What kayak is for what? (brief intro)

Zuppy

In response to the numerous questions “which kayak should I get” I thought I would put together a list of all the types that I am aware of and their uses. And after all you pro's add to it we can put the finished version up somewhere.

This is meant as a beginners guide:::







Sea kayak:
Does what is says on the tin, boat used for sea going trips, can be used for a multiday trip. Basic design is long and narrowish, usually with hatches and pointed up ends. Relatively stable. This can be Greenland design/ Nordkapp/ point 65 etc.

http://www.seakayak-greece.com/images/image1.jpg

surf ski kayak
The daddy of sitontops. Very long and narrow (i.e. fast but tippy). Used for sea trips but I wouldn’t like to be going intercontinental on one. Not a beginners boat. More a racing design or for lifesaving.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xjfb7IAM60k/SM6zJYqtdzI/AAAAAAAAC6g/ogDveCLngmM/s400/vlie+08+076.JPG

wave ski kayak:
a surfboard for paddlers: Used for messing around in the surf at the beach. A sitontop and wide but you strap yourself on. Extremely fast in the right hands.

http://www.rtmkayaks.com/assets/images/productImages/wave-ski-slidemaster.jpg

wildwater racing boat
This boat is suitable for rivers or flatwater. Usually know to beginners or as a club boat in its Plastic version. Most common being Wavehopper. It’s relatively stable but sleek enough for relatively fast racing. Perfect beginners boat for someone getting into long stuff. Fibreglass/carbon/kevlar racing kayak usually races in the Whitewater class. Wavehoppers (other plastic versions) generally race as general purpose class in the Liffey decent.
http://www.phoenixkayakclub.com/Newsletter%202%20of%202008/prodwhopper.jpg

k boats (k1, k2, k4 etc)
A racing boat for flat water. Fast but tippy. Not a beginners boat. Used for Marathon or Sprint racing. See it at the Olympics.

http://visual.merriam-webster.com/images/sports-games/aquatic-nautical-sports/canoe-kayak-flatwater-racing/k1-kayak.jpg
k1 – single person
k2 – doubles
etc

canoepolo boat
specialised boat for playing canoe polo. Allows you to paddle up onto other people’s boats and be stable enough to grab a ball, Low stern for dipping and maneuvering.

http://www.canoesa.asn.au/site/canoeing/image/fullsize/3890.jpg

playboat / creek boat / river running
the baby of the kayak family. Flat and stable but hard work to paddle at speed. Great for cartwheels and tricks. Designed for river running and Rodeo. Bigger the volume of the river the bigger the volume of kayak required (guideline). More general purpose for all-round paddling.

http://www.paddlerzone.co.nz/image/white_water_kayak/fluid_flirt.jpg


Slalom Boat
Another Olympic boat. Long and sleek. Used for maneuvering down a fast flowing river and making 'gates' in the fastest possible time using a lot of precision.
http://www.kayakforlife.com/slalom_kayak.jpeg

Sit-on-Top
A large stable slow moving boat that has opened up kayaking for the masses. More of a raft with a kayak paddle these were designed for flat sheltered grade 1 water.
http://media.rei.com/media/j/1162491.jpg

Zuppy

PS:
If someone wants to break the river running boats down further please go ahead. Also I didn't even start on the Canoes.

hunnymonster

Sea kayak:


surf ski kayak


wave ski kayak:


wavehopper kayak


k boats (k1, k2, k4 etc)


canoepolo boat


playboat / creek boat / river running


Slalom Boat


Sit-on-Top

multisport

A wavehopper is not a category of boat.
It's a model of plastic boat made by perception kayaks , same way you get a pyranha molan or dagger nomad. You don't see a creekboat and go there's a nomad.

The wavehopper falls under the category of wildwater racing boat,or it's sometimes called downriver racing.

The wavehopper was produced to encourage people to try wildwater racing without the fear of breaking a fibreglass/carbon/kevlar racing kayak. They are also more stable and shorter than their composite equivalents.

thetonynator

To add to what multi sport said:

Wavehoppers dont come in glass or plastic. Wild water racing boats come in Kevlar/carbon/glass and a wavehopper is a plastic version of them.

Also, Wavehoppers can race in General Purpose class for the liffey descent, but not for any other Irish marathon race.


Another way of describing a surfski is as a K1 for the sea/ a sit on top K1. Emphasis on it not being for beginners!!!

hunnymonster

true but most people I know refer to the type (not material subtype) as wavehoppers. Just as I get out the hoover not the vacuum cleaner.

multisport

Possibly most of the people you know are actually paddling wavehoppers and don't have knowledge of other ww race boats.
I think we might have to put an education program in place:)

The wavehopper could be claimed to be a totally different boat. It's 50cm shorter and 7+kg heavier.

There's also another plastic ww raceboat, it's called a fastwave, I think it's a French design, the distinction is important.

If a beginner would like to get into racing I'd highly recommend the wavehopper though, they're super stable and very forgiving.

Here's a picture of one of the more popular composite raceboats, the zastera clipper.

Zuppy

multisport wrote: »

A wavehopper is not a category of boat.
It's a model of plastic boat made by perception kayaks , same way you get a pyranha molan or dagger nomad. You don't see a creekboat and go there's a nomad.

The wavehopper falls under the category of wildwater racing boat,or it's sometimes called downriver racing.

Point taken and changed above.

I did say it was a beginners guide and I don't know of any club with a plastic WW boat other than a wavehopper. Hence why it got top billing. But unlike your creek boat example people not in the WW world (the majority) see a WW boat and call it a wavehopper. I did myself for years.

And I wouldn't tell a Surfski paddler it is a sit on top K1 They might call a WW boat a wavehopper. :D:D

Anything else we can add? Anyone willing to class the canoes? I have only ever been in a C2 slalom boat and have no idea how to break them down.

pmccormack

Ill break down the canoes. give me afew days and ill have more time ill get it together.

Cheers
Paddy
www.irishcanoekayak.com

Zuppy

pmccormack wrote: »

Ill break down the canoes. give me afew days and ill have more time ill get it together.

Great thanks


ICF have defined a surfski as:

A Surfski is a long, narrow, lightweight kayak with an open (sit-on-top) cockpit, usually with a foot pedal controlled rudder. They are generally 5-6.5m (16½-21ft) long and just 40-50cm (16-20") wide.
In complete contrast to the shorter boats we see in Canoe Slalom and Canoe Freestyle, Surfskis are not very manoeuvrable, yet in the right hands the boat can cut through large broken waves with ease.
Some boats are made from polyethylene but much lighter versions (and more expensive) are made from composite layers of epoxy or polyester resin-bonded cloth such as fibreglass, kevlar, carbon fibre or a mixture. Depending on its use, the number of layers can be increased (for added strength) or decreased (for a lighter craft).