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I've been practicing with a kayak paddle, but seem to be wet all the time.

If you don't have them, you need to invest in a pair of drip rings. Different styles/materials but they basically keep the water from running down the paddle shaft into your canoe.

If you Google kayak strokes, you'll find what I believe they refer to as a touring stroke?
You basically keep the paddle parallel to the water, different than that high windmill stroke you see them use for racing. A little practice and you can really fly, especially into headwind. You know your doing it right when your moving along but hardly feel like your working hard, if that makes any sense to you.
That stroke will also limit the water from running into your canoe.

Check you paddle length. Most solos are wider than kayaks. If you have to "windmill" to avoid banging the gunnel's every stroke, then you need a longer paddle.