Shopping for a Kayak
Confuse on what kayaks to get? Getting one can be simple, but many thoughts have to be considered. Serious kayakers will unlikely to buy one off the shelves.
Factors to consider:
- Weight
- Shape (Streamlined , or narrow-diamonded)
- Material made of (Some material adds on weight to it)
- Quality
- Workmanship
- Suits ( seats, cockpit size)
Some serious kayakers even customise their own kayaks. I've several paddling partners who actually customise their kayak to be light-weight and to be equip with imported rudders from other manufacturers.
Types:
There is no best kayak. It all depend of indivdual preferences. Some like it narrow and light, some like it narrow but with some weightness. This all comes with rowing experiences. With narrow & light, you are able to glide through water and current easily however due to lightness, once paddling stops, its gliding speed decrease immediately wherelse heavier kayaks will continueing gliding, this helps in Marathon when paddler can allow gliding to allow he/she to rest or save some energy..
Kayaks also has different volumes to suit different masses of paddler, smaller volume for smaller size, larger for bigger ones. Always check with supplier/ seller whether the kayaks are made of what materials and whether it is reinforced with kelvar and most importantly the colours available. You wont want to end up with a colour that spolits the day.
Always refer to different brands to compare prices, kayak factors such as narrowness, length, weight, material used, seat/foot fittings, rudder.
This all applies to recreational kayaks whether its for touring,racing,fishing.
