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WHAT TO PADDLE KayaksLately, the image of a kayaker has become that of a young daredevil plunging over an insanely high waterfall. But this doesn't represent all kayaks. Like canoes, kayaks come in numerous shapes and sizes. Recreational kayaks are primarily touring boats but may handle nicely in moderate whitewater of Class II or less. They have a mild rocker with a cutting bow narrow enough to penetrate waves. These boats are generally shorter than traditional touring kayaks and measure less than 15 feet. Touring kayaks are high volume boats designed to carry lots of gear and handle well on moderately rough waterways. Most touring kayaks have excellent directional stability. Many have high peaked decks to shed water. These boats are fairly beamy (25 inches or more) and stable. Solo touring kayaks generally run 16 to 18 feet in length. Tandem boats can be longer than 20 feet. Sea cruising kayaks are long (17 feet or more), high-volume boats designed to easily cover long stretches of unpredictably rough open water. These boats are shaped similar to touring kayaks, but many feature hulls that flare rapidly from a sharp cutting bow in order to increase lift when penetrating big waves. Others have upswept ends. Peaked decks add to a dry ride and a low hull profile minimizes wind. Skegs or rudders maximize directional control in currents or crosswinds. Downriver kayaks are built for straight ahead speed. Racing specifications generally limit these kayaks to a 15-foot length and 60-centimeter beam. Most have a radically asymmetrical "Swed" hull form with the widest part of the boat well aft of the cockpit. Needle-like cutting bows and vee or rounded-vee hulls make downriver kayaks speedy but hard to maneuver. Olympic flatwater kayaks are built for straight ahead speed. These sleek, tippy racing boats are built of wood or fiberglass for singles, tandem or four paddlers. The cockpit is open allowing for significant leg action. Whitewater slalom kayaks are highly maneuverable. Some designs have extremely low volume with very sharp edges to keep the deck low when running gates in competition. These ultra-light boats are limited to 13.2 feet by racing specifications. They're often built so lightly that long-term durability can be a problem. Whitewater playboat kayaks are medium- to low-volume and built for playing in rapids. They frequently have lots of rocker to aid in quick turns and on-water tricks. Most have relatively rounded sides to make them forgiving when crossing strong eddy lines or surfing waves and holes. Playboats are available in a large variety of lengths and volumes to match the size of the boat to the size of the paddler. Durability is important to their construction, as hard play in whitewater can be tough on boats. Squirt boats are a combination of whitewater playboat and slalom boat. They are intended for ease in burying the ends of the craft for "stunt" play. Whitewater touring kayaks are high volume so the paddler has plenty of storage space for gear without having to sacrifice responsiveness on the river. Learn more about canoes. Back to top.
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