Just my two cents but I have a double paddle I've used a number of times. I like it but it is a totally different group of muscles that it works. But if you start using it ahead of time that shouldn't be much of issue for you. Also, if you do get one, remember to get one longer than they might recomend since you're sitting higher in a canoe. I think getting too short is where the drip comes from. Your paddle ends up more uo rather than out. And keeping the drip gurads way out will help that too.