Kayak vs Canoe - Your Personal Pros and Cons

I'm curious how many of you are exclusively canoeists and how many enjoy both. Personally, I own both and enjoy both for different reasons.

Canoes:
-Can carry more stuff and are easier to pack
-Offer a variety of sitting positions and are much more comfortable
-Track better and are more enjoyable to paddle

Kayaks (Recreational SOT)
-Are much more stable for fishing, newbies, etc
-Can't be swamped/sunk if you flip them

Generally I prefer a canoe and a single paddle when the conditions are right, but it's hard to argue with the safety of a SOT kayak in any kind of water.

I enjoy both. A third option is the pack boats. Canoe qualities with a sit-in seat.

Once upon a time I was a kayak guy and still might wiggle down into one if I ever decided to run class 4 or 5 rivers again (VERY unlikely) because that's where a 'yak shines (and the only place it can outperform a canoe IMO).

I will say that I disagree that a SOT is more stable (I regularly stand in my Freedom Solo and it's not known as a stable canoe) and most, if not all, canoes will still float when fully filled with water. They're often also lighter than a 'yak (especially the double-walled SOT types which tend to be very heavy).

I am now "canoes only" due to the flexibility, lower weight per foot of boat and the ability to take a month's worth of gear by just tossing it anywhere in the boat.

I understand the allure of 'yaks: they're cheap, readily available and, if paddled with a double blade, it's pretty easy to get them going in a straight line but... you're going to get wet from the water dripping down your paddles, there's far less room / flexibility, you really can't look like one of the cool kids in a plastic 'yak and you'd have better control of your ride if you'd learn to paddle with a single blade.

Forgive me if I sound like a canoe snob. I am really hopeful that most 'yaks turn out to be a gateway drug into the world of canoeing but, while 'yaks have largely taken over much of the paddling world, I am very thankful that this site has stayed largely 'yak-free and focused on canoes. There really is no better vehicle for a canoe trip than a canoe.

With all the dazzling and fascinating array of kayak design through history, the enormous capabilities for survival and travel that thousands of years of hard use and design evolution have brought into the world, I'm not sure I'd even call a SOT a kayak. It's more a plastic raft; all the kayak-ness has been stripped out of it.
I think of recreational SOTs in the same way I see using a crossbow during archery season - it's a way to buy in without having to learn anything. Do people use them? Yes. Will I? No.
I like kayaks and have built them and enjoyed paddling and learning aboutthem. Hike your own hike, but if the choice is between a canoe and a SOT it's no choice at all.

I've always paddled a lightweight pack canoe (Hornbecks) with a double paddle.
I tried a couple of kayaks when I started paddling, along with some canoes. I prefer the canoes vs kayaks for the same reasons in the original post, plus the weight which makes them easy to carry longer distances (and put on & off the car). 2 or 3 years ago I considered getting a kayak, mostly to feel a bit safer on larger lakes if they got rough (I don't do whitewater). But I found that kayaks about the size of what I paddle can't fit nearly as much gear for multi-day trips. I upgraded to a slightly larger canoe instead (12 feet instead of 10) -- heavier at 18 lbs instead of 12, but still a breeze compared to many canoes & just about all kayaks -- so I can still carry into remoter lakes. The photo is the canoe at the end of a carry this summer-- I do double carries so I still had to go back on the carry trail and get the pack & several largeish dry bags.

I can't handle sitting in a kayak for longer than 15 minutes, the canoe gives me more freedom to sit, kneel or stand plus depending on the canoe I would disagree that a kayak is more stable for fishing. Portaging and load capability are also deal breakers for me.

I grew up paddling both canoes and kayaks because my father was heavily into whitewater kayaking and also belonged to a canoe club that camped/paddled class 1 & 2 type stuff almost every weekend. I've always preferred canoes and switched to soloing an open canoe in up to class 4 when I was about 14 and reserved the kayak for class 5 and 6. I stopped paddling for about 30 years then 5 or so years ago a group of my friends were all paddling recreational kayaks so my wife and I bought a couple to join them. They're heavy and I find sitting for long periods uncomfortable so I switched to a solo canoe so I could kneel. We paddle a lot of shallow rivers and creeks where we often need to get out and not only is the canoe easier to get in and out of but it seems to have a shallower draft than the heavy plastic kayaks so I get out less often than my friends. I also fish and I find it easier and roomier to do in a canoe than in a sit-in kayak. Dedicated sit on top fishing kayaks are also roomy with lots of storage but they're insanely heavy.

Although I almost always prefer a canoe, I do take a kayak for our yearly winter pilgrimage to Florida. We tend to paddle in the gulf where the low profile of a kayak helps when the wind picks up. We also like to paddle in the mangrove tunnels where a canoe is too tall unless I were sitting on the floor of a pack boat.

Most long term Canoetripping members know my opinion on the Devil's craft. I'll keep it short so as not to offend to many, but when I see the Dirty Double Blade, I throw Holy Water on it and hope that it melts. Same for the plastic hotdog with a hole in the middle.

I'm not keeping score but in my immediate family the latest tally is canoes 2 kayaks 4. So it looks like we're losing.
Er, I mean "we're all winners!" lol.
For the record I"ll continue to paddle both, but if I had a little more storage space and a lot more cash I'd definitely buy another couple canoes.
Not to even up the score so much (ha), but to expand the canoe experience. Perhaps a NC Pal, and definitely a wc from here. https://northernontario.travel/northeastern-ontario/temagami-canoe-company

I own and paddle both, but only talk about canoes here. I also paddle canoes more often.

I don’t consider myself a paddler. Camping is my thing, followed closely by fishing/hunting. My watercraft is simply a tool that gives access to these activities.

I need to haul gear and be flexible for going solo or with a buddy. Therefore I’m solidly a canoe guy.

I remember when Canoe and Kayak Magazine was just Canoe Magazine, Collinsville Canoe and Kayak in Connecticut was just Collinsville Canoe. Lots more examples out there like these.
When I used to visit Pnet it seemed like most of the conversation was dominated by kayakers, especially the off topic forum.
When I took over Canoetripping back when, the first thing I did was make it clear this site would be for open canoes only (decked canoes look to much like kayaks to me). I was the OG* of a “canoe only forum” if I’m not mistaken*. So far it has stayed that way and prospered, although the “open canoe” part seems to have floated away down near Chesapeake.

I have nothing against kayaks or people who use them, I just didn’t want to run a site that would no doubt be dominated by them.


*The term can be used to describe someone who's exceptional, authentic, or "old-school". For example, you might describe someone as an "OG" if they're a veteran in their field, or if they're cool and authentic


* I’m sure Glenn will dig up some obscure paddling site that was canoe only before us..freestyle doesn’t count ;-)

Growing up on a lake, it was anything that would float was my preferred choice. As I got older and started to realize the other side of paddling happiness, i leaned towards kayaking. I worked for an outfitter, still do on occasion, and we had high end sea kayaks and rec boats we could take out. We would do employee outings, usually either whitewater or sea kayaking Lk Michigan with a bonfire to end the evening. The owner, now retired, is a legend in the kayaking/outdoors world and his passion rubbed off on a few of us. I found myself kayaking all the time, crossing the bays to islands, multi day along superiors shoreline, whitewater in WV/PA and just goofing off in the surf. Fast forward several years, my wife (girlfriend at the time) wanted to kayak but was afraid to fall in deep water. I mentioned canoeing and she was even more timid. I planned a 3 day trip to Grace and Nellie, base camped on Grace. I didn’t give her much criticism only to keep paddling if she gets nervous and I pretty much did everything. It was a heck of a first trip for her, and needless to say, that was the start of my (our) canoeing adventures.

I can honestly say there’s a similar but different feeling with both. You get to places you might not be able to without a boat or taking portages. Maybe even where few have seen. There’s a sense of connection, stillness and isolation that comes from that. It feels good to be apart of nature in a somewhat more primal way and actually see your surroundings. Kayaking, Im limited on what exactly but in a canoe, I can bring a lot more luxury or comfort items. I’m seeing more of the wilderness and wildlife than I do in a kayak. It’s a hard choice, and I truly love both but I my heart is more on canoeing. I’ll still paddle my kayaks, but you’ll see me planning canoe routes over kayaking now

The Army Corps of Engineers, who manage this reservoir must think canoes are a thing of the past.

Robin said:

When I took over Canoetripping back when, the first thing I did was make it clear this site would be for open canoes only (decked canoes look to much like kayaks to me). I was the OG* of a “canoe only forum” if I’m not mistaken*. So far it has stayed that way and prospered, although the “open canoe” part seems to have floated away down near Chesapeake.

Click to expand...

I'm glad I found this site because finding conversations focused canoes is very difficult. Kayakers naturally seem to take over any general paddling community. I assume because the perception is that the barrier to entry is lower from a skills point of view. I'd like to know the ratio of kayak to canoe sales - I know all my friends paddle kayaks and look at me like I have three eyes when I unload my canoe. They can't comprehend that a canoe can go straight with only one paddler. I started paddling in the early 70's and everyone I knew paddled canoes on anything under class 2 and mostly kayaks for anything class 3 and above. I don't remember there being such a thing as a recreational or fishing kayak but maybe that's just because of the groups I paddled with.

EDIT: I don't know how accurate it is, but one of the AI chat bots says that in 2023 there were about 90,000 canoes sold and 350,000 kayaks. So kayaks outsell canoes about 4:1.

What's to discuss? Here is an OC-1 paddler's take on the question, courtesy of the Blue Ridge Voyageurs.


The article is too long to quote in its entirety, but here is a sample:

....Reasons #11, 12, and 13: Get more chicks/get a real man, and consummate in your boat
CAUTION:Erotic Interlude and Kayaker Joshing

Her hands deftly untie the last truckers’ hitch and she slides the battered canoe off of her 1957 International flatbed. As she readies her vessel for the day’s dance with the Earth Mother, the tranquility is momentarily perturbed by kayakers swarming around her. She remains grounded in her self-reliant goddessness as the little boaters attempt, in vain, to commence their primitive mating ritual with a fusillade of desperate pickup lines: “Uh, this is a whitewater run, babe;” “Dude, wanna check out my ink?” “Like, want some of my free-range tofu?” and so forth. A tight-lipped smile, and the boys are dismissed. But, within a heartbeat, her gaze warms. She is transfixed by a large form resembling Michelangelo’s David, version 10.0. He sets down his canoe and says, softly, “I’m by myself, may I join you?” Her eyes meet his, but then avert, for her feelings are suddenly too intense. She catches her breath to say, “I’m overnighting at the hot springs.” He smiles and nods. They take their boats and levitate down the riverbank.

Few words are spoken that day, nor need be. Together, they resonate with the rhythm of the river; their laughter and smiles reflect their Zen-like state of tranquil invigoration.

The decision to camp together goes unsaid. They feast, then bask in the glow of the day’s gift and the evening’s fire. She sings, her voice a mélange of Bonnie Raitt and Nina Simone. He rubs her shoulders and riffs on Shelly and Goethe.

In her eyes, he sees what is on his mind. They board her craft, which rocks sensuously in the moonlit eddy of the susurrating stream. From the confluence of their chakras’ wellsprings, the flowing ecstasy of their day is reincarnated, then transcended. As they evaporate into the night air all is bliss, all is bliss.....

I built a Pygmy kayak from a kit. It excelled in rough weather and big waves. But where do you put the dog, your paddling partner and the stove? I sold it and went back to canoes.

I did one for real sea kayak trip in rented Eddyline kayaks in the San Juan Islands of Washington. The deck made for warmer paddling. Lots of fetch, tidal rips and some large power boat wakes. The sea kayaks were good for the salt water. For everything else I still like canoes.

My personal preference is definitely canoes although I have used kayaks in the distant past as well as a bit in the past decade. In the 1970’s I was introduced to fiberglass Phoenix kayaks which I believe were made in Tennessee, as I recall. We used them as down river boats and they were great fun in the spring runoff in class 2 rapids. This was where I learned how tough fiberglass was in rocky rivers.

However, I always liked canoes having used them starting at scout camp around 1960. And canoes are far superior for my favored use in wilderness tripping. But I do see the appeal of kayaks. I have volunteered for the past 12 years at the local nature center where they have a rental fleet of about 50 boats, with 2/3’s of them being kayaks, by far the most popular rentals. Why is that so, probably due to the ease of use for novice paddlers. Particularly popular are the sit-on-top kayaks, which when considering the size of many Wisconsinites, makes sense in terms of entry/exit. Lastly, we have far less people capsizing in kayaks than in canoes.

The only thing I miss about kayaks is the low wind resistance. Sometimes I think it would be fun to have one again but I guess I don't want one bad enough to buy/build one. I often paddled mine with a short single blade, which was nice.

Alan

I have very little experience with kayaks. I've been in a white water kayak for 10 minutes, and I have never been on a SOT. Nothing against them, but not my preference.
I like how a canoe sits, the openness and the carrying capacity. I can easily enter and exit a canoe without getting my feet wet. I don't have to worry about fishing poles and stuff falling off of one because everything is inside. I couldn't imagine packing my stuff in a kayak for a camping trip. Even if it's a 2 night trip, I go comfortable.