Wm Watt wrote:
Kathy D'Errico wrote:
I have a 16 foot hybrid canoe that I can use solo or tandem. It
really takes a lot of work paddling solo and I was wondering if
a kayak paddle would work better for me? or what would better than
the traditional lightweight paddle?

The canoe paddle serves as both paddle and rudder. Kayak paddles don't
do the rudder job well.

Why not? It seems to me that a kayak paddle should be easier to use as a
rudder since you can rudder on either side without having to shift the
paddle in your hands. Kayakers use various types of rudder strokes all
the time, though kayaks can also be directed using leans and sweeps
which are probably more difficult in a canoe.

A kayak paddle will allow you to extert more force at the cost of more
effort. It's the same canoe and nothing is free.

True, but a kayak paddle is more efficient, since there is less time for
the boat to decelerate between strokes, so you do gain a bit of speed at
no cost.