If you are reading this then you are probably new to the sport of kayaking or are thinking about getting started in it. We are extremely excited that so many people are discovering kayaking as a source of adventure, fun and exercise - we've enjoyed it for years and love bringing people into the sport. By definition, a kayak is a decked boat which is paddled from a seated position using a two-bladed paddle. If you have perused our site then you know that this definition leaves a lot of room for our designers to work in. Kayaks have an much undeserved reputation for being tippy, however.
People look at a wide canoe and a narrow kayak and assume that the canoe is much more stable.
The difference is in the center of gravity in both boats. A canoe has to be wider because the paddler is up higher in the boat. In a kayak you also have the advantage of your paddle. Just like a tightrope walker you have a pole held across your body that increases your balance. So in practice, kayaks aren't any more tippy than canoes or any other small boats.