Canoes. I now use an Ally folding canoe for all my trips. I can't rate them highly enough. The 18 foot model weighs only 21 kilos but has a huge carrying capacity, and the ease of transporting them around the world far outweighs any neglible disadvantage in handling when compared with a rigid alternative. Also they are very forgiving when you hit that unseen rock. They flex and bend over it rather than stop dead and flip. http://www.allycanoes.com
Paddles. Paddles come in all shapes, but I'm most concerned that mine are light, very tough, and can break into 2 sections for transportation. My Ainsworth C100 with alloy shaft has served me well on countless trips. http://www.ainsworthpaddles.net
The Royal Geographical Society. If you live in Britain, one place to go for advice and information is the RGS. The walls of its headquarters in Kensington are covered in portraits of all the great and heroic figures of exploration, and it feels like hallowed ground to anyone with a love of the subject. However it's not at all intimidating to approach with your questions. http://www.rgs.org