John Marshall wrote:
A number of years ago when I was starting canoeing a paddle shop salesman ascerted that kayaks are faster than canoes. While in agreement that canoes have certain advantages over kayaks, I am still scratching my head at this one. Are there solo canoes which paddled with a double blade are actually faster than kayaks? Does the higher position in canoe paddling give an advantage? Can someone shed light? Last winter myself and another paddler in a fairly fast tandem canoe, were resoundingly beaten by a solo kayaker in a special racing boat.
Hi John,
That is an easy question to answer actually. Which is faster? It just depends on who is in them. Sounds simple but it is true. I''ve routinely beaten many canoes in my kayaks and I've also beaten many kayaks with my canoes. I must add that the same is true the other way around also and I've been soundly beaten by both as well....all comes down to the engine in the end, all else being equal.
But the FASTEST boats? If you look at times from Olympic style sprint races, the kayaks are routinely going to be faster than the canoes.
Cheers....Joe O'
(Heading out to paddle in a solo marathon race canoe later today)