I'm glad my newbie thread was a positive one, and I certainly have learnt
a
lot from *all* contributors. Am wondering whether the sleekness of a kayak
would cause less drag than a twig.

Thinking about it whilst stuck in traffic today as motorcyclists came past
between the cars...

The stick sits on the surface of the water, the kayak has a greater draught.
Where the water flows slower under the surface the larger kayak may slow
down the floating object with the greater draught - OTOH, it could speed it
up to the current flow...

I don't know.

Ewan Scott