In some countries they call kayaks “canoes”.
I’ve done both. I started with a Sevylor Tahiti Classic that I still have. Next was an Ocean Kayak Scrambler, late '90’s model, and I loved it. Did Class 2+ ww with it, had it on Lake Erie, all good. Physical issues caused me to sell it. I had a tiny rowboat for a while and liked it okay except I couldn’t stand going backwards. Sold it and bought a Field & Stream-branded Old Town Kay-noe, and it was all right except when the wind blew (and the time it got partly swamped). Also, I still liked the idea of getting out on Lake Erie now and then.
Then I was back to SOTs, but didn’t think through the choice well enough and got the Perception Tribe 11.5. It’s okay and I might keep it, but now I want a little faster boat, so I’m eyeing a Hurricane Skimmer 140. It just might take me a while to save up the scratch for that itch.
I have the Skimmer 140. Friends and family have paddled and enjoyed it. I find it a little slow but I outweigh most of them by 100#.
UK. Open canoes are called Canadian Canoes.
I guess it is winter
Has been for awhile. Our winter is 45° and rain. It can put a chill in your bones.
I have owned both, and large and small of both. To me Kayaks are nice day boats. Only enough gear and water to get me through the day. I am older and kayaks are definitely harder to get in and out of. Either can be tippy, it depends entirely upon the design elements in that particular boat.
But, what I like to do, is travel, canoe long distances, multiple days, weeks, months sometimes. Carry food and gear suitable to the area, weather, and trip length. And for that, only a canoe will do. As the years have gone on, I find I like longer and longer canoes. At present I own a 17’ a nice personal day trip size. An 18.5. Day tripping, and two 20’ canoes. One of those is fully outfitted with cover, skirts, floatation and ballast, for the random white water a long river trip will throw your way. Many reasons for the large size, but a 20 paddles easier, faster, goes farther in day than a 17 footer. Simple , direct, physics. Longer boats are faster and more efficient. But, (you knew that was coming) Do not plan on routine or long distance portaging with a 85 to 110 pound 20 foot canoe. Yes, I can portage it… but I am not going to carry it far. And at 68 y.o. you can forget the boulder strrewn path across the canyon wall on the Colorado. Nope. Set up for it, just run it. And 2 or 3 seconds into the Class V rapid, you are wishing for a kayak. Go figure. It is all compromises. Buy and padddle what thrills you. There is no single answer.
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Exactly why no long time paddler has just one boat.
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One boat but with visitation rights to my old Souris Quetico 18 who has chosen to live with family up north rather than take the beating of driving north and south so many miles to paddle good lakes every year. Just open the border and there will be a new light north country single blade fish chaser in my livery to encourage me to get busy with the business of not working full time
Canoes are gear haulers light enough to portage. They can take dogs, Coleman stoves and anything else you want to haul like a moose. They are usually beamier than kayaks, usually longer and can be propelled by two paddlers. In a capsize they are easy to get out of. Larger well designed canoes can handle rough water on rivers and at sea. They can be fitted with covers. I have been canoeing for 60 years. Nearly all of the long trips across Canada have been in canoes.
Awhile ago I got interested in sea kayaks and rented some good fiberglass boats. We did a 5 day trip in the San Juan Islands of WA out with the commercial barges, ships, tidal rips, and the 5 foot State Ferry wake. The kayaks handle rough weather with a deck and a spray skirt covering the cockpit, especially once people learn their strokes and how to brace. The kayaks were hard to load on an overnight trip. They always feel more tender to me than a loaded canoe. I built a Pygmy Coho from a kit out of African mahogany. It was 17’9" and pretty fast, but I never like it as much as a canoe. I finally sold it and gave up on kayaks altogether.
After 4 canoes , so did I.