Kayak FAQ
Hey All, Chandler Here with Cole's Army Surplus. We have been in the kayak industry for many years, and with the growth of the kayak industry over the past few years we get so many questions. We decided to create a kayak FAQ to answer some of the questions we get most frequently. We hope this helps and if you have any questions we didn't cover or want to know more give us a email, message, or phone call and we would be happy to help! Happy Adventures!
What is a Kayak?
Kayaking dates back hundreds of years, but the earliest known model dates back to 1500s. The Inuit and Yup'ik natives to the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Artic ocean originally used these water craft which were whalebone or bent wood frames wrapped in animal skins. The word in the native Yup'ik was 'qayaq' meaning man's boat or hunter's boat. This is where we get the modern English word 'kayak'.
FAQ
What is the difference between Sit-on-top and Sit-inside Kayaks?
There are two main styles of kayaks sit-inside and sit-on-top. Sit-inside kayaks are designed where the paddler sits inside a cockpit usually waist level with the lower part of the body below the waterline. These type of kayaks are great for faster moving water as they give the paddler more control of the kayak, but are often found to be more 'tippy' because they tend to be more narrow and your body weight is below the waterline.
Sit-on-top kayaks are designed for the paddler to be on top of the water. They tend to wider and give more of a stable feeling, especially to new paddlers. Their design traps air in the hull creating buoyancy and often a smoother ride. Sit-on-top kayaks have become the most popular style due to the ease of use and functionality they can offer.
What are the molding processes and how are kayak built different?
Not all kayaks are made the same. In kayak manufacturing there are three main processes.
1. Rotational molding (roto-mold)- This process involves pouring plastic resin (usually High Density Polyethylene HDPE) into a hollow mold and sent it into an oven rotating on 2 perpendicular axes. This heats up the plastic and coats the wall of the mold which is then cooled and hardened into the shape of the mold. This process creates a solid one piece with uniform wall thickness. This is makes a very durable design but does lend to higher costs as each model of kayak needs it's own mold as well as the additional time with cooking and cooling. Many top kayak manufactures use roto-molding such as Old Town, Bonafide, Native, Feelfree, Crescent, Hoodoo, 3 Waters, and others. We only carry roto-molded kayaks.
2. Thermoforming- This process involves heating a sheet of plastic and laying it over a mold. You then use vacuum pressure to pull the sheet tight over the mold. The top and bottom mold and then formed together and welded along the middle. Often called 'two-piece' these kayaks tend to be lighter than roto-molded kayaks and often less expensive due to the fast production time and lower cost of molds, but can vary in quality depending on the manufacturer and quality of materials. Brands that use thermoforming include Pelican, Sun dolphin, Eddyline, Hurricane, and others.
3. Blow Molding- This process involves using hot air to blow a layer of plastic like a balloon which is them 'stamped' into the desired shape. This is the quickest process for manufacturing kayaks and is often used for mass production. Kayaks made using blow molding are often more simple in design as complex designs and corners can cause gaps in the stamping process. Brands that use blow molding include Lifetime, SeaBird, Riot, Azul, and others.
There is so many options, what's the best kayak?
There are many options when it comes to kayak models. We get the question all the time, "What is the best kayak?" or "Which kayak do you like the most?". The answer depends on what you value most for your kayaking adventures. The reason there are so many different models is because everyone has different uses. A person who is looking to get outdoors for some exercise will have a different need than a person looking to do tournament fishing. Figuring out what type of kayaking you want to do is the first step. You may plan to hit the water and want something fast and agile like the Crescent Kayaks. Maybe you want to take on fellow anglers for the biggest fish and need something easy to set up for motors and electronics on like the Native and Bonafide kayaks. There is an option for everyone, and we are here to help you find out!
I want a stable kayak, which one is the most stable?
This is another question that comes up a lot when talking with people. When you are looking at stability there are a lot of factors such as, weight capacity, length, width, hull design, and experience of the paddler. Typically the longer and wider the kayak is the more stable, but that isn't the only factor. Hull shape has a large part in how the paddler feels on the water. Take for instance the Old Town Sportsman series which has a patented 'Double U' style hull which gives you great buoyancy on the outer edges giving you an easy flat feeling on the water, this is an example of primary stability. Crescent kayaks use a full-length keel with an aggressive rocker which gives you excellent tracking and keeps you above the water in rougher water conditions, this is an example of secondary stability. Experience of paddler also has a lot to do with stability. Many of us remember our first time riding a bike and how uneasy it felt, but the more you biked the better balance you had and the easier it was. This same principle goes for kayaking as well.
What is primary stability vs secondary stability?
Your initial on the water feeling is called primary stability. How far a boat will lean or rock side to side without capsizing is called the secondary stability. Hull shapes that are flat, tri-hull, or pontooned give you more primary stability. Many anglers prefer primary stability as it gives an easier feeling when casting, standing, or moving around the kayak. You will find secondary stability in hull shapes that are V shaped or slightly rounded shape. Brands that lean towards primary stability hull shapes are Old Town, Bonafide, Native, Feelfree and Hoodoo. Brands that tend to have secondary stability hull shapes are Crescent, Feelfree, and Hoodoo. There is another hull shape called a tri-hull or cathedral hull. This hull shape has a center line V shape but also has 2 smaller outer edge V shapes creating a W shape. This hull shape provides good stability as well as good tracking. Brands with a tri-hull or similar are Bonafide and 3 Waters.
What is the difference between different lengths like 10ft or 12ft?
Another common question we get is the difference between 10ft or 12ft kayaks, or "What size fits me?". I will first break down the difference between the sizes because there are sizes from 9ft to 13ft. In general the shorter the kayak the more maneuverable the kayak but the more wind and current will affect you in the water. The longer the kayak the less its affected by outside forces but at the cost of some maneuverability. The weight also has a factor in the maneuverability. I use the example of a Corvette and Semi. A Corvette will speed up faster, slow down faster, take corners better and over all it has more control. A Semi is takes longer to speed up, longer to slow down, but will need more room to make corners, etc. Longer kayaks such as 12ft or 13ft have better tracking in the water. Tracking basically = less paddling to keep the kayak in the direction you want to go. When deciding what size to get, you need to think about what you value most. Shorter kayaks are easier to store, haul around, and are usually lighter weight whereas longer kayaks will have more weight capacity, more storage, better tracking, and a lot of time more features.
Just keep in mind that not all 10fts are the same and not all 12fts are the same. For example the 10ft Hoodoo Voyager is 65lbs 34" wide vs the Native Titan X 10.5 is 138lbs and 38" wide two wildly different kayaks yet both technically in the 10ft realm. So my comments above are a general rule but not an absolute it will depend on the kayak you are looking at. There is also 11ft or 11.5ft or 12.5ft so there are plenty of options to choose from.
Why are some kayaks $500 and others $6000?
We carry 8 different brands and over 35 models and the pricing ranges from $500 to $6000. We get questions all the time about what makes one more expensive than another. Certain brands have different price points for example, most of Hoodoo Kayaks or Feelfree Kayaks are on the lower price point side making them easier to get into a solid built kayak at a lower price. Native or Old Town tend to be on the higher price side and pack a lot of features that you won't find on the lower priced models. A Honda Civic and a Ford F350 King Ranch both have the same basic function, they drive from A to B, but a Honda Civic and F350 are not the 'same'. They come in at two different price points but also serve two different functions. Hoodoo and Feelfree are great brands that make fantastic kayaks just at a slightly lower price point than others. If you want a kayak loaded to the brim with all the features it might be time to look towards Bonafide, Native, or Old Town. The great news is we stock all of the brands and all of the models so whether its your first kayak or you want to get loaded with the top dog, we have you covered!