Touring in Your Sea Kayak

Photos: Top Ten U.S. Rivers for Rafting

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Sea kayaks are a magic carpet that can take you on adventures from freshwater lakes to salt marshes, from cypress-lined rivers to sandy beaches. Sea kayaking is a whole-body sport that gives you a workout from your fingers to your toes. To enjoy this wonderful activity, use the following guideline to choose the proper equipment. Once you've geared up and practiced your paddling skills, the hardest part of sea kayaking will be deciding what to do first: an inn-to-inn kayaking vacation, camping, kayak surfing or fitness paddling!

Sea kayaks come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes that represent a whole spectrum of capabilities, but generally they are designed to be used in moderate winds and waves — conditions most often encountered in coastal areas and large lakes. Because they are low to the water and closed on top, sea kayaks can handle the wind and waves much better than open canoes.

You won't need to know a lot about the nitty-gritty of boat design when you try out different boats; simply use the following guidelines and notice what feels best as you sit in the boat.

All boats turn more easily when on edge. This means the boat is easier to turn when tilted a little on its side. Of course, if you tilt the boat too far, you'll capsize. So ideally, you'll want to be able to tilt the boat easily but not overdo it and end up capsized.

To test the boat, sit in the kayak on the water, knees touching the underside of the foredeck. Lift one of your knees to tilt the boat about 30 degrees. If this is too easy (or you capsize), while paddling in high winds, you will feel shaky, like a leaf in the wind. This is not good. If you feel some resistance to putting the boat on edge, then you'll be able to edge the boat when you want to and not be easily pushed around by the wind and waves.

The kayak industry now offers boats that are so stable, even if you lean way overboard, the boat will not tip over. This is good for people who have never kayaked and are renting a boat for the day during their annual vacation. They require very little skill and can introduce people to the possibilities of sea kayaking. However, if you paddle a boat like this, it will inhibit your ability to learn and progress in the sport.

Another consideration in choosing a boat is how well it tracks: Do you want a boat that will stay on a straight course for long distances (best for large lakes or open coast) or one that can turn quickly in tight spaces (appropriate for non-rapid rivers or windy salt marshes)? To have the best of both worlds, try a boat about 17 feet long. If you'll be in tight spaces a lot of the time, try something shorter than 17 feet. Usually people don't go over 18 feet unless they paddle almost exclusively in big spaces or want a lot of cargo space or a faster boat.

Finally, you will want to think about what the kayaks are made of and how that relates to cost, weight, and portability. At present, the most popular materials for sea kayaks include fiberglass, plastic (such as polyethylene), and fabric. Any one of these is fine as long as you can get the characteristics you want. Of these three the cheapest is plastic. However, though very popular and affordable, plastic boats have not replaced the others in popularity because the manufacturing process limits the type of shapes available. Since the shape of the boat determines its feel and maneuverability, there remains noticeable differences in performance between designs in fiberglass and plastic.

Weight may be another consideration. Will you be able to transport and launch yourself or will you need help? Plastic boats 17 feet in length are the heaviest, weighing about 55 to 60 pounds. Fiberglass ones of the same length usually weigh between 40 and 55 pounds. Using a combination of fiberglass and Kevlar will result in an even lighter boat (perhaps 35 to 40 pounds). Any boat in this range will be fine as long as you can lift it by yourself. Be wary of boats that are lighter simply because less building material is being used. If it doesn't bend when you sit on the deck while on land, it should be strong enough to withstand normal abuse and rescues at sea.

If you travel or don't have a lot of storage space, a folding boat may be just the ticket. Folding boats are made of fabric that stretches over a frame and have the advantage of being easily disassembled for storage. If you like flying to exotic places, they are as easy to transport as a piece of luggage.

With all these things to think about, you may want to rent a boat for a day. And if at all possible, buy the best you can afford — in plastic, fiberglass, or fabric. If you were a beginner learning the violin, would it be easier to learn on a Stradivarius or a clunker?

Bulkheads/Air Bags

Your boat must have some internal flotation or it will sink below the surface after you capsize. Some manufacturers create a wall, or bulkhead that separates the space inside the kayak. A typical arrangement has one bulkhead behind the seat and one beyond your feet. These compartments create air pockets that can be used to store gear and can be accessed by the hatches on top of the boat. Some manufacturers make these areas watertight with waterproof hatch covers and sealed bulkheads, but this is not always the case. If your compartments are not waterproof, you'll have to put everything you carry in dry bags.

If your boat has no bulkheads, you can use air bags, which, when inflated, will keep most of the water out after a capsize. Air bags are cheaper but bulkheads are more convenient.

Deck Lines

Deck lines are ropes around the perimeter of the top decks that are used during rescues for grabbing and moving the boat. Without them, your boat is just a slippery, wet banana.

The bungees on the foredeck (either straight across or crisscrossing) hold the chart (or map) in place.

Grab Loops

Grab loops are found at either end of the boat and are normally used to lift the boat on land, but they are most important when swimming the boat to shore after a capsize. Your grab loop should have a toggle, usually a two-inch piece of plastic tied to the loop that allows the boat to spin without trapping your fingers, and a rope long enough to extend beyond the bow.

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