How fast can an average kayak go?

Question

How fast can an average kayak go?

Answer 1

Kayaking speed is all about the motor.  

Unfortunately, there isn't really an "average" kayak.  Sea Kayaks, Surf Skis, whitewater boats, inflatable kayaks, sit on tops, SOTs with pedals, recreational boats... come in all shapes and sizes.  

If you keep in mind the basic principals of boat hull design, and you'll get an idea of what kinds of boats are prone to gliding more easily through the water.  Here's an article related to that:  

http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/showA...

A very skilled paddler in a short wide boat CAN paddle faster than an unskilled paddler in a longer narrower boat.  It's just a lot harder to do.  

Also keep in mind that water moves, so the true speed of a kayak or kayaker is affected by wind, waves, currents, tides, and flow rates of the body of water he or she is on.

Answer 2

Great question...the current one man kayak record for 500 meters is 1 minute and 36 seconds. Actually it is a little less. I calculate that that this is about 12 mph.  It then seems that an average kayak speed might be 6 mph. Speed will depend on many variables. River boaters have learned trip times from point A to point B.

Answer 3

A lot depends on what you are paddling and your physical condition.

Generally somewhere between 3 and 4 mph cruising sounds about average to me...