Just like there’s a type of saw for various jobs, there’s also a different kayak for each job out there. In this intro article we’ll review the different types of kayak.

  1. The recreational kayak. These kayaks are typically the easiest to manuever in basic water conditions. They are designed for the novice kayaker to be used in a calm river or stream as well as basic paddling around in calm bays, lakes and ponds.
  2. The touring kayak. These boats are designed for long hauls and to carry a lot of gear. The touring kayak is typically a long thin boat but do not turn very easily. Catalogs and web sites often refer to these boats as sea kayaks, but these boats are perfect for an area like the Boundary Waters Canoe area with their carrying capacity.
  3. Whitewater kayak. For those of you that have seen some action sporting event on TV or have watched Olympic competitive kayaking, you’ll be familiar with these boats. These short boats with either a flat or a rounded bottom. These boats can be difficult to go in a steady straight line so they are generally not comfortable for touring purposes.
  4. Downriver kayak. This is a specialty boat that is designed for an experienced paddler and designed to easily cut through the water, so they are typically used for racing. These boats are quite long and thin which makes turning a difficult task.

The simple advice for anyone that is looking into kayaking — rent first. This way you can check out what you like and dislike about particular boats. Once you’ve found something that you’re comfortable with and are able to get around with, just purchase the boat that you’ve been most pleased with as a rental. This way you know what you’re getting yourself into.