Sea kayak
From Trail-Finder -- Dedicated to getting you outside
Contents |
Overview
Sea kayaks are generally the best, and fastest, way of traveling over "flat water" such as lakes and oceans. They are also good for large, relatively slow rivers and streams. Sea kayaks differ from other kayaks in that they are generally much longer, commonly 15' (5m) or longer, and also narrower, as narrow as 18" (0.5m).
Sea Kayak Features
In addition to the characteristic length, sea kayaks have the following features:
- Sealable cockpit: Using a spray skirt, you can completely close the sea kayak's cockpit to protect from waves flooding the cockpit.
- Watertight compartments: Generally there are two watertight compartments, front and back, separated from the cockpit with watertight bulkheads. The watertight compartments are usually closed with either neoprene covers or thick, flexible rubber cover. Neoprene covers may also have solid, plastic covers over them.
- Rudder or skeg: A rudder on a sea kayak is the same as the rudder on any boat. Controlled with foot pedals, a rudder makes it easy to turn, as well as to compensate for the turning forces caused by wind, current, or waves. A skeg, a vertical board in the back of the kayak which is raised and lowered from the center, back of the kayak, a skeg helps you compensate for the sideways forces of win, current, and waves, but does not help you turn.
- Deck lines: Tightly strung, relatively inflexable lines running around the periphery of the deck. These are used for holding the kayak if you happen to fall into the water. Gear can also be clipped into the deck lines.
- Bungee cords: Sea kayaks generally have bungee cords across both the front and rear decks. These cords can hold water bottles, spare paddles, maps, etc.
- Keel: Sea kayaks often have a well-defined keel, which helps the boat to travel straight. Some sea kayaks have a "multi-splined" keel, which adds stability, but makes turning more difficult without using a rudder.
Sea Kayak Habitat
The lakeshore and seashore are the ideal habitats for the sea kayak. Their design makes them capable of comfortably handling fairly large waves easily. They're also well suited for large and small, slow-moving rivers. With a very shallow draft, anyplace with 6" (15 cm)or more of water can be easily handled with a sea kayak.
Sea kayaks are also well-suited for large, open-water crossings.
Where sea kayaks fail is in whitewater.
Sea Kayak Skills
There are many skill which are required, or at least helpful, for sea kayaking. For a complete list, see kayak skills.
Kayak Camping
Kayak camping is easy in a sea kayak. The watertight compartments provide much more space than in a typical frame pack. With an evenly loaded boat, the added weight can even make your kayak more stable.
Sea Kayak Selection
Buying a sea kayak is like buying a pair of pants. You really need to try them on. Fortunately, most larger outfitters, as well as some outdoor groups, regularly run free kayak demos. These events allow you to try a dozen or more kayaks, usually while receiving expert advice from store sales staff and factory reps. If you can't find a kayak demo near you, try out different kayaks by renting a few until you find one you really like.
Categories: Kayaks | Gear | Kayak gear
