Which is safer a kayak or a canoe?

Question

Which is safer a kayak or a canoe?

Answer 1

In my experience on canoes and kayaks, kayaks are way more stable and are safer.

1. kayaks have flater hulls in general and are more stable(sea touring kayaks and racing kayaks dont have as flat a hull though)

2. kayaks come in so many varieties that you cant correctly say one thing about all.

3. sit on top kayaks are the safest and most stable for most shallow (within 5 miles of shore) saltwater uses. sit inside are great for rivers (whitewater, flat water, and anything inbetween) and lakes.

4. canoes are open topped and will sink unless you get the cover for them. they are also bigger than most kayaks.

5. you can roll a kayak but not a canoe or a sit on top kayak (to my knowledge no one has ever succesfully rolled a canoe without help, but I could be wrong)

6. kayaks are more comfortable than canoes.

7. If you like to fish at all I like both but kayaks get into tighter spots.

so the answer to your question is kayaks are safer in most if not all occasions!!

Answer 2

a canoe has better balance but with an open top it will sink if it flips

A kayak will not sink if it flips and has better speed.

over all I would say a canoe is better for beginners

Answer 3

Ok...so before I start check out www.scsk.org (yes that's me) and http://www.ckf.org/Reports/2000/00-09-Ca... (me again).  I am by nature an extreme paddler.....

Which is safer is not an easier answer,  but let me dispell some myths.  There are sit-on-top kayaks, decked kayaks (sit inside), touring kayaks, river kayaks and surf kayaks...and variations of all of them.

Kayaks cannot always be rolled to prevent having to wet exit/swim.  And if you do this in a whitewater kayak you will be swimming because reentry will not occur.  A touring kayak is a bit of a difference.  It can be reentered, pumped then reskirted - but only under nearly the best of conditions by an experieced paddler.  I river, tour, and surf kayak. For simplification,  lets say the conditions require you to roll....and you blow the roll - you swim.  If the conditions are moderately extreme, you swim and in worst cases you life is eminent danger (been there storm paddling, serious river paddling and surfing 20+ foot waves).

Canoes?  They range from under 6 ft. to over 14 ft.  Partial decked and full open, touring and whitewater.  Whitewater canoes can be rolled if they are filled with right floation (usually only serious river paddlers will understand the reference).  The smaller whitewater designs can even be played in holes and surfed.

Now, what you may want to know is what type of kayay or canoe is the safest to paddle?  Sit-on-top recreational kayaks offer the best of both worlds (inflatable self bailing kayaks are a fair compromise for portabilty and great stability on the water but there is a huge trade off in efficiency).  You don't have to worry about rolling, although several sit on tops can be rolled by highly skilled paddlers.  You can just climb back on and get going.  There are serious river models as well as open ocean touring models, and of course competitive surfing models.  Sit on tops are generally cheaper and more versatile for the average new paddler. There are models for up to three paddlers.

But, to decide what to get you must know what your paddling will be...flat lakes, flat rivers, mild rapids, ocean, harbors.  A sit on top works for all these.  My advice if you are new, consider a sit-on-top for safety.  If you are in cold weather there are paddle clothing options that offer great protection.  the best part about a sit on top is there is always a friend that can use it without worry.   And when you upgrade it will sell for about what you paid for it (if you buy a used one that is).  If you have specific paddling questions shoot me an email at surphknut .....via my yahoo address.  Chris

Answer 4

kayak

Answer 5

probably a kayak