Questions tagged [kayaks]

Questions referring specifically to Kayaks. Kayaks can come in a few forms. There are Sit in kayaks and Sit on Top kayaks, both come single or tandem. You can have kayaks made from plastic or fibreglass, as well as inflatables.

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Bracket to permit me to afix a blade to the rear of my kayak to be used as a retractable skeg (not a rudder)? Links appreciated!

What kind cylindrical pivot bracket would permit me to afix a blade to the rear of my kayak to be used as a retractable skeg? (Not a rudder) Links would be appreciated. (If it helps, I have a ...
5 votes
4 answers
2k views

Volume of cargo area in a kayak

What is the approximate volume in cubic feet or inches of cargo space in the average sit in kayak?
13 votes
3 answers
3k views

What is the best way to transport a kayak?

I am planning on purchasing a kayak for next year, and am trying to strategize on how to transport my boat. I have a small 4 door car no rack and my wife has a slightly larger 4 door crossover style ...
12 votes
4 answers
36k views

What types of kayaks are suitable for occasional class 1 and 2 rapids

According to the scale on this Wikipedia page (the International Scale of River Difficulty), what are the types of kayaks in the following list that are suitable to occasionally handle class 1 and 2 ...
8 votes
3 answers
18k views

Roof rack system suitable for both bicycle and kayak?

My wife & I are just getting into (non-sea/ocean) kayaking and biking, and we're thinking about ways to transport our equipment on our car. My guess is that once a pair of cross-bars are set up ...
3 votes
1 answer
131 views

Kayak bow and stern lines -- on car roof-racks

I have carried a pair of kayaks on my car roofrack for many years with no trouble and always used bow and stern lines to the car towing points. As I understand it the bow and stern lines are primarily ...
5 votes
2 answers
135 views

How to teach self-rescues with sit-inside, recreational kayaks?

I’m considering purchasing some recreational kayaks and am wondering about the possibilities of teaching beginners how to self-rescue with those boats – specifically, when the boats do not have ...
0 votes
1 answer
53 views

Is the Liquidlogic Remix good for starting in whitewater kayaking? [closed]

Would the Liquidlogic Remix be a good first whitewater kayak? How would it measure up to similar more modern kayaks like the Dagger Phantom or Jackson Nirvana?
2 votes
2 answers
109 views

What to look for in a throw bag for swift water

For the more experienced white water paddlers, raft guides and the like, What features do you look for in a throw bag In the swift-water environment. Ie. Favorite/most useful length [for your rivers/...
1 vote
2 answers
122 views

Best kayak paint?

Just bought a second-hand carbon fibre kayak and am looking to give it a paint job. What's the right kind of paint (on a budget) for this in your opinions? Thanks in advance!
1 vote
1 answer
101 views

What's a good low-budget kayak for both river and sea? [closed]

I'm looking to get a second-hand kayak, preferably under £250, which I can use for river kayaking and sea kayaking - is there a particular kind I should go for? I've done a bit of river and sea ...
6 votes
4 answers
1k views

Neoprene as a base layer for winter activities?

How does neoprene perform as a base layer for winter sports? Is it a way to be warm while remaining sweaty, as opposed to wicking sweat away? What are its disadvantages? What are best practices for ...
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

Which type of car rack will transport a tandem kayak on a car with no side rails?

My wife and I are beginner kayakers. We are planning to buy a tandem kayak and go to a nearby reservoir and take our 2 year old along. I've just started looking at car racks and realized that it is ...
11 votes
3 answers
640 views

Is it likely to be my technique or my muscles that cause my arms and shoulders to ache so soon after I start kayaking?

I've never had a stamina or ache problem with rowing a row-boat or paddling a canoe, although my limits have declined with age. However, my arms and shoulders tired very quickly the few times I tried ...
4 votes
2 answers
262 views

Selecting a double bladed paddle for a canoe

I have a couple solo canoes, I normally just use single bladed paddles, but find I am quite limited in the wind speed I can safely paddle against on bigger lakes. I am planning on getting a double ...
17 votes
8 answers
10k views

Why are we moving in circles with a tandem kayak?

We just bought a tandem kayak, we took it to the water and we can’t make it go straight. My husband is bigger than me so he sits on the back. We rented kayaks before, so we are wondering if it could ...
16 votes
2 answers
526 views

What safety equipment should I carry for sea-touring by kayak?

What equipment should I carry in case of emergency on a coastal kayaking trip? I normally do short trips (1 week or less) around the islands of northwest Scotland. I tend to travel solo (sometimes no ...
3 votes
1 answer
159 views

Plastic kayak distorted

Before Christmas I upgraded my basic SOT kayak to an RTM Disco, again a plastic SOT. What with life stuff and the winter weather, I have not used it; it has been on its side on a rack in the garden. A ...
37 votes
8 answers
13k views

Are longer kayaks faster than shorter ones?

I've been researching which kayak I'd like to buy, and I keep coming across the notion that longer kayaks are faster than shorter ones. I can understand that shorter kayaks have a greater tendency to ...
2 votes
1 answer
113 views

What are the pros/cons of different types of kayak carts?

I'm looking into kayak carts and noticed there are two basic types - ones which have pins that protrude through the hull using the scupper holes, and others which provide more of a base that the kayak ...
15 votes
6 answers
6k views

Can I use a Canoe Paddle with a Kayak?

I am thinking about getting a Kayak, I am very comfortable paddling my canoe with a single paddle. My motivation is that I can canoe silently with a single canoe paddle that does not need to break ...
7 votes
4 answers
2k views

What are the trade offs between kayak and canoe for solo multiday trips?

I would like to be able do trips with the following characateristics one day: Solo. May do in combination with other paddlers, but my primary interest is getting out there on my own. Multi-day trips ...
1 vote
0 answers
66 views

Are there standard dimensions for kayak holes used for wheeled carts?

Regarding the type of kayak cart with pins that protrude through the kayak hull -- do you have to match the exact cart to model of kayak? (and, perhaps, brand). Or is there a standard set of ...
19 votes
3 answers
4k views

If you are kayaking on a lake when whitecaps start happening, what is the best direction to get off the lake?

I am stealing Charlie Brumbaugh's question about canoeing on an open lake, because for kayaking you would get different anwers, and it's important to distinguish those. If you are kayaking on a lake ...
8 votes
4 answers
2k views

Keeping your butt dry in a kayak

I have started looking at sit on top kayaks. Several have looked promising. Though I just realized, in most of them the lowest point in the boat is where your butt goes. I normally travel in a canoe ...
3 votes
3 answers
248 views

Comparing and combining paddles and pedals for sit-on-top kayak speed and endurance

Sit-on-top kayaks are a popular alternative to traditional sit-inside kayaks. One advantage is that they sometimes come with a foot pedals for propulsion. The foot pedals are linked, via gears, either ...
12 votes
3 answers
348 views

Will a laser pointer work for pointing at whitewater?

I have been doing whitewater kayaking for some time now, and still have a great deal to learn. For difficult places, it is normal for me to stand outside and talk about which lines are good and which ...
16 votes
3 answers
3k views

What’s the best thing to wear on your hands when sea kayaking in very cold weather?

What product or combination of products best protects your hands while kayaking in winter? I’m interested in a system which provides comfort for extended paddling but also the peripheral activities ...
10 votes
3 answers
1k views

Which buoys and markers should I look out for when kayaking (or other water-recreational sports)?

I live near the ocean (South Shore MA) and am new to kayaking. So far, I've paddled in streams and rivers that connect to that ocean. My last kayaking adventure involved me being oblivious to boaters ...
24 votes
5 answers
2k views

Is there a kayak / paddleboard for large people?

I am a very large man - I am 6'4" and weigh 450 pounds (I've lost a 100 pounds in the last year). I bike or walk everyday, (and swim laps occasionally) but want to add another sport to my exercise ...
10 votes
4 answers
3k views

Cargo capacity of a kayak

I've been paddling three times (one week each) in rental (Canadian) canoes. My girlfriend and me brought all gear and food with us and there still was plenty of room for our dog in the boat. I know ...
12 votes
5 answers
17k views

How do you repair a plastic kayak?

So roughly a month ago my other half and I brought ourselves each a SOT plastic kayak, we've been out on the water for maybe 2 hours total paddling time, but mine filled up with water. We found a ...
7 votes
3 answers
878 views

How do I make and test a radar-reflecting hat?

At significant risk of tin foil hat jokes, I’ve read compelling evidence that a homemade hat incorporating angled and crumpled aluminum foil may slightly increase a kayaker’s visibility on radar — not ...
7 votes
2 answers
379 views

What can I do to be more visible to other ships’ radar when traveling in a sea kayak?

I’ve seen small radar reflectors for sale. Should I carry one when kayaking? What else can I do such that boats can use their radar to be aware of my location when they can’t see me due to poor ...
5 votes
1 answer
163 views

What equipment do I need for overnight water trail in a kayak?

My wife and I are avid inland, freshwater kayakers - both on calm lakes and up/down rivers and streams. We have only done day trips. We are also moderately experienced backcountry campers. Now we ...
3 votes
1 answer
163 views

Choosing a kayak for a 5'9" 300lb man [duplicate]

I'm looking to get myself a kayak, but weight limits are an issue for me. I like the ascend kayaks from Cabala's because of the high back seats. I'm undecided if i want to get a 10' hybrid kayak or a ...
7 votes
1 answer
327 views

Is it legal to launch a kayak from a public beach in Chicago?

I live in Chicago and would like to get a foldable kayak. As far as I can tell the only thing I need to do to be able to use it in Lake Michigan is get a watercraft registration. Once I have that ...
2 votes
2 answers
2k views

Restoring a deformed kayak hull

I have a Venture Kayak Easty 15 and it has developed a flat spot on the bottom center just below the foot rests. What is the best method to return the bottom of this kayak back to its original convex ...
5 votes
1 answer
910 views

How to detect significant sun damage in a plastic molded kayak?

Molded kayaks are usually made of polyethylene, an otherwise extremely durable material which can be damaged by the sun. The used market is full of kayaks manufactured ten or twenty years ago which ...
10 votes
2 answers
225 views

How to make my kayak Eskimo roll reliable in rough water?

How do I develop my kayak “Eskimo roll” from something I can do most of the time in a calm lake or pool to something I can trust to work close to 100% of the time in real sea or river conditions?
8 votes
3 answers
2k views

Kayak for fishing and low class rapids?

I am in the market for a kayak and am wondering what type of kayak or what features I should look at given my requirements. Here's the details you'll probably need to help me out: I'm 6'1" and 215 ...
20 votes
4 answers
12k views

Can I use one helmet for both kayaking and skiing?

I am doing little kayaking and just a bit more skiing (the seasons for both are very short where I live). Both of these need helmets, but I feel reluctant to buy 2 items, each of which will see little ...
9 votes
2 answers
6k views

How to lock a kayak

In my garage, and when it is parked around town, I lock my bike to a rack via a U-lock or at least a cable lock. How should I similarly secure my kayak? I realize that a determined thief can break ...
1 vote
1 answer
209 views

How common are tandem kayaks?

A recent comment said: For kayak I’d say “usually 1-2 person” as tandem kayaks are very common. 3 person kayaks are rare but not unheard of, example Pamlico 160T has a third mini-seat for a child. ...
21 votes
3 answers
2k views

What is the difference between a Canoe and a Kayak?

Canoes and Kayaks have a lot in common, and for the most part I can look and say that is a Canoe and that is a Kayak. But I have been seeing some vessels that blur the line between them. It seems ...
4 votes
1 answer
194 views

Does a hands-free kayak bilge pump exist that is as speedy and reliable as a hand pump?

Does anyone have any experience they can share with actual use of a hands-free kayak bilge pump? I’m curious about foot-operated/electric/other, purchased or custom built, anything that lets me keep ...
14 votes
4 answers
6k views

What are the options for kayak self-rescue without a paddle float?

In a standard kayaking class, you're taught solo self-rescues using a paddle float and assisted rescues using another kayak. Then there are eskimo rolls. But I've also heard about other self-rescue ...
8 votes
3 answers
634 views

Training for Kayaking out of season

Kayaking is a lot of upper body and core strength, with an amount of lifting as well. Outside of the good weather kayaking season - winter months for Sit on Tops for example - what are good ways to ...
9 votes
3 answers
2k views

"Unsinkable" sit-on-top kayaks

Several plastic sit-on-top kayaks are being marketed as "unsinkable" and "sea-worthy". However, I read that few people had to beach when the did not close the front hatch properly. My question is: ...
4 votes
2 answers
128 views

Purchasing a sit-on-top kayak

Sun Dolphin manufactures one or two 10' sit-on-top kayaks for under $350.00. I know they would be suitable for a day of recreational paddling on a calm lake or river. But could they reasonably be used ...