Picking a Kayak

With all the various styles, materials, options and sizes available, picking your first kayak can be a bit confusing.
There are a few key ingredients to picking your first kayak, however and hopefully this guide will help.

Material

There are a number of materials that are available for Kayaks, we will skip over the more exotic and not all to common ones, which will leave you with Cedar strip Kayaks which are simply beautiful and require a lot of man hours to put together. This makes them typically very expensive and not a very common choice for starting out.
Laminate based Kayaks or more commonly Fiberglass and Kevlar kayaks offer the advantages of being light weight (typically) and would arguably be the most efficient material on the water, they would however be closer categorized as intermediate to advanced level as they can also get quite costly, and are more commonly seen in the retail sector in Touring style kayaks.
This leaves us with Poly-ethelene (or Plastic) which are the most common for folks starting out. They typically cost a lot less than most other materials, and come in all shapes and sizes. The cost factor is the most attractive part as they generally cost 50% to 75% less than laminates and cedar, most people starting out look for the better price as it makes the sport a lot easier to get in to.
Poly-ethylene are also quite strong and durable, however do typically end up weighing more than most other materials.
For the purposes of this guide we will go by the assumption you are considering the same materials in your comparison.

Capacity

First and foremost you would want to look closely at the capacity of the kayak you are considering.
You should ensure you are below the maximum listed capacity of the Kayak.
Bear in mind that the closer you get to the maximum capacity the less efficient the kayak will become.
For example if the kayak you are considering offers a max capacity of 250lbs, and the amount of weight you plan on paddling with (Persons & gear) is 225lbs, you will find the kayak labor intensive to paddle & turn on the water.
Typically a good ratio to go with is no more than 60% to 75% of the max capacity.

Your paddling Terrain

You should also consider the type of water you plan on using the kayak in. Typically whitewater kayaks are short and stubby, as they need to be able turn and maneuver quickly. On flat water however you will find a short stubby kayak is difficult to track, and will not typically be very efficient or fast.
On flat water, a longer kayak will yield better results for tracking straight, and cutting through the water more effectively therefore offering much better efficiency. Turning however may prove a little difficult which is why Touring style kayaks typically have (or have the option of) foot controlled rudder systems, allowing the paddler to steer the kayak via Rudder.
Typically a touring style kayak will not perform very well on a fast moving as you would not be able to maneuver it fast enough.
If you plan on using your kayak for a number of different types of water, the average recreational kayak is 12'-13' feet which is a great size for most older children and adults who are starting out. Almost all manufacturers of kayaks offer a 13' model as this is typically a great starting point for a kayak that is capable of mild to moderate river use, and one that will still be relatively efficient to paddle on flat water and track relatively well on lakes and flat water.

This being said do keep in mind that not all kayaks are created the same, and you should really look at the hull design to ensure the kayak you are considering matches your skill level. A number of performance kayaks are not suitable for people starting out as they are either not stable enough, or simply not efficient in the water. In either case you may quickly find you are not able to get the desired performance out of your kayak out of fear of rolling or tipping your kayak, or it is so overly stable it is the equivalent of paddling a box, in turn you are either to scared or to bored to paddle it within a week of using it.

Other considerations

The seating system is very important, for most people molded plastic seats are simply not comfortable, and lack any adjustability, which diminishes the fun after 20-30 minutes. Some of the better manufacturers offer fully adjustable seats, inflatable back rests, seat cushions and even cup holders for keeping yourself hydrated. (remember there is no shade in the middle of a lake)
Foot Braces are also a consideration as they make transferring the power of your paddle through to the kayak far more effective, and will make you, one with your kayak as opposed to 2 (sometimes opposing) forces.
Sealed bulkheads are also very important, this is a floatation chamber which is sealed off from the cockpit area, and will prevent keep your kayak afloat in the event that large volumes of water enter the cockpit area.
The sealed bulkhead is there for your safety, and should be in every kayak, if swamped your kayak will still float, and/or you would not have to swim down to the bottom of the lake attempting to retrieve your kayak. (We decided a few years back to simply not carry any kayak that was not equipped with a sealed bulkhead no matter how inexpensive it was)
Cockpit area is also a big consideration, a small cramped cockpit area would make it difficult to get in and out of the kayak, however will keep water out. This is typically more of a consideration on performance touring/ Ocean kayaks, and whitewater kayaks then would be entry level kayaks.
A larger more open cockpit area will make the kayak a lot easier to enter and exit, and will not make you feel enclosed in a cockpit area which is a big plus for a lot of us clusterphobic paddlers, as well as larger sized paddlers, and those with reduced flexibility or mobility.

Paddling a kayak is a lot of fun and offers great excersize without being to harsh on the joints. Picking the right kayak however, especially for first time paddler, can be a daunting task and a bit difficult with all the various styles shapes and colours.
Please keep in mind we are not saying that this guide will cover every single situation, and there may in fact be some exceptions, we are simply hoping the basics of this guide will help you choose the correct Kayak, or at least make your choices a little easier.
Price aside, if you pick your boat carefully you will thoroughly enjoy your experience on the water.

If you have any questions please email us!

Happy Paddling!

The Holy Cow Canoe Company

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