Different Types of Kayak
Different kayaks will give you different experiences on water. Lets see how ActiveTravel Asia pick kayakers for our water adventure lovers1. Sit-inside Kayaks:
Sit-inside kayaks is perfect to navigate and keep you dry
Sit-insides shelter your lower body from the wind, which makes them much warmer. Sit-inside kayaks are great for paddlers who'll be on cooler water and who want to stay dry while paddling, and they consider the kayak more than a vehicle for travel than a toy.
One downside of the Sit-inside kayaks is that you don't have the same freedom to move in and out of the water. And if you do flip for some reason, recovery is a complicated process because your kayak will likely be filled with water.
Like sit-on-tops, recreational sit-inside kayaks are very stable, fun, and easy-to-use. They've got large cockpits so there's no reason to feel confined in them. Some even have waterproof compartments that are accessed through hatches in the deck.
>> ActiveTravel Asia uses this one for our Kayak tours in North Vietnam including Halong bay due to its weather: short summer, best kayaking time in winter that water is often cold. Maximum weight for this type is 125kg (275lbs) for Single and 250kg (550lbs).
2. Sit-on-top Kayaks:
Sit-on-top kayaks are ideal for beginners.
If you're looking for kayaks that are easy to use, then you should probably look into getting sit-on-top kayaks. These kayaks are designed so that you don't have to worry about spray skirts, instead you just sit on top of the kayak seat and you're ready to go. These kayaks are ideal for beginners, children, or for people who just want a recreational kayak that's easy to use.
Another benefit of sit-on-top kayaks is that they are very easy to keep upright. Usually these kayaks are designed to be a bit broader than regular kayaks. The result of this is that there is more base to the kayak - which means that it's much harder for them to tip over. The other benefit of the sit-on-top kayaks is that even if they do flip over, it is not nearly such a big deal as it might be if you had that problem in a regular kayak.
This is due to the fact that if your sit-on-top kayak flips, all you have to do is flip it back over and climb back on top. This is not a very big deal, and anybody can do it. On the other hand, in kayaks that have spray skirts and that you sit inside of, it is possible that flipping over can be very serious. In any case, you have to spend a lot of time learning to right yourself. Since children often have trouble with this, you can see why sit-on-top kayaks are preferred.
The other benefit is that there is a lot of tandem sit-on-top kayaks sold. This is because while it is harder to control a kayak that has two people in it, sit-on-top kayaks do not have that problem - even if the kayak does tip, it's no big deal!
Sit-on-top kayaks are generally made out of either plastic or fiberglass so they are also low maintenance, light, and will last a long time.
You can even get sit-on-top kayaks with bulkheads inside of the kayak just in case you would like to take the boat on a kayak tour. These kayaks are great for beginners, and make very good recreational or touring boats.
>> ActiveTravel Asia use this ones for Kayak tours at places that has warm weather (such as Hoian) or calm water (such Ba Be Lake). Maximum weight for this kayak is ranging from 110kg (240lbs) to 150kg (330lbs)
2. Inflatable Kayaks
Inflatable kayaks: easy to use and light.
Inflatable kayaks are generally a lot sturdier than most people would imagine. Generally the mental image that comes to mind when "inflatable kayak" is said is one that looks like an inflatable toy. However, this is far from the case and in fact, some of these inflatable kayaks can even be used for whitewater touring.
There are a few benefits to inflatable kayaks that should probably be mentioned first, however. These benefits probably seem relatively straight-forward, but they are all reasons to get an inflatable kayak on their own. First of all, inflatable kayaks are probably the most buoyant of any type of kayak. This makes sense, since the kayak essentially consists of blown up inner compartments. If you're looking for a kayak that will more than likely stay upright, then this is probably the best option for you.
You should also consider just how easy it is to move around with inflatable kayaks in contrast to some of the other kayak types. First of all, most of the available kayaks that are made out of other materials are actually fairly heavy. There are a few exceptions, but for the most part, kayaks are at least a little bit heavy and you have to have the right rack on your car in order to travel with them.
One major advantage to the inflatable kayaks, however, is that they can easily be broken down and stored. All you have to do is deflate, fold, and pack your kayak up before you go anywhere. One disadvantage is that you'll have to inflate your kayak before you're ready to actually start paddling, but this is definitely a minor concern when you consider that you'll be able to bring your kayak on an airplane if you need to.
The last thing you should consider about inflatable kayaks is that it is much easier to store them - which may mean that they will last longer than a lot of the other kayak designs. After all, in order to store an inflatable kayak, you only need enough room to store the deflated kayak. For a regular type of kayak, you'd need to have enough room for the entire boat.
In short, if you're looking for a convenient, light, and easy to use kayak design, then inflatable kayaks are definitely the type for you.
3. Folding kayak
Folding kayaks are just as sturdy as regular kayak designs.
Folding kayaks are based on the original Inuit kayak designs. Essentially, all folding kayaks are a thin fabric over a lightweight frame. These frames can be made out of wood or aluminum, and some of them are even made out of a combination of the two. Some of these kayaks even have air pockets built into the hull which makes them even harder to sink than the original kayaks.
Folding kayaks are also very useful because they can be stored in less space than a regular recreational kayak. This is due to the fact that after use, you generally take the kayak apart. If you're looking for a type of kayak that is even more convenient in this way, you may also want to check out the inflatable kayaks. These kayaks just need to be deflated before they are stored.
In fact, both folding kayaks and inflatable kayaks have the major advantage of easy storage. These kayaks can be kept in far less space than is usually needed for a regular kayak. As a result, you probably will not need to spend money to rent storage lockers for your kayak - you can instead bring it home and store it easily in your garage. Another benefit of this is that inflatable and folding kayaks will generally last longer than other types of kayaks since they will usually be stored correctly.
Some people may be concerned about buying folding kayaks due to the fact that they fold up. However, you should not worry. These kayaks are just as sturdy as most other kayak designs since the frame has been designed specifically to be strong. Not only are these kayaks durable, but they have even been used on such daring kayak trips as crossing the Atlantic!
Folding kayaks have also been the choice for military groups that have needed small, lightweight boats. Of course, the folding kayaks that were used in the military had metal frames, but you can still count on the kayak you buy to be sturdy and stable in the water.
Essentially, if you are looking for lightweight, easy to store, and stable recreational kayaks, then folding kayaks are probably the right choices for you.
4. Sea Kayak (Touring Kayak)
A sea kayak is a long, narrow, traditional sit-in kayak in which the paddler sits while being protected by a spray skirt, while a recreational kayak is either a sit-in kayak or a sit-on-top kayak that's wider (up to 42" wide) and stabler, where the passengers are not protected by spray skirts.
A sea kayak or touring kayak is a kayak developed for the sport of paddling on open waters of lakes, bays, and the ocean. Sea kayaks are seaworthy small boats with a covered deck and the ability to incorporate a spraydeck. They trade off the extreme maneuverability of whitewater kayaks for cargo capacity, ease of straight-line paddling, and comfort for long journeys.
Most production sea kayaks are between 12 feet and 24 feet in length, the larger kayaks often built for two (or in rare cases, three) paddlers. The width (beam) of typical kayaks varies from 18 inches to 28 inches, though specialized boats such as surf skis may be narrower. The length of a kayak affects not only its cargo capacity (for both gear and paddlers) but may also affect its "tracking" ability -- the ease with which the boat travels in a straight line. While other design features also impact tracking, very long kayaks are easier to paddle straight (and harder to turn). The width of a kayak affects the cargo capacity, the maximum size of the cockpit (and thus the size of the paddler in that cockpit), and (to a degree that depends on the design of the hull) the stability.
Many sea kayaks have steering gear or tracking aids in the form of rudders or skegs. In most cases rudders are attached at the stern and operated, via wires, from foot peddles in the cockpit. Rudders are typically retractable for beach landings. Skegs are straight blades that drop from a well in the stern of the boat. Both devices assist in paddling when a strong wind is coming from a direction other than directly in front.
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