It is not so difficult to select a kayak. Just knowing where to start helps,
then it becomes easier to determine "What’s Your Kayak Style".
First, determine what you want to do with it. You might need two boats!
Lets make this simple. How a bout it? When you read the sections that is
pertinent to you, choose your boat based on:
- Which of these three styles of kayaking?
- Whitewater extreme?
- Recreational playing?
- Touring the big water, lakes, and oceans?
- Fit you for weight and purpose
- What you do with it.
- River and or lake
- Day trips or packing
- Color for show or hiding from wildlife
- Exercise level
- Women???
There are three basic types of kayaks. Whitewater, Recreational, and Touring.
Whitewater extreme?
Typically very short, under 9’6", some as short as 5’9"! These
boats are for stunts, heavy rapid running, more of an extreme sport.
Lowest volume boats are best suited for Play boating. These involve doing
stern squirts, (standing the boat on the tail); cartwheels, (summer salting end
over end); boofing rocks, (bumping the bottom of the kayaks on rocks on
purpose); blunts, standing the boat on the nose, and so on and so on…
Higher volume boats, and longer of the whitewater, (remember under 9’6"),
are best suited for River Running. This includes drops, (waterfalls), down river
running, typically when conditions are level 3 or higher.
Other characteristics are; knee braces for a very tight fit, neoprene skirts
for a tight water seal. These skirts are much more difficult to get out of!
Helmets, floatation jacket, as well as gloves are standard gear. Neoprene wet,
or dry tops, and a paddle with very short shaft and broad kayak paddle are also
typical.
This is a much more physical form of kayaking, and is shown in commercials
and sensationalized due to its excitement level. For safety and skill reasons,
this sport should be taught by accomplished boaters and instructors Whitewater
kayaking can be the most dangerous form of kayaking. With guidance and safe
conditions, it can be exceptionally rewarding by many.
Material typically used is a super-linear polyethylene. It is dense, tough,
and lightweight. Boats range in price from $800 to $1050. Gear is more expensive
requiring helmet, the more expensive neoprene skirt, PFD Flotation, neoprene top
or dry top, and a competition style paddle.
Recreational playing
: Typically 9’4" to 16’. These have a wide and low design for
comfort, and stability is excellent! These are not tippy, and are very
comfortable to float for anyone. For sit inside style kayaks with a
cockpit, they range from basic kayaks with few features, to being loaded with
deck rigging, (the straps that crisscross on the top to hold down gear) and foot
rests. Features also available include; padded seats, bulkheads, (referred to as
"expedition", the panel behind the seat to make the rear dry), paddle
holders, and recently drop skegs that give two styles of maneuverability in one
boat. Typically the skirts are loose for splash and come off easily in case you
tip over and large open cockpits with no knee braces for easy exit in case of
spill. The sides are much lower, and a wet exit is the method of evacuation in
deep water, (jumping out). These boats are non rolling in most cases, therefore
non confining like whitewater and touring. This also allows for movement around
for comfort.
A versatile design, typically these boats are for inland water including
rivers, small lake contouring, fishing, packing, sportsman, sightseer, family
outing, etc. Ages of customers in our store range from 6 to over 70 years old
for this type of boat. Activities include fishing, sunning, morning workout
around the cove, packing for an overnight camp trip on the river, or over the
week.
Maximum weight capacity is the total weight of the paddler and gear. This is
the main concern when starting to choose a recreational kayak. The gear is how
much gear you want to haul with you down river, and is a reflection of how you
use the boat. If you do short trips, you don’t need much. If you are a camper
and want to take a lot of gear, a larger capacity of boat is recommended. A
hatch is one of the most used items other than the seat, as a paddler will get
in and out of his gear. Many small boats have room behind the seat to stuff
gear. In any case, you want to keep the weight low, and not strap heavy gear on
top. Stability improves when packed with the heavy stuff down low. We also
believe it is an advantage to think small when packing in a kayak. A dry land
backpack is great to start, and then when converted to a boat, put the gear in
dry bags. A note for weight capacity, we suggest leaving at least 20% of the
capacity for gear. A 225# capacity boat should not exceed a 175# paddler, and
gives him 40 to 50 # left for gear. The boat handles better too. Imagine a buoy
in the high seas in the ocean that has a heavy weight on top of the buoy. It
responds slow to waves, and spends time underwater before coming up as the waves
come and go. Now imagine great buoyancy. The buoy responds well, and is a better
craft for its purpose.
Length is typically a result of size of boat in response to paddler, not
always something one can choose. Again fitting the boat to the paddler being a
primary concern, we suggest the long boats for the big guys, some having 350# to
380# capacity. The result of length is that it takes more effort to steer the
boat, and improves tracking in still water. The other result is faster in the
water although the entry edge being sharp or dull does make a difference.
Many whitewater activities that are in the down river category are enjoyed in
recreational kayaks. These activities include surfing, (sitting in a wave facing
up stream, and finding the sweet spot that keeps you there). Ferrying across the
river, (crossing); catching eddies, (crossing the eddy line that separate the
backwards upstream running water from down stream running water due to
rocks or curves).
We suggest paddling with a friend, as the buddy system is a safer way to kayak.
Get comfortable with your boat, in the easy conditions, and then graduate to the
next level. Don’t think you have a level perfected just because you did it.
Get good at that level, and then move on. Conditions are everything. A safe trip
is the best trip. Wear flotation. It’s habit forming.
Sit on tops: These are used like recreational kayaks but the paddler sits on
top of the boat, molded and constructed to do so. These are wet rides, and you
can not typically stay dry, and are great for fun in the sun activities.
The material most commonly used is a polyethylene plastic, being impact
resistant, very durable, can be thrown around, rammed into shores, and still be
ready to float. We recommend you take better care of your boat than that, but
durability of this material is duly noted. Prices range from $319 to $750
typically. Paddles run in price from $40 to $120. Skirts range from $40 to $80
for spray type nylon skirts.
Touring the big water, lakes, Ocean?
Touring is a totally different type of kayaking in feel and level of skill.
It involves open seas and larger bodies of water, and the boats are typically
longer than 16 feet with sharp entry, very narrow hull designs for ease or
rolling once again with knee braces, and tight fitting gasket type neoprene
skirts. These boats are built for speed with sleek lines, and ultra lightweight
material such as Kevlar, fiberglass, wood, and some poly plastic for entry-level
boats. Water is typically deep; therefore more brittle materials are used that
do not need to be impact resistant such as fine wood and fiberglass lay-up.
Prices range from $800 to $3000+
Due to length, these boats are slow turning as compared to this kayak’s
shorter relatives. They have a very wide turning radius, assisted by a leaning
technique, and are the fastest in the fleet of boats. Flotation bags are
typical. Sun hats are more typical because of lack of shade in the open waters.
Each boat feels considerably different. We recommend getting assistance in
picking this type of boat out, as they all feel considerably different in
stability from model to model. A bad experience far out from shore could be
dangerous, and also suggest a buddy system. Safety is the most important thing
to a successful experience.
Fit you for weight and purpose
Fit is the most important thing to consider. For whitewater, you should fit
tight, to be "one with your boat" for maximum action and control. For
recreational, we suggest no more than 80% of the capacity for the paddler, to
leave a little room for gear. This also helps avoid overloading the boat for a
better experience. Lastly for recreational and not less important, how much gear
do you want to take? If you take lots of gear, or want to go on long trips, you
will want more room.
What you do with it.
What you will do with it sounds silly, but if we assume the paddler is going
to have leisure weekends, and he wants to do whitewater stunts, we look silly.
To prevent that, what do you want to do with your boating experience? Relax,
see, be extreme, loose yourself for a few days, this is an important issue!
River and or lake
Rivers or lakes, ponds or coves, "wherever there is water" is an
excellent way to phrase it. Dagger says it all with that statement. We suggest
that although your favorite place to kayak is a few hours away, how about that
little park with the lake at the end of your street, in your city life...
Day trips or packing
A paddler should try to pack light, for efficiency. A perpetual pack (pack
including most items needed; sleeping bag, tent, cook items, first aid kit,
toothbrush, biodegradable camp soap, toilet paper, etc.) for most length trips
shouldn’t have to weigh more than 40#, plus food and drink, and maybe some
extra dry clothes. Larger tents will bring up this weight. Dry food and drink
mixes and filter bottle also cuts weight a lot. Lightweight items such as
mess kit, small containers are suggested. We also recommend soft side
coolers, 6 pack or 12 pack, as you can shape them to fit the stowage space
available.
Color for show or hiding from wildlife
Guys will say, "awe, color doesn’t matter. I’ll take anything."
Then we’ll show them the preverbal pink. Color is important in that if you are
hiding from turkey, duck hunting from a kayak, or just want to look good for
your friends or going down the highway on your truck, colors are many and multi-
in some cases. We have colors for girls and guys of all ages.
Exercise level
Exercise is resistive with kayaks. If your objective is a heavy work out,
paddle hard and consistent to achieve your results. Use your whole body in
rotation when you paddle, sit up straight and use your stomach muscles. If you
choose to make it an easier experience, paddle easier, lighter, and go with the
river flow. If you keep your trips short, you’ll pass the inner tubes, and not
even try! Some take early morning trips in their kayaks for exercise, when
the steam is rising from the water and the dew is starting to burn off.
Women???
Women are great kayakers! They have a lower center of gravity by nature. (OK,
go ahead and laugh), and have a better sense of balance in a kayak as a result.
Men are tough when they go through rapids. They say, "ready, set, arghhhh!!!!"
Women finesse the water. They say, "flip here, flip there, and slide
through with ease. Now that’s how it’s done guys." Typically men and
women prefer to kayak separate once they try it. No more, "quit your moving
around!" "Can’t you steer this thing!" And if you want to be
close to your man or woman, you can still float side by side and get close.
Women are great whitewater boaters too! We know some. We’ll introduce ya!
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