What's the difference between a canoe and a kayak?

Question

my brother and sister are constantly arguing over what a canoe is compared to what a kayak is...any experts out there?

Answer 1

Kayaks

The current form of kayaks originated from the Eskimos they generally have a covered in deck and are paddled from a seated position with double ended paddles.

Eskimos in the Arctic made them out of seal skins generally using whale bones and driftwood to form the frame.

It is quite possible to roll back up again using the paddle after capsizing one of these kayaks as a spray cover is generally used to seal the opening around the paddler.

Canoes

The current form of canoes originated from the North American Indians, they are generally open boats with turned up ends, which are paddled from a kneeling or sitting position with single ended paddles.

They were often made of birch bark with a timber frame.

Answer 2

General answer. A kayak is paddled sitting down using a double bladed paddle. A canoe is paddled kneeling or sitting using a single bladed paddle. Kayaks are narrow and canoes are broader. Both have been built of materials as diverse as paper and concrete! Search: American Canoe Association.

Answer 3

Not all kayaks are the sit inside type. There are sit on top types also. The difference between a canoe and a kayak. A kayak is either a one or two person type of boat. A canoe is a multiperson boat. A kayak is paddled with a double bladed paddle while a canoe is a single blade. Here in Hawaii they have races with both types, canoe and kayak. Canoes are designed to carry heavy loads, while kayaks aren't.

Answer 4

I understand a canoe to be open and be capable of carrying more than one person, whereas a Kayak is a one person 'canoe' and is enclosed.

Sorry not an expert.

Answer 5

The deck of the kayak is covered and the deck of the canoe is opened. The row of the canoe has got only one pad and the one of the kayak has got two. There are more differences in Wikipedia following these links.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canoe

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayak

Answer 6

They are similar in a lot of ways so it's easy to get them confused.  

There are two types of kayaks: open top (sometimes called sit-on-top) or enclosed hull boats.  In either type, the paddler sits with their legs stretched in front of them and paddles using a double blade paddle (they don't have to flip it around to paddle on both sides).  An enclosed boat may or may not have a spray skirt attached.  A spray skirt fits around the paddler's waist and attaches to the opening of the hull, forming an almost watertight seal, this is useful in situations where there may be lots of waves or spray.  Experienced paddlers may also be able to flip their boat right-side up if they have rolled over while wearing a spray skirt.  Kayaks come with either a well defined keel, or none at all.  If a kayak has a keel, it is used for flat water, to go straight with little effort.  If a kayak has no keel it is used for quickly moving water where it is important to be able to turn quickly.

A canoe also has two types: a flat water boat, or a white water boat.  The main difference is in the keel of these boats.  Flat water boats have a very distinguished keel on the bottom to help them track straight in the water, white water boats have none.  Another distinguishing feature of these two types of boats is the shape of the bottom.  Flat water boats have flat bottoms and white water boats have curved, this also helps in turning.  An easy way to tell if you're looking at a flat water or white water boat without flipping it over is to look at the center of the inside of the boat, if there looks like a dotted line running from each pointy end, then it's a flat water boat, that line is where the keel is.  Canoes of either type are paddled with a single blade paddle, the paddler generally sits on their knees in the bottom of the boat (if they're smart) and NEVER on the seat (which causes the boat to be unstable).  

Here's a few things that CAN but are not necessarily similar between the two types of boats:

- both can be paddled single or tandem (2 people)

- both can be used on flat water (lakes) or white water (rivers with rapids)

- you should wear a coast guard approved PFD whenever in EITHER boat (not just have one on board)

- in most states (not all), neither type of boat has to be registered

- both are generally not motorized (although some canoes have flat backs so a small motor could be attached)

- both can be made of advanced forms of plastic to be sturdy and lightweight

Here's a few differences:

- open top kayaks (those without spray skirts or enclosed hulls) are generally used in the ocean

- some kayaks can have attached rudders, that are used to turn the boat while paddling that are controlled through foot pedals (canoes don't have this feature)

- canoes can carry more than 2 people in some circumstances, there is a mathematical formula to figure out how many people can board a canoe, a general rule of thumb is that a 15 ft boat can carry 3 people maximum (kayaks will carry 2 max if they are a tandem boat)

- a single person can easily paddle in a tandem canoe, they simply sit in the middle and face the back and the boat will stay 'trim' (balanced in the water) but not a tandem kayak

- kayaks sit lower in the water, but have less 'drag' (boat touching the water) and are therefore paddled with less effort

- you will not find a metal kayak

- aluminum flat water canoes are common (and sturdy!)

- kayaks usually appear to be smaller

Hope this helps!

Answer 7

Canoe is wider more liek a boat, a kayak is more narrow and closed. You can do more extreme things in like rafting, a canoes is better for calmer things.

Answer 8

There's a few different types of kayaks, as well as canoes.

Kayaks:

1) You can get a whitewater kayak, which is small, banana shaped to move easily, has a small cockpit, and tips easily.

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, with bulkheads to carry gear (often sealed), that 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.

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!

2) Tandem canoes (usually paddled by two) : Usually large sized boats, don't go straight, has no cockpit, and can tip in the same circumstances as a solo canoe. You can carry plenty of gear. And, they are easy to find to rent or buy.

3) Whitewater canoes: They have to be shorter, turns easily, does not have a cockpit, needs flotation devices for when you "tip", you can carry gear, and you have to be very good to keep afloat in rougher water.

Here's the American Canoe Association's info about the different types of canoes and kayaks available:

http://www.americancanoe.org/PDF/buyinga...

Good luck!

Answer 9

A kayak is smaller and you can flip over if you end up upside down.  They also has enclosures.

Answer 10

A canoe is an open boat, and a kayak has a closed hull.