Things You'll Need:
- about $500
- Free time to enjoy life.
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Step 1
Generally speaking there are 3 main types of kayak. The Sea kayak, the White Water kayak and the "Recreational Kayak".
1. The Sea kayak is for the experts who want to spend thousands of dollars on equipment and ride alongside the whales. They are the very long, thin, tippy kayaks. Easy to roll.
2. The Whitewater kayak is a shorter, stubbier boat that is used for running rapids. These short boats are very difficult to keep riding straight in calm waters.
3. The "recreational kayak" is somewhere in between these 2. About 9-12' long. -
Step 2
The Recreational kayak is perfect for the average person who wants to head out on a 2-3 hour excursion on a calm river or lake. They are very stable and if they have a basic keel running down the centre they track very straight in the water as you paddle. .
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Step 3
When you are shopping for your recreational kayak make sure you turn it over to see if there is a keel : 2 or 3 indentations, or grooves that run down the centre. There are some kayaks available at Costco and other places that have a flat bottom- these kayaks do not track well in the water and drift from side to side as you paddle
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Step 4
Be aware of the length, width and weight of your kayak. The weight is very important - because if it is much over 40 lbs you won't be able to carry it. And you will stop using it. The width is important since a wider kayak will be more stable. 32" is a good width for stability. If the kayak is too long it adds to the weight. If it is too short the kayak shifts from side to side as you paddle. We find that 9'-6"-10' long is probably the best range.
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Step 5
If you will be taking your kayak into the waves - you may consider a "sit-on-top" recreational kayak since this will stay afloat with the waves crashing over you. A sit-on-top kayak will also allow you to jump off the boat and crawl back on - which can be a lot of fun in warmer waters. We find that Wilderness Systems offers a very good line of recreational and sit-on-top kayaks. Recreational kayaks run between $200-$700. We picked up our 9'6 Wilderness "Critter" for about $400 a few years ago. Happy kayaking !
Comments
SpottedApple said
on 1/13/2009 I've rented a kayak before and I loved it. Very peacefull. 5 *
Mitestarossa said
on 1/6/2009 Thank you for the ideas, I am hoping to try this soon.
offgrid said
on 1/3/2009 midwest - depends on where you want to use it.... in rough water with rapids you would need a Whitewater kayak - they can be pretty tippy though. If you want to try kayaking on a calm river or lake I recommend the recreational kayak.
midwestclimber said
on 1/3/2009 Would it be smarter to buy a recrational kayak before a white-water, or would it be alright to dive in. I've been thinking about this for a couple years now. Thanks man.
veryirie said
on 12/31/2008 We kayak a lot here on the Pacific Ocean. Usually a couple of hours at a time along the coastline. LOVE IT! This is a great article with lots of info; thanks!