Navigating Kayak Choices

Once you've made the decision to buy your own kayak you'll be faced with a problem - from the massive range of kayaks on sale how can you possibly choose the best one for you? Should you go for a sea kayak, an inflatable kayak, a sit-on kayak, a touring kayak, a racing kayak or a white water kayak? Obviously it all depends on what type of paddling you intend to do and how much you can afford to pay. Kayaks are designed with specific conditions in mind and it's impossible to find a kayak that will suit all purposes and skill levels. If you're planning on long distance touring your demands will be quite different to a short run white water freak and consequently the two kayaks don't work well in each other's conditions. Beginners are not likely to be doing much white water work initially so it's a good idea to get a stable boat that allows you to concentrate on stroke technique. In general wider boats are more stable than narrow boats, though they are a little slower. Longer boats are faster and track better - they follow a straight line more easily whereas shorter boats are easier to manoeuvre. For beginners the size of the cockpit is another consideration - you may feel more comfortable with a kayak with a larger cockpit that's easier to get out of or even a sit-on kayak if you're not confident you can perform a wet exit or roll if necessary. After all this you need to consider where you'll store your kayak and how you'll transport it. Rigid kayaks take up quite a bit of space and the cheapest versions are generally plastic, which means they're durable but heavy. Fiberglass kayaks are lighter but they're more expensive. They're also easier to damage but they can be repaired easily unlike most plastic kayaks. The lightest rigid kayaks are made from carbon fiber, graphite or Kevlar - but they are expensive. Wooden boats are another option and you can buy a kayak kit to build your own - they're affordable but they do need more maintenance than other kayaks. If you've got limited space and don't have the strength to get a heavy boat up onto the roof rack of your car you may not want to go for a rigid kayak at all. Folding or inflatable kayaks might be a better option. Inflatable kayaks are easy to transport and store and are great fun to use but if you're more serious about your paddling a folding kayak is a better option. Folding kayaks are easy to transport and store as they pack up into a large duffle, and although they're an expensive initial investment they're very tough and they maintain their value well.