choosing the
BEST KAYAK forYOU
What kayak should I buy? It’s the first question a kayaker asks—and the hardest to answer. The trick is finding the boat that’s perfectly suited to your specific needs. With dozens of companies producing hundreds of different models, there’s a kayak for every style of paddling and every type of paddler. If you can’t decide, buy two. There is no better way to grow kayaking than taking a friend.
WHERE DO YOU PADDLE?
If you paddle open water and big seas, look at longer, narrower kay- aks with smaller keyhole cockpits. If you paddle protected lakes and quiet rivers, check out shorter, more maneuverable models. Photographers, anglers and birdwatchers will appreciate the sta-
bility of a wider hull and the easy access of a larger cockpit or sit-on- top design. Rough water playboaters will want a shorter, seaworthy craft with plenty of rocker. Touring and camping aficionados will benefit from a longer waterline, higher volume and two, three or even four hatches for storing gear.
KAYAK TYPES
A classic sit-inside design offers the best protection from the weather and water, especially important in colder climates and on exposed coastlines. They also tend to be lighter and offer more in- terior dry storage than other kayak types. Like kayaks themselves, cockpits come in all shapes and sizes—smaller equals dryer, larger offers easier entry and exit. Sit-on-top kayaks are self-draining and easy to scramble back
aboard after a capsize or upset. The open deck makes it simple to hop on or off, and these designs are also usually more stable than their sit-inside counterparts. Folding and inflatable kayaks come in a huge variety of styles, suited to everything from tame pond paddles to extreme expedi- tions. These boats are lightweight and easy to store and transport.
LENGTH AND WIDTH
Longer kayaks are faster, track better and carry more gear. Shorter kayaks boast better maneuverability in tight waters. Wider hulls are more stable and roomy, but take more oomph to get going. Narrow hulls are faster and easier to roll and brace.
HULL SHAPE
Along with width, the shape of the bottom and chines (where the sides of the kayak meet the bottom) determine primary and second- ary stability. A flat-bottomed kayak with excellent primary stabil- ity is initially very stable, but if leaned too far, it quickly capsizes. Kayaks with shallow V and shallow arch hulls prioritize secondary stability, offering better performance and stability on edge, useful for open- and rough water paddling. Chines can be rounded, hard or multi, and will affect how a kayak
feels when edging and how aggressively it carves turns. A final factor— rocker—describes the upward curve of the bow and stern and deter- mines maneuverability. Heavily rockered boats turn very easily and are ideal for playing in rough water. Kayaks with minimal rocker track well and are suitable for fitness paddling and long-distance touring.
62 PADDLING MAGAZINE CONSTRUCTION
Kayakers have a plethora of choices when it comes to construction. Popular materials include rotomolded polyethylene (durable and af- fordable), thermoformed plastics (lighter and attractive shiny finish) and composites like fiberglass, carbon or Kevlar (stiffer, lighter still and the priciest option). Still others are made from beautiful, ultralight wood panels or traditional skin-on-frame models featuring a stretched polyurethane or nylon skin over an aluminum or wood frame.
PHOTOS: ONTARIO TOURISM
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