Kayaks are highly personal watercraft and small differences in shape can amount to a very different feel. Therefore it is highly recommended to test paddle any boats you are considering buying if at all possible. Otherwise take the advice of a good friend or a knowledgeable sales person who has similar paddling aspirations and more importantly, understands what you desire to do with your kayak.
Kayak designs vary widely and are often quite specific to certain applications.
Here is a list of variables that you will want to consider in narrowing your selection.
- Your physical size and condition. Your fit and comfort level in the boat are important to the control you will have of it as well as your overall comfort.
- Primary uses intended or imagined, such as:
- Casual cruising for relaxation on lakes or easy rivers.
- Exercise or competition
- Fishing or photography
- Exploration and adventure
- Multiday trips carrying camping gear
- Paddling in open water, surf zones or where potentially rough water conditions are likely to exist.
- Level of experience: Novice, Intermediate or Advanced paddling skills. Novice paddlers will especially need to consider the list above. Making a poor selection at this stage may affect your progression into a wonderful activity.
Here are some key tips to remember in making your selection:
- Choose a boat for the type of paddling you will be doing 90% of the time. For example if you expect to do day paddling mostly but might want to include a camping trip once a year or so, instead of buying a larger boat than you need (more expense, more weight etc.) just for camping, stay with a smaller boat and rent or borrow one for your camping trip.
- If you are a novice or early intermediate, choose a boat that is slightly outside of your comfort zone. Your comfort zone will expand enormously once you have gained some basic paddling skills and have spent a few hours in your boat. This helps keep you from outgrowing your boat early on or possibly ever.
- When testing boats, do NOT use the rudder if it has one. A rudder overrides the natural handling of the boat and will disguise the way it really responds. Rudders, while sometimes useful, also impede the development of real paddling skills. If a boat has a skeg however, test it with the skeg raised AND lowered to understand its effect on the boats responsiveness.
