Kayaking is one of the fastest growing activities in the US, with nearly eight million people. Its growing popularity is not surprising considering how simple it is to learn, surprisingly affordable, and a great activity to enjoy with the whole family. Kayaking has quickly become the next great exercise, helping people build cardiovascular endurance, total body strength, flexibility, and balance all at the same time.
It’s so fun and addictive that most people probably don’t even realize they’re exercising at the same time. The great thing about kayaking is that it is so well-suited to many other favorite activities, like hiking, camping, and photography, that it offers something for everyone. So what do you need to know to buy a kayak? These are the steps that anyone who wants to buy a kayak should know.
kayak frames
There are basically two types of kayak frames, sit-on-top and sit-in. The first design, the sit-on-top frame, the rower sits in a seat recessed into the boat’s deck, rather than in the cabin of the boat’s hull. A typical feature of the sit-on-top frame is that it generally has a wide, stable design, is self-emptying, and is easy to get in and out of. This type of frame is ideal for rivers, lakes, and slow-moving coastal waters.
The second frame design is the sit-down style, where the rower sits in the hull, or cockpit, of the boat and will have more control. In most cases, it has more storage space for your gear and is more versatile. The sitting frame style is best suited for fresh water such as lakes and rivers.
kayak categories
There are three main categories for kayaks, sport, touring and recreational. The sport kayak is ideal for sport specific activities such as fishing and waterfowl hunting. Sport kayaks are lightweight, stable, and usually come packed with useful features. They provide comfortable seats with plenty of legroom and plenty of storage space for your gear.
The touring kayak offers the highest speed and efficiency for any level of kayaker, from beginner to enthusiast. Touring kayaks have a narrower and longer profile and are easy to paddle in a straight line. They have good stability and versatility and are good for long open water paddling adventures.
Recreational kayaks are ideal for beginners and low intensity paddlers. Recreational kayaks are light, very stable and offer great value for money. These kayaks are best for shorter trips on small lakes, ponds, streams, and small slow rivers. They are great for a relaxing outing with friends and family where you can kick back and enjoy the scenery.
Recreational kayaks come in two versions, compact and medium. Compact recreational kayaks are short, wide and very light, giving great mobility and stability. Compact kayaks are great for beginners, as well as kids and women who prefer a lighter load.
Mid-size recreational kayaks, on the other hand, are longer and wider, offering greater paddling capacity and efficiency compared to a compact kayak. Storage hatches and gear compartments are features typically included with the mid-size recreational kayak.
Kayak Features
Each kayak is designed for specific activities, offering different dimensions and shapes relevant to the type of paddling it was made for. The design will emphasize some aspects while sacrificing others. For example, heavier kayaks will offer more storage space, but will typically be less maneuverable, while a lighter kayak will offer the opposite. These features, weight, capacity, length, width, and cab size are listed below.
Weight is how much the boat weighs without any equipment or bodies inside. Most kayaks weigh between 30 and 70 pounds. Weight can be a major deciding factor if you have to transport it any distance to the launch site.
Your bot’s capacity is the amount of weight it can reasonably support without affecting performance or safety, taking into account the weight of any passengers and the weight of any equipment.
Length affects the speed of the boat in the water, longer kayaks will be faster. A longer kayak will also track, or go straight, better. Usually the longer kayak will also offer more cargo space and speed, unfortunately they are more difficult to maneuver in tight spaces. What the longer kayak makes up for in speed, it loses in maneuverability, while a shorter kayak will be more maneuverable, lighter, and easier to transport.
The width, or beam, of the kayak is the widest measurement, taken in the middle. A wider kayak will generally be slower, however it will offer more stability than one that is narrower. The wider kayak will give more stability to heavier or taller paddlers who would have a higher center of gravity. If you are a beginner a wider boat would be more suitable, a sportsman would also consider it true. If you are planning long excursions, a narrower kayak would be the best option, since it offers more speed and is easier to paddle.
Cabin size is really a matter of personal preference and is a reflection of the type of boat. The cabin of sport kayaks will vary in size depending on the sport you are targeting. Touring cabs are typically smaller and will include thigh bolsters built into the trim for better control. Recreation cabins are usually the least restrictive, the most spacious and the most versatile.
