>>2064481>14 footer with bulkheads and compartments is like 65lbsAnd a 17 foot 2 man Kevlar canoe that can haul far more gear is 44 lbs, and you can certainly buy lighter, I've seen 17 foot boats with over 1000 lbs capacity that weigh 33 lbs unloaded.
>>2064678>The man should be at the sternbecause you'll have a far easier time steering if the heavier person is in the rear. The person in the front can contribute as little or as much as they are able, but if you put the heavier person in the front, the person in the rear has to work twice as hard to keep the boat in a straight line, especially in windy conditions, and the person in the front can't control the boat efficiently at all all.
>>2062933Kayaks and canoes are all better at different things, and not all kayaks or canoes are good at the same things as other kayaks and canoes. Do you want to camp a river trail? Do you want to camp a lake chain? Do you want to go fishing off shore? Do you want to haul decoys to a blind in a slough?
Generally, a canoe is a more versatile craft, but the kayak, being specialized, will be far superior at the particular task it is specialized for. The biggest exception is for multiple people, tandem kayaks are awful, whereas canoeing with a child or a friend is generally great.
Canoes take more skill to operate safely than kayaks, especially in rough or deep water.
I have owned both, but I used my canoe way more often, so that's what I have now (a Souris River Quetico 17).
