How to choose the best kayak?

The kayak is a reliable watercraft and is very popular among lovers of water tourism. The ship keeps well on the water, easily overcomes rapids and is quite fast.

A kayak is a type of boat propelled by oars. A distinctive feature of the vessel is an elongated narrow hull and pointed stern and bow. Thanks to this design, the kayak easily overcomes water resistance and develops a decent speed. Rowers are located one after another and make synchronous movements with oars. Sports kayaks can accommodate from 1 to 4 people, while tourist models are designed for 2-3 people.

Many tourist kayaks have a cargo compartment necessary to accommodate equipment, tents and provisions, which allows them to be used for multi-day trips and rafting. In earlier models, places for cargo were located in the bow and stern compartments, less often - under both sides of the kayak. Modern examples have a slightly different geometry, which is why the cargo compartment is often located at the rear.

In inflatable specimens, the cargo compartment is usually not provided or it is very small, due to the large volume of air cylinders that take up a lot of space. Experienced tourists get out of the situation as follows: a two- or three-seater kayak is turned into a single-seater and a load is placed in place of the rowers. Particularly inconvenient in terms of carrying luggage are the ultra-light Pike models, whose owners are forced to tie a small inflatable boat to them and put all their cargo into it.

Tourist kayaks differ in the type of construction and are divided into collapsible and non-collapsible samples. The first type is inflatable, frame and frame-inflatable models.

They are the most common tourist boats and are in high demand. This is due to their low weight, quick assembly / disassembly, small volume when folded, good survivability on rocks, excellent maneuverability and excellent stability on water. Among the disadvantages of inflatable kayaks, one can note the low ability to climb the wave, large windage and the lack of a capacious cargo compartment. Many models are fitted with hip and heel pads, making them ideal for rapid river rafting.

They have a collapsible design and are designed for hiking in moderately flowing waters. The rigid frame provides excellent handling, and the thinness frees up a lot of space for the cargo compartment.Frame kayaks go well along a small current against the wind, which compares favorably with other watercraft. Moreover, they are capable of developing high speed and have a good carrying capacity. Among the disadvantages of frame samples, one can note a large weight, overall dimensions even when assembled, long assembly and high cost.

Aluminum or duralumin pipes and plywood are used as the frame material. The tarpaulin was used as a covering for earlier samples, which today has been replaced with a fiberglass cloth impregnated with PVC. A feature of most frame models is the presence of an "apron" that prevents water from flooding inside. The design of many frames involves the installation of a rudder, which makes them maneuverable, and some of them can be equipped with a mast, however, such models weigh a lot. For example, the Polish "Neptune", once popular in the Soviet Union, weighs 60 kg.

They are a hybrid of the first two types and consist of a rigid frame and inflatable sides. Compared to wireframe models they weigh much less and have a faster ride. They are obedient in control, have good maneuverability, compactly fold and can be transported in the trunk of a car. The negative qualities include a long assembly process and expensive repairs.

Non-separable kayaks are represented by plastic models designed for water walks, tourism and sports. For their manufacture, the classical method of rotational molding is used, which gives the hull of the boats high impact strength and ductility.Moreover, plastic kayaks are distinguished by a long service life of 30 years or more, chemical inertness and frost resistance.

Thanks to the developed bulwark, most of the samples have the ability to install an apron designed for sailing in bad weather. Many plastic kayaks are equipped with a child seat, which is located next to the rear rower. In addition, they are quite maintainable and inexpensive to maintain. Among the disadvantages of plastic kayaks can be noted difficulties in transportation and high cost.

When choosing a kayak for tourism, there are a number of important points to consider.

• If the transportation of the watercraft to the reservoir will be carried out by car, then you can choose any design of the kayak. If the boat is to be carried in a backpack, then the only possible option would be an inflatable model.
• Attention should also be paid to the number of places, bearing in mind that to manage and control a single boat will require excellent physical shape and experience in management. When choosing a multi-seat model, you need to understand that the easy running of such a kayak is possible only with the coordinated work of all rowers, since with asynchronous actions of the crew members, the kayak can easily roll over.
• When buying collapsible models, it is necessary to take into account the assembly time. So, in order to bring an inflatable kayak to combat readiness, it takes from 15 to 45 minutes, while it takes more than an hour to assemble a "framework".
• If the kayak is chosen for calm water fishing, then it is better to purchase a frame-inflatable version.Such models are very difficult to turn over, which allows you to get up to your full height without the risk of falling into the water. These kayaks are considered the fastest, however, they are not suitable for descents along steep rapids. For such purposes, an inflatable model is suitable - albeit not so fast, but reliable and passable.

The modern market of tourist goods offers a huge selection of kayaks from Russian and foreign manufacturers. Below is a rating of the most interesting models.

• Frame-inflatable kayak "Varyag-480" made in Russia is designed for boat trips over long distances along rivers and lakes with a moderate current. Along the perimeter, the vessel is equipped with a protective rail, which reduces the load on the cylinders from side impacts and serves as the basis for fixing the rain apron. The design of the kayak provides for mounting knee stops, which facilitate rowing on the wave. The boat is designed for 2 people and weighs 18.5 kg with packaging. Model dimensions - 480x88 cm, load capacity - 250 kg, cost - 37,000 rubles.

• Inflatable kayak INTEX Explorer K2 Chinese production is designed for 2 people and is equipped with oars and a pump. The model is suitable for both experienced tourists and beginners and is designed for rafting on mountain rivers. The kayak is equipped with inflatable seats with adjustable backs, which makes it very comfortable for long trips. The carrying capacity of the boat is 180 kg, dimensions are 312x91x51 cm, the cost is 9000 rubles.

• Non-separable plastic model "Mary" from the company "Free Wind" is available in dimensions 400x85 cm, weighs 27 kg and has a 1 year warranty. The kayak is made of LLDPE polyethylene, equipped with two removable seats with a backrest and two carrying handles.The carrying capacity of the boat is 230 kg, the cost is 48,000 rubles.

How to choose a kayak, see the following video.