In general terms, the wider your kayak is, the more stable it will be.Ī wider kayak will have more surface to drag through the water though. This is especially true of recreational kayaks, which rely on primary stability, or stability when flat, to stay upright. The width of your kayak will directly impact how stable it is. Shorter kayaks may accelerate faster than a long kayak but will have a limited maximum speed over the water. Short kayaks are more maneuverable, usually designed for environments where making tight turns and quick moves is vital. These tend to be narrower than shorter kayaks and rely on length and stability. Long kayaks are faster, designed to cover distance more efficiently than short kayaks. It also has some impact on the stability of your kayak. The length of your kayak affects how fast and maneuverable your kayak is. Length is probably the most obvious feature of your kayak at first sight. If you’re not sure what some of the jargon means, we have a whole article on it here. Many things can be changed in a kayak to make it perform differently. Different types of water demand different qualities from your kayak as well as abilities from you as a paddler. Wouldn’t it be so much easier if there was just one kayak that did everything? Unfortunately, it would probably do everything pretty badly. Why Are There Different Styles of Kayaks? There are pedal-powered kayaks and even kayaks with electric trolling motors or small gas outboard motors. You can now get kayak-canoe hybrids and SUP kayak hybrids.

Kayaks differ from canoes, which are designed for you to kneel in and paddle with a single-bladed paddle.

What Is a Kayak?Īt the most basic level, a kayak is a small boat propelled by a double-bladed paddle. This article will be your all-important guide to explaining the many different kinds of kayaks and why you would choose one over the others. But why are there so many choices? How do you choose the right kayak?

Kayak differences in fishing planet