Jonathan Hanson Jonathan Hanson Jonathan Hanson is a writer whose lifelong appreciation of nature shows up frequently in his work. Meet Jonathan Previous Answers

The retail price of a sea kayak depends largely on the material from which it's made — and material determines weight. Rotomolded plastic boats are the least expensive, but they're almost always the heaviest as well, per unit of volume. Fiberglass kayaks are lighter and much more durable than rotomolded models, but are also $500 to $1,000 more expensive (although they hold their value better too). Finally, you could have someone custom-build you a very nice Kevlar or carbon fiber boat to almost any weight you could dream of, but you're suddenly talking used car money.

You didn't say what use you have in mind, or what size you are, but both factors influence how light you can go. If you're large and/or you intend to undertake major expeditions, you're going to need a boat with a lot of volume (i.e length/beam/depth). If you're small to medium, and you're interested mostly in day trips or weekend excursions, you'll be better off with a shorter boat, which will not only be lighter but quicker handling as well. For the latter uses, if you're under, say, 5'9'' and 150 pounds, something in the 13- to 15-foot-long range, with a 22' or 23' beam, will be significantly lighter than a 16- or 17-foot boat, yet still be reassuringly stable and have enough gear space for a weekend or week-long trip.

Now we've got parameters; let's get to specifics. One material that sort of splits the difference in cost and weight between heavy-and-cheap plastic and light-and-expensive fiberglass or Kevlar is Polycarbonate, like the stuff used in ski goggles. Polycarbonate is harder and glossier than rotomolded plastic, and more resistant to both scratches and UV degredation. It's stiffer as well, thus obviating the need for reinforcing tubes found in many molded boats (and thus saving weight). The cost slots neatly in between rotomolded plastic and fiberglass.

Tom Derrer at Eddyline Kayaks pioneered the use of Polycarbonate in sea kayaks. Eddyline's proprietary name for the material is Carbonlite. One model they offer, the Merlin LT, is 13.5 feet long, 22 inches wide, and weighs 42 pounds, easily managed by almost anyone. The Merlin LT I paddled a couple of years ago impressed me with its stability and nimbleness, and the gear space was bigger than in some 16-foot kayaks I've tried. It's a delightful boat, and the Merlin line includes several other models too, if your needs are different.

A completely different approach is possible if you consider a folding kayak. Feathercraft's just-introduced Kahuna takes advantage of the company's new welded urethane construction, which allows them to build a seaworthy 14'9" boat that weighs just 35 pounds. Not only that, but it folds into a single duffel bag you can sling over your shoulder, toss in the trunk, and store in a closet. I've found Feathercraft's boats to be the most seaworthy of folding kayaks. The Kahuna has enough gear space for a comfortable week out.

One more tip, since you mentioned"easy to move." Be sure to check out Yakima's Hully Roller kayak saddles, which allow easy singlehanded loading of your kayak on to the roof of any vehicle.

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