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This article is from the Sea Kayaking FAQ, by Todd Leigh with numerous contributions by others.

01 What is the best boat?

Every boat is different and there is no best boat for all paddling
conditions. Any boat is a trade off, features that work well in one
set of conditions can compromise performance/handling in another set
of conditions. You have to know what type of paddling conditions you
want to paddle in before selecting a boat.

Multi-day expeditions dictate a different boat than morning
explorations of an estuary or surf-zone excitement or teaching others
to kayak.

One fundamental trade-off in boat design is tracking
vs. turning. Generally a boat that tracks well (goes straight) does
not turn as well as a boat that does not track well. There are varying
degrees of these two characteristics in all boats, and some boats that
track well can be made to turn better if you are willing and able to
lean them when you turn, but if you're going to be turning a lot, buy
a boat that turns, if you are going straight all day, buy a boat that
tracks.

Another characteristic to consider is the initial stability of the
boat. Initial (or primary) stability is the ease with which a boat
starts to tip. Low initial stability will make the boat feel 'tender'
or 'tippy'. A boat that is tender to sit in is going to be much more
difficult to fish or take pictures out of, so if that's what you want
to do, consider a boat with more initial stability. A boat with very
high initial stability will be more difficult to handle in big waves,
because it will tend to try to sit flat relative to the water rather
than the horizon. The consequences of this tendency are left as an
exercise for the reader.

Another thing to consider is the final stability of the boat. Final
(or secondary) stability is the ease with which the boat tips all the
way over. High final stability is desirable for any boat, but it may
take some time to develop the balance and skill to take advantage of
it.

Paddlers are all different. A boat will perform/handle differently for
a tall person than for a short person, and for a heavy person than a
light person. The fit of the cockpit will vary from boat to boat. A
person's requirements for a boat may change as the person's skill
level changes. Often, a person with advanced skills will be interested
in different boat features than a person with beginner/intermediate
skills.

 

Continue to:

• Index
• next: 02 Should I start in a 'beginner' boat, or should I buy an 'expert' boat and hope I can 'grow' into it?

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