How Big is a Kayak?

Getting the right-sized kayak will require one to look into several factors before making a choice. Kayak sizes vary depending on the model and type of kayak one might need. Customers must consider their own skill level, the type of water one has to traverse, and available storage space. Buying a new kayak can be compared to purchasing a new pair of pants. Customers must try out a few of them just to make sure they get the right one that fits.

Factors that Affect Consumer Choice

One of the factors that kayaking enthusiasts must consider is the type of kayaking they want to engage in. Remember that whitewater kayaking, sea kayaking, and lake kayaking will require different kayak sizes. Another factor that will come into play is the amount of storage one has available in the home.

Are you willing to make room for a really huge kayak? There are harbors that have kayak storage facilities but in case the harbor in your area doesn’t have one then take note that you have to load the kayak onto your car and drive it to the harbor and back. Note that you will most likely be transporting both the kayak and your gear as well.

Dealing with Kayak Sizes

When dealing with the sizes of different kayaks out there in the stores, one must first get the one with the right body fit. This means you must try on different kayaks looking for a comfortable fit much like looking for the right sized shoe. Kayaks basically vary in length, width, weight, and capacity. Each of these dimensions will vary depending on the type of kayaking this piece of equipment was designed for.

The length of various kayaks will range somewhere from nine and a half inches long to fourteen inches in length. Some of the kayaks out there will have a width of 21 inches. Some of the standard kayaks one will find in stores nowadays will be about 27 to 31 inches wide.

The weight of the kayak will be another matter. Some kayaks will weigh less than 40 pounds while the weight of other kayaks will run along 50 to 60 pounds. Some kayaks will even weigh more than 70 pounds. It will all depend on the material that was used to construct the kayak. Various materials such as Kevlar, fiberglass, high impact plastic, molded plastic and wood among others are used to construct these things.

The carrying capacity of kayaks will also vary. Some can accommodate 300 to 350 pounds while others can only take on less weight but customers can find sturdy kayaks that can take on as much as 500 pounds. At this point, people really need to be honest about their weight when they talk to the guy in the store. Enthusiasts will have to deal with the different kayak sizes in order to get the right one that will suit them very well.