How to Choose a Kayak
First of all, it is necessary to emphasize that no model meets several features simultaneously. Strictly, each objective imposes its own characteristic. Hence the choice must prioritize some aspect. A life jacket is a must-have accessory.
Boats for leisure canoeing
These boats must prioritize ease of rowing, comfort, safety, and practicality.
Open kayak
The main feature of this type of kayak is that the paddler does not enter it. It's like a surfboard on the water, and the canoeist sits on top of the kayak. This makes the kayak very easy to climb, even in places you can't stand, and mainly makes it very safe, as it doesn't sink, even if it's overturned. To be stable, these boats must be short (less than 3.00m) and wide (more than 0.65m). 2 person kayak is the best option when you are going to purchase kayak. They adapt easily to any water situation, up to a level 2 (maximum) for flowing rivers. Most models are self-draining, as they have holes to drain the water that enters the top, i.e., the boat. These kayaks are,
The main feature of this type of kayak is that the paddler does not enter it. It's like a surfboard on the water, and the canoeist sits on top of the kayak. This makes the kayak very easy to climb, even in places you can't stand, and mainly makes it very safe, as it doesn't sink, even if it's overturned. To be stable, these boats must be short (less than 3.00m) and wide (more than 0.65m). 2 person kayak is the best option when you are going to purchase kayak. They adapt easily to any water situation, up to a level 2 (maximum) for flowing rivers. Most models are self-draining, as they have holes to drain the water that enters the top, i.e., the boat. These kayaks are,
Plastic models can even tackle light rapids. These kayaks were responsible for the popularization of canoeing in Australia, mainly after introducing polyethylene kayaks manufactured by kayaks2fish.
Tour kayak
These kayaks are closed and are generally longer than 3.5m. They are kayaks for those who want to undertake small expeditions or longer trips. They are comfortable, but they require some experience and skill, especially to climb it and drain the water in indoor flooding. The longer they are and their shapes are thicker, the lesser their resistance to displacement in water and the greater their speed; however, thin boats are more unstable, requiring greater balance from the rower, and are therefore unsuitable for rough water or waves.
These kayaks are closed and are generally longer than 3.5m. They are kayaks for those who want to undertake small expeditions or longer trips. They are comfortable, but they require some experience and skill, especially to climb it and drain the water in indoor flooding. The longer they are and their shapes are thicker, the lesser their resistance to displacement in water and the greater their speed; however, thin boats are more unstable, requiring greater balance from the rower, and are therefore unsuitable for rough water or waves.
Whitewater kayaks
They are leisure boats, but to be used in white waters, that is, rivers with waves, rocks, eddies, ebbs, and other swirling movements, they require experience and practice by the canoeist. They are made to resist impacts with rocks on the bottom of rivers and the sea, they are always made of plastic material, and fiber kayaks are not suitable. There is a wide variety of whitewater kayaks, but almost all are short boats (2.5 to 3.2m), with great maneuverability and raised bow and stern shapes.
They are leisure boats, but to be used in white waters, that is, rivers with waves, rocks, eddies, ebbs, and other swirling movements, they require experience and practice by the canoeist. They are made to resist impacts with rocks on the bottom of rivers and the sea, they are always made of plastic material, and fiber kayaks are not suitable. There is a wide variety of whitewater kayaks, but almost all are short boats (2.5 to 3.2m), with great maneuverability and raised bow and stern shapes.
The most common models for going down rivers have large-volume (full) shapes in the bow and stern. Canoeists who want to do acrobatics in the waves of the rivers, that is, play in stretches of the river, controlling their kayak to do pirouettes, use boats with small volume, that is, forms thinner and lower, especially on the stern. These kayaks can be used in other situations and have shown good performance for going down sea waves like a surfboard. These kayaks have safety accessories to anticipate the possibilities on the rivers: wall-shaped floats mounted inside the hull at the bow and stern that increase the impact resistance of the boat, sturdy footrests, knee and thigh support for the kayaker to get more “dressed” in the kayak and others.
Expedition kayaks
These are boats specially designed for large crossings on the sea or rivers. These are boats that have compartments for storing luggage recommended for these specific situations. The same features described above can be found in double kayaks that accommodate two or more people and are generally designed for the same purpose as the models for a canoeist but have the capacity and space to hold 2 seats so that both users can paddle.
These are boats specially designed for large crossings on the sea or rivers. These are boats that have compartments for storing luggage recommended for these specific situations. The same features described above can be found in double kayaks that accommodate two or more people and are generally designed for the same purpose as the models for a canoeist but have the capacity and space to hold 2 seats so that both users can paddle.
Boats for competitive sport canoeing
speed kayaks
They are called K1. They are skinny boats, with 5.2m shapes, hydrodynamic to reduce resistance and light (12 kg). They are precarious boats.
Slalom Kayaks
Also called K1-Slalom, they are 4.0m long boats, too wide to be stable, with sharpened bow and stern and great maneuverability. They are concrete boats for the conditions of competitions in this modality. The kayaker must pass between beacons on a stretch of river in the shortest time possible, with time penalties for anyone missing a beacon or bumping into it.
Also called K1-Slalom, they are 4.0m long boats, too wide to be stable, with sharpened bow and stern and great maneuverability. They are concrete boats for the conditions of competitions in this modality. The kayaker must pass between beacons on a stretch of river in the shortest time possible, with time penalties for anyone missing a beacon or bumping into it.
Kayaks for Kayak-Pole
They are 3.0m longboats with rounded shapes and toes at the bow and stern, as per safety rules for the practice of the kayak-polo game, as there may be collisions between kayaks. It has great maneuverability. The Kayak-Pole game consists of throwing a ball into a goal mounted at 2m of water, in a 35m pool, with 5 players for each team, moving in kayaks. The ball is played by hand, using the paddle to move around.
They are 3.0m longboats with rounded shapes and toes at the bow and stern, as per safety rules for the practice of the kayak-polo game, as there may be collisions between kayaks. It has great maneuverability. The Kayak-Pole game consists of throwing a ball into a goal mounted at 2m of water, in a 35m pool, with 5 players for each team, moving in kayaks. The ball is played by hand, using the paddle to move around.
Downhill Kayaks
They are made to descend rivers with rapids quickly. It is 4.5m long, 0.60m wide and has a large volume in the bow to pierce the waves. The competitions are held in rapids rivers and consist of descending a stretch of about 5km in the shortest time.
They are made to descend rivers with rapids quickly. It is 4.5m long, 0.60m wide and has a large volume in the bow to pierce the waves. The competitions are held in rapids rivers and consist of descending a stretch of about 5km in the shortest time.
Marathon Kayaks
The same K1 speed kayak is used. The tests are long distances, about 10km, and stretches where the kayak must be loaded overland.
The same K1 speed kayak is used. The tests are long distances, about 10km, and stretches where the kayak must be loaded overland.
Ocean Kayaks
They are fast boats but with greater stability than the K1. It is over 5m long. To face waves and ripples, it has a longitudinal profile with the bow and stern well raised. The tests are long crossings, about 20km or more in stretches demarcated by buoys, always at sea.
They are fast boats but with greater stability than the K1. It is over 5m long. To face waves and ripples, it has a longitudinal profile with the bow and stern well raised. The tests are long crossings, about 20km or more in stretches demarcated by buoys, always at sea.
Kayaks for canoeing in waves
They are made to go down waves performing maneuvers on the waves like in traditional surfing. It has a length of about 2.5m, flat shapes at the bottom, and is generally wide. The same surf scoring rules are adopted, analyzing the difficulty of the maneuver performed by the canoeist when descending the wave.
They are made to go down waves performing maneuvers on the waves like in traditional surfing. It has a length of about 2.5m, flat shapes at the bottom, and is generally wide. The same surf scoring rules are adopted, analyzing the difficulty of the maneuver performed by the canoeist when descending the wave.
