Which requires less skill, kayaking or canoeing?
Not really a question of which is easier. Rather a matter of understanding which boat does what. The first thing most people don’t understand is that you SIT in a kayak, and use a double bladed paddle. You KNEEL in a canoe and use a single bladed paddle. Many people aren’t aware of this and sit on the seats in a canoe. This causes two problems: 1) The center of gravity is high and there is very little contact between you and the canoe (your butt). This makes for a tippy canoe and very little control. 2) You can’t develop much leverage and mostly use your arms to paddle. Experienced canoers paddle with short strokes using trunk, leg, and shoulder muscles. When you canoe you should be kneeling with your knees spread and wedged into the sides of the canoe, your butt resting against the front of the seat. This 1) gets your center of gravity way down, 2) gives you a great deal of control of the roll of the canoe, and 3) allows you to paddle effectively. A kayak, on the other hand has a seat
