The key difference between kayak and canoe is that kayaks are closed crafts, usually smaller in size, and water cannot enter easily, while canoes are the open boats and larger than kayaks, water can easily enter and exit.
Kayak and Canoe are the two different kinds of recreational boats, both meant for different purposes. We all love fishing and roaming around in the water, fishing in the river, or at times, large lakes are our destinations. Commonly, boats are used for this purpose. Canoes are for recreational tours in water bodies, and Kayaks are for more thrilling purposes. Their shapes are different, and their usage is also different, but both are popular and widely used for water trips. Through this article let us comprehend the key difference between the two boats.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Kayak
3. What is a Canoe
4. Side by Side Comparison – Kayak vs Canoe in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What is a Kayak?
Kayak is a sleek boat, close to the surface of the water, and its smooth design enables it to moves faster, as the wind cannot affect its speed. Kayak has proved itself in all kinds of waters and weather conditions. In these boats, paddles are provided on both ends, which offer better control and fast mobility. Kayak is of two types, closed cockpit and open cockpit. In case of the closed cockpit, no water enters the boat, but in both models, an inbuilt drain is provided to drain the water out of the boat, quickly. Now a day, we can get a variety of kayaks, some are meant for moving in the sea, some others are used in freshwater bodies, and few others are used in racing, so one can choose according to his need.
What is a Canoe?
Canoes are the small boats, usually human-driven, but now electric and gas motors can be used as a source of power. These are pointed at both ends and are open from the top, but now some models have covered cockpits. Canoes are comfortable boats; the user cannot only sit at ease but also can paddle it easily. Moreover, people with disability and kids can easily get on and get off Canoe, which makes it ideal for the whole family. Water can easily enter this boat, and wind can easily play with its direction, which can cause some problems for the travellers. Two people usually drive canoe; they propel it with paddles, but oars can also be used. In the case of paddles, the choice is yours; either you prefer single blades or double blades are your picks. We can also see Sailing Canoes, which are pushed by a variety of sailing rigs.
If you want to enjoy the beauty of water body and want to go close to sea animals, without getting wet, you should opt for Kayaks, but if you are planning for fishing in a lack with your family, canoes are your boats, Choice is yours!
What is the Difference Between Kayak and Canoe?
Kayak is a sleek boat, close to the surface of the water, and its smooth design enables it to moves faster, as the wind cannot affect its speed. Canoes, on the other hand, are the small boats, usually human-driven, but now electric and gas motors can be used as a source of power. Moreover, kayaks are closed crafts, usually smaller in size, and water cannot enter easily while canoes are more open larger than kayaks, water can easily enter and exit. This is the key difference between kayak and canoe.
Kayaks are usually used for sea excursions, as the wind cannot affect their speed, and lower part of travellers does not get wet. That is the reason, they are also used in racing. For freshwater bodies, the canoe is the best option as they provide the liberty of fun. Moreover, a hard plastic-type of material is used in manufacturing kayaks while canoes are sometimes made from metals.
Summary – Kayak vs Canoe
The key difference between kayak and canoe is that kayaks are closed crafts, usually smaller in size, and water cannot enter easily, while canoes are the open boats and larger than kayaks, water can easily enter and exit.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Whitewater kayaking Isere” by Jörg Helbig – own picture (Merops 22:43, 27 December 2005 (UTC)). [CC BY-SA 3.0] via Wikimedia Commons
2. An adult and two children canoe on lake By Laubenstein Ronald, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons
