What's safer and easier for one person: Kayaking or Canoeing?

Question

It seems that if you get flipped over in a kayak, you'll get stuck under water. I'm fearful of not being able to get out. Is it hard?

Answer 1

There's a few different types of kayaks, as well as canoes. For one person, who's just beginning, I'd recommend a sit-on-top kayak. I'd rent boats first, to find out the type you like, then try to go to "boat demo" days to try even more types of boats (REI and another outdoor vendor provides boat demo days in the spring and summer in my area).

Kayaks:

1) You can get a whitewater kayak, which is small, banana shaped to move easily, has a small cockpit, and tips easily. They can be easily found to buy, more difficult to rent depending on your area.

2) You can get a sit-on-top sea kayak, which is usually a medium sized boat, usually tracks well (goes in a straight line), has NO cockpit, and  usually never tips. It's great for beginners. Very easy to rent and buy-the most popular boat used by boat vendors and being bought by consumers.

3) You can get an expedition sea kayak, which is often a large sized boat, may or may not go in a straight line (you can use a rudder or skeg to help you steer), has a larger cockpit than a whitewater kayak, and can tip in large waves/heavy winds and getting in and out of them. Some are rented, but easier to find to buy.

Canoes:

1) Solo canoes: These are smaller sized boats, canoes usually don't go in straight lines, has no cockpit, and can tip in high winds, large waves, and getting in and out of them! They are also hard to find to rent or buy.

2) Tandem canoes: Usually large sized boats, don't go straight, has no cockpit, and can tip in the same circumstances as a solo canoe. But, they are easy to find to rent or buy.    

Here's REI so you can check out boat info, and find out if a boat demo is occuring near you (but you don't have to buy your boat from them): http://www.rei.com

We also have a local canoe/kayak club that is associated with the American Canoe Association (an ACA workshop or training event will provide the best training you could get): http://www.americancanoe.org/

I've also gone to sea kayak conferences in other areas (we don't have one in NC, but there is one in SC) where you can try out hundreds of sea kayaks free. The one in SC also provides ACA instruction for very affordable prices as well:

http://www.ccprc.com/index.asp?nid=905

PS. I'd buy the best paddle you can as soon as possible (best meaning lightest) since that is the first thing that will wear you out - many rental places have the heaviest paddles since they are inexpensive and less likely to break.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I would say kayaking... its also way more fun

my mom and brother were kayaking when they tipped... they had no problem getting up. Just wear a life vest.

Answer 3

As someone who owns 2 sea kayaks (where you sit inside the cockpit and wear a spray skirt), 1 recreational kayak (where you sit inside a cockpit but the cockpit is very large and a spray skirt is not typically used), and 2 tandem canoes, I can safely tell you that the safety of any boat depends on three things:

1- the type of water you're in: calm lake / pond, slow river, fast river, whitewater river, ocean, bay, etc.

2 - the conditions the day that you're on the water: is it calm, stormy, choppy, recent dam release on a river, tidal conditions, storm surges, etc.

3 - the ability of the paddler: are a beginner, intermediate or advanced paddler?

Boat hulls (both canoe and kayak) are made for specific purposes.  So, a canoe is not appropriate for the open ocean, a whitewater kayak is not appropriate for a smooth lake.   There are many resources online that can help you to determine what your needs might require.  http://www.Paddling.net is a great place to start.

There is a risk in any watersport - if you're in a sea kayak or whitewater kayak with a tight fitting cockpit, and you are wearing a spray skirt, there are methods to getting out.   If this is the type of boating you're thinking about doing, then the first thing to do is to take lessons and learn the proper way to wet exit the boat.  With repetition, you'll overcome the fear of becoming trapped.  

Most people paddle their kayak without ever learning how to roll their boat.  And, by the way, some canoes can be rolled too.    

If you're considering flat water paddling, try both canoes and kayaks out at a local paddlesport shop.   Paddling is fun, relaxing, and can be a great workout too!

Answer 4

Kayaking is safer because they don't sink like a canoe and they don't tip over as easily because they ride lower in the water and you're not sitting up so high. If a canoe tips over you fall out. In a kayak you stay in your seat and use the paddle to flip yourself back upright. Not possible in a canoe.

I tried to post this answer with links to youtube videos but I guess yahoo's afraid of the competition 'cause it won't let me include them.

So go there and search for "kayak flip" and look for the video titled "donkey flip" and try that in a canoe.

Then look for "Whitewater Kayak Rodeo, Part 1 of 2" and tell me, doesn't that look like fun?

Or if you're really freaking nuts follow in the kayak steps of this nutcase on the Discovery channel "Crazy Kayaker."   I wouldn't suggest trying that in a canoe ... or a kayak for that matter.

Righting a kayak is really easy once you get the hang of it.  Look for this video, "our very first kayak rolls," and see how easy it is.  Now, doesn't that look like fun?  It is.  Another good one shows rolls in slow motion so you can see the paddle action.  Underwater "Slo-Mo" Kayak Rolls (C to C, Sweep & Hand Roll)  There's even one done with bare hands.

But canoe's are okay too; just kinda boring by comparison.

I've now edited this post 5 times.  Sheesh!  Check out this website and the videos: http://www.exchile.com/KayakSchoolRollin...

Answer 5

Definitely Kayaking is safer.  They are much harder to flip.  They are both dangerous in fast water especially if you haven't had proper instruction.

Answer 6

Its honestly best to canoe if you are only going to go once or twice, and not get into white water. Its roomier, more than one person can use it at once, and is a solid way to determine if you really want to get into serious water sports.   If you really want to get into Kayaking take a rolling class.  Practice untill you are decent at it.  Then try a class II or III river max.  It will chalenge you, but shouldn't overwhelm you if you can roll.  YMCAs offer the class, so do many Kayak shops or hang around a Kayaking hot spot.  Its not hard to find a guy willing to teach a pretty girl how to play in the water.    Good luck!

Answer 7

You learn how to right a kayak.  Kayaking is safe, fun and great exercise.  I would pick that any day of canoeing which is awkward even with two people if one has no idea what they are doing.