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Canoe vs kayak
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"Canoes and kayaks are pretty much the same, right?" This is a common misconception about two boats that are actually quite different. Of course the most obvious difference is that most canoes are open and most kayaks close over the paddler's waist. This rule is defied by whitewater canoes that have a canvas cover to prevent flooding by rapids, and by sit-on-top kayaks that leave the paddler fully exposed to her surroundings. The choice of model depends on how and where the boat will be used.
Canoes have a wider, more stable base. This allows the paddler to stand up, kneel, sit or change her seat at will. A dog can also move around freely in a canoe. Several people can float together in the bigger models; parents sometimes use a baby seat on the canoe's floor for their little one's napping comfort. A kayak seats a maximum of two paddlers who are tied to their seats for the most part. When a spray skirt is not used, a dog can sit or stand in front of the paddler if the hatch opening is big enough.
Both can be outfitted for fishing; both can accommodate a lunch cooler and even enough equipment for a camping trip. Kayak camping generally allows for less luggage, but with the right (read: lightest and most expensive) stuff the camper will have everything she needs. Both present a need for upper-body sunscreen. Canoeists (and kayakers without a spray skirt) should not forget their legs too.
Kayaks can be outfitted for SCUBA diving: a tank can sit at the bottom of a V-shaped hull. The tank must not be close to the stern or bow in order to prevent the opposite end from rising out of the water. Using a sit-on-top kayak with a special tank well is much easier, and sit-on-tops are also much easier to climb back into after the dive. A canoe could carry a tank but would be very difficult to re-enter.
The shelf seat of a canoe places the paddler higher up above the surface of the water; kayakers sit right at the surface or just below. Many paddlers use this as their sole reason for picking their vehicle. Canoeists say they can see farther into the distance. Kayakers enjoy the intimacy they get with the water right there within arm's reach.
Canoeists use a single-blade paddle which is moved from side to side. Kayakers, in their narrower and shorter boats, can reach the water on both sides with a double-blade paddle.
Recreational kayaks are generally smaller and lighter than canoes. Either boat can be made from wood, plastic or fiberglass. Canoes are also made of metal. Either boat (depending on the specific model) can be used for a quiet slow trip on a calm pond or a frantic whitewater frenzy. Canoes are traditionally not used in the ocean where the risk of flooding is greater. Kayaks, being closed around the paddler, can withstand splashes without flooding and can be rolled all the way over when tipped too far.
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