C-1 means a solo Canoe, and K-1 a single Kayak. (a C-2 is a tandem Canoe and a K-2 a double Kayak.) Unfortunately the difference between a canoe and kayak is difficult to explain or define, because there are some exceptions to the 'rules' or definitions. Technically, a kayak can be seen as a very special kind of a closed canoe that is meant to be paddled with a double bladed paddle. Exceptions to this definition are of course a 'sit on top' kayak, or an open inflatable kayak that is meant to paddled with a double bladed paddle. Also there are open canoes that are more or less meant to be paddled with a double bladed paddle. There also are partially decked canoes that are meant to be paddled with a double bladed paddle, but for me they are really kayaks. A big problem is that through some historic 'misunderstandings' in some European countries (U.K., Netherlands, Germany, Scandinavie) people tend to call a kayak a canoe and a canoe a canadian canoe -- shortened to canadian, to add further confusion. So much even, that now for lots of people here a canoe is a kayak, and some even think a canoe is a canadian kayak... This confusion is, however, understandable, if you consider that in those Europe countries, almost all canoe books, canoe magazines, canoe clubs, canoe lessons, are mostly about... kayaking and very little (if at all, and then mostly very badly) about canoeing!? Dirk Barends *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Aug 08 2002 - 02:46:00 PDT
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