As with almost any item, we have choices as to which one to buy. In some cases, the choices are so numerous that we are overwhelmed, confused and give up altogether. In the case of a kayak, some of the same principles apply. This is especially true when you are a novice. The choice basically boils down to should it be a hard shell boat or an inflatable one? Other factors that enter into the decision are price, what type of water is it to be used in, and last, but certainly not least, is where to store it when not in use. The fact is that most kayaks spend more time out of the water than in it.
There are various types of materials that go into kayak construction: Hard shell kayaks are plastic, fiberglass, carbon fiber, Kevlar or wood. Each one of these materials will be discussed later. The next group of kayaks are of the folding variety, such as the fold boat which is sort of a hybrid, and lastly the inflatable kayaks which come in a multitude of models, are very safe, stable, and can be used for fishing, exploring, and white water navigating. There are even sailing models. All of these models can be carried in a car trunk.
When most people think of kayaks, they envision the hard shell variety. It may be useful to briefly analyze the difference between these kayaks. A hard shell plastic kayak is usually the least expensive, but also the heaviest. They are able to take a lot of abuse, but are very difficult to repair. Fiberglass rigid kayaks are more expensive and are usually more easily damaged, but are more easily repaired. The most high- tech type of rigid kayaks are made from a combination of graphite, Kevlar, and varying amounts of carbon fiber. These kayaks are usually the lightest, most expensive and very costly to repair. There are also many wooden kayaks that can be bought or assembled from a kit or built from drawings in the same way any wooden boat is built. These wooden boats range from stitch and sew kits to boats that border on beautiful furniture with inlaid decks and hulls of exotic wood that almost seem too delicate and beautiful to use. These all require more maintenance than their mass manufactured cousins, but can be a joy to behold. Obviously, the price of these wooden boats can vary considerably and are not practical for the person with limited funds, maintenance time, and limited storage space.
The folding variety of kayaks offer ease of portability and safety since many come with an air bladder built into the gunnels that, when fully assembled, will give great ultimate stability. These kayaks trace their roots to the original Eskimo design of animal skin stretched over whale bone frames. These boats are not cheap, but will last a long time if given proper care and can be easily stored.
For the first time kayak owner, the inflatable kayak may offer the best choice as they are relatively inexpensive, easy to assemble, and when dried, are easy to store. So, if you are a beginner you may want to consider an inflatable kayak for the reasons above. All boats are a compromise and the inflatable kayaks are no different. The inflatable kayaks will not be as fast as hard shell models, or as beautiful as a hand made wooden kayak, but they can offer a wide choice of activities and lots of fun. It is also comforting to know that the Coast Guard and many other rescue organizations use these inflatables
If you want to learn more about kayaks or you want to purchase a kayak, come to http://www.oceanstatekayaks.com/. Article written by Dale S. Nelson
No comments:
Post a Comment