There are significant differences between canoeing and kayaking, yet they often use identical boats to accomplish the exact same thing. You can tell them apart sometimes, but even enthusiasts have difficulty explaining why.
Here is a short overview to help you understand what canoeing and kayaking really are to aid you in deciding which water sport would most appeal to you!
A Closer Look At Canoeing
Besides canoes and kayaks, almost any watercraft powered by humans or wind can be used for canoeing, especially if the craft is used for transportation. It’s usually pretty clear what someone means when they say “canoeing” at a club, an activity or a rental facility. It’s almost certain that they will use a 4.5-5m / 15′-17′ tandem (two-person) open boat with two seats and two single-bladed paddles in the UK and most of Europe. In the short term, canoes fit somewhere between sailing dinghies, dragon boats, sailing coracles, and rowing boats.
A traditional form of recreational canoeing originating in the Adirondacks is based on ultralight canoes that are designed for easy transport through the forest. Within this same era, Brits were paddling heavy decked canoes with keels across the sea. Canoes can be even more diverse than recreational canoeing which is usually made for only two people; there are ocean-going canoes, capable of carrying sixty people, which are customary with the Haida people.
Kayaking: A World In Its Own
The kayak originated as a narrow, soft-sided, decked (seaworthy) skin-on-frame craft used by European hunters, fishermen, and explorers who travelled to the subarctic. As kayaking enthusiasts moved to white-water rivers in the early 20th century, this European sense of kayaking evolved – but that’s just one part of the story!
Currently, “sport” kayaks are available in a wide range of shapes and sizes to suit almost any purpose or location. There are a myriad of crafts that could represent anything from squirt crafts designed for “downtime” (getting below the surface) to stylish skis designed for riding big rollers on the ocean!
It is accepted that there is a set of handy rules to determine “what counts” as kayaking when it comes to specific (and limited) purposes such as competitions and qualification systems.
The Differences Between Canoeing And Kayaking
Kayaks and canoes have different characteristics. In general, the main difference is very simple; it is all to do with the athlete’s position in the boat and what kind of paddle they use in order to propel the vessel forward.
Canoeing and kayaking differ primarily in which vessel is used. Open-top canoes are common. The rowers kneel inside the canoe, or sit if there are benches inside, which there often are, and use a paddle that has only one blade to propel themselves forward. Kayaks, on the other hand, have a closed deck with a hole in the middle where the pilot can sit.
Paddlers in kayaks use double-bladed paddles to propel themselves forward by pulling the blades across the water on alternate sides. On the other hand, when paddling a canoe the paddler kneels and propels the boat forward using a single blade.
Due to its open-top construction, a canoe has a less protected deck inside than a kayak, which is enclosed. It is for this reason that a canoe has high sides, so that when you paddle you are less likely to be splashed by the water. The kayak sits lower than a canoe, so you’ll have a closer view of the water.
A kayak is much faster and more agile than a canoe because of its shape, lighter weight, and double paddle, allowing for quicker and more agile paddling than a canoe. A canoe, on the other hand, is more stable and harder to capsize.
Now that you’re aware of the key differences between kayaking and canoeing, which are
the paddles, the paddler’s sitting position in the boat, the boat’s structure as well as the weight of vessels and its speed, take your pick!
As you are equipped with basic knowledge on both experiences, you will be able to choose your most preferred way of enjoying your free time in the water. Beyonk offers UK experience providers a ticketing system to grow their business, and allows them to showcase a wide range of courses and tours between canoeing and kayaking as well as other adventurous water sports. An extensive range of activities is available to choose from all across the country, ensuring you make the most of your free time!
