A good kayak will last you for many years. It will take you to places you may otherwise only dream of going and it can give you freedom on the water. It therefore makes much more sense to look for good value and get the right boat for your needs, rather than the cheapest boat you can find. A better kayak will give you superior performance, lighter weight, durability, and other features you may find important. On the other hand, if you simply can’t spend much, you should try to get the most for your dollar in durability and good solid function.
Mass produced kayaks will be less costly than hand made boats, and full size kayaks will be more costly than a smaller boats intended only for day-paddling. But the single biggest factor in determining the cost of a kayak is usually the materials of which it is built.
These are plastic kayaks built in one piece when polyethylene powder is put into a large rotating mold and melted. Polyethylene boats are the toughest kayaks you can buy. They are also the choice of most rental and tour operators for their durability and low maintenance requirements. Rotomoulded kayaks are the lowest priced kayaks on the market and provide amazingly good value. Their downside is that they are heavier and may not be quite as fast through the water as composite kayaks.
These kayaks are made when a flat sheet of ABS/acrylic plastic is heated in an oven until it is very soft and then formed with vacuum pressure over a mould. The deck and the hull are formed separately and then they are trimmed and bonded together. Thermo-formed boats are comparable to fiberglass kayaks in weight, but cost less. The cosmetically perfect finish of thermo-formed boats is very appealing, and their hull materials are resilient to impact and very scratch resistant. Thermo-formed kayaks boats offer an appealing option to fiberglass at a slightly better price.
Made of fiberglass, Kevlar, or carbon fibre, these hand built kayaks are the most labour intensive to make and as a result are usually the most expensive on the market. Kayakers who purchase a composite kayak buy them for the sheer joy of paddling. They are primarily constructed using hand lamination or vacuum bagging, making them the lightest rigid kayaks you can get, especially when they are constructed of Kevlar or carbon laminates. At their price point, these boats tend to include many of the most sophisticated features. If you want a treat, come on down and demo one of these fine craft at Ocean River Sports.
Inflatable sea kayaks are not commonly seen, as most inflatable kayaks are purely recreational. These boats are usually quite affordable and offer good value. The main advantages of inflatable boats are that they are portable and very easy to set up. When stowed in their storage bag, they are small and light — just the type of kayak you might want to take with you on that trip to the Caribbean.
Well-proven folding kayaks have been around for years. The first folding kayaks were built at the beginning of the 20th century. With a wood or aluminum frame inside a skin cover, these boats are reminiscent of some Inuit kayaks. Designed with modern technology, they are made to be taken apart and carried in storage bags. This type of folding kayak varies in cost and quality, but if you are planning to go to the high arctic or to Fiji, you could take one of these boats with you.
Many hobbyists build their own wooden kayaks. Most builders buy plans or kits as these usually these are based on proven designs. Wooden boats can be built with wood strips or with plywood panels. Light and quite strong, wood boats can last for years. It takes some labour to maintain wooden boats, but a well loved wooden boat can provide many years of enjoyable paddling. Plans and kits offer good value to the person who is handy, and can result in a very nice craft.
Your Needs and Intended Use Budget and Materials Hull Design Additional Boat Features
Your Needs and Intended Use
Budget and Materials
Hull Design
Additional Boat Features
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