Awesome! But can someone please explain what single blade vs double blade mean to the sport? Are double blades a different category? Is it “cooler “ or “tougher “ to go single blade? What’s the motivation to do single blade? Is that the ONLY defining characteristic between “canoe” and “kayak”?
The other difference between a canoe and a kayak is the way the paddler is attached to the boat. Both control the lean of the boat using their knees, which need to be spread apart and connected to the boat. A kayaker sits on a seat on the bottom of the kayak, feet forward, resting on footrests, and knees braced against the deck. A canoeist typically kneels in a canoe, sitting on a saddle above the bottom, feet on either side the saddle, knees resting in knee cups on the bottom of the canoe, with straps going across thighs. Some people paddle single blade because it's harder - some say it requires twice the paddler to use half the paddle. Some, including me, do it because that's how they paddle when going on a nice leisurely trip - open canoes are just so more convenient than kayaks when camping. Some, including me, enjoy the variety of strokes - some paddle positions (most of which are not needed in a kayak) are nearly impossible with a double-bladed paddle; either because of the position of the top hand, or because the other blade would collide with the paddler's head or some other body part.
Awesome! But can someone please explain what single blade vs double blade mean to the sport? Are double blades a different category? Is it “cooler “ or “tougher “ to go single blade? What’s the motivation to do single blade?
Is that the ONLY defining characteristic between “canoe” and “kayak”?
The other difference between a canoe and a kayak is the way the paddler is attached to the boat. Both control the lean of the boat using their knees, which need to be spread apart and connected to the boat. A kayaker sits on a seat on the bottom of the kayak, feet forward, resting on footrests, and knees braced against the deck. A canoeist typically kneels in a canoe, sitting on a saddle above the bottom, feet on either side the saddle, knees resting in knee cups on the bottom of the canoe, with straps going across thighs.
Some people paddle single blade because it's harder - some say it requires twice the paddler to use half the paddle. Some, including me, do it because that's how they paddle when going on a nice leisurely trip - open canoes are just so more convenient than kayaks when camping. Some, including me, enjoy the variety of strokes - some paddle positions (most of which are not needed in a kayak) are nearly impossible with a double-bladed paddle; either because of the position of the top hand, or because the other blade would collide with the paddler's head or some other body part.
Super video :)