“What is the difference between a canoe and a kayak?” If you are heading out on the water for the first time, those words get mixed up fast, and a third one, the Canadian canoe, only adds to the confusion. The good news: the difference is quick to explain, and knowing it helps you pick the right boat for your first day of paddling. We have spent years on the Rur and the Heimbach reservoir in Eifel National Park, so let us sort the terms out for you, without any jargon.

The short answer: kayak, canoe and Canadian

If you are in a hurry, these three points are all you need:

Kayak: You sit down, paddle with a double-bladed paddle (two blades) and the boat usually has a closed or partly closed deck. Nimble and sporty, often built for one person.
Open canoe (also called a Canadian): An open boat in which you kneel or sit on a bench and paddle with a single-bladed paddle. Plenty of room for gear and several people.
Canoe (the umbrella term): In paddlesport, canoe covers both, the kayak and the open Canadian canoe.

So the real pair to compare is not canoe against kayak, but the open canoe against the kayak. The rest is detail.

The kayak in detail

The kayak originally comes from the peoples of the Arctic, who used it to hunt on the water. Typical features are the low seating position with your legs stretched forward and the double-bladed paddle that you pull on the left and right in turn. Many kayaks have a closed deck, so less spray gets into the boat. That makes them nimble and fast. They are usually paddled solo, though two-seater kayaks exist too. If you like things sporty and enjoy being out on your own, a kayak will suit you.

The open canoe in detail

The open canoe, called a Canadian after the indigenous peoples of North America, is an open boat. You kneel in it or sit on a slightly raised bench and paddle with a single-bladed paddle. Thanks to the open design there is plenty of space: for gear, for children, for a whole family. Getting in and out is easy, and the boat sits calm and stable on the water. That is exactly why the open canoe is the first choice for families, groups and anyone who wants to paddle together in a relaxed way.

Why the word canoe confuses everyone

In the sport itself it is clear: canoe is the umbrella term, and canoeing covers both the kayak and the open Canadian canoe. In everyday speech, though, many people say canoe and mean the open boat. So if someone asks whether you are coming along in the canoe, they usually mean the open boat that several people paddle together. This little blur in language is why the terms get muddled so often. Nobody is really getting it wrong, you just now know what is actually behind the words.

Which boat do you paddle with Kanu Petry?

On our guided tours you are out in an open canoe. There is a good reason for that: the open boat is stable, getting in is easy, and you paddle together with no prior knowledge needed. Your guide shows you everything important beforehand, and a life jacket and briefing are included.

Guided Rur tour: Start at 11:15, lasting around 4.5 hours, from Heimbach to Zerkall right through Eifel National Park. You will find all the details on the page about the guided canoe tour on the Rur.
Heimbach reservoir: Prefer completely calm water with no current? The reservoir is ideal for families and beginners, from the age of 7, and open earlier in the season than the Rur. More on the canoe tour on the Heimbach reservoir.
Canoe rental: Our rental offers kayaks, but only to experienced paddlers who know the route because they have already done the guided tour with us. We do not rent to first-time paddlers, that is what the guided tour is for.

Which boat suits whom?

The question of canoe or kayak usually answers itself once you know how you want to paddle:

Beginners, families and groups: the open canoe on a guided tour. Stable, sociable, no prior knowledge needed, and the guide takes care of the rest.
Sporty and on your own: the kayak. More nimble and faster, but it asks for a bit more sense of balance. With us it is available for rental only to experienced paddlers who know the area.

So for your first day on the Rur, the guided canoe tour is always the right way to start. After that, the rental is open to you.

Frequently asked questions about canoes, kayaks and Canadians

What is the difference between a canoe and a kayak?

Canoe is the umbrella term, and the kayak is one type of boat within it. In a kayak you sit and paddle with a double-bladed paddle. Its counterpart is the open canoe, an open boat with a single-bladed paddle.

Is a Canadian the same as a canoe?

Not quite. The Canadian, or open canoe, is one type of canoe, just like the kayak. In everyday speech, though, many people use canoe to mean exactly this open boat.

Which is easier for beginners, a kayak or an open canoe?

The open canoe is more stable and easier to climb into, which makes it beginner-friendly. On our guided tours you paddle in an open canoe, and that makes starting out especially easy.

Which boat does Kanu Petry use?

Open canoes on the guided tours. The rental, which is open to experienced local paddlers only, offers kayaks.

Fancy trying it yourself?

Now you know the difference, but the nicest place to learn it is on the water. Climb into an open canoe on a guided canoe tour on the Rur or paddle in a completely relaxed way on the Heimbach reservoir. We provide the boat, paddle and life jacket, all you have to do is come along.

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Ready for your canoe trip on the Rur?

The popular guided day tour from Heimbach through Eifel National Park. Places are limited, so book online in good time.

View the Rur tour

Canoe, Kayak or Canadian? The Differences Explained Simply