistance in the water and slow you down.  

A long narrow kayak (say 18 feet long and 21" wide), will glide through the water like a knife, and be extremely fast. At the same time, there are some short & wide kayaks that will feel like you're paddling a bathtub.  They require a lot more work to get from point A to point B.  However, a wider boat will give you a greater initial stability, so you may feel more confident.  

Study the Guidelines section at http://www.paddling.net, there are lots of informative articles that can help you make your choice.  

http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/

Answer 4

Yes, a kayak is much faster but less stable!  

A canoe is great for a camping trip because you can take many pounds with you and is much more stable.

A kayak takes more out of you on a long trip because you have to work your stomach to keep upright on every stroke.

  I would go for the canoe with two people.   Great for a picnic too.  Not as fast but more fun.

Answer 5

First...there is no such thing as a, good, cheap canoe. Inexpensive canoes are made of chopped fiber and resin. They may be quite flexible. Some are made with a thin glass fiber/resin interior and exterior with a foam core. The trim will be light plastic or thin metal. Canoes are paddled with a single bladed paddle. They are usually stable. Kayaks are paddled with a double bladed paddle. An open top kayak will probably be 'wet'. It is often a 'water toy'. My advice...try each kind out.