Design

Material

Cockpit

Length

Single vs. Double

Rigging

Hatches

Rudders & Skegs

Weight

Durability

Cost

Try It First

Paddles

What else

Ready to select your kayak - See what the Paddle Shack has to offer.

First, what type of paddling are you going to do? Where are you going to paddle and for how long? Kayaks are very specific to use and come in several basic types. Whitewater Kayaks for fast moving rivers, Touring and Recreation Kayaks for flat water, (lakes, inlets, bays and slow moving rivers), and Sea Kayaks for open ocean paddling. What style kayak...Sit In or Sit On Top...you choose will depend upon the type of paddling you intend to do, your skill level and your personal preference.

Sit On Top style kayaks generally are (pros) very popular with paddlers who: like to play in the surf and have not progressed to having a bomb proof roll; great for getting an all over tan; provide a very stable fishing platform; have mobility or flexibility or emotional concerns that prevent them from using a sit in kayak. Almost all sit on top style kayaks are self bailing...no need to worry about swamping the boat! Sit on top style kayaks generally (cons) must be wider to compensate for the resultant paddlers higher center of gravity; are slower for their length due to extra width, do not allow (without thigh straps) a paddler to effectively use his/her body to control the boat; are a little more cumbersome to handle on and off the water.

Sit In style kayaks generally have a more efficient hull design; allow for greater gear storage; are dryer, allowing for an extended paddling season for most paddlers; a properly fitted cockpit (the area you sit in) will allow the paddler to very effectively use his/her body to control the boat. A properly fitted white water, sea, or touring kayak should become an extension of the paddler's body. Some would say you wear the boat rather than sit in it. Sit in style kayaks will have different size cockpits depending on the type of boat and water conditions anticipated. The raised lip around the cockpit (the cockpit combing) allows a skirt (or spray deck) to be utilized by the paddler. Skirts keep water...either from dripping off the paddle, or from waves...from entering the boat. Just in case, be sure to have some means of bailing the boat...a pump, sponge or scoop. Bulkheads (walls within the kayak) form barriers limiting water infiltration, and with a properly fitted hatch cover, provide a margin of safety (flotation) and dry storage.

Foot Pegs. To date, there are no records of indigenous peoples paddling sit on top kayaks...or white water kayaks...or using rudders. The modern kayak has been transformed from a hunting tool of survival to a recreational art form. There is an important feature of the original kayaks that every paddler should insist upon. A secure foot brace. No matter what style kayak you paddle, you will need a secure place to push your feet against. Some boats have adjustable foot pegs, some have molded in foot rests, some have a fixed bulkhead. What ever you paddle, be sure you have some form of foot rest...a boat without foot rests is essentially incomplete. Without footrests you will tend to slump forward, will not have proper and comfortable posture, and most importantly, will not be able to use torso rotation to effectively propel the kayak. 

Whitewater Kayaks have no keel and don't track in a straight line. This makes them very maneuverable and agile. The cockpit is tight and designed to keep you in the boat even in rough conditions. The boats are usually short, less than ten feet, many of the newer play boats are less than seven feet.

Recreational Kayaks attempt to combine tracking and turning in a smaller hull that will appeal to beginner and low intensity paddlers. These kayaks usually have high initial stability and large cockpits. These boats are perfect for flat water, lakes, ponds, and gentle rivers  and creeks but usually not whitewater. Many serve as excellent platforms for fishing, hunting, or photography.

Touring Kayaks have a well defined keel for tracking, have fair initial stable, and high secondary stability, turning is enhanced by "edging". These boats generally have a large cockpit interior for comfort on long paddling excursions. Most will have bulkheads and large access hatches, which allow for safe dry storage. These boats are perfect for flat water, lakes, gentle to moderate inlets, bays and wide rivers. Some are fitted with rudders, and some even have outriggers or provisions for a sail. 

Sea Kayaks are designed for open ocean paddling. They are usually low in the water to reduce effects of cross winds, measure fifteen feet or more, most have smaller cockpit openings, many will have bulkheads and smaller access hatches. Some have skegs or rudders to help compensate for the effects of a wave or cross wind pattern. They will have features such as compass housings, deck mounted pumps.
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Kayak Design Considerations:

Polyethylene requires welding or use of mechanical fasteners to repair a leak.  Fiberglass is lighter, (about two thirds the weight of HDPE), but is two to three times the cost of HDPE.

Fiberglass is more rigid than plastic, (and more efficient in the water), but can crack on impact. Fiberglass can not be recycled. Exotic materials like kevlar or carbon fiber are lighter still, but are even more costly. Wood boats are rare. They are attractive, but sophisticated techniques are required for a classic look. A few companies manufacture wood/epoxy-construction kit kayaks.

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Fabric over a wood or folding metal frame offers a light although sometimes expensive option. The classic wood frame with fabric can be purchased in kit form, but require hours of assembly. The metal frame boats are good for hiking since they can be collapsed into a small carry able bag. These boats are generally more expensive to buy than any other kind of boat.

Inflatable boats are another option for a more portable and storable kayak. Generally speaking, these boats are better suited for whitewater or surf conditions, as most will not track as well as a hard shell kayak. Prices (relative to a hard shell kayak) range from very inexpensive to very expensive. The quality and performance generally follow the price curve.
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The cockpit rim opening size is important for entering and exiting. Newer Whitewater Kayaks have snug but fairly large keyhole cockpits. This type cockpit holds the paddler snug, but also allows for an easy and rapid exit. Touring Kayaks also favor a keyhole cockpit very similar to the fit of a whitewater kayak. True traditional Sea Kayaks have small cockpits, sometimes not much larger than the paddlers waist. Small cockpits reduce the possibility of a large wave caving in the skirt and swamping the boat. Recreation Kayaks usually have very large cockpits, without the ability to keep the paddler in the boat should it turn over.
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The typical bargain paddle with heavy shapeless ABS blades is a great gift for someone you hate. Do you hate yourself? Set aside a reasonable amount of your paddling budget for a good paddle...you will never regret it. Enjoyable paddling begins with proper paddling technique and good equipment. A light paddle will allow you to easily maintain your "paddle's box" resulting in less effort and better boat control.

Paddle shape and length will vary with the type of paddling you do, the boat you paddle, and your paddling style. A recreational paddler with a wide boat and very relaxed paddling style will typically use a blade with a moderate surface area and slightly longer length. The touring or sea kayak paddler will typically use a narrow blade. A white water or surf paddler will use a very large blade and short shaft, allowing for better grip on aerated water and quicker acceleration.

We will be more than happy to discuss which blade (paddle) is best for your paddling needs. For immediate response visit the Paddle Shack or email us.