Connecticut Water Trails Association
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Connecticut Water Trails Association |
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Connecticut Water Trails Program Kayak Basics
Different Styles Of Kayaks - Sea Kayaks
Sea Kayaks - long and stable, these boats are good for extended trips. They track well in a straight line, but are harder to turn than shorter boats. Varying models have more of less capacity to store gear. For day trips, you may want to choose a lighter touring boat with less storage and more maneuverability.
The other touring style is aptly named a Sea Kayak. These were originally native wooden boats built and used in Alaska, northern Canada and Southwest Greenland. These are longer, sturdier and accommodate more cargo for multi-day trips. They're easier to handle in sea conditions, track straighter and less likely to capsize in bad weather. These are manufactured in various materials - but rotomold (plastic), fiberglass and carbon-kevlar seem to be the favorites. Some are reinforced with a foam core to stiffen the hull. These materials will stand up better in rougher water. You will find this type in folding designs also.
Their lengths range between 12' and 24'. In wind or challenging
currents, they track better in a straight line with the aid of a skeg (a
fin on the bottom of the hull). Their longer length makes them faster
but more difficult to turn. They typically have double hatch storage to
accommodate more gear necessary for multi-day trips.
If you're planning on doing any sea kayaking, it's important to make sure that you get the right type of kayak for the job. It's important to realize that if you are out at sea, conditions have the possibility of changing rapidly. Therefore, you should make sure that you get a sturdy kayak that is designed for the type of excursion that your'e intending to go on. For instance, if you're going to be going on a long, overnight adventure, you're going to need a boat that is designed to be comfortable for long periods of time. You should also make sure that the kayak you have is easy to right if it flips over while you are sea kayaking. If you're only going sea kayaking on short day trips, you might want to think about non-standard designs of kayaks. For instance, some kayaks are designed so that you can sit on top of them instead of inside. These kayaks are ideal for beginners, or for anybody who is worried about their kayak flipping.
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