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How to pick a kayak - Brattleboro Reformer
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How to pick a kayak
Tuesday June 29, 2010
Marybeth from Connecticut wrote asking advice on picking kayaks for her and her husband: "We are looking for
something for the lakes, but have an opportunity to kayak on a quiet ocean inlet in Maine where we vacation." She’s
made a good start on getting the right boats.
There’s no way I would ever recommend a specific kayak for anyone. Kayak preferences are as personal as
underwear. But there are some general considerations which can help anyone find a kayak they can live with happily.
Not all kayaks are created equal. There are slow, clunky kayaks that aren’t much fun to paddle. They get used a few
times, then abandoned. It’s like trying to pedal a clunker bicycle -- despite best intentions you don’t go far or stay with it.
Good equipment makes a difference.
So here’s my advice for what it’s worth:
1) Know yourself. What’s most important to you? Do you want to go far and fast? Or are you content to paddle just far
enough to see the sunset? Do you have good balance? Do you want performance from your kayak? Are you agile
enough to get into, out of a tight cockpit? Do you paddle alone? Do you want to carry camping gear? Are you strong
enough to load a kayak onto a car rack by yourself?
2) Know where you want to paddle. There’s no such thing as an all-around kayak. Do you paddle on rivers, ponds,
lakes, the surf, protected bays or the open ocean? The best boat for
paddling on a quiet pond is not the best boat for a wild,
whitewater river, paddling Inn to Inn on Lake
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Champlain or camping the Maine Island Trail. Decide
where you paddle most and buy a boat for that. If it
works in other situations, great. If not, rent when you
need to (or own more than one kayak)
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3) Based on the above answers, you should be able to
narrow your choices. A salesperson at a good
paddling shop can help you narrow your choices.
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How to pick a kayak - Brattleboro Reformer
6/30/10 12:10 PM
paddling shop can help you narrow your choices.
Generally, shorter boats are lighter, more
maneuverable, slower and less seaworthy than longer
ones. Wider boats tend to be more stable but harder
to paddle. Longer boats are faster, heavier, handle
bigger water and carry more gear. Smaller cockpits
are harder to get into but aid performance once you
are in. Sit-on-top boats are fine for warm weather and
water. Plastic boats are heavier, cheaper, stand up to
more abuse than composites (Personally, I think
plastic boast are the only reasonable choice for rocky
New England.)
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4) Try as many kayaks as you can before your buy.
Rent. Borrow. If someone has a used kayak for sale
near you, ask if you can paddle it. Go to a paddling demo or buy from a shop that lets you get in the boat.
5) If you buy a boat and eventually find isn’t perfect for you, don’t despair. There’s a strong market for used kayaks.
Just sell it and get another.
My personal choices? I like kayaks in the 14- to 16-foot range, especially if you are only going to own one boat for
pond, lake, flat river and ocean bay paddling. Marilyn started her paddling career in a stable, comfortable 14-foot
Perception Carolina (www.perceptionkayaks.com), but just bought a fast, lively 16-foot Prijon Seayak
(www.wildnet.com). She’s in love. I have a big, 17.5-foot Aquaterra Sea Lion for the ocean and big lakes, kept the
Carolina for smaller waters. Life isn’t a spectator sport. Get out paddling and enjoy.
Picking A PFD
You never just buy a kayak. You also have to buy, at least, a paddle and a PFD (flotation vest). Let’s start with the
PFD, since no one should ever get into a kayak without one. The only two criteria you really need to worry about for
kayaking are fit and flotation.
To fit properly, a kayaking vest has to be the right size for you and it has to let you sit comfortably in the seat of your
kayak and move your arms in a natural paddling motion. If it pushes up, binds or limits your paddling motion, it doesn’t
fit. Women will typically appreciate the anatomic contoured fit of a woman’s vest.
PFDs are categorized by Type. Bulky Type I and II vests, for example, will turn an unconscious user upright in the
water. The need for unrestricted paddling motion usually eliminates most of the bulky Type I and II PFDs. Kayakingspecific Type III or Type V vests are your best choice if you intend to paddle regularly. The only difference between
Type II and Type V is that a Type V vest must be worn at all times. Since you should always have on a vest in a kayak,
the distinction is meaningless.
Vest have different buoyancy ratings, usually marked on the hang tag. My advice: get as much flotation as you can in a
vest that fits.
Marilyn and I both use paddling specific vests from Kokatat (www.kokatat.com). Hers is a Type III MsFitTour woman’s
vest with 16-plus pounds of lift. Mine is Type an Orbit Tour with 15.5 pounds. Both are so comfortable we don’t mind
wearing them whenever we are paddling.
Picking a Paddle
Kayak paddles come in different lengths for different boats and paddling styles, with different blade shapes for different
purposes. One general rule with paddles: all else equal, lighter is better, which is why carbon fiber is the (expensive)
material of choice.
Some paddles have the blades in the same plane, others are "feathered" with one blade offset from the other. Most are
adjustable. There are bent and straight shaft. Try different configurations and find what’s right for you.
Our "best" paddle is a Harmony Tortuga Featherlock Carbon (www.harmonygear.com), which adjusts for length and
blade offset. I can use it when Marilyn isn’t paddling. Most of the time I use a lovely wood paddle from Mitchell
(www.mitchellpaddles.com). It pleases my eye, feels good in my hands, and has a big blade that really drives the boat.
***
Tim Jones writes about outdoor sports and travel. He can be reached at timjones@easternslopes.com.
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