Welcome to Stormkayaks guide on selecting a kayak.
Stormkayaks
Things to think about when selecting a kayak
First a safety note -Kayaking can be a dangerous sport so caution should be taken at all times. A suitable buoyancy aid should be worn and you should never kayak alone. Make sure you let someone know when and where you are going and when you will return. At Stormkayaks we recommend that you join a local kayaking club to gain experience and to meet new kayaking friends.
Due to the ever growing popularity of kayaking in the UK, the selection of kayaks available has never been greater.
You will need to ask yourself a few questions when selecting a suitable kayak ?
First
Selecting the best material for "your kayak" is a function of three basic elements, weight, strength and cost! Once you make an honest evaluation of your intended needs and uses, its easy.
Polyethylene - "Plastic, Tupperware and Poly" are all terms commonly used to describe Polyethylene
It's the most common material used to build kayaks today. There are two main types of polyethylene are linear and cross-linked. Linear polyethylene stands are very long whereas cross-linked strands are shorter and chemically bonded to one another to provide stiffness.
Linear Kayaks - Most often built using a process called roto-molding. Plastic pellets are added to a two piece mold, the mold is heated turning the pellets to liquid, then rotated. When complete the mold is opened to remove the kayak. Although a slight line will appear on the outside of the kayak, the seam or stress point is all but eliminated from the all-important inside.
Cross-linked Kayaks - Made from a patented "sandwich approach". A thick foam core is sandwiched between an outer and inner layer of polyethylene to provide stiffness at moderate cost. Cross-link kayaks are stronger and stiffer but also tend to be more costly.
Polyethylene materials provide a very durable, inexpensive and maintenance free kayak
Composite - Is a term used to describe fibreglass, Kevlar or carbon kayaks. Composite kayaks are made by hand fitting layers of cloth into a mold and adding resin to create a stiff, tough shell. A gel-coat on the outside of the boat adds further protection and produces a attractive, shiny finish. Fibreglass kayaks can be very tough and are much lighter than Polyethylene boats. Kevlar kayaks will weigh less again, and will have added strength. Carbon is the latest advancement in kayak building technology. When bonded with Kevlar, carbon tends to hold its shape better than other materials, keeping lightweight boats from flexing out of shape. Its primary use is in building the lightest high performance oriented yakayass.
Composite kayaks are light weight, strong and are visually more appealing than plastic kayaks, but in general cost more.
Other Material Choices - Wooden Kayaks made from Do-it-yourself kits are becoming increasingly available. Although wood kayaks paddle well and are attractive, they tend to be much less durable than kayaks made from plastics or composites.
Inflatable Kayaks have the big advantage of being compactness and portable. Due to their soft nature these boats will always be more sluggish to paddle than other material choices, but modern plastics are making them stronger than the older inflatable kayaks.
Folding Kayaks use nylon or canvas material stretched over a lightweight aluminium frame. Disassembled, folding kayaks fit into two or three bags for ease of transportation. Folding kayaks are less responsive than hard shell kayaks and can be time consuming to set up. Can be expensive.
THE BEST MATERIAL FOR YOU will be a compromise of strength, weight, cost and your paddling needs!
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Some kayaking terms
General Purpose/Family kayaks - are often the first introduction into kayaking. They are a very stable and forgiving kayak. Some models have a large open cockpit so you will feel less enclosed. These are the kayaks that the training centres purchase.They will grow with your experience.
Sit-On-Top Kayaks as there name suggest you sit on top rather than inside. If you fall off its easy to get back on. They are at home on the beach with the family or in the surf getting wet. They are very forgiving even if you have little or no experience of using them.
Sea and Touring kayaks offer you the freedom to explore our rivers, estuaries, lakes and the open sea. With a tracking hull you will find travelling that much easier. They range from the day user to the full blown expedition sea kayak.
White Water Kayaks are designed for the more experienced user. The choices are far greater due to them being designed around the height and weight of the user. When you come to selecting a kayak you will have a better idea of your needs.
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Kayaks can be used in other disciplinesAnother thing to bear in mind is that kayaks have the flexibility to be used in other disciplines other than the one it was designed for. Some sit-on-top kayaks can be used for touring, having fun with friends and family on the beach or getting wet in the surf. General purpose kayaks can be used in most environment with care. They are great on the river and in the surf. Sea kayaks are not just for touring. You will have fun in the waves as well.
Try different types of kayaks. Ask friends if you can try their kayaksPlease have fun on the water and be aware of other kayakers around you. There are often codes of conduct in most disciplines. Ask local people for their knowledge to avoid any embarrassing situations.
Finding out about the area you are going to kayak in will make your trip that much more safer and enjoyable. If you are going to kayak in the sea please make sure you get local advice before hand. Flat beaches and Harbour entrances can often hide strong tides and under currents. In next to no time you could be a long way out and getting tired.
Enjoy your time on the water and be safe.
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