I've got an old Grumman aluminum canoe stored out in the backyard on a makeshift rack. I've owned the canoe for about 15 years and have had countless great times using it. However, in the last few years the old barge hasn't been used too much.
Many people confuse sea kayaking with whitewater kayaking.
Sea kayaks are a longer, more stable boat ranging from 15-17 ft. long, typically equipped with hatches for storage of gear. Sea kayaks are intended for paddling on lakes and rivers where quick turning is not required. Their length provides stability but doesn't provide the maneuverability required for dodging whitewater river obstacles. Whitewater boats are much shorter. The two activities are equally fun, but very different.