Canoes seem rather like bikes.....you can find "basic" but the marketers push all sorts of "must-have" ego- trips onto the unwary.
Sailing dinghys invariably have a centreboard (hinged at the front-lower corner) or a dagger-board (slides vertically) One such would be far more capacious and stable than a canoe. Most have provision for rowlocks and you can row , don't have the board down, then the draught is just a few inches. Don't have to put a mast/rigging up, either.- oh, you can sail without putting the board down, you'll just side-slip a lot more, with wind on the side/fore-quarters. If you find one with a stern-notch (or fit a rowlock) you can scull with a single oar. (a la Gondolier) great fun and a surprising turn of speed if needed. Avoid inflatables, they get blown about too easily(but good load-luggers)
Dinghies abound on ebay and when the novelty wears off, you can sell them on There's a channel on youtube of a fellow who cruise- camps in a small sailing dinghy on the upper-reaches of the Thames. A boom-tent , sleeping- bag and Primus make him snug and he just moors in an inlet or on the bank, as the mood takes him.....as it's shallow, there are very few on the water and public footpaths are thin on the ground, so to speak, so it's very tranquil and idyllic whilst not being isolated.
I've been in canoes, never capsized, but don't like them. rowed, sculled, motored and sailed from a 6 foot clinker pram dinghy up to a 36 foot offshore racing yacht. enjoyed them all!
I agree that the Broads is a great , safe cruising area for just pottering about. they have sailing-boats as well! special folding rigs to duck under the low bridges . I used my own boat and had to drop the mast only once had an enjoyable time, took my baby son with us and my daughter was concieved at the same time
happy days of yore! you have to buy a licence for the boat, but not dear. IIRC, I got mine from a bridge-keeper near Norwich.