Since we've been facing the Covid-19 pandemic, the popularity of outdoor activities and recreational equipment has skyrocketed. One of the best sellers have been small watercraft like Canoes, Standup Paddleboards, and Kayaks. In the age of social distancing, it will be challenging to find kayaks available for sale in big box recreational retailers. If you are looking to buy a kayak and find one, here are some basic points to consider before you take the plunge.

Primary and Maybe Secondary Activities

My primary activity is fishing, so my goal was to choose a stable kayak suitable for organizing and carrying fishing gear. Secondly I would be joining friends on lakes and rivers for weekend adventures and some kayak camping.  Knowing my goals allowed me to focus on two primary characterisics; stability and capacity.

Transporting The Kayak

This point requires a serious look and should be a big part of your decision, and I've seen kayaks carried in many different ways. Truck beds, cartop (with roof racks and without), and trailers. There are many different ways to transport, keep in mind that it must be secured safely. I chose to carry my kayak on the roof-rack of my SUV and used the SweetRoll solution from Yakima. In the future, I may opt for the trailer solution to streamline the carrying effort.

Comfortably Handling The Weight Of The Kayak

Depending on the type of kayak you have chosen, weight can be a problem when it comes to loading it onto your car top, portaging around unsafe water obstacles. Fishing kayaks are heavy and pose serious challenges when it comes to handling off the water. General recreational and whitewater kayaks are very light and may make better choices for securing to a roof rack for some individuals.  

Kayak Weight Capacity

Every kayak should have a maximum rated weight for safely paddling your kayak. Keep in mind this includes your weight and everything you have added to your kayak. Like fishing electronics, motors, camping gear, fishing crates, and emergency equipment. The heavier your kayak, the more challenging it will be to paddle and maneuver. Again, take into account what activities you will be doing and the combined weight of you and your gear.

Sit Inside or Sit On Top

If you have considered the prior points carefully, this question has mostly been answered for you. Most fishing kayaks will be Sit On Top. General recreational kayaks can be either, and you’ll have a wide selection, but you’ll have to consider weight. If you are whitewater kayaking, then your only real option is Sit Inside. If you have the opportunity to choose based on your intended uses, consider if you will be solo kayaking. Sit On Top kayaks are easier to re-enter should you take a spill. Sit inside may require assistance or a swim to shore to re-enter and dump water. However, this will largely depend on the capabilities of the individual.

For me, the right option was a Wilderness Systems Radar 115. It’s heavy and not suitable for long excursions that may require significant portaging. Its primary purpose is fishing and covers that activity exceptionally well. I also have the option to pedal or upgrade to an integrated electric motor. It has also done well in choppy, windy conditions and tame rivers. Next test, kayak camping!