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Choose a Touring Kayak

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Choose a Touring Kayak

Simply stated touring kayaks are kayaks designed for traveling. They are usually fast, designed to go straight and have the ability to carry extra gear. A fast kayak will require less effort to paddle and can cover greater distances than a kayak designed for white water. Appomattox River Co. carries touring kayaks made from several different materials.

Low density linear polyethylene is the most common plastic used in touring kayaks. It is a fairly soft plastic and requires internal supports and careful forming to maintain its shape. Most manufacturers in the United States build plastic touring kayaks by rotationally molding linear polyethylene.

High density polyethylene is used by the Prijon Co. in Germany. They "blow mold" their kayaks and this system results in a rigid hull that does not require internal supports. The molds for this type of manufacturing are costly, so there are not as many different designs.

ABS Royalex is used by Pyranha Kayak Co., an English builder. Royalex boats are lighter in weight and the hulls are nice and stiff.

Fiberglass kayaks are made by layers of fiberglass cloth in a mold and impregnating it with a plastic resin. This results in a light weight, stiff hull. The gel coats on fiberglass boats are fairly delicate and can be damaged by hitting rocks, coral or oyster beds.

Rudders

Contrary to what most beginners think, the true purpose of rudders on touring kayaks is to help keep the kayak going straight, not to turn the boat. Turning the kayak is done by a series of correction paddle strokes. Commonly, these correction strokes are used to keep the boat tracking in a straight line. However, there are times when natural forces, such as a strong tail wind or a following sea, will make it difficult to keep the boat on course and this is when you want to use skeg or rudder.

Kayak Length

Short, entry level kayaks are offered in the 9 ft. to 10 1/2 ft. range. These are very popular with kids or adults who are going short distances or just crushing around in front of the lake cottage. They are quite wide and stable and can be used for fishing, hunting or bird watching. However, they do not offer much storage space and would not normally be used for a long trip.

The next general length category would be a kayak averaging 14 ft. to 15 ft. Most models this length are maneuverable enough to be used in rivers with mild white water and are also great for exploring the shoreline and covers of lakes. They are great for day trips and short overnight trips and will usually have one large hatch behind the cockpit for storing camping gear.

The last general length category is for kayaks 15 1/2 ft. to 17 1/2 ft. long. These models are fairly narrow and have fast cruising speeds. They have front and rear hatches for carrying plenty of camping gear. They can cover long distances and can make crossings on large lakes, bays and on the ocean.

Kayaking touring is a wonderful way to travel and explore large rivers, lakes or bays. They are wonderful stress relievers and can give you good aerobic workout after a long day in the office. Please give us a call if we can answers any questions.

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