Whitewater
Kayaks Come In All Shapes And Sizes
If you've been
shopping recently for a new whitewater kayak, you no-doubt have
noticed that there are a variety of options in today's
marketplace. Playboats, slalom boats, hybrids, steep-creekers,
displacement hulls, planing hulls. It's enough to make your head
(not to mention your wallet) spin. But a good place to start is by
sitting down and deciding what type of paddling you'll be
doing--both now and into the future--and then deciding on a
particular category of whitewater kayak.
Modern whitewater kayaks come in three major categories. They are:
Traditional displacement hulled boats -- these are the
old-school whitewater kayaks you're probably familiar with if
you've been around the sport awhile. These boats are generally
longer--from 8 to 12 feet or more--and they have hulls that are
narrow and rounded (displacement design) similar to touring
kayaks.
These boats are fast through the water, sit lower in the water
than their playboat cousins, and are well suited for slalom
kayaking. The rounded hull is great for surfing and carving in
turns. If you plan to spend much of your time on lakes or flat
stretches of river, this type of boat would probably be your best
choice.
Planing-hulled boats -- this is the new generation of
rodeo/playboats. Rather than being round like a traditional hull,
these planing-hulled boats are short (usually less than 7 feet
long), flat in shape, and they sit high in the water. Think of a
surfboard--or a top. This design allows these boats to
"plane" on top of the water (hence the name), which in
turn allows them to turn and spin on a dime.
These boats are wide and very stable on the water, which makes
them great for novice paddlers. They also don't roll as easily as
displacement-hulled boats. They're not as fast on flat water as
traditional kayaks, but you plan on doing a lot of surfing,
aerial bluts, enders, cartwheels, and other stunts, this is
probably the boat for you.
Hybrid designs -- This new generation of whitewater kayaks
combine elements of the traditional, displacement-hulled boats and
the planing-hulled designs. These kayaks tend to be longer, like
traditional boats, but their hulls have many of the design
features of the newer rodeo/playboats.
These hybrid kayaks are faster than their planing-hulled
counterparts, but they still have some of the maneuverability and
playfulness of rodeo boats. This is a great choice for beginners,
along with more experienced paddlers who are making the transition
from old-school boats to the newer playboat designs.
One major improvement common to all of the modern designs is the
size of the cockpit. Unlike the boats of ten or twenty years ago,
the new generation of kayaks all have large, roomy cockpits that
are more comfortable and much easier to get in and out of. And new
paddlers--who are usually fearful of being trapped in their boat
during a roll--find these more open cockpits more than a little
reassuring.
As with any major purchase, it's a good idea to try before you
buy. If you have an outfitter in your area that rents boats, that
can be a great way to spend an afternoon on the water and become
familiar with the different hull designs. And ask around. Paddlers
are a talkative lot, and are usually more than willing to share
their thoughts on what works and what doesn't.
