The issue isn't the old or current USCA racing specs for hulls. The issue is what, as a practical matter, differentiates "canoeing" from "kayaking". There are only three possibilities.
1. The hull shape. One can easily differentiate the classic Canadian open "canoe" from the classic Greenland "kayak" by eye, as nouns. But that doesn't answer the question of what "canoe" and "kayak" mean as verbs, because paddlers can and do use the very same hull for whitewater, pack, and expedition canoeing and kayaking. In addition, as nouns, what is called a "kayak" in North America is called a "canoe" in much of Europe.
2. The paddling posture -- sitting or kneeling. This can't be the differentiating factor between canoeing and kayaking because canoeists both sit and kneel. When the identical hull is used for both canoeing and kayaking, it's true that the canoeist usually chooses to elevate the seat further off the bottom than the kayaker -- but that's mainly to facilitate leverage for the single blade technique.
3. The paddle type and technique -- single or double blade. This is the only remaining practical differentiation between canoeing and kayaking and hence the one that makes the most common sense, even though most people may not use the verbs "canoe" and "kayak" that way.
This clearly correct conclusion was for years posted in the FAQ on the United States Canoe Association website, as follows:
"Am I paddling a canoe or a kayak?
"The right questions are: Are you canoeing or kayaking? How many blades does your paddle have?
Canoeing uses a single-bladed paddle. Kayaking uses a double-bladed paddle."
That is the right the analysis, as is easily seen from a linguistic analysis of other means/techniques of propelling a hull, whether that hull looks noun-wise like a Canadian open canoe, a Greenland kayak, a raft, a SUP, a punt, a pirogue, or a batteau.
If you are using a single blade for propulsion, you are canoeing . . . no matter the hull or seat.
If you are using a double blade, you are kayaking . . . no matter the hull or seat.
If you are using a pole to push off the bottom, you are poling . . . no matter the hull or seat.
If you are using a sail, you are sailing . . . no matter the hull or seat.
If you are pulling the canoe by the nose while wading, you are dragging . . . no matter the hull or seat.
If you are using ropes from shore go downstream, you are tracking . . . no matter the hull or seat.
If you are using ropes from shore to go upstream, you are lining . . . no matter the hull or seat.
If you are using oars in oarlocks, you are rowing . . . no matter the hull or seat.
If you are using an outboard motor, you are motor boating . . . no matter the hull or seat.
If you are propelling the hull by scooping and pulling the water with your hands, you are swimming . . . no matter the hull or seat.
If you are carrying the craft on your shoulders, you are portaging or carrying . . . no matter the hull or seat.
Hence, the method and technique of propulsion is the best definition of what you are doing in a paddle-able watercraft.
Now if any of you boys or girls wants to jump in any hull -- call it noun-wise a canoe, a kayak, a SOT, a SUP, a raft, a coracle, a pirogue, a bateau, a john boat, a scanoe, a whatever -- you can use any or all of these methods of propulsion you want. To your heart's desire. Ad libitum. Ad infinitum. But you are only CANOEING the bloody thing when you are using a SINGLE BLADE.
That's not a value or moral judgment. It's simply a rational use of proper verbal terminology.
1. The hull shape. One can easily differentiate the classic Canadian open "canoe" from the classic Greenland "kayak" by eye, as nouns. But that doesn't answer the question of what "canoe" and "kayak" mean as verbs, because paddlers can and do use the very same hull for whitewater, pack, and expedition canoeing and kayaking. In addition, as nouns, what is called a "kayak" in North America is called a "canoe" in much of Europe.
2. The paddling posture -- sitting or kneeling. This can't be the differentiating factor between canoeing and kayaking because canoeists both sit and kneel. When the identical hull is used for both canoeing and kayaking, it's true that the canoeist usually chooses to elevate the seat further off the bottom than the kayaker -- but that's mainly to facilitate leverage for the single blade technique.
3. The paddle type and technique -- single or double blade. This is the only remaining practical differentiation between canoeing and kayaking and hence the one that makes the most common sense, even though most people may not use the verbs "canoe" and "kayak" that way.
This clearly correct conclusion was for years posted in the FAQ on the United States Canoe Association website, as follows:
"Am I paddling a canoe or a kayak?
"The right questions are: Are you canoeing or kayaking? How many blades does your paddle have?
Canoeing uses a single-bladed paddle. Kayaking uses a double-bladed paddle."
That is the right the analysis, as is easily seen from a linguistic analysis of other means/techniques of propelling a hull, whether that hull looks noun-wise like a Canadian open canoe, a Greenland kayak, a raft, a SUP, a punt, a pirogue, or a batteau.
If you are using a single blade for propulsion, you are canoeing . . . no matter the hull or seat.
If you are using a double blade, you are kayaking . . . no matter the hull or seat.
If you are using a pole to push off the bottom, you are poling . . . no matter the hull or seat.
If you are using a sail, you are sailing . . . no matter the hull or seat.
If you are pulling the canoe by the nose while wading, you are dragging . . . no matter the hull or seat.
If you are using ropes from shore go downstream, you are tracking . . . no matter the hull or seat.
If you are using ropes from shore to go upstream, you are lining . . . no matter the hull or seat.
If you are using oars in oarlocks, you are rowing . . . no matter the hull or seat.
If you are using an outboard motor, you are motor boating . . . no matter the hull or seat.
If you are propelling the hull by scooping and pulling the water with your hands, you are swimming . . . no matter the hull or seat.
If you are carrying the craft on your shoulders, you are portaging or carrying . . . no matter the hull or seat.
Hence, the method and technique of propulsion is the best definition of what you are doing in a paddle-able watercraft.
Now if any of you boys or girls wants to jump in any hull -- call it noun-wise a canoe, a kayak, a SOT, a SUP, a raft, a coracle, a pirogue, a bateau, a john boat, a scanoe, a whatever -- you can use any or all of these methods of propulsion you want. To your heart's desire. Ad libitum. Ad infinitum. But you are only CANOEING the bloody thing when you are using a SINGLE BLADE.
That's not a value or moral judgment. It's simply a rational use of proper verbal terminology.
