So you’re thinking about getting a kayak or canoe but you’re not quite sure what the difference between a canoe or kayak is, or you’re just not sure what boat would be suitable for your needs.
When thinking about buying a kayak, canoe or sit on top you will need to consider the next few questions to pick out a range of boats that would suit your needs and requirements.
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How many people is the canoe/kayak/sit on top for 1, 2 or more people?
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Where and what are you going to be using the canoe, kayak, sit on top for? Flat water, Sea, Fishing, Touring, White water?
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Do you require storage for items in the boat for trip/camping equipment etc?
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Can you store and transport a kayak or canoe or do you require something inflatable?
Canoe
Traditional open canoes are mostly completely open toped and are longer than most kayaks generally a canoe is a boat in which a person sits down on a seat with their legs on the floor underneath them. These kinds of boat can hold a lot more weight than a kayak and are therefore fantastic for families and people looking to go touring. They range in length and wait from 18 foot to 14 foot and weighing around 30 kg for a basic tandem canoe.
Canoes come in array of materials which are very strong and hard wearing, Crosslink 3, Polylink, Corelite, Royalex,
Fibre Glass and Wood.
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Canoe Paddles
All canoeing paddles have 1 blade a shaft and a t type grip/handle. They can be made of alliminium/plastic, wood and glass/carbon fibre. And blade shape are different dependent on weather you are on deep water, shallow water or even advanced white water.
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Kayak
There are many different kinds of kayak. Most of them are closed cockpit where u sit on a seat on the hull of the boat with your lower body enclosed by the kayak. The length of a kayak depends on its intended use for example a sea kayak is long and has a strong keel to allow the boat to go fast and track in a straight line and a white water kayak is shorter and has no keel due to it needing to be very manoeuvrable and turn quickly.
Sit on tops
Sit on tops are the only kayak that you sit on. These kayaks are very safe due to there being nowhere for water to fill up the boat in the event of a capsize you can just turn it back upright and hop back on. These kayaks are very suitable for beginners and cane come in single, double or even 3 seats.
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Touring
Longer boat's that track well with storage compartments for camping and other kit. Ideally suited for calmer coastal paddling, lakes and canals. Faster than general purpose boats and sometimes fitted with a rudder. Singles and doubles available.
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Sea
Sea kayaks are very fast with a smaller cockpit compared to a touring boat. They track well and are suitable for harder touring and on the open sea. Hatches allow for storage of expedition equipment. Some boats are made from plastics others are built from composites and these boats often have rudders.
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White Water
These boats are short and very manoeuvrable and are designed for extreme conditions in white water. With high quality seat and backrest systems for a tight connected fit to be able to control the kayak in challenging situations. Advanced safety features, high volume shape and high bow and stern flared ends known as rocker.
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Kayak Paddles
Paddles for Kayaking are made of a variety of materials to provide a wide choice of price and performance. Whether it is touring, white water, surf or recreation. The shafts are usually made using an aluminium, glass fibre or carbon Kevlar lightweight tube. The shaft will have to paddle blades attached at each end. The blade shape and length changes from which kind of activity you are intending to use it for, for example sea and touring paddles are longer to have a long smooth stroke whereas a white water paddle will be shorter for a faster and reactive stroke.
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Still not sure what to buy!
Click here to read test reports and reviews on Canoes, Kayaks & Equipment |
