Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/
Here's your outdoor tip on touring or sea kayaks.
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate kayak models. Kayaks are becoming more and more specialized to meet the needs of paddlers. Sea kayaks are normally considered a subset of touring kayaks, but for the purpose of our discussion I’ll consider them both together—calling them touring kayaks. The sea kayak is just usually a longer version of the touring kayak.
The easiest way to define a touring kayak is that it is longer and narrower than recreational kayaks making it better for rough and open water. Touring kayaks were developed for the sport of paddling on open water in lakes or the ocean. They have a covered deck and can use a skirt that goes around the paddlers sealing cockpit from spray and the threat of filling with water. They are usually over 15 feet long and 26 inches or less wide. Their keel is more pronounced giving them better tracking and efficient gliding. They trade the maneuverability and stability of the recreational kayak for faster cruising speed, cargo capacity and gliding for long trips. Sea kayaks are frequently used for coastal or sea journeys that can extend up to several weeks and they have room for camping gear, food, and water.
The hull of the touring kayak is normally made of some kind of plastic or can be made from a composite material such as fiberglass. Composite boats usually cost more but have the benefit of usually being lighter in weight. The more rigid hull of a composite boat can provide a more responsive boat and it smooth surface may make it faster in the water. The plastic hulls are more forgiving should you paddle too close to rocks and minor damage can be repaired easily. Composite kayaks can crack more easily do to their rigid nature making them more expensive to repair.
Whether you should have a skeg or rudder on your kayak is debatable. Rudders can be used to control the direction of your kayak with foot pedals inside the cockpit. The skeg is a retractable keel that can be raised or lowered on the bottom of the boat. Skegs are mainly used to assist with tracking or going in a straight line, but it does not control the turning direction of the boat. Shifting your body weight and using your paddle changes the direction with a skeg. Some think the rudder can have mechanical problems and get in the way when they are pulled up on top the kayak. Skegs need a storage box inside the boat that takes up space that could be used for other storage.
The size of the kayak cockpit relates to your safety, comfort and ability to control the boat. Your hips and thighs need to be in contact with the boat to give you control for rolling and edging. This isn’t an issue in flat water, but rough water can provide a challenge to boat control. A snug fit makes you more “one” with the boat and provides better control. Just be sure it is not so small that it traps you in the boat preventing a quick exit should you capsize and not be able to roll the boat upright. Most people prefer a cockpit a couple inches wider than their hips and about the length of their inseam.
I always say “try before you buy” for any type of kayak. Individual differences and preferences will determine the right kayak for you. Get the expert advice from an established dealer and then paddle the boat before you make the final decision.
This is the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/
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References-Additional Reading
How to Buy a Used Kayak or Canoe
http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-Buy-a-Used-Kayak-or-Canoe-/10000000177635992/g.html
Kayak Types
http://www.smart-start-kayaking.com/Kayak-Types.html
Which Kayak Is Right for Me?
http://www.roscocanoes.com.au/KAYAKS/FAQ%60s/Which%20kayak%20is%20right%20for%20me-244.aspx
Nature Quotient.
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Outdoor Professor’s Tips: Exploring the Wonders of Nature
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