Kayaking is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding hobbies you can take up. It is borderline addictive, whether you want to do it for leisure, fishing, touring, relaxing weekends with family and friends spent out on the lake, or to get your adrenaline pumping when battling whitewater rapids. There’s something for everyone. The challenge for most people comes when trying to figure out the best kayak size to go with, or more specifically, its length.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Optimal Kayak Size
The size of the kayak is arguably one of the most important aspects to consider when buying one. This will have a large bearing on the capabilities and limitations on the activities you can take part in. Here’s what you should consider:
What Is the Purpose of Kayaking?
The first thing you need to identify is what you intend to do with the kayak you buy. This will advise you on what size kayak you should get. The optimal kayak length for a boat you plan to use on calm still waters of a lake is vastly different from what you would need to navigate whitewater rapids safely and efficiently. Kayaking in a sea or ocean environment, for instance, calls for a kayak that offers a high level of stability to prevent the powerful waves from capsizing your vessel. Larger and longer boats are ideal for such environments. On the flip side, these would not be ideal for navigating rapids. You would require a much shorter kayak to make fast turns, increase the level of control, and enhance agility – something you just don’t get with longer boats.
What Length to Width Ratio Is Ideal?
Once you figure out where you intend to kayak, the next aspect of choosing the optimal kayak size has to do with the length to width ratio of the vessel in question. This is the single most critical factor in determining how stable the kayak will be.
You need to establish how the length and width of the hull affects the way the vessel sits on the water, as well as how well it balances. You also need to understand how this ratio affects the kayak’s performance in terms of speed and maneuverability. As a rule, it is always better to avoid a kayak with an extremely thin hull if you haven’t mastered the art of balancing. The extra speed and efficiency you get mean nothing if you constantly tip over sideways every couple of feet!
Legroom
To get the most out of your kayaking experience, you’re going to need ample legroom. Ignoring this critical element of the kayak purchasing process is the single biggest mistake you can make. You want a snug fit, but not so tight that it impedes your ability to quickly get in and out of the vessel. This is important in emergencies.
Does Kayak length matter?
A kayak’s size does not really affect how well it can move in water. What you do need to be concerned about are the dimensions of the cockpit as opposed to the actual physical length of the boat. Now, for the most part, people under 6 ft. in height will fit in conventional sit-in kayak cockpits. If you’re taller than that, then it’s always a good idea to test a 12 to 14-foot kayak to get a feel for the fit, seat height, and the legroom available.
This is because taller people tend to have a higher center of gravity with longer legs and bigger feet (particularly for men). Having a higher center of gravity may affect your stability when sitting in your kayak. Longer legs may also mean having a wider waist and hips. So, the cockpit dimensions you need to be concerned with are the cockpit opening length and width. You also don’t want too much legroom as this gives you less control over the vessel. You won’t be able to maneuver it quite as easily. The ideal length is somewhere in between.
