Whitewater kayaking is quickly catching on as a popular outdoor activity. What was once looked upon as an extreme activity and left only to the most hard cased adrenalin junkie. Now the sport of whitewater kayaking has grown to mainstream.
When you read further into the piece, you’ll read about kayak types and boat design changes. As with all things, times change and so do whitewater kayak designs. They have softened in one area and firmed up in others. Kayak manufactures have spent many years and many thousands of dollars in R&D to further the sport of kayaking. These changes have eased kayak control, improved comfort, and made kayaking safer. This article should be used as a guide for helping you to select the right kayak for you and used as a guide only. Nothing is going to tell you more about a kayak than actually sitting in and paddling the kayak. The best piece of advice I can give you is to keep kayaking fun. The more fun you’re having the more you’re going to go paddling.
The biggest decision a new whitewater kayaker faces is buying the perfect first kayak. With the number of boat manufactures, kayak styles, and kayak sizes the choices can feel overwhelming. Try to keep in mind that there is no such thing as the perfect kayak for everyone. You can however find the perfect beginner kayak for you.
Your goal should be to find the right kayak for the task at hand. One that matches the style of kayaking that interests you, one that will provide the comfort you desire, the forgivingness needed for learning and gives you room to grow your skills in the future.
People come in different sizes and kayaks have a range of sizes to accommodate those folks. Pick one that is best sized for you.
Modern kayaks have evolved in many different ways. They have made kayaking easier for the average man and woman, and safer at the same time. Kayak manufactures have an array different kayak designs. They design boats for the general river runner, the steep creek adrenaline junkie, and the sometimes-gymnastic always-entertaining play boater. To simplify your search let’s focus on the general river running kayaks.
Note: Keep some rules in mind.
1) A longer kayak travels faster than a shorter sized kayak.
2) A shorter kayak turns faster than a longer kayak.
3) The wider a kayak the more initial stability.
4) The narrower a kayak the easier it is to roll.
So, length determines both downriver speed and maneuverability. Why is this important, and which is more important? Taking into consideration that the flow of most rivers is determined by gradient and stream volume. Speed is relative to our environment. The quicker we can turn our kayak, the quicker we can avoid obstacles and hazards. Effectively slowing the pace of the river. That being said: maneuverability WINS.
The biggest evolution in kayak design happened over about a ten-year window. Starting in the early 1980’s surf kayak designers and some C-1 designers started to flatten the bottom hull of the kayak. Jim Snyder released his version of the planning hull kayak with the “Wide Ride” in 1985. But, it was not until the mid 1990’s that the planning hull kayak made it’s mark on the plastic kayak realm. And, what a mark it was.
Labeled as “play boats”, the planning hull kayak helped to revolutionize kayaking. The maneuverability was unmatched by previous models. Kayaks now skimmed across the surface of the water. With one stroke we could change direction 180 degrees. Control and precision paddling was now within our grasp.
Next to make its mark in modern kayak design was the overhanging sidewall. Not to be out done. This simple little flare in boat design added much needed secondary stability to the mix. Now the mere mortal was able to rest the kayak on edge without tipping over.
Edge control is key in downriver maneuverability. The edges of a kayak are applied in the same fashion as the edges on a pair of downhill skis. The edges help us to hold a line as we work from one side of the river to the other, and they give us the ability to harness lateral momentum. Without these edges we would either spin or rather get pushed down the river.
Think of a kayak, more like a banking fighter plane, than a car turning a corner. With the edges of the kayak, reaching deep into the water, our kayak can bank and carve in and out of the current. All the while the top deck of the kayak remains above the grasp of the unrelenting river. Effectively we’re flying down the river, dodging rocks, whirlpools, crashing waves- we carve into the safety of the calm eddy just downstream. Class II never seemed more exciting or entertaining.
Last we look at the top deck of the kayak. We choose our aggressiveness in the sport based on the amount of convex or concave shape on the upper deck. The more convex or uplifted the upper deck, the more forgiving the kayak design. This convex shape will shed water off the boat. The more concave or sunken the upper deck of the boat, the more we can lead into vertical play. Plus, the more a kayaker has to be able to his or her hips to shed the water off the deck, to keep the deck from diving under water, and prevent it from getting pushed around by the river. A beginner should choose a kayak that will do the work for them, and not the other way around.
Let’s take a look at some of the other features the have evolved in modern kayak design. These features have made the kayak easier to paddle, safer and more predictable when river running.
First we will notice a steeper more up-curved nose to the kayak. This more pronounced rocker aids by bringing the kayak quickly to the surface of the water. The main benefit being the kayak no longer dives to bottom of the river or deep into oncoming waves. But, instead rises to the surface in a safe predictable manner.
The standardized and larger cockpit areas have made entering and exiting the kayak quicker, easier, and safer than previous models. Kayak manufactures have really stepped up to the plate when it comes to cockpit design and kayak outfitting. What did take hours cutting; gluing, shaping, re-cutting, removing, and re-shaping gray foam- now takes minutes. With a push, a twist, a pump, and a ratchet- we’re set. We can now buy a kayak adjust it on the showroom floor and we’re ready to go paddle.
Kayak outfitting has to be kept in prospective. Your body position sitting in the kayak is everything. If the first thing you do, is start by moving the seat all the way to the furthest setting back? You’re in the wrong boat. Grab the next size up. In today’s shorter kayaks boat trim is very important. When kayaks were ten plus feet, sitting up or having the boat trimmed properly was not as crucial. When we sit in a kayak we should be sitting in a slightly forward body lean. It should feel more natural to relax by resting your forearms on the cockpit lip, than it would to lay back a support yourself on the back brace.
Picking the perfect beginner kayak should be as easy as 1, 2, and 3…
1) Select a kayak with a modern flat planning hull. It turns faster, sits higher and helps you control the pace of the river better.
2) Look for a kayak with overhanging sidewalls. Something that will let you put the kayak on edge without tipping over. (Remember edge control is key to getting where you want to go.)
3) We choose our aggressiveness based on the amount of convex shape to the front and rear deck of the kayak. The more up lifted the deck- the more forgiving. The more sunken the deck- the more play oriented the kayak.
Note: About a 10 degree forward lean is neutral. Leaning forward with your head toward your knees- is aggressive. And, anytime your head is behind your tailbone- your in a defensive position.
I know this is a lot of info to process in a short amount time. Just remember that this is just a guide. I left out brand names and boat styles for a reason. Each kayak’s fit is different, each kayak reacts differently with different weights of paddlers, and every individual has different desires and needs for their kayak’s outfitting. If you have more questions stop by your local kayak shop and talk to an expert. Remember that you have many friends on the river, and good feedback is often only an eddy away. So, keep your chin up and keep your paddle in the water.
