Sea Kayaks
Sea kayaks are long and streamlined compared to their stubbier whitewater cousins, have much less rocker in their keel lines, and are equipped with watertight compartments for stowage. Sea kayaks (also referred to as touring kayaks) are based on a time-proven design that's changed little over time. Only the materials from which they are constructed have evolved in recent years.
Two factors to consider when shopping for a touring kayak are speed and stability. Most modern sea kayaks are designed with good initial and directional stability. If you're an experience paddler interested in a high-performance boat, you might consider some of the models available in this class. High performance sea kayaks are narrower, faster, and more maneuverable than standard touring and recreational boats.
The speed of a sea kayak is affected by its length. Touring boats are generally 15 to 20 feet in length, with tandems coming in around 22 feet. A longer boat forms less of a bow wave, which means less overall friction, which means it's generally faster in the open water--up to a point. Once a kayak exceeds 22 feet in length, it's increased mass cancels out any gains in reduced resistance.
Some other important considerations with sea kayaks:
Cargo room. Cargo room is another
important factor in choosing the touring kayak that's a perfect
fit for you. If day trips are your thing, then a shorter and
lighter boat may provide more than enough cargo space. If you're
planning an extended excursion, however, you'd probably be
better off with a longer boat that has room for your extra
cargo.
Acceleration. Length affects more than
just overall speed. It also affects acceleration. Longer boats
have lower acceleration in respect to a given paddler's strength
and skills. Acceleration is important, especially if you're
dodging rocks or trying to catch a wave, so keep this in mind.
Hull materials. As with whitewater
kayaks, the hull material of your new touring boat is an
important consideration--both for price and performance.
Rotomold boats are the least expensive and the easiest to
maintain, but also the heaviest. Fiberglass boats are lighter,
but more expensive and more fragile. And Kevlar boat are light
and incredible strong, but are also the most expensive of the
three.
Foldboats. Folding kayaks are another option for the sea kayaker. See the "Folding Kayaks" article for more information on these boats.
And that's it in a nutshell. If you done your homework and decided on a make and model of sea kayak, you might consider ordering your new boat online. There are several reputable companies offering these kayaks for sale on the Internet, and the savings can be substantial over your local outfitter.
Need a New Touring Kayak?
Is that trusty old touring kayak getting a little long in the tooth? Are you finding it harder and harder to keep up with your paddling companions? Are you finding that your current boat just doesn't have the storage capacity for those long, multi-day excursions? Or are you in the market for your first sea or touring kayak?
If so, you might consider purchasing your next boat from one of the online merchants. Retail paddling shops are great if you can find one, but most only carry one or two brands, and expect to pay the full retail price. Online merchants, on the other hand, often carry several brands and dozens of touring and recreational kayaks, and usually at very competitive prices. They have secure ordering systems, good warranty and return policies, and will ship virtually anywhere in the world. And you won't have to spend a weekend driving all over town in search of that perfect new boat.
If you've got a moment, check out one of our recommended merchants. You'll be pleasantly surprised at what you find.
Ocean Kayaks is a leading manufacturer of sit-on-top kayaks. These
type of kayaks are great for beginners just learning to paddle
(there's no fear of capsizing and not being able to wet exit), and
they also make terrific platforms for fishing, scuba diving,
photography, surfing, touring, and all around recreational use.
They're also easy to get in and out of, even in fairly rough and
choppy water. In simple terms, the learning curve on a sit-on-top
kayak is much shorter than with conventional boats.
If
you're not familiar with sit-on-top kayaks, they have a farily
conventional hull shape, but the paddler sits on top of the boat
rather than inside the hull. Most of these boats are rotomolded
plastic, which makes them relatively inexpensive (and of course
heavier than kevlar and other, more expensive hull materials).
