Recently I completed my first canoe trip worth mentioning and couldn't help but compare my experience
canoeing with my experience that I had kayaking in Alaska. Let me briefly outline both trips so you can better understand my arguments. Kayaking in Alaska: some friends and I rented some Sea Kayaks and paddled on the ocean to an inlet which turned out to be about 60 miles in 3 days. We spent nearly all day kayaking (I thought my arms fell off a few times during the first day but I eventually got used to it) and it was tons of fun.
Canoeing in Idaho: I went with my class of 10 plus Instructor we were gone 2 days and maybe went 10 miles (take in account that my distance judging skills are barely something you can call a skill mostly I just say how far I think I wanted to go.) Previous to my Kayaking experience I had never spent any amount of time in a kayak whereas I am the proud bearer of the
canoeing merit badge. Now that my experiences of the two nautical craft are placed on the table let me give you my list of why I think
canoeing to be superior to kayaking.
1.
Canoeing takes a great deal more skill to
maneuver successfully, whereas any dolt can drive a kayak.
2.
Canoeing can be done in a variety of positions (sitting with legs bent, sitting with legs straight, kneeling, standing, etc...) Kayaking can only be done in one position.
3. Transporting pets, small children, invalids, and the elderly are all possible by canoe but extremely difficult by kayak.
4.
Canoeing requires less gear (canoe, paddle,
pfd.) Kayaking (kayak, paddle,
pfd, spray skirt.)
5. Canoes are easier to portage; for you landlubbers that means to carry your watercraft over ground.
6. Canoes are easier to get into and out of without getting wet.
7. Fishing, picture taking, rescuing people, bailing out other boats and playing vigorous air guitar are all easier to do/possible in a canoe.
8. You have greater access to your stuff in a canoe.
9. If it gets hot and you feel like going for a swim you can get out and back into your canoe without swamping it and without being a world class athlete.
10. Making out in a canoe is way easier than in a kayak.
Things' kayaking has over canoes:
1. Kayaks look cooler.
2. It is easier to go down big, fast rapids in kayaks.
3. A lot of people think kayaking is cooler (they are wrong.)
4. You get to take more stuff with you i.e. spray skirt.
5. If you flip your kayak you get to do that cool roll thing where you
un-flip it.
As you can see whereas kayaking is cool, it is inferior to
canoeing in almost all areas except for those of you whose vanity determines all areas of your life
