Seven crucial reasons to test paddle a canoe or kayak before you buy

​Buying a canoe or kayak is a big decision and choosing the right one for you is not always straightforward.  Whether you are completely new to paddling or a lifelong paddler it can be all too easy to make the wrong choice and then be stuck with a boat that isn’t ideal for you. 
 
Because it’s a significant purchase many people do their research, exploring models that they think will suit their needs and often draw some early conclusions about what they think will be a good fit.  There’s lots of compelling information on the internet (web sites, YouTube etc.) that can all be very useful in helping to lead you to the right boat.  However, what we often encounter is a gap between what this research may suggest and what is, in fact, the best boat for someone. 
 
We have already covered some of the specific things to consider when selecting a boat in another post (SIX KEY QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU SELECT THE RIGHT SOLO CANOE OR A KAYAK).  What we will focus on here are some of the finer points that only test paddling a boat will bring to light.

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