The cockpit area is where everything happens, where you connect with the craft, so it is very important to be sure you fit into the seat properly. A good seat that fits you should sit you up so that your pelvis does not tilt and it support your thighs as your feet rest on the foot pedals. You wish to eliminate any areas of stress so that you can comfortably paddle in your kayak. Some seats are basic but will suit you perfectly where others are deluxe with a great deal of paddling and can be adjusted to fit a variety of paddlers. Do not be fooled by a fancy cover but make sure whatever style of seat will work for you. If you get the right basic shape, it is not difficult to customize the fit to suit you. Talk to the staff at Ocean River about fit kits.
The “combing” is the raised edge around the outside of the cockpit. It helps to keep water out of the cockpit, is what you hold onto getting in and out of the boat, is where you attach your spray skirt to the boat, and is where thigh braces are attached. Whatever the size of the cockpit, you need to ensure that you can get in and out of the boat comfortably. It should also have thigh braces let you lean the boat with the movement of your thigh. This is where you start to feel part of the kayak. When looking at the fit of a kayak, make sure that you fit the thigh braces or that they can be adjusted to fit you or padded to suit your shape.
When you are well fitted in your kayak, your feet help drive the boat forward by providing support for the forces of paddling. We say that your feet are like the “transmission” of the kayak. Whether you paddle a skeg boat or ruddered boat, make sure that your footrests can be adjusted properly to allow you to sit comfortably and give leg drive to your stroke and maneuvers.
The hatches in the bow and the stern of a sea kayak are the openings into compartments where you can stow your gear. It’s important that your hatches are large enough to get your gear in and out. If your passion is for long, self-supported kayak tours, then you will need a boat with enough carrying capacity in the compartments to take everything you need. Hatch covers come in a variety of styles: they can be simple oval or round rubber hatch covers that push down over a lip or a stretchy neoprene cover that stretches over a combing, hard-molded fiberglass or plastic covers that sit against a neoprene seal, or a combination of both. Whatever the system is, make sure it is easy to use, waterproof, and secure.
Most modern day kayaks with hatches have bulkheads. Bulkheads are internal walls that close off the bow and stern compartments giving the boat enough buoyancy to allow the paddler to re-enter the kayak in a rescue, the opportunity to pump out the cockpit area easily and carry on to shore. Bulkheads vary in their materials and installation, depending on the type of materials the boat is made of. Fiberglass or plastic bulkheads are common but so are closed cell foam bulkheads. Whatever type of bulkheads, make sure they are secure and do not leak.
Sea kayaks will have deck rigging to allow the kayaker to carry a chart or other equipment on the deck for easy reference or access. This rigging is usually done with bungie cord that makes it easy to hold things in place. Many sea kayaks also have a perimeter line that runs all the way around the kayak. This rope is designed so that the kayak is easy to grab in case of emergency. This is a tremendous safety feature in a rescue situation. If your boat does not have enough rigging, it is quite easy to add extra rigging – just talk to the staff at Ocean River for any suggestions.
The bow and stern handles on a kayak, make it easy to carry. If a kayak needs to be towed or if the kayak needs to be grabbed, the toggles are often the easiest place to grab. They are primarily used when two people carry a kayak. Make sure the carry toggles are comfortable if you plan to carry your boats any distance. If carrying a loaded boat, grab the toggle but put the other hand under the hull to give yourself a better grip.
Most sea kayaks come with either a rudder or a skeg. Both are designed to enhance control, help boats stay on course, and conserve a paddler’s energy in challenging conditions that may push boats off track. It is our belief that a well designed kayak should paddle well without a rudder or skeg in most sea and weather conditions but will save energy and allow better control in adverse conditions.
In any kayak, wind and currents can take you off course at times. A rudder is useful if you are caught in conditions that start to push the kayak around, and when used correctly will make going where you want to go easier. It is mainly an energy saving device; once deployed it enables you to control the kayak without taking multiple sweep strokes, which are tiring and inefficient. With a rudder you just push the right pedal to go right, the left to go left. It does not take long to figure out how to compensate and paddle without sweeping. In addition, with any general touring kayak a rudder can be a benefit when your kayak is loaded to take the boat out of normal trim. When on an overnight tour you will tend to load your boat slightly differently each day because the load varies as the trip progresses. A rudder can often help to control your boat in a variety of different trims.
We recommend that you do not put your rudder down except when you need it to help you stay on course, as it is more efficient to paddle without a rudder when it is not needed to keep you on track.
A skeg is a small fin that is located under the hull near the stern of the craft and that is lowered or lifted by a slider on the side of the cockpit. Many of the kayaks that come with a skeg are designed to be fun and very maneuverable when the skeg is not deployed. However, when in windy conditions or in fast currents a boat can be more challenging to control. A lowered skeg improves tracking, allows the boat to be paddled in a straight line more easily, and saves the paddler energy.
Rudders and skegs are two different ways of achieving the same result – “going where you want to go.” At Ocean River we do not believe that either one is inherently superior to the other. They are just different. There are some people who prefer the control they get with rudders and others who enjoy the simplicity of a skeg. Check them out yourself to see what suits you.
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
Ocean River Sports Newsletter
