Why is one canoe paddle longer than another?

Question

Just wondering...which paddle goes first as well?

Answer 1

Paddles come in different lengths because, well, people do.  A person who is 5'2" will need a shorter paddle than someone who is 5'11".  

With canoe paddles, there are a number of ways people arrive at the appropriate lenghth.  Some links are below describing some of them.

In a recreational tandem canoe, the person in the front (bow) sets the rhythm of the paddling.  The person in the back (stern) paddles in time with the bow paddler, so that his/her paddle goes into the water at the exact same time as the person in the front, however on the opposite side of the boat.  Every 10-15 strokes, the bow paddler calls for a switch, and you both switch the paddle to the opposite side.