North Carolina and Tennessee have absorbed the brunt of widespread damage from Hurricane Helene. News coverage and social media have shared the destruction around the city of Asheville, and towns in the Southern Appalachians, especially river communities, which have been devastated by the storm’s impact.
Throughout both rural Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee, we are still learning the magnitude of the hurricane’s destruction to life, property and infrastructure—witnessing a place forever altered.
Paddling community launches into rescue and recovery following the wake of Helene
In the wake of the storm on Saturday, September 28, Mason Hargrove and Dane Jackson went to Big Hungry Creek and down the Green River Narrows in order to access Green River Cove Road near Saluda, NC, a community hard hit by the storm and cut off from conventional access.
“As soon as we got past the last rapid we started seeing cars and RVs and houses stacked on top of each other, and 40-foot tall wood stacks,” Hargrove said. “I think that was the moment it finally hit me how hard these people got hit and how much this is going to take to get back to semi-normal. I think it’s going to be a lot longer than a lot of people realize.”
“We both had 25 cans of non-perishable food in drybags. We paddled the Narrows but mostly just hiked everything—we’re not here for the kayaking. We’re here to check on the people. With the landslides that had happened and how high the river got here, it was a completely different river,” said Hargrove.
Officials do not endorse entering the landscape the way the paddlers did. They are asking people not to self-deploy into affected areas. Instead, within the region, you can call 2-1-1 to connect with community services, and there are numerous ways to volunteer, including paddler-organized recovery efforts.
How Helene became a catastrophic flooding event
At nearly 300 miles from the nearest coast, the mountains of North Carolina and East Tennessee were not likely suspects for severe hurricane damage. However, the heavy winds and rains of Hurricane Helene combined with a cold front in the region that had already left the rivers high before the storm even hit. The rainfall combined with the mountain terrain itself amplified the effect, resulting in historic flooding and never-before-recorded river levels.
On Wednesday, September 25, Hurricane Helene was a Category 1 storm, just over a day away from its eventual landfall as a Category 4 storm on September 26. Hours later in the Southern Appalachians, the storm brought catastrophic winds and rains, with the highest rain total in Busick, North Carolina, reaching 31.33 inches over three days.
Most communities in the region are in valleys along rivers; pairing this with steep slopes and shallow soil created a worst-case scenario for flooding, NOAA Climatic Data Center Chief of the Scientific Services Division David Easterling told USA Today.
The French Broad River in Asheville reached a water level of 24.67 feet—the highest flood stage observed in Asheville since measurements began in 1895. Downstream, the mountain communities of Marshall and Hot Springs were run through.
In the scenic town of Chimney Rock, North Carolina, the Broad River gauges do not appear to reflect what occurred, but close by, the small tributary Cove Creek showed a water level higher than 24 feet on September 27, before recorded measurements ceased. It measured just two feet before the flooding. Reports indicate Chimney Rock has been heavily swept away in the flood waters.
There are already 175 confirmed deaths in total from Hurricane Helene and search operations continue. Throughout the region, hundreds of thousands of people remain without power, without gas, limited access to clean drinking water and isolated due to damage to roadways.
While small river towns are among the hardest hit, the communities have quickly banded together to initiate recovery.
River community-led rescue and recovery efforts
According to a statement online, the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City, North Carolina, is largely intact after the storm and has been offering the local community a place for a hot meal and to charge electronics. In addition, the Nantahala Outdoor Center wrote on Tuesday that it is serving as a local relief donation drop-off point to collect and deliver supplies directly to those impacted by Hurricane Helene.
“We have partners reaching out like Astral with vans to help transport supplies and have 200 blankets going to Asheville and Hendersonville today [October 2], and 50+ cases of water coming today or tomorrow and lots of other partners willing to help,” the Nantahala Outdoor Center shared.
“Our goal is to survey the need and take it to our river communities like Hartford, Hot Springs and Asheville areas for now. Our Hot Springs river guides lost everything as our staff housing was a total loss, but they are okay.”
In Saluda, North Carolina, Green Riverkeeper at MountainTrue, an Environmental Conservation Organization committed to protecting the Blue Ridge and Western North Carolina, is accepting and distributing supplies.
After paddling into Green River Cove on the 28th with supplies, Hargrove and Jackson shared a video on social media, hoping the video would shed some light on the destruction in small communities and help rally aid for these communities.
“I think kayakers are really resilient people and it’s all one big family. We’re going to take care of each other,” Hargrove said. “Obviously, the Green has a special place in a lot of people’s hearts, so to see that video and to see that community hurting and so many people, kayakers, came together and they evacuated around 28 to 30 people.”
Since Saturday, Hargrove and Jackson have made several trips into the Gorge on foot carrying hundreds of pounds of supplies for the people who remain.
“Don’t forget small towns,” Hargrove urged. ”The smaller towns are so remote, they don’t have Wi-Fi, or even power or water.”
The Norse Ask is a versatile and playful companion on your next adventure. | Feature photo: Kaydi Pyette
Henry, Goodman, Lockwood, Dennis, Foster—some sea kayak designers possess such consistency of purpose and personal expression, I know the moment I sit in one of their boats whose hand shaped it. Jesper Kromann-Andersen is such a designer.
Inspired by the surging North Atlantic swells and rugged coastline of his native Denmark, Kromann-Andersen designs sea kayaks that excel at transforming rock gardens and surf breaks into playgrounds, yet paddle efficiently with hatches packed for a longer tour.
A proficient paddler and sailor, Kromann-Andersen, 53, has been designing kayaks for most of his adult life. He describes his approach as “dynamic efficiency”—meaning a kayak must respond as a natural extension of paddler input. He’s best known in Scandinavia for creating the popular Arrow kayaks—including the Play, Nuka and Empower—now produced by Zegul. In 2015, he made a splash in North American waters with the first of three “Danish-style” kayaks developed for Current Designs—the Prana, Sisu and Karla.
Enter Norse Kayaks. As the name suggests, Norse is a Norwegian brand that began producing composite sea kayaks in 2013. With designs for touring, expedition and fitness paddling, Norse cofounders Kjetil Sandvik and Torgeir Toppe wanted to add a playful, surf-oriented sea kayak to their lineup. There was no question who should design the new boat.
“We have been fans of Jesper’s designs for a long time,” says Sandvik, “the way his designs are maneuverable without giving up speed is just impressive.”
The Norse Ask is a versatile and playful companion on your next adventure. | Feature photo: Kaydi Pyette
Kromann-Andersen paddled the fjord-fractured coast of Norway for inspiration, sketching out a compact and low-profile design with responsive handling characteristics.
The result is a pair of nimble performance sea kayaks—named Ask and Embla—designed over the same template in two sizes. At 16’3”, the smaller Embla suits paddlers from 120 to 200 pounds, while the Ask adds a modest amount of depth and five inches of length to accommodate taller and larger paddlers up to 240 pounds. Released in 2023, both models are available through Norse’s North American dealer network.
Full disclosure: I’m a huge fan of the genre of versatile and playful kayaks Kromann-Andersen is so skilled at designing. A sea kayak that is capable and efficient for multiday tours, yet lively and agile for dancing in waves, current and surf? Yes, please!
Norse Ask on the water
I’ve enjoyed all three of Current Designs’ Danish kayaks, so I’m not surprised when I slip into a Norse Ask and feel an immediate affinity. The Ask paddles like a Kromann-Andersen design, but like any work of art, it’s also beguilingly unique.
For starters, the Embla and Ask are designed around a double hard chine hull—meaning it has two distinct edges between the bottom of the kayak and its side.
“The double hard chine provides secure and well-defined secondary stability, making it effortless to hold the kayak on edge,” explains Kromann-Andersen.
“Round hatches make for the most watertight seal, which is a priority in these designs,” says Jesper Kromann-Andersen. | Photo: Kaydi Pyette
Features that enable the kayak to feel like an extension of the paddler’s body: contoured thigh braces, adjustable backband and a low-friction seat for efficient leg drive. Add hip padding to suit, and you’re ready to surf and roll. | Photo: Kaydi Pyette
Add forward momentum, and the ability to hold a deep edge translates to responsive carved turns. Tilting the hull, you’re not only shortening the waterline, but also engaging one or both edges of the double chine. The chines act like arced keels to carve the boat with noticeably more oomph than a hull with a softer chine. With no initiation from the paddle, I could weave the Ask through linked turns simply by rocking my hips from side to side.
This allowed Kromann-Andersen to optimize the waterline and rocker for speed without sacrificing maneuverability. Good hull speed makes for easier cruising and longer miles when touring. But it’s just as valuable when playing in the surf, where swift acceleration means I can catch faster-moving waves.
Norse uses vacuum-infused composites and aramid reinforcement to reduce weight, maximize strength and produce a flawless finish. | Photo: Kaydi Pyette
Manufacturing techniques play a critical role in bringing any kayak design to life. Norse builds their kayaks at a dedicated factory in Sri Lanka, using vacuum-infused composites, including a standard fiberglass layup and carbon option.
“Norse has the capability to build very pronounced, hard chines,” says Kromann-Andersen, adding the company uses ultra-high-strength Dyneema fibers to reinforce higher wear areas like the chines and keel.
Above the waterline, the Ask and Embla’s low-profile decks catch very little wind. As a result, tracking is well behaved for such a responsive kayak, and engaging a slight edge—or dropping the adjustable skeg—quickly takes care of any weathercocking.
Both kayaks offer a four-hatch layout, including a centrally fitted day hatch and a deck hatch accessing a small grab bag just in front of the cockpit. There’s ample space behind the bulkheads to pack for a multiday tour.
By combining effortless agility with efficient touring speed, the Ask and Embla reward both experienced rough water paddlers and aspiring novices looking for a playful companion in which to unlock more advanced skills. But don’t take my word for it.
“A kayak’s character and performance is something you have to experience and feel,” says Jesper Kromann-Andersen, “it is hard to do it justice in words.”
This article was first published in Issue 72 of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.
The Norse Ask is a versatile and playful companion on your next adventure. | Feature photo: Kaydi Pyette
It was about five hours into his paddle that kayaker Gavin Metcalfe felt an unexpected visitor in his boat.
“Gavin has just found a mouse in his pants,” says paddler Evan Metcalfe, Gavin’s brother, in the opening of the video.
“There is literally a mouse in my pants,” confirms Gavin.
Five hours in paddler finds mouse in kayak
Gavin speculates that the mouse entered his kayak through a mouse nest at his home, where he stored his kayak in a woodshed. The mouse hitched a ride for five hours while he and his brother and father were paddling Lake Huron’s Bruce Peninsula on day one of a five day sea kayak trip.
After a morning paddle in waves, the Metcalfes paddled out to Flowerpot Island. It was on the way back to the mainland about four kilometers from shore that the mouse emerged from under Gavin’s kayak seat—and into his pants.
“My leg was itching and I went to scratch it and there was a lump in my pants,” Gavin explained. “I went to see what is in my pants and it moved.”
While the paddle continued on well for the Metcalfes with four more days of paddling, unfortunately the hitchhike proved fatal for the mouse who fell out of the pants and into the water.
“Sorry, pal. That’s not a good finish but I apologize. Better you than me,” Gavin ends the video.
Critter-proofing your kayak
Unwelcome paddling partners of the critter variety are not an uncommon experience for paddlers who store their boats outside. Take for example,this 2021 video of a paddler discovering a nonvenomous snake in her kayak.
At best, they make for a funny story or video. At worst, they can ruin your day.
Boats stored outside are most prone to hitchhikers, but the presence of unwelcome paddling partners can be mitigated by both checking the cockpit of your boat for mice, snakes, and other passengers before launching or using a cockpit cover on boats stored outdoors.
In addition, boats stored suspended rather than on the ground are less likely to see unwanted critters.
Still, storing your kayak in a garage and with a cockpit cover is ideal for both care of your kayak in the long term and protection from unwanted critters taking up residence.
This is how artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT envisions the future of wilderness tripping. Love it? Hate it? Let us know at editor@paddlingmag.com. | Feature photo: DALL-E
Even a casual fan of The Weather Channel will know prognostications about the future lie firmly in the realm of fiction. Interesting speculation based on available information, perhaps, but fiction, nonetheless. Still, thinking ahead can be fun because sometimes wishes do come true.
And, unlike the weather, what we dream of today can affect what we make real in the future. I’m thinking about canoes and canoeing in 2050.
For starters, despite all manner of contraptions to encourage us to get off the couch, we’ve spent decades getting less physically active and spending more time online. The average American adult now clocks more than 11 hours of screen time daily. Heading down the virtual reality rabbit hole just a little leads inexorably to imagining sophisticated virtual wilderness experiences—whitewater, flatwater, ocean surfing, and fully outfitted canoe trips on just about any river in any exotic place from the comfort of your home. It might tempt some of us with the ‘bin der dun dat’ sense of accomplishment, all the while wondering why we’re feeling strangely unsatisfied with the experience.
But for those of us who expect to keep on keeping on with the delicious pain and discomfort of getting out in real boats in the real world, the technological writing is on the proverbial boathouse wall with glimpses of what we have to look forward to. Fortunately, it’s not all bleak Black Mirror predictions.
This is how artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT envisions the future of wilderness tripping. Love it? Hate it? Let us know at editor@paddlingmag.com. | Feature photo: DALL-E
The future is now
Autonomous vehicles may have been slower to roll out than was predicted a decade ago, but Waymo and Cruise’s driverless ride-hailing services now operate in a half-dozen U.S. cities. In another two decades, self-driving cars might drop us off at the put-in, park themselves and then drive the gravel roads of the back beyond to pick us up at the take-out a week later.
Search and rescue organizations already use drones to find lost hikers and paddlers. Soon, drones may deliver medical supplies to injured wilderness canoeists or guide lost paddlers back home. With Amazon now using drones to deliver products in two U.S. cities and Nepal using cargo drones to remove trash from Everest, a future resupply by drone on a lengthy remote river trip even sounds feasible.
And with the invention of colloidal quantum dot voltaics—nanoscale semiconductors, also known as photovoltaic paint—it’s only a matter of time before we can expect our boats to have a built-in reliable source of electricity. It could power everything from upmarket navigation and communication tools to food prep, illumination and storage gizmos—maybe even hologram paddling companions. If Whitney Houston’s digital likeness can perform for sold-out shows in Las Vegas for three years running, who’s to say Bill Mason can’t guide your future canoe trip?
If that’s too weird—and I think it is—how about hulls with augmented reality displays showcasing the underwater ecosystem? AI-assisted apps already help us recognize plants, animals and constellations, promoting a deeper understanding of the world. In 2049, just pop on your next-generation Apple Vision Pro goggles and get a virtual history lesson while glimpsing what your favorite paddling route looked like 400 hundred years ago, before colonization and complete with old-growth forest.
On the propulsion front, there’s much to imagine. A siphon tube along the keel with full forward and reverse functions for on-water aid to motion, which would be far more subtle and sophisticated than some of the old-school propeller designs in the SUP and kayak fishing marketplace. These products clearly demonstrate an appetite for mechanical assist, so there’s every reason to expect fans of canoes and kayaks to follow suit. We might as well add a stroke-correcting autopilot while we’re at it.
And on the portage end of things, who knows? Maybe hovercraft innovations allow us to walk our canoes from lake to lake, like a designer muffy dog on a leash. Far more likely are even stronger hull materials at a fraction of the weight.
Optimized performance from paddlers to boats
For the paddler, today’s wearable tech monitors vitals like heart rate and blood oxygen saturation. Future wearables might monitor hydration and energy expenditure to prevent overexertion on a nasty portage. Get an alert when you need to take a break or hydrate. It could even suggest optimal nutrition. Unfortunately, it’s probably not a Mars bar, meat stick or other standard tripping fare.
We might as well add a stroke-correcting autopilot while we’re at it.
A little further out there, imagine a canoe or kayak hull that could stiffen, soften or change waterline configurations to meet the challenges of different conditions. A futurist piezoelectric boat could physically morph shape at an onboard computer’s command to maximize safety and efficiency. This would be a little like the mustache-shaped birchbark Beothuk canoe we’ve long since forgotten, which could be heeled over to make it maneuverable in river currents and then paddled straight up with ballast in the rolling breakers of the open sea with equal alacrity.
At last, one canoe to truly do it all.
But then, I think of the gorgeous, in-need-of-repair 16-foot Chestnut Pal canoe given to me by Bill Mason’s best friend, Don Morgan, back in the 1980s when I was researching Fire in the Bones, Bill’s biography. It was about 30 years old when he so kindly passed it on. Thirty years later, I reskinned it, and now, a couple of decades on, it’s as beautiful, functional and practical as it ever was and as it will be, I’m guessing, in 2049 and beyond. Some designs are timeless. That’s a fact. I’m just hoping somebody in the family will be around to love it, paddle it, and feel the deep connections to the wild lands and waters it connects us to and that will sustain us, even then.
James Raffan is the former executive director of the Canadian Canoe Museum. An author, explorer and occasional Zodiac driver, his Tumblehome column appears in every issue of Paddling Magazine.
This article was first published in Issue 72 of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.
This is how artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT envisions the future of wilderness tripping. Love it? Hate it? Let us know at editor@paddlingmag.com. | Feature photo: DALL-E
Kokatat Announces Scott Frank as New Sales Manager | Photo: Kokatat
ARCATA, CA – Kokatat, a leading manufacturer of innovative paddlesports apparel and accessories, is pleased to announce Scott Frank as its new Sales Manager, effective immediately. In his new role at Kokatat, Scott will oversee the Sales Department, external Sales Representatives and the Warranty and Repair Department.
Scott has over 30 years of sales experience in the outdoor industry, working for multiple specialty outdoor retail shops prior to leading the Kokatat customer and dealer service department for the past 14 years.
Mark Loughmiller, Kokatat CEO, stated, “Scott has developed excellent relationships with Kokatat’s dealers and outside Sales Representatives, which will serve him well in his new role as Sales Manager. Scott has a thorough understanding of Kokatat’s business operations and product lines making Scott a perfect fit for his new role in the company.”
Kokatat is deeply committed to quality and excellence in customer service. Scott’s prior role as Customer Service Manager provided firsthand interactions with customers, both wholesale and consumer, putting him in a unique position to utilize their feedback in Kokatat and Scott’s shared goal of continual improvement.
“We will continue to focus on improving sustainable manufacturing through the use of less harmful chemicals, and increasing paddlesports participation through community engagement,” said Scott.
Scott brings much knowledge and enthusiasm to his new position at Kokatat, where he will give input to the company’s management team and provide leadership for the sales department. His responsibilities will be on the domestic and global scale for the company’s paddlesports business.
“From its founding and continuing to this day, Kokatat has been a small family business. In my new role as Sales Manager, I have been enabled with the opportunity to serve Kokatat and its customers in the tradition of all families; a tradition of encouraging the success of each other and having fun doing it,” said Scott.
About Kokatat Inc.
Kokatat has been manufacturing paddling gear in Arcata, California, for over 50 years. At a time when many technical apparel brands were moving manufacturing offshore, Kokatat continued to invest in infrastructure in the United States. Kokatat founder Steve O’Meara was committed to the development of the finest and driest paddling apparel in the world and recognized the need to control and continually evolve the development of our dry wear. In the early days, Kokatat worked closely with W.L. Gore& Associates, makers of GORE-TEX®, to refine the sewing and sealing techniques required for full immersion suits and tops.
Paddlesports gear designer Ryan Lightfoot enjoys a contemplative moment on the Colorado River. | Feature photo: Nate Herbeck
We asked paddling retailers and brand leaders to sound off on everything from the perfect trade show to the global supply chain, and where the inventory rollercoaster went off the rails. Here’s what some of you had to say.
31 paddlesports industry leaders on what matters most right now
Many retailers have had a tough ride on the post-pandemic inventory rollercoaster. What strategies have you used to deal with—or even take advantage of—fluctuating supply and demand?
It seems that the same thing that was crucial during the pandemic is important now—that is staying agile and light on your feet. A banker once told me that booms usually go far bigger and last longer than anyone expects. The same is true during the bust.
— Ed Vater, Vater Solutions LLC., Osceola, Wisc.
There’s always something new and cool coming out, and that’s great for the customer. However, obsolescence of inventory is a reality, so give us some warning so we can sell the stuff we have before it’s discontinued or updated. This has become more of a problem now that manufacturers use social media to introduce ‘hot new products’ as a teaser, often even before they’re shipping them.
— Darren Bush, Rutabaga Paddlesports, Madison, Wisc.
Manage your production with facts vs. hopes and aspirations.
— Peter Hausin, Jackson Kayak, Sparta, Tenn.
Forecasting is absolutely critical. That, combined with open communication between retailers and manufacturers, is the way to navigate this together in a transparent and mutually beneficial fashion.
— Simon Coward, AQ Outdoors, Calgary, Alta.
Nothing in business is ever as good or as bad as it feels at any given moment, and that’s certainly true in our industry’s case. The only way out of a slump like this is creating more excitement around paddling. I’d like to explore how manufacturers could join in with retailers in stimulating demand through creative investment at the local level.
— John Williams, Pack and Paddle, Lafayette, La.
It’s going to take time to sort this one out. Keep it tight, keep having fun and hope some of the big boxes lose interest and decide to stick to Rubbermaid garbage cans.
— Aaron Pruzan, Rendezvous River Sports & Jackson Hole Kayak School, Jackson Hole, Wyo.
After 39 years in business, we’ve realized that every year is different, and there’s little percentage in analyzing data from past performance. Best is to keep being true to ourselves and treating our customers and staff like family.
— Bruce Hyer, Wabakimi Fishing and Canoeing Outfitters, Armstong, Ont.
Photo: Georg Popp
What has had a bigger effect on your business: inflation or the higher interest rates used to control it?
It’s well above my pay grade to say for certain, but right now we have too much stuff and too few customers. I didn’t study economics in college, but that’s usually not a winning formula.
— Mike Harvey, Badfish SUP, Salida, Colo.
The paddlesports industry needs to wake up and begin developing products for active older adults that are as high quality as the gear they have been using for years. If they’ve spent decades paddling a top-of-the-line sea kayak, they don’t want to paddle a bathtub sit-on-top just because they have bad hips or knees.
— Sue Bakkila, Woods and Waters, Hessel, Mich.
We’re taking advantage of stabilized construction costs, realizing future inflation will help pay off debt. Our diversification strategy includes lodging improvements, VIP riverside lodgings, and an attractive multi-events center to include a yoga dome, conferences, hot tub, bar and terraces. We’re taking the risk to distinguish the retreat, and remain sustainable within an inflationary market.
— David Hughes, Pucón Kayak Retreat, Pucón, Chile
Customers are more price sensitive. As a result, we have marked down prices on some items. There is not a lot of margin in paddlesports equipment so this impacts the bottom line. We have held steady on our outfitting pricing as we want to get people to embrace an active outdoor lifestyle and rentals, trips, and lessons play a big part in accomplishing this.
— Kevin Versino, Rocktown Adventures, Rockford, Ill.
Both. It’s an overall economy issue. People aren’t buying kayaks because their gas, groceries and other basic needs have gone up too much. The discretionary dollars are gone.
— Jeremy Dahl, Hi Tempo Snowsports-Watersports, White Bear Lake, Minn.
According to U.S. Coast Guard stats, 39 percent of fatal kayaking accidents involve paddlers with less than 10 hours experience. Why do you think beginners are so vulnerable, and what can the industry do to stop it?
It’s a constant battle to educate our guests about the proper kayak for open water. Everyone has kayaked in a recreational kayak (or wreck boat as we call them) from the hardware store, and anyone can move a kayak around on flat water. But with the increase in accidents and deaths reported this year it’s obvious we need to do better. Most people still don’t wear their PFDs, but we can change that: When I was a kid no one wore bike helmets; now everyone does.
— Greg Weiss, Lost Creek Adventures, Cornucopia, Wisc.
The recent surge in recreational activities underscores the need for accessible basic safety education for new paddlers.
— Dennis Vasey, Marsh Paddlers Inc., Naples, Fla.
Beginners are vulnerable because they don’t know what they don’t know. I think the industry—maybe the Paddlesports Trade Coalition—could collaborate with the American Canoe Association to create very simple online videos that give the basics of why and how to wear a PFD, how to self-rescue and how to decide when and where to go paddling.
— Anna Levesque, Mind, Body, Paddle, Asheville, N.C.
Increased participation since the pandemic has sadly come hand-in-hand with a surge in paddling incidents, including fatalities. While overall boating fatalities decreased in 2023, paddling fatalities actually increased. To reverse this trend, we encourage the industry to promote safety at every opportunity, be it sales, instruction or on the water.
— Jim Emmons, The Water Sports Foundation, Orlando, Fla.
Internet sales and Facebook marketplace make paddling more dangerous for beginners. Online buying has no relationship between the seller and buyer. Shopping in-person allows the seller to take five minutes to explain potential dangers for new paddlers.
— Kristen Stuller, Estero River Outfitters, Estero, Fla.
Photo: Courtesy Melker of Sweden
If starting from a blank slate, what would you like to see in a paddlesports industry event? Is the new PTC Colab event responsive to your needs?
It certainly could be. It feels like everyone is hopeful, but there’s definitely a wait-and-see vibe.
— Jeremy Dahl, Hi Tempo Snowsports-Watersports, White Bear Lake, Minn.
Paddlers are having a large and growing adverse effect on sustainability and environmental quality, including remoteness. As the founder of Wabakimi Wilderness Park, I am in a conflict of interest. More paddlers can mean more income for my business. It also is threatening the very values the park was created to protect. Catch 22.
— Bruce Hyer, Wabakimi Fishing and Canoeing Outfitters, Armstong, Ont.
I would like to see one event where retailers and manufacturers can get together. This would ideally be held as a more informal venue than a trade show where people could try products and interact, since convention centers cost a bunch of money for nothing.
— Marc Pelland, Kayak Distribution/Riot Kayaks, Montreal, Quebec
As one of the founding members, we align closely with the PTC’s mission for our industry. We are not only happy to attend, but feel an obligation to collaborate, innovate and progress the world of paddlesports alongside others in the industry. The PTC Colab gives us all an opportunity to do just that.
— Jordan Jones, Director of Plant Operations, Kokatat, Arcata, Calif.
As a PTC board member I’ve had the opportunity to put a stamp on the event, and I’m happy Colab will include industry panel discussions and education. We need a trade association event that not only gives us a chance to see new product and celebrate together but also to come together, learn from one another, and vision a future. I believe Colab will do that.
— Brian Vincent, Appomattox River Co., Farmville, Va.
Our industry is full of experienced, capable leaders who see challenges and opportunities from different perspectives. It feels like the most valuable thing we can do is build relationships and share thoughts with those outside the handful of folks we typically go to. If this is true, the best activities involve mixing people and getting us outside our comfort zone to see new perspectives and cement and leverage new relationships.
We don’t talk enough in the industry about what we can do to raise wages for professional guides and instructors. It’s time to stop using the excuse that it’s fun so you shouldn’t need or want to get paid. This keeps great folks from having long-term opportunities in our industry and keeps folks from diverse backgrounds from working in the industry, among other things.
— Anna Levesque, Mind, Body, Paddle, Asheville, N.C.
— Ed Vater, Vater Solutions LLC., Osceola, Wisc.
Are you or your staff actively learning about search engine optimization, artificial intelligence and other tech to improve online sales?
Guided day trips account for about 75 percent of our business, so we don’t focus on online sales. However, we do work with a company that manages online ads for all aspects of our business. With MAP pricing prevalent with many of the brands we carry, we really just need potential customers to find us based on geographic location and having us pop up when they are searching is the avenue we’ve decided to invest in.
— Sue Bakkila, Woods and Waters, Hessel, Mich.
We do work with the internet but ultimately the best sales come from shoppers who take the time to come into the store, learn and do trial paddles before buying. Internet sales could ruin ‘paddling being fun’ for customers who buy the wrong paddlecraft.
— Kristen Stuller, Estero River Outfitters, Estero, Fla.
Photo: Maurice Ramirez
With more paddlers than ever getting their start with box-store kayaks and paddleboards, what can specialty stores do to convert those customers?
The real problem is that the box store customers don’t get good service, so they end up buying the wrong product (for them), then they have a bad experience and leave the sport. It also trains the consumer to shop based on price rather than the best options for their needs. In some areas, this will put specialty stores out of business, which exacerbates the problem. It’s a bad deal.
Vendors making a buck selling cheap landfill products are always a thorn in the side of paddlesports because they lower the price expectations and create miserable paddling experiences for their users. If a specialty store sells the same junk as the local box store they are part of the problem by validating those products to the customer.
— Brian DeFouw, Confluence Kayaks and Ski, Denver, Colo.
— Jeremy Dahl, Hi Tempo Snowsports-Watersports, White Bear Lake, Minn.
We’re seeing plenty of social media posts from folks in $300 kayaks who are having fun, so it makes no sense to tell them they’re doing it wrong. We’re going to have to make a compelling case that they’ll have even more fun in something that’s sleeker, cooler and better.
— Matt O’Brien, Offshore Chicago, Chicago, Ill.
People are in essence making impulse buys without understanding the sport they are leaping into for less than $800. We discuss the value of instruction, but value-conscious customers often don’t understand why it’s important when paddling, on the surface, seems so simple.
— Sue Bakkila, Woods and Waters, Hessel, Mich.
We’re focusing on building a community through instructor training and offering basic skills courses. This equips them with safety knowledge and fosters a sense of belonging that keeps them coming back for more.
— Dennis Vasey, Marsh Paddlers Inc., Naples, Fla.
We offer regular and convenient demos to show paddlers what the extra money buys them.
The successful brands in this industry are the ones that have real paddlers at the forefront. If you wake up every morning and you’re excited about what you’re doing, you’ll be successful. It’s not a hard formula.
— Stig Larsson, Level Six, Ottawa, Ont.
— Simon Coward, AQ Outdoors, Calgary, Alta.
Is the global supply chain finally back on track?
In many ways yes. Working with factories overseas is much easier now than it was during the height of the pandemic. The volume of trade has dropped significantly which is probably the number one factor in why the supply chain has stabilized.
— Mike Harvey, Badfish SUP, Salida, Colo.
Yes and no. We don’t think the global supply chain will go back to what it was prior to 2020, but we have begun to see much more transparent communication and reliable lead times, even if those lead times are longer than they were pre-pandemic.
— Jordan Jones, Director of Plant Operations, Kokatat, Arcata, Calif.
Photo: Courtesy Jackson Kayak
We’re concerned by the stasis shown by so many brands in the industry. What’s driving sales for us this year are the fishing brands, where new and improved is a mantra that keeps buyers hungry. If a brand’s lineup today is largely the same as it was in 2010, they’re not doing anything to drive sales at the retail level. Those brands need to get in the game; retailers can’t do the heavy lifting for them.
— Matt O’Brien, Offshore Chicago, Chicago, Ill.
Can paddlesports thrive without classes or clubs that lower the barriers to entry?
The barrier to entry due to expense, perceived (and real) risk, and knowledge is too great for most people to access the sport alone. Community, clubs and education are, in my opinion, the only sustainable way forward.
— Simon Coward, AQ Outdoors, Calgary, Alta.
Paddlesports is, at its heart, a business that demands personal attention. We’ve taught lessons and guided trips for youth through to seniors for almost four decades, and whatever we did always seemed to be well-received.
— Bruce Hyer, Wabakimi Fishing and Canoeing Outfitters, Armstong, Ont.
Without classes and clubs, paddlesports will not thrive.
— Brian DeFouw, Confluence Kayaks and Ski, Denver, Colo.PB
This article was first published in the 2024 issue of Paddling Business. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.
Paddlesports gear designer Ryan Lightfoot enjoys a contemplative moment on the Colorado River. | Feature photo: Nate Herbeck
At 14 feet long and 51 pounds, the Radisson canoe boasts a good size-to-weight ratio for an aluminum canoe. | Feature photo: Jesse McEntee
Known as the Radisson in the U.S. and Sportspal in Canada, this aluminum canoe crafted by BW Marine Products in North Bay, Ontario, has earned its reputation on both sides of the border. A durable and family-friendly recreational canoe popular among anglers and hunters, the Radisson is often recognizable thanks to its distinctive black foam sponsons. Versatile and rugged, this square-stern canoe will allow any modern canoeist to venture into the wilderness the way Pierre-Esprit Radisson did nearly three centuries ago.
The Radisson canoe is named after Pierre-Esprit Radisson, a French settler whose adventurous life included being captured by the Mohawk at 16 and later escaping. Around 1660, Radisson and his brother-in-law, Médard Chouart des Groseilliers, paddled from the St. Lawrence River up the Ottawa River, seeking alternatives to established travel corridors, which they hoped would result in lucrative fur trading arrangements. Traveling up the Ottawa and turning west on the Mattawa River toward Lake Superior, Radisson and Groseilliers paddled by the present-day town of North Bay, Ontario, on the northeast shore of Lake Nipissing.
Today, the Radisson canoe is handmade by BW Marine Products in North Bay. David Keown, production manager at Baywood Enterprises, a part of BW Marine Products, explains the Radisson “is a very popular vessel for trappers, hunters and fishermen, so the name was an easy choice.”
First built in 1947 by Royal Canadian Air Force engineer Cedric Summers, the canoes manufactured in North Bay have gone by several different names, with Radisson emerging in the 1970s.
My lighter upgrade
While I love the durability of my 1970s-era aluminum Grumman canoe and my 12-foot Jon boat, they aren’t lightweight. Tired of having their heft be an obstacle to getting on the water, I decided to upgrade to a lighter boat that could nimbly navigate New England’s lakes, ponds and rivers.
I narrowed my search to reputable aluminum canoes I could load solo with square sterns to accommodate a small motor. As a father of two children who enjoy canoe camping, safety, durability and high capacity were critical features. We’ve often packed our canoes to the gunwales with gear, once even bringing a Pack ‘n Play on a three-mile paddle to a remote campsite.
Years ago, while staying at a rental cabin in Nova Scotia, I paddled a distinct-looking canoe with a patterned exterior painted to look like birch bark. Foam pieces were attached along the length of the hull on either side. When I went canoe shopping years later, the image of that canoe returned to me, and I soon realized it was a Radisson.
At 14 feet long and 51 pounds, the Radisson canoe boasts a good size-to-weight ratio for an aluminum canoe. | Feature photo: Jesse McEntee
I compared its specs with other square-stern models, such as Grumman’s Square Stern, Old Town’s Discovery Sport, Esquif’s Cargo and Wenonah’s Backwater. Each with its own benefits and drawbacks, my focus on weight, price and availability ultimately led me to the Radisson.
Design features
The first thing I noticed about my Radisson canoe was its size-to-weight ratio: at just under 14 feet long and 51 pounds, I can easily pick it up, maneuver it onto my truck and carry it into the water. Other aluminum canoes I’ve owned—older double-ender 17- and 18-foot Grummans—weighed around 80 pounds and required two people to load.
The Radisson is constructed out of a lighter gauge 5052 marine aluminum. Other square-stern models of comparable length, like the polyethylene Old Town Discovery Sport, weigh up to 114 pounds. Meanwhile, the composite Wenonah Backwater weighs 52 pounds but is nearly three times the cost.
“Our canoes are lightweight, which makes them easy to load on even a small car, and durable 5052 marine aluminum, which will not embattle, delaminate, peel, waterlog, rot, shrink or swell,” Keown told me.
The 14-foot square-stern Radisson has a weight capacity of 850 pounds.
I was pleasantly surprised by the numerous components that came standard with my Radisson canoe, including:
Two 60-inch paddles with six-inch-wide blades with oar locks and bungee tie-downs for easy transport
Foam liner in the interior of the canoe for a quiet padding experience
Two sponsons—the black foam strips on either side—add to the canoe’s buoyancy and function as bumpers
Nylon cleats and tie-down ropes
Wood-reinforced stern plate for mounting a small outboard motor
Numerous add-ons are available, such as an extra seat and yoke for carrying. A sail kit, which converts the canoe into a sailing vessel, looks fun, though I did not test it as part of this review. I purchased the BW Marine repair kit, just in case, which includes an aluminum patch, adhesive, sealant, sheet metal screws and touch-up paint.
On-water performance
With a beamy 38-inch width, rock-solid stability is where the Radisson shines, both on flat and moving water. When it comes to efficiency, I did notice my Radisson has a slight tendency to veer even on calm waters, especially when compared to the straight tracking glide of my 18-foot double-ended Grumman. This isn’t surprising: not only does my Radisson have four fewer feet of waterline, but the square stern design reduces the ability to maintain a straight course when compared to a “pointed” canoe, as BW Marine Products calls them.
Keown confirms, “Having a square stern is essentially a hybrid of the pointed and wide transom [model]. Although it doesn’t directly compare to a pointed model, it does paddle very well. All the while allowing it to have a small motor clamped directly to the transom allowing it to be also used as a [motor]boat without sacrificing paddling ability.”
With a beamy 38-inch width, rock-solid stability is where the Radisson shines. | Photo: Jesse McEntee
BW Marine Products makes 12-, 14- and 16-foot double-ender models of the Radisson, as well as a 12-foot version of the square stern design I opted for.
The freeboard of the 14-footer is minimal when loaded to the 850-pound capacity, but this is the case with any heavily loaded canoe.
The Radisson has oar locks, allowing users to use the paddles as oars. After about 30 seconds of trial and error, this craft is fun and functional to paddle in the rowboat configuration. This feature is a welcome change of pace from traditional canoe paddling if you’re paddling solo or want to exercise a different set of muscles on a long paddle. It’s also fun to try out, especially for kids who are comfortable with canoes and want to experiment.
Installing a small electric trolling or outboard gas motor adds another propulsion option to the Radisson’s arsenal.
Hull durability
The hull of the Radisson is tough enough that the typical bumps and scratches of canoe tripping won’t dent it, but the lighter-weight aluminum hull material does not rival the durability of a heavier aluminum canoe like a Grumman. I’ve smashed my Grumman canoe against rocks and dropped it while trying to load it, none of which left a mark. I wouldn’t try that with the Radisson.
Choosing a canoe to adventure with into the wilderness is often about trade-offs; in this case, the Radisson’s reduced weight has sacrificed some durability, but it is a worthwhile trade for me. I’ve taken my Radisson places I never considered taking my heavier Grumman because a lighter canoe means I don’t hesitate to head out on a trip, paddle it solo, portage it or drag it through the woods.
The folks at BW Marine view the Radisson canoes as long-lasting and functional: “We believe our canoes provide an excellent light, quiet, durable, quality canoe built to last generations,” says Keown. “We take pride in our canoes because we know they will be with you a long time, leaving the question: which grandchild are you going to leave it to?”
On Keown’s YouTube channel, Gettenany Outdoors, he shoots a Radisson canoe with a shotgun and then explains how to patch the hole with BW Marine’s repair kit to demonstrate how repairable it is. Another video highlights the plasticity of the hull material as Keown hammers out a mangled aluminum stern crushed under a fallen tree. Seeing the crumpled metal, I first assumed the canoe was unsalvageable. However, the video reveals how the repair is possible with a few common tools.
Radisson canoe: Review verdict
Before owning the Radisson, I’d think, “Should I try to load the canoe on my own?” or “Is someone around to help me load it?” Those little barriers were sometimes enough to prevent the trip from ever happening. With the Radisson, those obstacles are removed, allowing for more adventure and less hassle.
If you’re looking for an affordable, durable, multifunctional workhorse that you can take camping, fishing, or hunting—with the ability to paddle, row, sail, and motor—the Radisson is an ideal family vessel.
At 14 feet long and 51 pounds, the Radisson canoe boasts a good size-to-weight ratio for an aluminum canoe. | Feature photo: Jesse McEntee
Feature photo: Virginia Marshall & Courtesy Eddyline Kayaks
It’s hard to say what the best kayaks for recreational paddlers are: sit-on-top or sit-inside. With more than 30 years of experience working in the paddling industry, I know each has its strengths and weaknesses. To decide, it is important to consider where, when and how you plan to use your kayak. This will help you focus on the category best for you.
The most significant advantage of a sit-inside kayak is protection from the elements. It can be fitted with a sprayskirt to keep drips and cold breezes out of the boat. The design of sit-in kayaks also ensures water is kept out of the hull unless you tip over or are caught in a downpour. This makes them a better choice for comfort in cold weather and cold water, particularly when paddling close to shore.
Enjoy increased protection from the elements when paddling a sit-inside kayak. | Photo: Courtesy Eddyline Kayaks
Sit-inside kayak cons
The biggest downside of sit-inside recreational kayaks has to do with flotation and ease of rescue.
Most sit-in recreational kayaks feature large cockpits for comfort and ease of entry. These large cockpits can take in a lot of water should you flip your kayak. Touring kayaks have bulkheads to limit the amount of water getting into the boat. Most recreational kayaks don’t have bulkheads, or may have a single bulkhead behind the seat. This means if you do swamp, you’ll have a lot of water to deal with.
It can be difficult to climb back into a swamped recreational kayak and tough to get the water out if you do. Paddling a swamped boat without a front bulkhead can be next to impossible. For these reasons, sit-inside recreational kayaks are best paddled close to shore, where a quick swim to the beach can get you safely emptied out and back on the water.
Touring kayaks with two bulkheads and hatches are easier to rescue than recreational kayaks with a single bulkhead or none at all. This makes them safer to paddle far from shore. If you paddle a touring kayak in open water, you’ll need to learn some specialized rescue skills to ensure you can get back into the boat safely should you capsize, but it’s well worth the effort if you plan to use your kayak for coastal paddling and camping.
The flatter, lower design of sit-on-top kayaks makes them easier to get in and out of than sit-inside kayaks. | Photo: Courtesy Old Town Canoes & Kayaks
Sit-on-top kayak pros
The biggest advantages of a sit-on-top kayak have to do with self-rescue and ease of entry into—or onto—the boat.
Sit-on-top kayaks are completely sealed top and bottom. This means if you flip your kayak, all you need to do to get back in action is flip it back upright and climb back on. You don’t need any special self-rescue skills to get safely back onto the kayak and most folks can master a quick self-rescue with a little practice.
Unless something goes wrong with a hatch, sit-on-top kayaks won’t fill with water. This means they can be paddled again right away in the event of capsizing. You don’t need to swim to the shore and empty them or perform a rescue to get the water out of the cockpit.
Most sit-on-top kayaks feature drain holes called scuppers, which allows water washing over the top of the boat to drain back out through the bottom of the hull. The combination of easy self-rescue and self-draining design makes sit-on-top kayaks a better choice if you’re looking for a recreational kayak to paddle a little farther from shore.
The low, flat design of many sit-on-top kayaks is also helpful when launching and landing. If you walk your sit-on-top out into the water until you are standing knee-deep, it’s easy to lower yourself onto the seat and swing your legs on board. This makes sit-on-top designs a great choice for paddlers who have limited mobility.
Sit-on-top kayak cons
The biggest downside of a sit-on-top kayak is the open design leaves the paddler more exposed to the elements. There is no cockpit to seal off from rain, wind or cold weather. The scupper holes that make them so quick to drain and easy to rescue may also allow water back up into the boat from beneath. Waves can wash over the deck and end up on your lap. This means paddlers who choose sit-on-top kayaks need to wear the right kind of clothing to stay warm if it’s cold, wet and rainy out.
For safety’s sake, all paddlers should take the water temperature into consideration when choosing what to wear kayaking so they don’t develop hypothermia if they go for a swim. The exposed seating position of sit-on-top kayaks makes this doubly important.
Both sit-inside kayaks and sit-on-top kayaks are stable. Stability is largely a function of the width of the kayak, so you can expect two kayaks with similar widths to have similar stability. Of course, there are other factors in play.
The seat height in a kayak has a big impact on stability, with seats mounted high above the waterline decreasing stability and lower seats increasing it. Fishing kayaks frequently have seats mounted higher off the water to allow for better casting. This means they must be wider or fuller in the ends to have the same stability.
Fullness in the ends is a fancy way of describing how far the width of the boat is carried toward the bow and stern. A kayak with a boxy shape, when viewed from above, is said to have fuller ends than one that’s more diamond-shaped. The boxier the boat looks from above, the more stable it will be at a given width.
Sit-inside touring kayaks are narrower than recreational kayaks, so they are less stable on average. However, with so many designs available on the market, it isn’t difficult to find a touring kayak with enough stability to make any paddler comfortable on the water.
The width of a kayak is one of the most significant factors in determining its stability. With all other factors being equal, a wider kayak will provide greater stability. | Photo: Courtesy Eddyline Kayaks
Design
The basics of boat design are the same for both sit-on-top and sit-inside kayaks, and you can gain a decent understanding of how a boat will perform by focusing on three main factors: length, width and rocker.
All things being equal, a boat that is longer will be faster than a shorter boat. A short kayak will be slow. A long kayak will be faster. Most people can quickly notice the increase in speed when they switch from a 10-foot kayak to a 12-foot kayak, or a 12-foot kayak to a 14-foot kayak.
All things being equal, a shorter boat will be easier to turn than a longer boat. Small, recreational kayaks turn very quickly. Longer kayaks are faster, but slower to turn.
Increasing the rocker of a kayak will make it easier to turn. Rocker is the curve of the kayak hull as it runs from the bow to the stern of the boat. If you set a kayak on the ground, you can easily see the rocker—the bow and stern of highly rockered boats won’t touch the ground. A boat without rocker will touch the ground from the bow to the stern.
More rocker makes a boat easier to turn but also makes it slower. Designers have to balance the right amount of rocker for each design, depending on what it will be used for.
Here’s the bottom line: Wider boats are more stable, and narrower boats move through the water with less effort. Designs fuller toward the ends have more stability but are slower than those that have sharper ends. As mentioned above, width and fullness need to be balanced against the seat’s height to ensure good stability. Fishing sit-on-top designs with high seats are typically wider and have fuller ends than sit-inside recreational kayaks with seats mounted closer to the waterline.
Sit-inside touring kayak designs are longer and narrower than recreational kayaks. They don’t have the same stability as recreational models but are more efficient on the water. | Photo: Kaydi Pyette
Performance
When people talk about performance, they usually mean speed. As we discussed above, speed is mostly related to how long and narrow a kayak is. A long, narrow kayak will be faster than a short, wide kayak, regardless of whether it is a sit-on-top or sit-inside design.
Very short recreational kayaks are noticeably slow. Boats under about 10 feet often feel like they’re plowing through the water. A kayak even a couple of feet longer will move with much less effort, so it makes sense to start at about 12 feet if you’re looking for a versatile recreational kayak.
Because of how the physics of watercraft work, there is an upper limit to how speed increases with length. If a design gets too long, the drag on the hull starts to offset the gain in speed that the longer hull provides. Narrow racing or touring designs might be quite long—18 or 19 feet—but that’s about the limit in most cases. A kayak much longer than this wouldn’t have much of a speed advantage and would be more difficult to maneuver.
If kayak camping is a big part of your goals, sit-inside touring kayaks are the best option thanks to the ample storage space they offer. | Photo: Virginia Marshall
If you’re going on an overnight camping trip or even a full day paddle, you’ll need some storage room in your kayak for equipment. The larger the kayak, the more space you’ll have for gear. Sit-on-top designs often have an open space at the rear of the kayak where you can strap on a large dry bag. Many designs have a front hatch allowing for the internal storage of drybags near the bow.
Sit-inside designs allow for storage under the decks. Many recreational boats have a rear bulkhead that creates a storage compartment that can be accessed through a hatch in the back deck. The most basic designs skip this hatch and bulkhead, so you have to pack your drybags into the hull from the cockpit. In many designs, there is room for a small drybag at the bow of the boat beyond the footrests.
Sit-inside touring kayaks or sea kayaks have bulkheads and hatches at the bow and stern. These bulkheads create storage compartments that can be packed full of camping gear. If camping is a big part of your kayaking plans, these touring kayaks are the best option, even though they typically feel less stable than recreational sit-inside designs.
Which is best for …
Sit-in or sit-on kayaks for beginners
There’s no easy answer to the question of which style of kayak is better for beginners. Beginners will likely prefer a stable kayak that is easy to paddle, but that kayak could be a sit-on-top or a sit-inside design.
Choosing the right kayak for a beginner has more to do with how you plan to use the kayak and what your kayaking goals are. A beginner interested in kayak camping will choose a different design than someone focused on kayak fishing. As a beginner, it’s better to think about finding the right kayak for your intended use, whether that’s a sit-on-top or a sit-inside design.
As far as recreational kayaks go, sit-on-top models are the better choice for paddling far from shore, including on the ocean. They won’t fill with water if you capsize, and they are easy to climb back onto if you fall off.
Sit-inside recreational kayaks frequently have large cockpits and limited flotation. This often makes them a poor choice for paddling on the ocean.
Sit-inside touring kayaks are a different category of kayaks and are excellent for ocean paddling. These kayaks are typically narrower and feel less stable than recreational kayaks, but they have bulkheads limiting how much water can flood into the cockpit in the event of a swim. These bulkheads also create large flotation chambers in the kayak, which keep it floating high even when swamped.
If you choose a sit-inside touring kayak for open water paddling, you’ll need to learn some rescue skills to safely get back into the boat should you flip.
The open deck of a sit-on-top kayak gives the paddler better mobility for casting, fighting and landing fish than a closed-cockpit sit-inside design. | Photo: Courtesy Evoke
Sit-on-top vs sit-in kayak for fishing
Most fishing kayaks are sit-on-tops. The open deck of a sit-on-top kayak gives the paddler better mobility for casting, fighting and landing fish than a closed-cockpit design. Wide, stable fishing sit-on-tops are designed with standing platforms, and some models feature pedal drives that allow you to keep both hands free for fishing. With all these features, sit-on-tops have the edge when it comes to fishing.
That said, many people choose to fish out of sit-inside kayaks, and some innovative designs blur the lines between canoes and kayaks or sit-on-tops and sit-insides. Kayak anglers who prefer to stay dryer and warmer in cool weather might opt for a sit-inside kayak that offers better protection from the elements. Or kayakers who already have a recreational sit-inside boat might choose to outfit that kayak with fishing accessories rather than purchasing a new, specialized fishing sit-on-top.
When it comes to tandem (two-person) kayaks, choose the type of kayak most appropriate for the paddling that you plan to do. | Photo: Courtesy Advanced Elements
Sit-in vs sit-on kayaks for tandem paddling
When it comes to tandem paddling, there’s no clear advantage to one design versus the other. Instead, it’s best to choose the tandem kayak that is most appropriate for the paddling that you plan to do. If you want a tandem recreational kayak that can be paddled some distance from shore, a sit-on-top design will be best. If you know you’ll stick to shallow water and want a dryer ride, choose a sit-inside recreational design. If you’re looking to camp out of your tandem, consider a tandem touring kayak instead of a recreational design.
One design element that does improve tandem performance is the position of the paddlers. If the paddlers are seated close together, they must synchronize their paddle strokes to avoid clashing paddles in the air. Some larger tandem touring kayaks have a hatch between the two cockpits, so the paddlers don’t need to paddle in sync.
Should I buy a sit-in or sit-on kayak?
I always recommend choosing the kayak that best fits your goals and aspirations as a paddler. If you want to take to the open water for multi-day trips, look hard at touring or sea kayak designs with storage and floatation. If you’re into fishing, you’ll probably want to consider a sit-on-top fishing design. Recreational paddlers who stick close to shore and want to keep dry will prefer a sit-inside recreational kayak. Those who wish to venture farther from shore but don’t need the specialized performance of a touring kayak should select a recreational sit-on-top.
Pick the boat that’s right for the conditions you plan to encounter most of the time, with a little bit of thought toward that ultimate trip you hope to take in the future. Head to your local kayak shop to check out the options. Arrange for a test paddle when your choices are narrowed down to a couple of boats. There’s a kayak out there for every aspiring paddler, and with a little homework and some advice from paddling friends and professionals, you’ll be able to find the right boat to get you on the water.
Feature photo: Virginia Marshall & Courtesy Eddyline Kayaks
“For Dad, wish you could have seen it—and humpback whale CRC12564, for setting me on this journey.”
These are the opening words of British naturalist Tom Mustill’s 2022 book, How to Speak Whale: A Voyage into the Future of Animal Communication. The book is an exploration of how human-animal connections are evolving, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence. But the inspiration for Mustill’s work stems from a harrowing viral encounter that nearly cost him his life and altered the course of his career.
Meet the kayaker almost crushed by a whale in this viral video
In September 2015, Mustill, an accomplished biologist and documentary filmmaker, was kayaking off the coast of Monterey, California, when a 30-ton humpback whale the size of a school bus breached and collided with his kayak, sending him and his paddling partner tumbling into the ocean. The dramatic moment, captured on video by a nearby whale-watching boat, has been viewed more than 6.6 million times.
“That was my main feeling—just feeling enormously lucky for having experienced something that full on and feeling that much energy,” said Mustill. “I wasn’t emotional [at the time]. I just thought, I am going to die.”
Biologist, author and filmmaker Tom Mustill at work. | Photo: Ru Mahoney
Working to bridge the gap
While the viral video made him synonymous with human-whale interactions for a time, it also sparked a shift in Mustill’s life. Trying to understand the close encounter with humpback whale CRC12564 left him wondering what the whale had been thinking. That question started a journey that culminated in the writing of How to Speak Whale, in which Mustill seeks to make sense of his experience and explore the broader implications of animal communication in an era increasingly dominated by technology. The book delves into the emerging science of animal communication, exploring how artificial intelligence and machine learning are being used to decode the languages of non-human species.
Mustill’s connection with whales dates back much further than his encounter in California. As a young paleontology student conducting research in the sub-Arctic, he experienced a life-changing moment when a pod of whales surrounded his small inflatable boat.
“It was in the middle of the summer, and the sun never set. We were lying in our tents, and we heard these whales. They were just 20 yards away, and there were hundreds of them. We pushed this little inflatable dinghy off the shore, and there was a pod all around us,” says Mustill. “I was going to be a paleontologist… but it was like the whales had literally come along and jerked me out of this. I became so fascinated with the challenges of things that were currently alive.”
Mustill’s passion for understanding the natural world is evident when he speaks. His stories about human-animal encounters are told with a smile, reflecting a deep appreciation for the unpredictable beauty of nature. Canoeist and author Sigurd Olson was one of Mustill’s most formative writing inspirations. In his book Recollections from the North Country, Olson laments society’s detachment from the natural rhythms of the world. Mustill’s work, much like Olson’s, seeks to rekindle the connection.
Tom Mustill is a director of nature documentaries and the author of a popular science book, How to Speak Whale: A Voyage into the Future of Animal Communication. | Photo: Sam Mansfield
“When you go out into nature, you’re not thinking: I really hope I see this. I’m thinking, I wonder what I’m going to see,” says Mustill. “It’s really different from a kind of bucket list approach to life… when other lives kind of just come across you and depart again unexpectedly, particularly when you’re under your own steam. If you’re sat in a kayak or a canoe or on a board or swimming or walking, it’s so intimate… you both have a feeling that you’re not forcing something, that there is a kind of meeting going on.”
For many paddlers, unexpected animal encounters—like spotting a moose in a marsh or a bear on a distant beach—are what draw them back to the water time and time again. You can review the best practices for wildlife encounters, including whales, here. Mustill believes such moments of connection can help bridge the divide between humans and other animals. On his website, he has compiled a collection of whale calls designed to evoke the same sense of connection and intimacy that paddlers experience on the water. Mustill hopes that by listening to these calls, people will feel a deeper connection to the natural world.
Ian Patton is a journalist and outdoor educator who has spent the past decade on the water paddling open canoes across the United States and Canada. Originally from Duluth, Minnesota, Ian grew up paddling in the Boundary Waters and has taken his love of rapids to the southeastern United States where he now lives.
Tom Mustill shares how nearly being crushed by a whale changed his life. | Feature photo: Youtube.com
When people tell me they’re interested in getting into paddling, one of the first things I ask is whether they’re interested in canoeing or kayaking. Often, they’ve already made up their minds, but if you’re just getting started, it’s worth keeping an open mind.
Canoes and kayaks are similar, but each has advantages and disadvantages that can make a big difference in what you do on the water. After 30 years in the paddlesports industry, if you tell me you want to buy a kayak to paddle in the Boundary Waters, I’ll try hard to convince you that you’ll be better off with a canoe. And if you’re planning to paddle Lake Superior in an open canoe, I’ll do my best to steer you toward a sea kayak. Choosing the right vessel can be overwhelming for beginners, but this article will help guide you in the right direction.
Key differences between a canoe and kayak
Generally, kayaks are propelled using a two-bladed paddle, alternating strokes on each side of the boat. Canoes are typically paddled with a single-bladed paddle, requiring the paddler to use skilled strokes—or switch sides—to travel in a straight course.
However, the most significant difference between kayaks and canoes is in the design. Canoes are open on top, making them easy to get in and out of and load with bulky camping gear. The open design can be more challenging to handle in wind and rough water, which is why many people prefer to use canoes on smaller lakes and more sheltered waters.
Kayaks come in two main types: sit-inside and sit-on-top. Sit-inside kayaks feature an enclosed cockpit with a deck that reduces wind resistance. When paired with a sprayskirt, waves wash over the deck, making sit-inside kayaks suited for bigger water as well as whitewater paddling. Sit-on-top kayaks feature an open deck. These kayaks are the easiest to get on and off of, are typically quite wide and offer exceptional stability, and are better suited to warm-weather paddling environments.
The key is to pick the right vessel for the type of paddling you want to do.
Sit-on-top kayaks offer easy entry and excellent stability. | Photo: Scott MacGregor
Which is better: canoeing or kayaking?
To decide whether a canoe or kayak is best for you, consider the type of water you’ll be paddling and the activities you want to do. Will you paddle solo, tandem, or with kids or a pet? Will you explore calm marshlands or navigate choppy bays? How vital is cargo space, and will you camp with your canoe or kayak? Will portaging be necessary, and are you paddling in warm or cold conditions?
Before we dive into which factors each type of craft excels at, it’s important to note that both canoes and kayaks come in many designs and constructions, each suited for different activities. Canoes range from banana-shaped whitewater models to skinny racing canoes, wide hunting canoes, square-stern models and even hybrids that resemble kayaks. Similarly, kayaks vary widely, including short whitewater kayaks, long touring kayaks, sprint racing kayaks, stable recreational types, sit-on-tops and fishing kayaks.
With so many options, generalizing can be tricky, but we’ll cover the essential factors to consider when choosing a canoe or a kayak below. Bottomline: For new paddlers, the most significant advantage of the average canoe is its cargo capacity and ease of portaging, while the biggest advantage of a kayak is its ease of use and performance in wind and waves.
Ease of handling for beginners
Kayaks use a double-bladed paddle and alternate forward strokes on either side of the boat. This makes moving a kayak straight ahead through the water more intuitive than a canoe. Touring kayaks with rudders are even easier to use—simply paddle and press one of the pedals with one foot to steer the kayak in that direction. These elements make it easier for many people to get into a kayak for the first time and successfully control the boat.
Paddling a canoe in a straight line takes a little practice, but don’t be intimidated. Beginners may keep a canoe moving straight by switching sides with their paddle or using a two-bladed kayak paddle. Most canoeists learn a few specialty paddle strokes, like the J-stroke, to help control their canoe.
Stability
One common concern for new paddlers when choosing between a canoe and a kayak is which is less prone to tipping. The truth is that recreational boats are designed to be stable, and capsizing in calm conditions is less common than many beginners might assume. That said, many newbie paddlers report kayaks feel more stable. This is often because a kayaker typically sits closer to the water than a canoeist, lowering his or her center of gravity.
All other design elements being equal, a wider canoe or kayak will offer more stability than a narrower one, and boats with flat hulls will feel more stable in calm water than those with more rounded shapes. Learn more with Paddling Magazine‘s guide to kayak hulls.
Regardless of how stable your canoe or kayak feels, paddlers should wear a PFD at all times when on the water.
Cargo capacity
Canoes typically have more cargo capacity than similarly sized kayaks and are easier to load, too. A canoe’s open design makes it easy to load with large dry bags, coolers, barrels, family members or your canine companion.
Sit-inside kayaks have less cargo capacity and must be loaded through small hatches, making them less practical for transporting bulky gear. You can still go kayak camping; it just requires more mindful packing. Kayak camping is better suited to coastal touring trips where you’ll only load and unload the kayak once per day. It’s less ideal for trips with multiple portages, like those in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness or Quetico wilderness. Canoes have an edge over kayaks when it comes to carrying big loads.
If you have a lot of bulky gear or want to bring the family pooch, a canoe is an ideal choice. | Photo: Kaydi Pyette
Comfort
Kayaks get the nod for the most comfortable seats. Recreational and fishing kayaks frequently come standard with padded and highly adjustable seats, many featuring tall backrests.
Canoe seats are more basic. The classic canoe seat is a flat bench covered with either cane or nylon webbing. Some canoeists opt for an after-market canoe seat with back support for extra comfort.
Despite the basic design, some paddlers may prefer canoe seats due to the higher sitting position. A canoe’s bench seat allows you to sit, kneel and stretch your legs, which can be a game-changer for paddlers with back, hip or knee injuries who might struggle with the fixed position of a sit-inside kayak. Some recreational kayaks feature seats with adjustable heights.
Seaworthiness
Seaworthiness is a factor that might make you choose a kayak instead of a canoe. Touring and sea kayaks are designed to excel on big open water. These kayaks are longer, narrower, and have a lower profile than recreational kayaks, which improves speed and tracking while reducing wind resistance. The enclosed cockpit and use of a sprayskirt provide some protection from waves and wind.
Sea kayaks are ideal for big water journeys. | Photo: Kaydi Pyette
The open design and higher profile of sit-on-top kayaks leave them more exposed to wind and waves, making them less efficient and harder to control in rough conditions. Likewise, a canoe’s open and deeper design, combined with a higher seating position, makes it more susceptible to wind than a kayak. Waves are another challenge. If waves are big enough, they can splash over a canoe’s gunwales, filling the boat with water.
Whether you choose to paddle a canoe or a kayak, don’t forget to consider how you will get it to the water and back home, as the ease of transporting your boat will play a significant role in how often you get out paddling. The more manageable your canoe or kayak is to load and unload, the more likely you are to enjoy frequent trips on the water.
For beginners just getting into paddling, canoes are easier to tie down on your car by using simple foam blocks and without needing a specialized roof rack system. While foam blocks are also available for kayaks, canoes generally work better with this setup.
Most paddlers invest in a kayak- or canoe-specific roof rack. It provides a secure way to transport the boat, while also protecting the car’s finish and ensuring the safety of other drivers on the road.
When it comes to weight, both canoes and kayaks can range from as light as 20 pounds to over 100 pounds, depending on the material the boat is constructed with. Composite materials, like carbon and Kevlar, are lighter and more expensive than plastic constructions. What a canoe or kayak is made of impacts performance, aesthetics and how long the boat lasts over time. If you want a lightweight canoe or kayak, countless options are available.
Canoes and kayaks are both built in a range of sizes, from less than 10 feet to longer than 20 feet. Specialty canoes built for large groups of paddlers can be even longer. Most canoes purchased are tandem (two-person) models. These canoes are generally around 16 feet long. Most kayaks purchased are solo (one-person) designs. Many of these are recreational kayaks that are under 12 feet long. So, it’s safe to say the average canoe purchased is larger than the average kayak. Folding canoes and kayaks are good options for paddlers with limited storage space.
Paddling Mag’s Kaydi Pyette tosses the 16-pound Wenonah Wee Lassie canoe over her head during a boat test. | Photo: Joel Clifton
Maneuverability
Canoes and kayaks come in various shapes, and their maneuverability largely depends on hull design. This is more important when choosing between different types of canoes or kayaks rather than between a canoe or kayak.
In general, shorter models are more maneuverable. Boats with more rocker (a banana-shaped keel) turn more easily while racing designs feature minimal rocker to track straight. Canoes and kayaks for new paddlers typically feature moderate rocker to help with maneuverability while still providing some tracking.
Portaging and portability
Many popular backcountry canoe routes involve portaging, which means carrying your canoe from one lake to another. The best strategy for portaging involves putting your camping gear into a few large dry packs that are easy to manage on the trail. These packs are easy to load in and out of a canoe but would be impossible to stuff into a typical kayak.
Canoes are often fitted with a portaging yoke, which allows a canoe to be carried on the shoulders of a single person. Kayaks are usually portaged by two people, one on each end. Moving a kayak around solo requires balancing the cockpit opening on your shoulder. This works for short distances but is awkward and uncomfortable for longer carries. For trips with lots of portaging, canoes are generally superior to kayaks.
A canoe equipped with a yoke for portaging is easier to carry over long distances and more efficient for backcountry routes than a kayak. | Feature photo: Kaydi Pyette
Speed
Long, skinny canoes are fast, while short, wide canoes are slow. Generally, the longer and narrower a canoe is, the quicker it will move, though it may be less stable. The same goes for kayaks. Longer kayaks are faster than shorter ones, and narrower kayaks are faster than wider designs of the same length.
Speed alone isn’t usually a reason to choose between a canoe or kayak unless you’re focused on racing. It’s more relevant when deciding between different designs within each category.
Versatility
For sheer versatility, some paddlers argue a recreational canoe is a more versatile craft than a recreational kayak. A 16-foot canoe can be paddled solo or tandem and can be equally suited to short backyard paddles and longer expeditions. The canoe’s open design lets you bring kids, pets or extra gear, offering more flexibility than the average recreational kayak.
A 16-foot canoe provides ample room for two paddlers, two pups and plenty of gear for a long weekend of backcountry adventure. | Photo: Virginia Marshall
Which is better for beginners?
When I help someone decide on the right boat, I always ask where they want to paddle. This is usually the most crucial factor in determining whether a canoe or kayak is better. I’ve outlined some advantages of both canoes and kayaks above, and beginners should consider these as they decide between them.
That said, kayaks are easier to get the hang of than canoes for most newbies. A complete beginner can jump into a kayak with a minimum of instruction and do a halfway decent job of getting from point A to point B. Canoes take a little more practice and maybe a little bit of instruction. So, if you want to get out on the water with minimal fuss, a kayak can be a good choice.
Is a canoe or kayak better for fishing?
You can fish from a canoe or kayak, but the choice of which to use depends on where you’ll be paddling. If you’re traveling in classic canoe country, like the Boundary Waters of Minnesota and Ontario, you’ll want a canoe for efficient portaging. In these situations, you’ll fish from a canoe because it’s the best tool for the trip, not necessarily because canoes are preferred as fishing craft. Similarly, if you’re hiking into a remote lake to fish, you may prefer an ultralight canoe to a heavier kayak.
Canoes are also a good choice for tandem fishing. A canoe usually has more room between the paddlers than in a tandem kayak. This makes it easier to avoid hooking your paddling partner with your backcast. Tandem boats also allow one person to steer while the second paddler targets the fish.
These exceptions aside, most people prefer to fish from kayaks, especially if paddling solo. Specialized sit-on-top fishing kayaks are among the most popular boats among anglers. These kayaks are often wide enough to stand in and sometimes feature pedal foot drives that allow you to keep your hands free for casting.
Sit-on-top fishing kayaks are usually heavy, especially if they are wide enough for standing, so some kayak anglers choose to use more traditional recreational kayaks outfitted with rod holders and other fishing accessories.
Interested in kayak fishing? Check out Paddling Mag’s sister publication, Kayak Angler.
Kayak Angler editor Ric Burnley and fishing pal ready for a day of fishing on their sit-on-top kayaks. | Photo Scott MacGregor
What’s better for two people?
Canoes have some significant benefits when it comes to tandem paddling, especially for families with children or pets, but it is a personal preference. Ultimately, it depends on the type of paddling you will do.
One disadvantage of tandem kayaks is that the bow and stern paddlers need to coordinate their paddle strokes so they don’t crash their kayak paddles together occasionally. This problem is eliminated in large coastal touring designs with more space between the cockpits, but it is a factor in most tandems. Tandem canoeists usually sit far apart in the boats and typically use single blades paddled on opposite sides, so there is no need to synchronize strokes perfectly.
Canoe vs kayak: The verdict
Which is better, a canoe or a kayak? The answer is: It depends. The right choice of craft comes down to how you plan to use it and which factors are most important to you. If you’re interested in coastal touring on the ocean or Great Lakes, a sea kayak will be the best choice. If you want a boat for dawn photography sessions, you may prefer a solo canoe. Fishing kayaks get the nod for anglers who don’t want to compromise on stability and features. Tandem-tripping canoes are best for classic trips on lakes and rivers. There’s no easy answer to the question of which is best. This is why, if you look in an avid paddler’s garage, you’ll frequently find both canoes and kayaks—and often a couple of types of each.
This article was first published in Issue 72 of Paddling Magazine. 
This article was first published in the 2024 issue of Paddling Business. 
