I have a 16-foot tandem with 36 inch beam and a 12 foot pirogue with 27
inch beam.

When I was solo in the tandem tanker (before I made the pirogue) I
paddled it from the bow seat heeled over with a single paddle using the
j-stroke. I switched sides every 20 minutes or so, sliding over and
heeling it the other way.

In the pirogue (a Jacques Mertins "cheap canoe") I sit on the bottom
and use a double paddle that is very long. Even though the sides are
only 12" high, it is hard to use a shorter double paddle because the
sides are flared out as opposed to the tumblehome shape of a kayak. I
bring a single paddle as a back-up, but it is really awkward paddling
with a single paddle while sitting on the floor. The long paddle
length means not much water drips in because the strokes are quite
flat.

I can go faster in the pirogue with the double paddle, but I need more
rest stops on long trips. I made the doublepaddle myself and it is
fairly heavy with relatively large blades. I might reduce the blade
size a bit.