For weaker paddlers, a short boat will allow them to poke around
with less work. The side effect is more manueverability and less
weight to carry as well. A lot of paddlers, kayak or canoe, tend to
buy boats that are too long.

A shorter boat does not necessarily have to be more maneuverable and
lighter. That depends on design, capacity and displacement I think.
I have experienced several shorter versions of longer boats that
certainly were less maneuverable, with the same (light) load (of
course).

Dirk Barends