Choosing A Kayak

Recreational Kayaks

Recreational kayaks are perfect for small lakes and slow rivers. Recreational Kayaks are designed for first time paddlers to experience the magic of kayaking and for more seasoned outdoor enthusiasts who like to combine their on water pleasures with other pursuits such as bird watching, fishing, hunting and photography. These kayaks are stable, maneuverable, user friendly and have easy entry cockpits that fit almost anybody comfortably.

Perfect examlpes of these kayaks:

• Wilderness Systems Pungos
• Liquidlogic Sapphire, Saluda and Stingray
• Current Designs Kestrels
• Hurricane Santee

 

Light Touring Kayaks

These Kayaks don't fit neatly in the recreational or touring catagory- they have elements from both- and have their own appeal.

Light Touring Kayaks favor stability on calm waters and easy turning over speed. Their cockpits are narrower but still quite roomy for easy access. Like Touring Kayaks, they have an upturned bow and help cut through and deflect waves should you encounter rough waters. They also can include thigh braces for more efficient paddling and control, and additional bulkheads for extra storage.

Examples of Light Touring Kayaks:

• Wilderness Systems Tsunamis
• Liquidlogic Pisgah
• Perception Carolinas
• Hurricane Tampico

 

Touring Kayaks

This is a large catagory, and the majority of paddlers will be well served by a design that falls within it. These kayaks are designed to handle a wide variety of conditions. They are longer and narrower for fast efficient travel and have more capacity for gear. There is a large range of touring kayaks to provide varying degrees of speed, capacity, maneuverability and stability. There are varying hull shapes and options such as skegs and rudders that give the paddler a full range of choices.

Examples of Touring Kayaks:

• Wilderness Systems Tempests
• Current Designs Solstice, Sirocco, Gulfstream

 

Sit-On-Top Kayaks

Hence the name, Sit-On-Top kayaks are kayaks that you sit on top of rather than in a cockpit. Generally Sit-On-Tops are very stable and excellent boats to use for fishing or scuba diving. Unlike other kayaks, you can actually jump off of a Sit-On-Top, swim round and climb back on. Some boats even allow you to stand and cast from (agility is needed, though!). If you've been to the Carribean and kayaked you most likey used a Sit-On-Top. Self bailing scupper holes allow sand and water to wash in and out of the boat with ease. Sit-On-Tops are always a wet ride so they are much more user friendly in warmer climates.

Examples of Sit-On-Tops:

• Wilderness Systems Tarpon Series
• Liquidlogic Manta Ray
• Hurricane Phoenix
• Hobie Kayaks

 

 

Fishing Kayaks

 

Kayak Construction

Construction methods and materials affect durability, weight, strength and cost.

Polyethylene/ Rotomolded

 

Duralite (by Wilderness Systems)

Wilderness Systems developed DuraLite in order to construct the lightest possible rotomolded kayak. DuraLite is a high quality polethylene that allows the kayak to be formed with the same durability as plastic kayaks but at about 20% less the weight.

 

Trylon

Fiberglass

Kevlar