How to Get Fitted to the Right Kayak

Kayaking requires a smooth balance of paddle control and body control. Since the kayak responds to the body in the boat, a correct and comfortable fit is important to good boat control. In both sea kayaks and whitewater kayaks, manufacturers make a multitude of boat styles to fit almost every body type, but certain factors are key in making sure a boat truly fits you. The truest way to know if a boat fits is to sit in the cockpit.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Fitting a Sea Kayak

1. Decide what length of kayak you want to paddle. Sea kayaks can be as short as 9 feet or as long as 17 feet.

2. Sit in the cockpit of a boat on dry land and place your feet on the foot pegs.

3. Adjust the foot pegs so your knees are bent and can brace against the underside edge of the cockpit hull. Foot pegs should be positioned so you can push strongly against the pegs with the knees still bent.

4. Brace your knees against the underside of the cockpit. Try to gently rock the boat from side to side. If you cannot brace your knees well enough to comfortably move the boat, or your legs can flap free underneath the hull, it may be too big for you. If your knees come all the way to the sides of the cockpit interior and you feel too much pressure in the knees and hip joints, the boat may be too small for you.

Fitting a Whitewater Kayak

5. Sit in the cockpit of the boat on dry land.

6. Place your feet around the round hump at the front of the boat. This will naturally feel awkward, like a seal wrapping flippers around a ball. Your feet should be snug but not wedged in or immovable.

7. Tuck your knees in under the edges of the cockpit and make sure you are able to sit up straight. Gently rotate your pelvis and use your knees to rotate the boat in all directions. If your knees will not fit under the hull or you find yourself hunching forward to make your legs fit, the boat is probably too small for you. If your knees slip out from under the hull or you can flap your legs freely the boat is probably too big for you.

Tips & Warnings

• Sit in the boat for an extended period of time until you feel the true effects of the boat on your hips, knees, and ankles before deciding if the fit is right or not.
• Try sitting in multiple boats to gauge how different a fit can feel and which one feels the best.
• Smaller paddlers are usually better off with narrower boats with smaller cockpits.
• Whitewater kayaks are meant to be a tight fit. The body will adjust to the snug sensation but persistent pain in the joints may indicate the boat is too small.
• Always sit in a boat first before either purchasing or taking it out on the water.
• Be sure you are fully able to control the boat with your body before going out on the water.
• Make sure you wear proper paddling footwear as it may impact how a boat fit feels.

References

• "The Kayak Companion;" Joe Glickman; 2003

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