I imagine slicing silently through the water listening to the sound of loons calling across a mirrored lake. Or witnessing an orca break through the water's surface and blow, perhaps no more than 20 feet from your boat. Or how about catching a friendly wave and riding it into shore?

Whether you're headed to a local lake for the day or off on an extended paddling tour, you'll want to make sure you've chosen the boat that will let you get the most out of your time on the water. The information that follows will help you sort through the options for flat water paddling.

Quick Read

1. Determine your paddling-trip preferences (day trips, expeditions, family recreation) before selecting a boat.
   
   
   
2. Choose a boat based on the type of paddling and water for which it was designed.
   
   
3. Design and materials will affect how your kayak handles in various situations.
   
   
4. Consider the important "extras" before purchasing your kayak.

What Kind of Paddler are You?

How do you plan to use your new kayak? Do you see yourself exploring or fishing on a local lake, perhaps with your family? Playing in the ocean surf or on gentle rivers? Maybe you have in mind some day trips in coastal areas. Or perhaps you're dreaming of packing up and heading out for a long kayak camping trip.

Decide how and where you'll be using your kayak to help narrow down the choices.

Types of Kayaks

Kayaks, or portable, covered boats with cockpits, are designed for use on lakes, oceans and rivers-even for surfing. Take a look below at the types to select the right one for you.

Recreational
These all-around boats are stable, easy to handle, fun and affordable. Most have large open cockpits for easy entry and exit. They are great for lakes, tidal areas and slow-moving rivers.

Day Touring
This wide-ranging category includes everything from small touring boats to canoe/kayak hybrids. In general, day touring boats are designed with beginners and recreational boaters in mind. Most are shorter and lighter than regular touring kayaks, so they're easy to turn, maneuver and transport. They have less capacity for carrying gear than the larger boats. They're also easy on the wallet! These boats can be used just about anywhere, short of whitewater rivers.

Multi-day Touring
Touring kayaks are built to handle long trips and big gear loads. They're roomy and comfortable, with covered decks to protect you and your cargo from the wind and water. They're also quite easy to paddle, with sleek, efficient designs that cut through the water, track well and keep a low profile so you don't get blown off course. These boats are ideal for open water paddling on oceans and lakes.

Sit-on-Tops
Sit-on-top kayaks are designed for fun. They're easy to use and a breeze to get on and off. Sit-on-tops make great bases for swimming, snorkeling, diving and more. Shorter models are great for surfing! Most are designed for day use, but some are built to handle everything from river running to overnight touring. Some styles even feature hatches for internal storage.

Materials

Fiberglass
Fiberglass is lightweight and stiff, and can be shaped into extremely efficient, responsive hull designs. (Stiffer hulls are more responsive and require less internal bracing. This means a lighter boat with more room inside for legs and gear.) Fiberglass is most often used in top-of-the-line kayaks. Fiberglass hulls are made of layers of woven fabric, bonded together with a polyester resin for strength and rigidity. An outer gel coating provides protection against abrasion and exposure to ultraviolet light.

Composite
This category includes Kevlar™, fiberglass and carbon blends which are extremely durable and lightweight. They tend to be more expensive than polyethylene or rotomolded plastic boats. Airalite™ is a thermo-formed material similar in appearance, stiffness and weight to traditional composite materials, but it's considerably less expensive.

Polyethylene
Polyethylene plastic is less expensive, more impact-resistant, and more abrasion-resistant than fiberglass. Polyethylene can be molded into complex shapes using a variety of molding processes. Polyethylene boats can be a bit slower than the slick fiberglass or composite models. Exolar™ resin, a newer plastic material that's being used in kayaks, is 40% stiffer and more durable than superlinear polyethylene.

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
This flexible, clothlike thermoplastic material is used to make inflatable kayaks and rafts. It's tough and abrasion- and puncture-resistant, and it comes in a variety of thicknesses.

Nitrylon™
Also used to make inflatables, Nitrylon is a combination of tough, nylon fabric and a Nitrile/natural rubber coating. It offers excellent abrasion resistance and cold-weather flexibility.

Design

Length
Longer kayaks tend to be easier to paddle over long distances than shorter boats (once you get them up to speed). They also stay on course better and hold more gear. Shorter kayaks weigh less, are less affected by winds and are easier to turn, maneuver and transport. Recreational kayaks are typically shorter, between 9 and 15 feet in long. Touring boats are anywhere from 12 to 18 feet, with the average being about 16 feet. Tandems, (two-person kayaks with two cockpits), average about 18 feet.

Width (Beam)
Wider kayaks are easier to enter and exit and are more stable on the water. They also have more room for gear. These include most of the recreational boats which range from about 25 to 30 inches in width. Narrow boats are a little more "tippy," but they tend to be lighter and more efficient through the water. They also track better. Narrow boats are usually easier to "roll" back up after a capsize than wider boats. Touring kayaks are usually a bit narrower than recreational boats, and range in width from 21 to 25 inches. Tandem touring kayaks are typically a bit wider.

Chine
The point at which a kayak bottom turns upward and becomes the kayak's side is called the chine. Smooth, rounded chines provide good secondary stability and easier bracing and rolling. Sharper, more pronounced chines can enhance tracking and initial stability.

Entry Line
The edge of a kayak's hull where it cuts through the water is called its entry line. Sharp entry lines slice through the water efficiently for better speed and easier paddling. Blunt bows ride up slightly on incoming waves for better buoyancy and drier paddling in windy, rough conditions.

Don't Overlook the Details

Rudders and Skegs
Rudders and skegs are typically used on touring kayaks for steering and stability. Depending on your paddling ability and the types of trips you'll be taking, you may choose to get a boat with a rudder or a skeg, or you may be a purist who prefers a boat with neither. A rudder helps you turn, maintain a straight course and keep your boat steady in rough water. It is operated by maneuvering foot pegs attached to wires and can be raised when not needed.

A skeg, or a keel that can be lowered and raised offers stability and causes the boat react with wind or current, depending on its position. You should know how to turn using body weight and paddling strokes when considering buying a boat with a skeg. The same can be said for boats with neither rudder nor skeg. These boats are a joy to paddle for their smooth lines, but you need to be proficient at turning and handling the boat if you venture into anything more than calm, sheltered waters.

Cockpit Shape
Large cockpits are easy to enter and exit, and they allow you to store larger items inside the cockpit area. Small cockpits help hold you inside the kayak for easier rolling and maneuvering in rough conditions. Small cockpits are also easier to protect with spray skirts, which keep water from getting inside. Before you buy any kayak, make sure the cockpit and seat are comfortable!

Foot Pegs
To kayak efficiently, you need to brace your feet against the kayak hull. Make sure the foot pegs (or heel pockets) designed for this task are comfortable. Adjustable pegs allow more than one person to paddle a kayak.

Storage Space
Make sure you have enough storage space for the kinds of trips you have planned. If your storage space is inside the kayak, check for reliable seals on the deck hatches and internal walls (bulkheads). If the storage space is on top of the boat, make sure you have some way to strap down all items securely.

Flotation
Airtight hull sections closed off by bulkheads or inflatable air bags will keep your kayak afloat during a capsize. Make sure the bulkhead walls are sealed well, or that the air bags are tough and well-made and can be secured inside the hull. If you're considering a sit-on-top kayak, it should have self-bailing drainage holes.

Take a Test Drive