Kayak vs Canoe 2024
Jonas Staggs reply :
Would you recommend a kayak vs a canoe, Im trying to keep safety in mind as my wife will be riding along with me. I do plan to eventually get a trolling motor attached to whatever I have kayak/canoe as well. I was originally looking at kayaks but stumbled on a great deal for a canoe and it got me wondering in regards to 2 fishing from a boat and safety as a priority, would you go tandem kayak or canoe? Thanks for your input.
Darren. reply :
Having done both, I prefer the kayak route; HOWEVER, that's single,
not tandem. I have done canoe with 3 people fishing. I think money
speaking, a canoe will be much cheaper allowing for multiple people
and trolling motor.
Either way, I'd make sure everyone wears a PFD for life 
.
Good luck with your choice.
Jonas Staggs reply :
On 10/12/2019 at 9:26 AM, Darren. said:Having done both, I prefer the kayak route; HOWEVER, that's single,
not tandem. I have done canoe with 3 people fishing. I think money
speaking, a canoe will be much cheaper allowing for multiple people
and trolling motor.
Either way, I'd make sure everyone wears a PFD for life
Good luck with your choice.
thanks for your input.
CountryboyinDC reply :
I haven't paddled a tandem kayak much. What little I have is a Big Tuna, and with 2 people it can get a little squirrelly if one of the people is not used to keeping a boat upright. A canoe is the more versatile of the 2, if it's a symmetric hull just turn around backward in the bow seat and you can manage it most of the time solo. I would say if you're switching back and forth between tandem and solo, probably the canoe is easier (although the hybrid Native Ultimates are pretty easily switched and you can make good progress with 1 or 2 paddlers). If you're by yourself, a kayak can be set up so much more easily for efficient fishing, and so I wouldn't bother with a canoe. Safety-wise, I guess it would depend on the application. Obviously canoes can get swamped more easily, but if you can let us know what your concern is, maybe we could address that better.
Jonas Staggs reply :
On 10/12/2019 at 10:29 AM, CountryboyinDC said:I haven't paddled a tandem kayak much. What little I have is a Big Tuna, and with 2 people it can get a little squirrelly if one of the people is not used to keeping a boat upright. A canoe is the more versatile of the 2, if it's a symmetric hull just turn around backward in the bow seat and you can manage it most of the time solo. I would say if you're switching back and forth between tandem and solo, probably the canoe is easier (although the hybrid Native Ultimates are pretty easily switched and you can make good progress with 1 or 2 paddlers). If you're by yourself, a kayak can be set up so much more easily for efficient fishing, and so I wouldn't bother with a canoe. Safety-wise, I guess it would depend on the application. Obviously canoes can get swamped more easily, but if you can let us know what your concern is, maybe we could address that better.
I would like to be able to go out to lakes such as lake hemet for example. Not do any crazy crosses, probably just hug the shoreline for the most part. Basically just thinking of safety as the priority over efficiency. Not sure how much easier it is to flip a kayak vs a canoe, and I think a canoe flipped over would put you in a similar situation as a Sit Inside kayak, which had me thinking the sit on top kayak would be safest option, reasoning would be worst case scenario, we flip, and climb back in, rather than flip and be stranded, my wife can swim, but she is not the greatest swimmer, of course we will have the life vests but still just trying to play it safe. I might be a bit more adventurous when I take the boat out myself. Getting 2 separate boats is not out of the question either.
Bird reply :
Most SOT kayaks are self draining and with a little practice, can be remounted in deep water.
The wife and I canoed for many years in a 14ft Madriver and finally sold it this year.
We simply are to old to load and unload the beast, mainly flipping it on the roof.
And yes we did flip it 3 times on a river float and let me tell you, it scoops a ton of water.
I'd opt for his and her SOT kayaks which would allow you to outfit your boat for fishing and easier to handle when solo.
During the summer months, I simply drag the wife behind me on a float tube while I'm fishing......hand her a book and she's good.
I have a Jonny Bass 100 with trolling motor.
CountryboyinDC reply :
What @Bird said is right, a SOT deep water re-entry is the simplest of the when compared to a canoe or a SINK. So long as water doesn't breach the 2 layers of the hull, you don't have to bail it if it ends up turtleing. That said, the SOTs usually do get some water in that space, particularly ones with big hatches. I had to be part of a party that brought a guy a boat to get him back because he turtlled a SOT so many times and had so much water in it that it became unpadleable. So with a SOT, you still need a system to bail the boat if you're going to take it out into bodies of water where a deep water re-entry is feasible. They're usually some sort of pump-primed siphon.
Coordinating a deep water re-entry between 2 people in the same boat might be interesting, especially if one is not a confident swimmer. I think in that scenario it might be easier to reassure your wife that you would help her if you yourself weren't bobbing next to her. (If it's you swimming, it would give her a good laugh, and you could just climb back into your kayak.) Again, I've never paddled a tandem SOT that I felt was all that stable, but that doesn't mean there aren't any. Maybe someone on this forum has some experience with one. I'm sure the Hobie tandem Pro Angler is, but it's like 250+ pounds and $6,500 or so. Otherwise, it may make sense to think of this in terms of 2 solo SOT kayaks.
Jonas Staggs reply :
On 10/12/2019 at 5:41 PM, Bird said:Most SOT kayaks are self draining and with a little practice, can be remounted in deep water.
The wife and I canoed for many years in a 14ft Madriver and finally sold it this year.
We simply are to old to load and unload the beast, mainly flipping it on the roof.
And yes we did flip it 3 times on a river float and let me tell you, it scoops a ton of water.
I'd opt for his and her SOT kayaks which would allow you to outfit your boat for fishing and easier to handle when solo.
During the summer months, I simply drag the wife behind me on a float tube while I'm fishing......hand her a book and she's good.
I have a Jonny Bass 100 with trolling motor.
On 10/12/2019 at 7:33 PM, CountryboyinDC said:What @Bird said is right, a SOT deep water re-entry is the simplest of the when compared to a canoe or a SINK. So long as water doesn't breach the 2 layers of the hull, you don't have to bail it if it ends up turtleing. That said, the SOTs usually do get some water in that space, particularly ones with big hatches. I had to be part of a party that brought a guy a boat to get him back because he turtlled a SOT so many times and had so much water in it that it became unpadleable. So with a SOT, you still need a system to bail the boat if you're going to take it out into bodies of water where a deep water re-entry is feasible. They're usually some sort of pump-primed siphon.
Coordinating a deep water re-entry between 2 people in the same boat might be interesting, especially if one is not a confident swimmer. I think in that scenario it might be easier to reassure your wife that you would help her if you yourself weren't bobbing next to her. (If it's you swimming, it would give her a good laugh, and you could just climb back into your kayak.) Again, I've never paddled a tandem SOT that I felt was all that stable, but that doesn't mean there aren't any. Maybe someone on this forum has some experience with one. I'm sure the Hobie tandem Pro Angler is, but it's like 250+ pounds and $6,500 or so. Otherwise, it may make sense to think of this in terms of 2 solo SOT kayaks.
thanks for your input guys, I think the solo SOT kayaks is probably the way to go after all the suggestions as well as sitting down and really thinking about it. Funny as you mention dragging her behind as my wife is the one who suggested just getting and pulling her around. Another thing I didnt even take into consideration, is one of the places we go, requires a 4x4 up and down a steep incline, I dont think it would be possible with a huge canoe strapped to the top of the truck due to weight and off balancing. 2 smaller SOT in the back of the truck we could probably get away with.
Dirtyeggroll reply :
Sounds like a jon boat would better fit your needs.
VolFan reply :
I think the Native Ultimate or Nucanoe Frontier 12 are the only real options for what you want to do if you go the kayak route. Both are great boats, and i go tandem in my Frontier virtually 90% of the time with no issues. Its actually easier to paddle with another person holding the bow down.
IgotWood reply :
NuCanoe Frontier! They’re super stable! They’re a little clunky to paddle, but if rigged tandem, your wife can help paddle too. It also has a motor-friendly transom. It is a little more portable than a canoe, and also a little nicer on solo outings than a canoe. I am in the market for one this year so I can take my kids out with me.
Brad Reid reply :
Sorry to be jumping in late. Just moved to Galveston, TX and lots of boxes to unpack.
If you do plan to go out tandem and if you do plan to use a trolling motor, there is simply no better choice than a Meyers Sportspal canoe . . . I'd say S-13 or S-15 (square sterns if you ever want to mount a small outboard or a trolling motor off the rear) or an S-14 or S-16 model where they come standard, as I recall, with a trolling motor side mount attachment.
I believe an S-13 or S-14 weighs 57 lbs. so much, much lighter than any tandem kayak I can think of. These are all made out of aircraft quality aluminum. Buy the American version as it is a heavier gauge aluminum than a similar make.
And, while some of the other vessels mentioned are stable, two grown men of size can stand and fish from a Meyers at the same time. These Meyers have extremely flat bottoms. Water fowl hunters like them as they can literally grab the collar of an 80 lbs. lab retriever and pull it back on board.
I paddled mine with a very long double-bladed paddle. It worked well seated or standing. And, these Meyers are so wide, depending on where and how I was fishing, I often just took out a very light blade footed lawn chair (5 lbs. ???) and sat in it to paddle and fish if I wasn't standing. Comfy, much more so than most kayak seats.
Cheers! Brad
Jonas Staggs reply :
thank you everyone for your advice and suggestions, much appreciated.
TnRiver46 reply :
I have both but the canoe is best for 2 people. If you flip it, dont waste energy trying to get back in. Get you butt to dry land!
Brad Reid reply :
On 10/15/2019 at 11:21 PM, TnRiver46 said:I have both but the canoe is best for 2 people. If you flip it, dont waste energy trying to get back in. Get you butt to dry land!
I have owned both, too. I find each a poor substitute for the other in particular circumstances.
I should have added earlier that I personally detest fishing tandem even in a large canoe. It just feels so limiting to me. I much prefer fishing alongside a friend, each in our own rides.
Brad
J Francho reply :
We call tandem kayaks "divorce boats" for a reason.
Dens228 reply :
I tried fishing with my son in a canoe on a small pond last summer. It was fairly windy, if I was in my kayak I would have barely noticed it. In the canoe it blew us around like a kite.
the reel ess reply :
I've owned both. My first small watercraft was a canoe that I tried to fish from. A stiff breeze would take it away from me. If you have two people in it that know how to paddle and work together, you can certainly enjoy it. And when it comes to taking a long trip or camping, a canoe is great for two or three people.
If you intend to fish a SOT kayak is the king. I never look back and think I'd like to have that canoe back. If you're thinking in terms of flipping one or the other, the canoe can easily be flipped or swamped, especially if you have an inexperienced partner. I've never turned a fishing kayak over in probably 8 years. You just need to get you and your partner on a kayak in still water a few trips so they gain confidence with handling it.
On 10/16/2019 at 9:30 PM, J Francho said:We call tandem kayaks "divorce boats" for a reason.
Yeah, just make sure one of the seats can be removed. LOL. A lot of couples get one thinking they'll be using it together a lot only to find one of them wants to use it a lot more than the other. Buying two singles is a better idea so you can at least sell hers (or his) or leave it at home when the spouse doesn't want to go, which happens to most of us.
J Francho reply :
On 10/18/2019 at 9:58 AM, the reel ess said:Yeah, just make sure one of the seats can be removed. LOL.
Most I've seen don't sit well in the water with just one person.
the reel ess reply :
On 10/18/2019 at 7:33 PM, J Francho said:Most I've seen don't sit well in the water with just one person.
I've always thought they should make them with the seats on an adjustable track so you can ditch the 2nd seat after the significant other gets tired of it. It also looks like the front person would constantly be in the way of the cast you want to make if you actually try to fish from one. But the NuCanoe Frontier with swivel seats looks doable. On second thought, it loos too small for two, but it might be fishable with one seat out.
J Francho reply :
I think for two people, get jon boat or a semi-v. We fished three out of 14' semi-v rentals all the time before we all got boats.
Fishing Rhino reply :
On 10/18/2019 at 7:33 PM, J Francho said:Most I've seen don't sit well in the water with just one person.
There's a trick to that. Most canoes have the rear seat close to the stern, causing the bow to run very high. When fishing solo in the canoe swap ends and make the stern your bow. The canoe will balance much better. The "bow seat" is much closer to the center of the boat, so using it as the stern seat will keep the canoe on a more even keel.
VolFan reply :
I can attest that a Nucanoe Frontier fishes great with two people on swivel seats in it. Ive even fished 3 people with the middle one paddling and sitting on a cooler (me, with wife and son in the seats) but its really not great for that. You can move and remove seats in about 30 seconds. Move a seat towards the middle when going solo, depending on your weight and paddling style.
Further North reply :
The real answer, for two people, is a drift boat...
J Francho reply :
On 10/19/2019 at 11:58 AM, Further North said:The real answer, for two people, is a drift boat...
Tell me the benefits of a drift boat on a lake. I've only been in one once, on the Salmon River. Doesn't seem like an ideal vessel for tooling around a lake.
Further North reply :
On 10/21/2019 at 8:51 PM, J Francho said:Tell me the benefits of a drift boat on a lake. I've only been in one once, on the Salmon River. Doesn't seem like an ideal vessel for tooling around a lake.
Good question, thanks. I'm in the middle of deciding if I want to buy one, and that helped me sit down and really think about it.
Not in order of importance:
- Orders of magnitude more stable.
- I throw flies at muskies and that is much, much easier standing. I'm getting older and I don't like the rocking motion that creates even on my SportsPal.
- Landing a 4 ft. fish is easier for me in a stable platform. I can stand up to get the net under the fish.
- Higher sides, more likely to stay dry inside.
- More built in storage (including horizontal rod storage, and plenty of room for a musky-sized net).
- Handle motors easily if desired.
- They come with a trailer, I don't have to deal with getting them on and off the vehicle. I just hook up and drive away. (This will not be a benefit to everyone)
- I prefer oars to paddles. I find them much easier to maneuver with, and they provide more "power". Not sure I'm using the right word there?
- Very easy for one person to row while the other (or two others with a bigger craft) fish.
- Anchor system is built into the boat and is easily deployable.
- You can transport your gear in the boat, which means less pre-launch activity when you get to the water.
- I can get up and move around. This is important to me, may not be to others.
Downsides, again, not in order of importance:
- Cost. Even a smaller, used drift boat is going to cost several thousand dollars. That's a no-go for a lot of folks. It would not be hard to outfit a used flat bottom boat for less.
- Most are fiberglass...I'm not wild about that on rocky rivers.
- They require a trailer (the opposite of of the point above). This is a no-go for a lot of people.
- Weight. Much heavier than a canoe, or a kayak. When you have to drag it through water too shallow to row through, it's going to be tougher than either.
What it comes down to for me is that drift boats are designed from the start as a fishing platform. Fishing is my primary reason to be on the water, so that drives my decisions. I'd rather compromise other things in favor of fishing than compromise fishing.
That said, they are better on rivers, but so are canoes and kayaks. I'd not take any of them out on bigger water, but I have a boat for that, others may not.
There's other similar options, one of the river musky guides up here runs a Towee, and there's the big inflatables like Bill Sherer offers, but they have their own shortcomings.
I hope that helps.
J Francho reply :
Who is going to row? The time is was in one, it was all the good things you talked about, but the guide was on the oars the whole time. Most of the ones I see up here are aluminum. If you're fishing a river, then I could see it, if you had someone to row while you fish. On a lake, in anything other than completely still air, I'd think you'd get blown all over the place. I'm still hung up on the rowing thing, too. I've fished the NYC reservoirs, and it's rowboats only. Getting to spots, and getting into and holding position is hard work. Usually the way we did it is one rows for a bit, and keeps position for the other person. Switch off after some fish. Anchoring is rarely a great plan when bass fishing, unless you on a school. It may very well be the right choice for you, but I don't think it's some silver bullet no one thought of before.
Further North reply :
On 10/22/2019 at 12:57 AM, J Francho said:Who is going to row? The time is was in one, it was all the good things you talked about, but the guide was on the oars the whole time. Most of the ones I see up here are aluminum. If you're fishing a river, then I could see it, if you had someone to row while you fish. On a lake, in anything other than completely still air, I'd think you'd get blown all over the place. I'm still hung up on the rowing thing, too. I've fished the NYC reservoirs, and it's rowboats only. Getting to spots, and getting into and holding position is hard work. Usually the way we did it is one rows for a bit, and keeps position for the other person. Switch off after some fish. Anchoring is rarely a great plan when bass fishing, unless you on a school. It may very well be the right choice for you, but I don't think it's some silver bullet no one thought of before.
If there's two people, one rows, one fishes. Take turns, as you said. Getting into and holding position is, IMO, easier with oars than paddles, but that's me. I'm a newbie at it, and I can spin a drift boat on a dime, faster than a canoe or a kayak.
If you're by yourself, row, fish, row, fish...they get blown around a lot less than a light canoe, particularly with one person on board. Run a trolling motor if you can. The beauty of that is you set the TM up to pull, not push.
Drift boats are certainly not a "some silver bullet no one thought of before", but that's not what I said. Nor are they for everyone, but they fish extremely well, and that's what I'm out there to do.
Here's a quick video on the two man Stealthcraft Stalker.
J Francho reply :
That is tiny compared to what I was thinking. Looks pretty much like a sit inside bass raider, but nicer.
This is what I had in mind when you said drift boat:
https://www.pavatimarine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Pavati-17x61-Model-1.jpg
Further North reply :
On 10/22/2019 at 3:45 AM, J Francho said:That is tiny compared to what I was thinking. Looks pretty much like a sit inside bass raider, but nicer.
This is what I had in mind when you said drift boat:
https://www.pavatimarine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Pavati-17x61-Model-1.jpg
That looks like a four man power drifter.
The three-man rigs are the most common (Guide and two fishermen) but that little fella is perfect for what I want around here. I can get way, way op skinny musky/smallie water, and back out again.
I'd love aluminum, but they are rare (oddly enough, there's one for sale here, but it's from 1973 and would have to have the interior re-done for fly chucking.
Main brands I can think of are Hyde and Stealthcraft, super popular our west for trout. Most of the musky fly guys around here have the three man rigs.
https://stealthcraftboats.com/stealthcraft/stalker/
Angry John reply :
I have no idea what your size or transportation limits are but the original grumman's aluminum canoes are very nice to fish 2. They paddle well and if you add an outrigger very stable. How much modifications along with setup and teardown time is up to you. The more you do yourself the cheaper you can pull off a killer rig.
CountryboyinDC reply :
@Further North, that's the tiniest drift boat I've ever seen too. For really skinny water, you may want to consider an inflatable (cataraft). Most drift boats have a much deeper draft. That one being so small, it may not, but the inflatable would probably still go in shallower water without worrying about damage.
For the OP, I think a drift boat would be an order of magnitude more logistically challenging and an order of magnitude more expensive too. The plastic boats (kayaks and canoes, which are often polyethylene or ABS) are about the simplest way to leave the bank.
schplurg reply :
On 10/22/2019 at 12:02 AM, Further North said:Fishing is my primary reason to be on the water, so that drives my decisions. I'd rather compromise other things in favor of fishing than compromise fishing.
Me too which is why I'm selling my kayak (maybe I'll end up keeping it) for a small boat. I don't really go into skinny water and I found that being stuck in a seat all day was aggravating for me. I can get a used 14 foot (maybe 16) aluminum and build a nice casting deck and throw in a trolling motor for about the same price as my used yak, and a lot cheaper than a new one.
Obviously many people love these things and I thought I would too, so just giving a different opinion here.
My kayak is no easier to get on the water than an aluminum boat, in fact for me it's more difficult. I'm almost 52 and I'm risking straining my back just dragging it out of the water onto the ramp, or out of my truck. Just getting it into my truck at home I have to be careful.
The kayak is fun but I find myself fighting the yak too much on the water, and off as well. Too hard to turn and cast another direction, having to grab a paddle every time I want to turn just a little (get a mini-paddle for this! One handed!)
Plus most of the good fishing is far from where I can launch a yak. I considered a motor but that's when I also started thinking about a boat. Why bother at that point? Gotta register it then just like a boat!
I'd rather stand up and operate a trolling motor and ditch the paddles. I also have tendinitis so that has something (maybe a LOT) to do with my decision - more paddling = less fishing for me. Same with lifting the yak.
Final "plus" for a boat is that I can bring someone along comfortably. I can lay on the deck if I get tired, I can pack more food and gear if I want, bring the dog.
My friend tandem fishes with his GF in a yak and he likes it fine. It isn't even a good one. There is something very cool about yakking but, like you, I'm there to fish and it isn't the best answer...for ME anyways.
Anyways just food for thought.
Further North reply :
On 10/22/2019 at 6:55 AM, CountryboyinDC said:@Further North, that's the tiniest drift boat I've ever seen too. For really skinny water, you may want to consider an inflatable (cataraft). Most drift boats have a much deeper draft. That one being so small, it may not, but the inflatable would probably still go in shallower water without worrying about damage.
For the OP, I think a drift boat would be an order of magnitude more logistically challenging and an order of magnitude more expensive too. The plastic boats (kayaks and canoes, which are often polyethylene or ABS) are about the simplest way to leave the bank.
Thanks.
I've had a small pontoon...didn't care for it at all.
I've had a couple of plastic canoes, one plastic kayak,and currently have a Meyer's Sportspal aluminum canoe.
The Sportspal is the best of the bunch for me, by a wide margin.
Still not as stable as the drift boat.
On 10/22/2019 at 10:37 AM, schplurg said:
Me too which is why I'm selling my kayak (maybe I'll end up keeping it) for a small boat. I don't really go into skinny water and I found that being stuck in a seat all day was aggravating for me. I can get a used 14 foot (maybe 16) aluminum and build a nice casting deck and throw in a trolling motor for about the same price as my used yak, and a lot cheaper than a new one.
Obviously many people love these things and I thought I would too, so just giving a different opinion here.
My kayak is no easier to get on the water than an aluminum boat, in fact for me it's more difficult. I'm almost 52 and I'm risking straining my back just dragging it out of the water onto the ramp, or out of my truck. Just getting it into my truck at home I have to be careful.
The kayak is fun but I find myself fighting the yak too much on the water, and off as well. Too hard to turn and cast another direction, having to grab a paddle every time I want to turn just a little (get a mini-paddle for this! One handed!)
Plus most of the good fishing is far from where I can launch a yak. I considered a motor but that's when I also started thinking about a boat. Why bother at that point? Gotta register it then just like a boat!
I'd rather stand up and operate a trolling motor and ditch the paddles. I also have tendinitis so that has something (maybe a LOT) to do with my decision - more paddling = less fishing for me. Same with lifting the yak.
Final "plus" for a boat is that I can bring someone along comfortably. I can lay on the deck if I get tired, I can pack more food and gear if I want, bring the dog.
My friend tandem fishes with his GF in a yak and he likes it fine. It isn't even a good one. There is something very cool about yakking but, like you, I'm there to fish and it isn't the best answer...for ME anyways.
Anyways just food for thought.
Very, very close to how I look at things.
I've already got the boat, am looking for the best way (for me) to fish skinny water. All of the things you said about kayaks and canoes resonate very well with me.
I've got 5 years on top of your 52, and while I don't have any health issues (yet), I'm not getting any younger. I want easy, stable, and something I can just drop in the water and go.
TnRiver46 reply :
me and my girlfriend had a fun fall colors paddle on sunday in the canoe 
Malik Adeel reply :
On 10/12/2019 at 7:33 PM, CountryboyinDC said:What @Birdsaid is right, a SOT deep water re-entry is the simplest of the when compared to a canoe or a SINK. So long as water doesn't breach the 2 layers of the hull, you don't have to bail it if it ends up turtleing. That said, the SOTs usually do get some water in that space, particularly ones with big hatches. I had to be part of a party that brought a guy a boat to get him back because he turtlled a SOT so many times and had so much water in it that it became unpadleable. So with a SOT, you still need a system to bail the boat if you're going to take it out into bodies of water where a deep water re-entry is feasible. They're usually some sort of pump-primed siphon.
Coordinating a deep water re-entry between 2 people in the same boat might be interesting, especially if one is not a confident swimmer. I think in that scenario it might be easier to reassure your wife that you would help her if you yourself weren't bobbing next to her. (If it's you swimming, it would give her a good laugh, and you could just climb back into your kayak.) Again, I've never paddled a tandem SOT that I felt was all that stable, but that doesn't mean there aren't any. Maybe someone on this forum has some experience with solo canoe and with other. I'm sure the Hobie tandem Pro Angler is, but it's like 250+ pounds and $6,500 or so. Otherwise, it may make sense to think of this in terms of 2 solo SOT kayaks.
I can't understand that which is best near you kayak and canoe. I think this is famous forum every one have different arguments about this like you there are a lot of thinks that' why both are demanded highly both have facilities and issues some feel comfortable in kayak and some feel in canoe so if anyone want to buy he will not understand that which will be best for him because issues can be find by usage.I feel from your post you used and know much about both so can you explain which will best for fishing....?
Best kinds of cheap canoes.....?
CountryboyinDC reply :
@Malik Adeel, some things are impossible to get from a forum, even one like this where most of the members are genuinely interested in sharing their knowledge. For the canoe versus SOT kayak versus SINK kayak, there are advantages to each that you'll need to weigh, and it still may be a matter of trial and error to get to the point you're happy. I own a canoe, a paddle kayak, and a pedal kayak. I think for most people a SOT kayak is the way to go solo fiahing, whether or not you may face a deep water re-entry that the OP was concerned about. For two anglers, there are probably more knowledgable responses here than I could offer. When I'm out with the family, we're in the canoe (usually not my most productive fishing time). As for specific models of solo SOT kayaks or a canoe, tell me what your priorities are and your budget, and I'll try to give you a helpful opinion.
Swamp Yankee reply :
With regards to self-powered boats; moreso than in canoes or kayaks ( and I own both) I really enjoy fishing still water and slower moving rivers from a rowing boat. But the best boats for rowing are the ones that are designed for rowing only... not aluminum boats designed for outboard motors that happen to have oarlocks.. not much fun to row one of them at all...not when compared to a true rowing boat.
A drift boat is really designed for drifting backwards ( rower facing forward) downstream on relatively faster moving streams. The hull is designed with lots of rocker to steer quickly. The oars are meant more for steering than propulsion. Because of their hull design, however, they are tough to row for a long time on a straight course in still water because they’re not designed for that.
A rowing boat is also a great way to take your wife out onto the water. She sits in the stern facing you, and you row her butt around. Fishing is nice because you can both see what the other is doing. One fishes the port side, the other the starboard.
Many of them can be easily “backed in” to good fishing spots so the rower can see precisely where the boat is going. And when you’re just trying to cover distances no canoe is more efficient than a good rowing boat. They’re just a great way to get around on the water.
Problem is... they’re hard to find and often expensive when you do find one. Many of the better ones are hand made by professional and amateur builders. It’s too bad, too. I own and have owned sailing boats, canoes, kayaks, motor boats, and pure rowing boats... and for sheer fun on the water, a good rowing boat is second only to a good sailing dinghy, and it’s much better suited for fishing. But nobody seems to want anything to do with them.
My hunch is that many people that have any experience rowing have tried to row an aluminum boat designed for an outboard... and again, they’re no fun at all, IMO. But when I’m out on the water it seems many other boaters seem to think rowing must be sheer drudgery.... if they only knew how much fun it was in one of my rowing boats, they’d think otherwise.
A-Jay reply :
On 10/12/2019 at 9:21 AM, Jonas Staggs said:Would you recommend a kayak vs a canoe, Im trying to keep safety in mind as my wife will be riding along with me. I do plan to eventually get a trolling motor attached to whatever I have kayak/canoe as well. I was originally looking at kayaks but stumbled on a great deal for a canoe and it got me wondering in regards to 2 fishing from a boat and safety as a priority, would you go tandem kayak or canoe? Thanks for your input.
I've fished out of an Old Town squareback canoe for many years (still do).
I run it both with a trolling motor & without - paddle power.
I fish both solo & with my wife - those trips are the best !
Transportation is done with a small trailer.
Rig is very stable, at just under 16 ft long it has a 40 inch beam - I often stand & fish without any problems.
Might be something to consider.
The video below is my most recent trip out in the Old Town and it's part of a playlist of over 70 video's fishing from it.
A-Jay
MN Fisher reply :
On 11/17/2019 at 12:14 AM, A-Jay said:I've fished out of an Old Town squareback canoe for many years (still do).
I run it both with a trolling motor & without - paddle power.
I fish both solo & with my wife - those trips are the best !
Transportation is done with a small trailer.
Rig is very stable, at just under 16 ft long it has a 40 inch beam - I often stand & fish without any problems.
Might be something to consider.
A-Jay
My canoe isn't quite as large as @A-Jay's, being only a 14' square-stern with a 34" beam.
But with outrigger stabilizers, I too can stand to cast when I want to, and the 30# TM moves it quite easily. Use the paddle for short changes in position and it moves like a breeze.
Also have a trailer for it which does limit where I can launch, but at my age, makes it much easier.
A-Jay reply :
On 11/17/2019 at 12:26 AM, MN Fisher said:My canoe isn't quite as large as @A-Jay's, being only a 14' square-stern with a 34" beam.
But with outrigger stabilizers, I too can stand to cast when I want to, and the 30# TM moves it quite easily. Use the paddle for short changes in position and it moves like a breeze.
Also have a trailer for it which does limit where I can launch, but at my age, makes it much easier.
Sweet Rig Sir !
A-Jay
MN Fisher reply :
On 11/17/2019 at 12:28 AM, A-Jay said:Sweet Rig Sir !
A-Jay
I'm going to be doing some more mods to it besides what I posted last spring. Maybe do a vid on it when it's all done next spring.
WRB reply :
There was a local kayak tournament a few weeks ago and the predominate kayak was Wilderness Systems with a few tandem 135T boats with 2 anglers. Watching them fish was inreresting, boat looked very stable but never witnessed anyone in the event standing up in their kayaks.
This a club event and they told me they fish every weekend between Santa Barbara and San Diego mostly coastal ocean areas. The big events are held in San Diego around La Jolla with over 100 kayaks.
Tom
Swamp Yankee reply :
On 11/17/2019 at 2:16 AM, WRB said:There was a local kayak tournament a few weeks ago and the predominate kayak was Wilderness Systems with a few tandem 135T boats with 2 anglers. Watching them fish was inreresting, boat looked very stable but never witnessed anyone in the event standing up in their kayaks.
This a club event and they told me they fish every weekend between Santa Barbara and San Diego mostly coastal ocean areas. The big events are held in San Diego around La Jolla with over 100 kayaks.
Tom
In my experience, the kayaks that are stable enough that you can stand in them tend to be real dogs when it comes to paddling them.
Goose52 reply :
Well, as long as all the canoe people are checking in - I might as well too. My boat is a solo boat (11'6") but the rigging principles would be the same if I had a 14' or 16' boat. The point is that canoes are often dismissed out-of-hand as not being suitable fishing craft. It's true that in the shorter lengths, a kayak is probably a better fishing craft than a stripped, no rigging, canoe propelled by paddle only. However, if the intended use if the canoe is not as a pure paddle craft, or if, as the OP was inquiring about, there is the potential for two or more people in the boat, canoes then bring advantages to the playing field.
As I have posted in this forum many times, for my specific purposes, in my specific water, I have yet to find a small watercraft that is better for my purposes than the below boat. Stand up 100% of the time to fish, down/side imaging sonar, plenty of room, modular and can be rigged many ways, 34 pound hull weight, 8 to 15 minute rigging time, easy to car top, easy to store.
YMMV...
MN Fisher reply :
On 11/17/2019 at 4:40 AM, Goose52 said:Well, as long as all the canoe people are checking in - I might as well too. My boat is a solo boat (11'6") but the rigging principles would be the same if I had a 14' or 16' boat. The point is that canoes are often dismissed out-of-hand as not being suitable fishing craft. It's true that in the shorter lengths, a kayak is probably a better fishing craft than a stripped, no rigging, canoe propelled by paddle only. However, if the intended use if the canoe is not as a pure paddle craft, or if, as the OP was inquiring about, there is the potential for two or more people in the boat, canoes then bring advantages to the playing field.
You and @Fishing Rhinoare two of my inspirations. 
J Francho reply :
On 11/17/2019 at 2:28 AM, Swamp Yankee said:In my experience, the kayaks that are stable enough that you can stand in them tend to be real dogs when it comes to paddling them.
I though this too, until I got into some better boats. My OG Ocean Kayak PBG was like paddling a sheet of plywood. My Wilderness Systems Commander 140 is a fast boat, and I could stand on the gunwales and fish in still water. My current Hobie Compass, while pedal driven, can be paddled and is no dog when running paddles. I have a Jackson Coosa, and while standable, not as stable, has lesser tracking ability, and is pretty slow. It's really meant for bouncing down shallow rivers, in tight quarters, and excels in that area.
Swamp Yankee reply :
On 11/18/2019 at 9:01 PM, J Francho said:I though this too, until I got into some better boats. My OG Ocean Kayak PBG was like paddling a sheet of plywood. My Wilderness Systems Commander 140 is a fast boat, and I could stand on the gunwales and fish in still water. My current Hobie Compass, while pedal driven, can be paddled and is no dog when running paddles. I have a Jackson Coosa, and while standable, not as stable, has lesser tracking ability, and is pretty slow. It's really meant for bouncing down shallow rivers, in tight quarters, and excels in that area.
That Compass looks like a nice boat! I see they came up with a kick-up fin design. I always wondered what pedal yakkers do when they get into skinny water. That always seemed to me to be the weakest part of the system.
J Francho reply :
On 11/18/2019 at 9:20 PM, Swamp Yankee said:I always wondered what pedal yakkers do when they get into skinny water.
You can flutter the the fins with half strokes into about 6" of water. This works over pads and all but the gnarliest of slop. There's always the paddle as well.
Here is the Compass, with the Mirage Drive deployed, and beached.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Family/Fishing-Journal/i-nw7vt3s/0/80963f73/X2/IMG_1037-X2.jpg
Hook2Jaw reply :
On 11/18/2019 at 9:20 PM, Swamp Yankee said:That Compass looks like a nice boat! I see they came up with a kick-up fin design. I always wondered what pedal yakkers do when they get into skinny water. That always seemed to me to be the weakest part of the system.
We flutter fin or stow the drive altogether and bust out the paddle. Then we go way skinnier than a boat could ever dream of. ????
Swamp Yankee reply :
On 11/18/2019 at 9:55 PM, Hook2Jaw said:We flutter fin or stow the drive altogether and bust out the paddle. Then we go way skinnier than a boat could ever dream of. ????
I doubt you can go any skinnier than my favorite bass boat. 
On 11/18/2019 at 9:43 PM, J Francho said:You can flutter the the fins with half strokes into about 6" of water. This works over pads and all but the gnarliest of slop. There's always the paddle as well.
Here is the Compass, with the Mirage Drive deployed, and beached.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Family/Fishing-Journal/i-nw7vt3s/0/80963f73/X2/IMG_1037-X2.jpg
I should be more clear in my wording. Honestly, I was imagining what might happen if you pedaled over something unseen.
I knew there were ways to run in water too shallow for pedaling, given you knew you were heading into such conditions, but I worried what might happen to the rig if you hit some unseen obstruction under water. If you were going fast, I imagine you could mess those fins up pretty badly.
Hobie’s design change for kick up fins seems to address that.
Hook2Jaw reply :
On 11/18/2019 at 10:10 PM, Swamp Yankee said:I doubt you can go any skinnier than my favorite bass boat.
I should be more clear in my wording. Honestly, I was imagining what might happen if you pedaled over something unseen.
I knew there were ways to run in water too shallow for pedaling, given you knew you were heading into such conditions, but I worried what might happen to the rig if you hit some unseen obstruction under water. If you were going fast, I imagine you could mess those fins up pretty badly.
Hobie’s design change for kick up fins seems to address that.
Oh. I don't have kick up fins but I've bent the stainless fin masts back straight with vices, and in a pinch, stuck them in my hitch reciever and done it by hand. Hobie is pretty genius with their design, the masts that add support to the fins are designed to bend rather than break and to do so before they thread into the mast recievers.
As far as the propeller drive pedal kayaks, like the Native Watercraft offerings, they have a shear pin installed to break and allow the drive to kick up upon impact. Those shear pins cost about a dollar.
Swamp Yankee reply :
On 11/18/2019 at 10:24 PM, Hook2Jaw said:Oh. I don't have kick up fins but I've bent the stainless fin masts back straight with vices, and in a pinch, stuck them in my hitch reciever and done it by hand. Hobie is pretty genius with their design, the masts that add support to the fins are designed to bend rather than break and to do so before they thread into the mast recievers.
Good to know they’re easy to repair.
Can your fins bend badly enough so that you can’t hoist the drive assembly out of its well while you’re on the water?
Hook2Jaw reply :
On 11/18/2019 at 10:29 PM, Swamp Yankee said:Good to know they’re easy to repair.
Can your fins bend badly enough so that you can’t hoist the drive assembly out of its well while you’re on the water?
I've never heard of such an issue. Normally impacts slow your kayak enough so they don't bend too terribly, if at all.
If they were to bend that much, the slot is very spacious, and the fins aren't that long. You could angle it out without issue. If not, roll the boat on its side and bend them back straight enough to remove the drive.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 11/18/2019 at 9:01 PM, J Francho said:I though this too, until I got into some better boats. My OG Ocean Kayak PBG was like paddling a sheet of plywood. My Wilderness Systems Commander 140 is a fast boat, and I could stand on the gunwales and fish in still water. My current Hobie Compass, while pedal driven, can be paddled and is no dog when running paddles. I have a Jackson Coosa, and while standable, not as stable, has lesser tracking ability, and is pretty slow. It's really meant for bouncing down shallow rivers, in tight quarters, and excels in that area.
Those coosas are awesome! Definitely made for what you described as they are made in TN and that's what most of our water is like. I dont even worry about which line to take down rapids in a coosa, just keep casting all the way through and the boat just does its thing
J Francho reply :
On 11/19/2019 at 1:45 AM, TnRiver46 said:I dont even worry about which line to take down rapids in a coosa, just keep casting all the way through and the boat just does its thing
I've learned this is why I don't like the boat. I rarely fish the waters it was intended for. It's a terrible flat water boat.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 11/19/2019 at 2:04 AM, J Francho said:I've learned this is why I don't like the boat. I rarely fish the waters it was intended for. It's a terrible flat water boat.
Id believe it! As a matter of fact I have noticed my coosa buddies always say "man, your canoe (keeled aluminum) is fast" when we are paddling through the deep holes between rapids . But then they pass back by me when im sticking to rocks like Velcro
Bassjam2000 reply :
On 11/17/2019 at 4:40 AM, Goose52 said:Well, as long as all the canoe people are checking in - I might as well too. My boat is a solo boat (11'6") but the rigging principles would be the same if I had a 14' or 16' boat. The point is that canoes are often dismissed out-of-hand as not being suitable fishing craft. It's true that in the shorter lengths, a kayak is probably a better fishing craft than a stripped, no rigging, canoe propelled by paddle only. However, if the intended use if the canoe is not as a pure paddle craft, or if, as the OP was inquiring about, there is the potential for two or more people in the boat, canoes then bring advantages to the playing field.
As I have posted in this forum many times, for my specific purposes, in my specific water, I have yet to find a small watercraft that is better for my purposes than the below boat. Stand up 100% of the time to fish, down/side imaging sonar, plenty of room, modular and can be rigged many ways, 34 pound hull weight, 8 to 15 minute rigging time, easy to car top, easy to store.
YMMV...
34 pounds! That's pretty light, whats the make and model of that?
Swamp Yankee reply :
On 11/19/2019 at 2:08 AM, TnRiver46 said:Id believe it! As a matter of fact I have noticed my coosa buddies always say "man, your canoe (keeled aluminum) is fast" when we are paddling through the deep holes between rapids . But then they pass back by me when im sticking to rocks like Velcro
Fast is a relative term when it comes to kayaks. This is my fastest kayak 17 foot long and 21 inches wide
slicker than otter snot ...but it's wicked scary trying to fish from it 
Stand in it? Fuggedaboutit...it's tippy enough just sitting in it. In fact, I took the stock seat out of it and replaced it with a slim foam seat that brings my butt about 3/4" lower in the boat...made a big difference lowering the center of gravity that 3/4"
Goose52 reply :
On 11/19/2019 at 3:04 AM, Bassjam2000 said:34 pounds! That's pretty light, whats the make and model of that?
Radisson - 12 foot pointed. See: http://www.bwmarineproducts.com/pointed_canoes.htm
The light weight is due to VERY thin gauge aluminum. It will dent if you look at it mean. NOT a river boat but perfect for my small lakes that run from 2.5 acres to 200 acres. The factory specifies the bare hull weight at 34 pounds. Mine might weigh 38 or so due to some permanent stuff installed in the boat (primarily the cables and conduit for the trolling motor battery). I am 67 but the boat is so light that I can just pick it up and put it on the roof of the car - easy...
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