Considerations When Buying a Kayak

If you are choosing your first kayak there are a lot of different options to consider. The first thing to decide on will be the kayak material and you have the choice of inflatable plastic, rigid plastic, wood plus some other materials such as Kevlar, carbon fiber or graphite composites. When you’ve decided on the type of kayak material you favor you should think about a few factors before you make a purchase.

1) What type of boating will you be doing for most of the time?

Kayaks are built for different situations such as long distance touring, fishing, ocean or whitewater kayaking. You will need to think about the type of kayaking you’ll be doing for the majority of the time and pick a kayak that will be suitable.

2) How experienced are you?

If you are a beginner a kayak that is easy to get in and out of is usually the primary concern. Most beginners are worried about easily being able to get out of the kayak so wouldn’t want a close-fitting cockpit. An ideal choice for beginners is a ’sit-on-top’ type that has a recessed seat. Beginners mostly have a preference for a kayak with excellent initial stability with low tendency to tip. Skilled kayakers will almost certainly prefer a boat with superior final stability that will be stable in wilder water.

3) Transportability and Weight

One of the main concerns concern with kayaks of course is that you need to store them, transport them and launch them easily. Folding and inflatable kayaks are much easier  to store and transport but if you will be purchasing a hardshell kayak look for one that is as light as possible.

4) Comfort and Storage Capacity

If you are just going to use the kayak for brief periods storage capacity is not an issue but if, on the other hand, you will be touring for longer you would be advised to make certain there is space to hold all your equipment. Also take care that there are comfortable seats. Whether you like better a tighter fit or more space that allows you to move may be dependant on on the sort of boating you will be doing. For long tours more room is preferable in order to let you move, stretch and change position. If you are doing white water kayaking a tighter fit is probably better.

5) Stability

The tendency of boat to move away an upright position is known as the initial stability. The boat’s tendency to tip is is referred to as it’s final stability. Boats have either initial or final stability, not both! Beginners often prefer a boat with decent initial stability because a boat with good final stability will more than likely seem unsteady to them and they may be anxious that it will tip over. More skilled kayakers who aren’t afraid of turning over would favor a kayak with good final stability. A more stable boat, while fine for beginners, is usually not as fast.

6) Length of the Kayak

The length of the kayak is directly related to how well it will track straight ahead and more easily turn. A shorter boat will be more easily maneuvered and much easier to change direction whereas a much longer boat will track a good deal better.

7) How Much Do Kayaks Cost?

Of course the cost is a major consideration in determining which kayak you’ll purchase. A beginners kayak made from plastic can start at approximately $200 while more sophisticated plastic models can be as much as $1500. Folding kayaks start from around $1400 and could go up to $4000 for a high quality two person kayak. Inflatable boats can be found for as low $300. Kayaks made from composite materials are a lot more expensive.

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