I want to start learn kayak.How should i start and what is the best kayak?

Question

There are different kind of kayak when i went for shopping !!! Flat , ... and ... .What is differences between them and from where i should start ?

Answer 1

Each kayak does something different. Do you want a sit-on or a sit-in? How long do you want it to be? How wide? What are you going to use it for? You really need to find a shop in your area that might let you rent a kayak out. I went into my purchase thinking that they were all the same, but came in different colors - boy was I wrong! I tried a lot out, and I got a Venus 11, sit-on. It basically boils down to personal preference, but I do not recommend you just jumping into buying a kayak. You want something that you are going to be happy with, not something you're going to blow several hundred dollars on and never use.

Answer 2

Stock answer: Attend a kayak school. In the US, try the, Nantahala Outdoor Center  (NC) or the, Bear Paw Outdoor Center (WI). Check the magazine racks for Kayak magazines. Read books. Inquire at the American Canoe Association. There is no best kayak. Each is designed for a special purpose. Find a local paddling club.

Answer 3

There are as many designs of kayaks as there are golf clubs!!  Without knowing what kind of kayaking you want to do it will be hard to find the right boat for you if you're ready to buy one.  Whitewater boats are usually under 10' in length these days and are desgined to turn quickly to manuever around rocks and other obstacles in the river. Lake kayaks can be short also, but have a sharper entry line at the bow and stern so it will track in a straight line better and theoretically go faster with less effort.  Open water(ocean) kayaks are longer, but still track very well in the larger waves and swells and have a lot of storage space for multi-day or multi-week trips.

I would seek out a paddling club in your area and see if they own a fleet of "club" boats that you can try out or maybe rent for a day.  Many clubs also teach beginner classes.  If their instructors are either ACA(American Canoe Assn.) or BCU(British Canoe Union) certified, then rest assured you're in good hands.  The old American Red Cross certification is pretty dated these days, but doesn't necessarily mean the instructor is incompetent..  

If the local club can't help you, then I'd find a shop that specializes in canoes and kayaks.  Even here in Iowa, we have several stores devoted to self propelled water travel and they all offer lessons.  The club atmosphere won't be so focused on trying to sell you a boat, but even the dealers realize that if you don't enjoy your first couple of times out on the water, it's not in their best long term interest.  

As a last resort, you can find kayaks in some sporting goods big box stores, but the odds of finding a knowledgeable paddler on duty is slim.  When you are ready to buy, looking in the want ads and on line souces can save you some money over what a new boat would cost.  By the time you by a new quality boat, a sprayskirt(and helmet for whitewater), a good paddle and PFD, you can drop $2000 or better in quality gear.  The $400 "package" deal at the discount store may get you on the water cheap, but inferior gear will burn you out quicker too.  One website to check out is www.paddling.net for some beginner tips on strokes and buyer's guides to hundreds of boats.  You will want to get a boat that fits your size and weight as well.

Kayaking will get in your blood regardless of which genre of paddling you choose to start out in.  It is a lifelong sport.  Good luck in your search.

Answer 4

You really need to state what you will be using the kayak for.  There are different kayaks for different uses and different types of water.

Assuming you don't want a whitewater boat, the two main types to choose from are the sit-in-kayak (SINK) or the sit-on-top kayak (SOT).   If you're going to be doing any paddling in cold water, you will almost definitely want to go with a SINK, since in a SOT you will freeze from getting wet and being out in the wind.  SOT kayaks are mostly used by people in warm climates and as utility boats for fishing or diving/snorkeling etc.  But there are also many SINKs that can be used for fishing, as well.

In general, the longer and more narrow the kayak, the faster it will go, and the easier it will be to keep it going in a straight line (tracking).  But for a beginner, that kind of kayak will feel tippy at first and it is more prone to rollover upside down.  But that is natural and with a little practice, anyone can quickly get used to maintaining stability.   Often beginners get wide boats that they feel really stable on, but they will usually outgrow those boats quickly if they want something a little faster (narrower and longer)

There are a lot of good resources on the net.  Check out paddling.net to learn a heck lot more.  There's also a cool site with animated kayaking techniques at kayakpaddling.net

Once you figure out what you want to do with a kayak, and what kind you want, check out this guy on ebay:

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZddoutfi...

I just bought a kayak from him a few days ago, and the prices can't be beat.  They are "factory-second boats" but still under warranty and he accurately describes any flaws, which are usually only very minor blemishes or discoloration.

Answer 5

The best advice I can give you is to join a club. If you want to get into the more adventurous side of kayaking this is essential. You should never run rivers on your own and with the club they will be able to pick rivers that suit your ability.

Starting off you won't have any idea about boats. I'm still using club boats for everything. At the moment I don't even have plans to get my own boat though if I were to buy one I would probably get a playboat as the club has a great selection of vreakers and river runners.

You're not going to have much fun unless you get in with a club because you won't be able to run big water.