The first thing you should determine when looking for a kayak is where you’ll want to paddle and how. Kayak designs vary greatly depending on whether they’re built for the ocean, calm inland lakes and rivers, or whitewater rapids. You should also consider whether you want to fish, camp, or travel with multiple people. A good kayak should also have comfortable seating, plenty of dry storage for gear and a special feature like retractable rudders or a defined keel for increased tracking and stability when traveling long distances.
Cockpit Design
The design of the kayaks cockpit will depend on where you want to paddle and your level of experience. However, regardless of the cockpit design, your comfort level is the key to stability while underway as well as entering and exiting the kayak. A comfortable cockpit should allow your legs to have enough space to stretch while your feet can easily reach the foot braces.
Open cockpits or “sit-ins”, are common in recreational kayaks and well suited for nearly any condition including ocean surf. Closed cockpits on the other hand are more common in sea kayaks and models which have been built for whitewater rapids.
Stability and Tracking
The stability of a kayak is best defined as how much the boat rocks side to side when at rest and when paddled. Beginning paddlers will want to look for a kayak with greater resting stability whereas advanced paddlers will want greater underway stability for paddling in cross winds and waves.
Tracking is how well the boat travels in a straight line with minimal effort. A kayak which tracks extremely well usually doesn’t maneuver easily and is better suited for flat water paddling.
Construction
Kayaks are constructed from a variety of materials including plastic, wood, fiberglass, Kevlar, carbon, or inflatable plastic/fabric with the kayaks weight and cost largely depending on what it’s manufactured with.
Wood kayaks are fairly uncommon and require more maintenance, but have a classic look. Although plastic kayaks tend to be heavier, they’re more durable as well as the least expensive. Next we have fiberglass which is less likely to scratch than plastic but more likely to be damaged colliding with objects. Finally we have Kevlar and carbon which are the lightest materials used in kayak manufacturing but naturally the most expensive as well.
Types of Kayaks
Recreational Kayaks
These are the most common types of kayak you’ll find, typically featuring sit-on-top as well as sit-in cockpit designs which are usually quite large and unsuitable for open water or whitewater paddling.
These kayaks are wider and usually sacrifice speed in favor of stability but for beginning paddlers this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Depending on the cockpit design, recreational kayaks are versatile enough to accommodate leisure time activities such as fishing and surfing.
Sea Kayaks
Sea Kayaks are made for paddling on open water. These long and narrow kayaks lower in the water to maximize speed while the cockpit is smaller in size to keep the paddler dry. Some sea kayaks have a rudder system or sternward keel extensions (known as “skegs”) to increase tracking.
River Kayaks
Also known as whitewater kayaks, river kayaks are designed with no keel and very little surface area, making them fast, and agile. Solo river kayaks are short, narrow, and typically less than ten feet in length with a small cockpit to keep you inside, even if the kayak were to roll over. All river kayaks are rated differently for specific classes of whitewater rapids.
Fishing Kayaks
Designed specifically for fishing, these wide kayaks allow for easy line casting with some models even stable enough to stand on. Fishing kayaks typically feature rod holders, bait wells, tackle boxes, adjustable back rests, and ample cargo space. These kayaks will also usually have flat bottoms with very little keel for paddling in shallow water; some designs even feature mounts for outboard trolling motors.
Sit On Top Kayaks
One of the most popular kayak designs, sit-on-top kayaks are great for recreational paddling and are versatile enough to surf, fish, and even dive off of. These kayak types are self-bailing and very safe take out since they won’t take on water even if flipped over. Because of their width, these types tend to move slower on the water than sea or river kayaks.
Tandem Kayaks
Tandem kayaks are built to safely carry two to three passengers. There are a number tandem kayaks designs which range from sleek sea kayak hulls for longer trips, to wider sit-on-tops for recreational use. Tandem kayaks can also be used to carry gear for overnight camping or fishing trips.
Inflatable Kayaks
Inflatable kayaks are easy to inflate and deflate with a manual or electric air pump, making them ideal for individuals lacking storage space for a traditional hard body kayak. Most inflatable kayaks are made from rubber or fabric with a lightweight frame and available in a variety of designs which include open cockpits, closed cockpits, and sit-on-top.