A single person is canoeing in an open canoe.

Two people are paddling in an open canoe.

A single person is canoeing in a closed-decked canoe.

There are two primary types of canoes - the open canoe shown on the left and the closed-decked canoe shown on the right. Both types can be outfitted for either one or two individuals. A two-person open canoe is shown at the lower left. To paddle the canoe, a person either sits or kneels in it. Since each type of canoe has features that can be modified to allow for individual abilities, it is important to understand the various options.