| How to Choose a Kayak | ||
Deciding on which kayak is right for you can be a difficult decision and requires some thought into how you plan to use the kayak and where you plan to use it, among many other factors. To make the purchasing decision even harder is the fact that everyone is unique and a kayak that your friend has and loves might not be the right fit for you. In this article we attempt to break down this process and help you prepare yourself for shopping for a kayak. |
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| The decision is really up to the following: | ||
| 1. Where you plan to paddle | ||
| 2. How you plan to use the kayak | ||
| 3. Transporting the kayak | ||
| How to Decide? | ||
| Your decision will be affected by your primary use of the kayak. Are you interested in fishing? Bird Watching? Paddling for exercise? Camping/overnight trips? Below we will attempt to break down the different types of kayaks and their general purpose. By no means are we saying these are the only uses, just that generally this is how people use their kayaks. | ||
| Type of Kayaks: | ||
| Recreational (sit-in-side) Sit-in-sides are what most people traditionally think of when they think of kayaks. They are mostly enclosed with a generous cockpit opening for easy entry and exit. Recreational models tend to be very stable, easy to handle, and affordable. These are great for lakes, slow moving rivers (where rapids are not encountered), and coastal areas (where waves are not encountered). Since recreational kayaks tend to be shorter in length storage and transporting tend to be easier. |
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| Recreational (sit-on-top) Sit-on-tops are arguably the most versatile kayaks on the market. They are very stable and the ease of getting on and off of them is unsurpassed. Sit-on-tops are great for fishing, snorkeling, swimming and/or surfing. The use of a sit-on-top varies by each model. Shorter models are great for surfing while longer models are better for fishing as they have greater storage capacity. The longer, more elaborate models usually have ample storage space inside as well as on top of the kayak – this makes them capable of everything from fishing to overnight camping. Additionally, since they are not enclosed like a sit-in-side you are able to paddle virtually any river you feel comfortable on, without the worry of a skirt. |
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| Day Touring The term 'day touring' is typically used by manufacturers to depict a more advanced sit-in-side kayak. Day touring kayaks tend to have greater storage than a recreational kayak but are not as long as a true touring kayak. The medium size make them easier to control as turning is easier and things like carrying and transporting are also easier. While they have less capacity than a true touring kayak they usually have enough storage room for a 1-2 day camping trip. |
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| Multi-day Touring Touring kayaks are designed for the, well, touring person in mind. They are usually very long and have large storage areas below the deck to protect all your gear for multiple day trips. Since these kayaks are much longer than a recreational or day touring kayak they are ideal for open water where speed and efficiency is necessary. They cut through the water easily and track very well. |
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| Inflatables Inflatable kayaks are a must have for the person that wants a kayak but has no way to transport or store a large rigid kayak. Additionally, they are usually small enough to check as luggage on an airplane to travel with. They also tend to be less expensive than a hard-shell kayak. While most inflatables are the sit-in-side variety there are also models out there for white-water (self bailing) as well as pseudo touring models that incorporate storage areas. |
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| Type of Material: | ||
| Kayaks come in various types of materials and at ACK we specialize in Polyethylene but here are the differences | ||
| Polyethylene Polyethylene plastic is the primary type of plastic used in roto-molded kayaks. It is less expensive and more impact-resistant than fiberglass or composites like Kevlar. Additionally, it can be modeled in just about any shape or size. Newer Polyethylene kayaks can be made with many different resins creating greater strength and/or lighter weight. Each manufacturer’s resin varies but the end result is usually close to the same in that it is a very cost effective kayak that will stand the test of time if properly cared for. Another advantage is the ease to transport, unlike other materials, Polyethylene is less susceptible to scratching, this can make transporting easier as you do not need to take as many precautions as you would with expensive composites. |
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| Composite Fiberglass, Kevlar, and carbon blends are the lightest and stiffest kayaks on the market. They have the ability to be molded to meet any hull design, as they require less internal bracing. This makes the kayak even lighter with yet more room inside. You are most likely to find fiberglass on the top-of-the-line kayaks, as the weight loss equals significant cost increase. Composite kayaks utilize woven layers of fiberglass, Kevlar and/or carbon bonded together with a resin; this is finished off with a clear coat on the outside to protect the finish. The inside is usually left as just the woven fabric. |
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| Thermo-formed To bridge the gap between Polyethylene and Composite kayaks manufacturers have developed thermo-formed kayaks. Thermo-formed kayaks take on the appearance of a composite kayak in terms of weight and stiffness but usually at cost savings. Some examples of Thermo-formed materials are Airalite™ and Trylon™. Thermo-formed kayaks start as a sheet of 'plastic' that is then heated and a vacuum process causes it to follow the mold. | ||
| Design Differences: | ||
| Length Length equals speed, or you can substitute speed with efficiency. The longer the kayak the faster the kayak will move. Additionally, the longer the kayak the better it will track (the kayaks ability to travel in a straight line), this is because there is more surface moving in one direction, on the counter is the fact that the more kayak in the water the harder it will be to maneuver. Recreational kayaks tend to vary from 8 feet to 16 feet. Touring kayaks can be as long as 22 feet and are rarely shorter than 12 feet. Length has a big impact of transporting and storage, the shorter the kayak the easier it will be to load on a vehicle and it will require less wall space to hang for storage. Additionally, the shorter the kayak the less it tends to weigh. |
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| Width (Beam) The wider the kayak is the more stable it tends to be and the narrower the kayak the more 'tippy' it can be. The typical recreational kayak is 26-34 inches wide. Of course, there are always drawbacks, the wider the kayak the less efficient it will be. Touring kayaks are usually very narrow to increase the efficiency through the water, typical touring widths will be 21 to 25 inches. |
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| Chine The chine is where the side of the kayak meets the bottom of the kayak. There are many different designs, often times you will see some kayaks with smooth, rounded chines for increased stability while others will have two different sharp chines on the side, the first to generate initial stability with the second to add secondary stability. |
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| Entry/Exit Line The leading edge of a kayak's hull is called the entry line. When paddled, this is the first part of the kayak to cut through the water. The sharper the entry line, the more efficient the kayak will be and the greater the speed or ease to paddle. The more blunt the entry line is the more the kayak will ride up through the water; this can be better in choppy rough water. The exit is just as important as the entry, the more gradual the exit line the less turbulence the kayak will produce. Less turbulence means greater the efficiency. |
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| The Rest: | ||
Cockpit Shape/Size Cockpit size on sit-in-sides also impacts the ability to be protected from the elements, while almost all sit-in-sides have an optional skirt that will cover the cockpit, smaller cockpit kayaks are easier to secure and it’s less likely for the skirt to come off when rough water is encountered. The cockpit size with a sit-on-top is usually important for kayakers that have long legs. Manufacturers typically do not list the dimensions of the cockpit size for sit-on-tops so it is important to make sure that the kayak you are thinking about will accommodate you. |
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| Storage Space Storage, storage, storage... It seems everyone has a different need for storage and each kayak is vastly different. Sit-in-sides tend to have greater inside-hull storage; some even have bulkheads to seal off the area. While this doesn’t make it completely watertight it does tend to keep the majority of the water out if the bulkhead area is sealed properly. Sit-on-tops tend to have greater on-deck storage although many come with hatches to access storage in the hull. The primary use of the kayak will ultimately determine the need for storage space. The camper will need greater storage than the recreational kayaker out for exercise. The fisherman will want greater on-deck storage since it will be easier to access while on the water. |
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Still confused or even more confused? We are always happy to discuss your situation and help you determine which kayak would be the best fit. Additionally, we also recommend you test paddle as many kayaks as possible. If you live close to one of our stores we are always happy to set you up with a test paddle, if you don't live close and can’t test paddle locally, please call us and we are happy to discuss the boats and give you our opinion. Or, if you'd rather, you can email us: customer@austinkayak.com |
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