Real canoes

[Mark R]

Here's one for you all to chew over...'a canoe is not a canoe if it's got a deck'...like the freestyle canoes on offer...

[Rockrat]

But isn't a canoe defined as a boat propelled with a single blade. That is surely the only clear definition between a kayak and canoe.

[Chas C]

But a kayak can be propelled by a single blade !!

Chas

[robt]

but is a kayak a kayak when its propelled by a single blade?

Boom! my head just exploded...

[madjb]

no that would be a kayoe

[choire]

disregarding C1 C2, which are just exceptions which prove the rule, a canoe does not have a deck: there are specific rules regarding just how big the end caps/decks can be in OC1 freestyle etc so that they remain open.

Type of paddle has noithing to do with the craft. (Obviously, I would have thought). Across the pond it is common to use double blades in canoes ('bi-blading') It is a very useful option in high wind conditions, esp. when solo.

I suppose another indication might be position. I think all kayaks are sat in with feet just about at same height as butt. Canoes are paddled either kneeling or sitting in a more upright, comfortable position. This concept is where c1/2 comes in, though as we all know, they are really kayaks looking for a more demanding challenge!! Are they not in fact converted kayaks?

At the end of the day no body who is a paddler would struggle to split a canoe/kayak.

[jonba]

Wasn't there some arguement about this in the freestyle world when somebody entered the kayak catagory in a kneeling position using a double bladded paddle. Apparently the rules only refered to needing two blades to be a kayak. and said nothing about seeting position.

[choire]

sounds so illogical it must be true!

how can you define a boat by a paddle? or even the way it is paddled?

does an open canoe with a sail raised become something else?

what happens when you pole a canoe?

does it become a car when it is on your roof rack being propelled by an internal combustion engine?

thnak goodness canoeists are sensible folk who will not loose sleep over this one.

[Poke]

Wasn't there some arguement about this in the freestyle world when somebody entered the kayak catagory in a kneeling position using a double bladded paddle. Apparently the rules only refered to needing two blades to be a kayak. and said nothing about seeting position

Yeah, I heard about this too. They called it paddling "X1". It makes sense.

C1's sit higher than K1's, have a much higher centre of gravity and thus can huck their body weight around much more thus going much bigger. I remember an example of this at the student rodeo last year. The C1's were getting much bigger air when looping than any of the K1's. C1's also don't have their legs sticking out infront of them so can pivot much faster around the cockpit (in a cartwheel motion). All in all a much more dynamic position to be sitting in (provided you can cope with the balance and speed).

Their only real disadvantage is having one blade. With two blades theres lots of possibility for some huge moves as you can get power both sides.

Not sure what the final outcome was, but these should be allowed to compete somewhere. Isn't this why slalom stopped improving - limiting the lengths of boats to >4m (I know its changed now)... For freestyle development it seems silly to exclude a paddling style that has the potential to go bigger and better than all others!?

[DaveM]

Who cares, it's a pointless argument.

If you use a single blade that's good enough for me. I'm even prepared to consider rafters and dragonboaters as the same basic species.

Dave