It was about 10 years ago that Oswegatchie received its first fleet of kayaks. Everyone was very excited and it always looks great to see the brightly colored kayaks head down the pond. Yellow, red, and orange stand out strongly against our dark waters and green foliage.
Within 2 summers, we saw a strong swing in our class sign ups. Canoes would scarcely get out on the pond, while we filled every kayak class to the max. Kayaking is about balance and even paddling, but only by yourself in the boat. The learning curve is very quick and you can do it all by yourself.
On the other hand, canoes require more paddle skill, muscle, and teamwork. Piloting a heavy aluminum canoe is no easy task, especially for your first time. All this extra effort drove the campers nuts. Of course they were going to prefer the kayaks.
Within 2 summers, we saw a strong swing in our class sign ups. Canoes would scarcely get out on the pond, while we filled every kayak class to the max. Kayaking is about balance and even paddling, but only by yourself in the boat. The learning curve is very quick and you can do it all by yourself.
On the other hand, canoes require more paddle skill, muscle, and teamwork. Piloting a heavy aluminum canoe is no easy task, especially for your first time. All this extra effort drove the campers nuts. Of course they were going to prefer the kayaks.
We hope that an industrious camper will try out both boats and find a place in their mind for both. Kayaks are great, but canoes will always have a special on our waterways. If you challenge yourself and embrace canoes, It will make you a better paddler.
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