If you are a nature lover and thrive to be active, kayaking is an excellent way to combine your interest in the outdoors with your need to exercise. Because of the boat's relatively snug embrace of the paddler, selecting the right kayak can prove to be challenging and time consuming, but it is a time investment well made. If your kayak doesn't fit you properly, you won't paddle comfortably nor efficiently, and you will most likely find your joy in the sport sinking like an anchor. To keep your paddling fun afloat, don't make the purchase before you have found the ideal vessel.
Preparation
Step 1
Hop on the scale and know your weight as well as your total length, inseam, torso length, shoulder width and wingspan. If you want your kayak to fit your body properly, it helps to have your measurements ready before you start looking at kayaks.
Step 2
Select which style of kayaking you are primarily going to pursue and which type of kayaker you are. Also consider your skill level. The choice and fit of a whitewater kayak for a competitive paddler differs from that of a recreational flatwater kayaker or a casual touring kayaker. Compare the selection of a well-fitting kayak to picking the right shoe for a specific occasion: The fitting requirements for a rarely worn rubber boot are different from those for a running shoe or a dress shoe. The clearer you are about the requirements, the easier it will be to find the kayak the fits you and these requirements.
Step 3
Ask around to find an attentive and competent retailer. Make sure the sales associate is knowledgeable and is therefore able help you to find the right vessel for you.
Step 4
Read the manufacturers' product brochures and compare the specifications to your personal needs. This will give you an idea which boats might be designed for your body type.
Selecting a Kayak
Step 1
Find a kayak that fits your body type. As kayak instructor Dennis Stuhaug, a former editor of Canoe and Kayak magazine, puts it in his book "Kayaking Made Easy," you need to be able to "wear" your kayak just like a piece of clothing. Take especially your personal weight, gear weight, designed waterline and sinkage into consideration. Make sure that the combined weight of you and your equipment stays well within the recommended weight range of the kayak. If you accumulate too much or too little weight for the boat, you're hurting your efficiency and stability.
Step 2
Select a size kayak that matches your body size. A tall person will feel uncomfortable in a very short boat, a bigger person will probably not like the feel of a low-decked boat and a petite paddler will feel lost and uncomfortably slide from gunwale to gunwale in a wide-beamed kayak.
Step 3
Find a cockpit opening that is large enough that you can easily slip into an out of your boat. You want to be able to slide out of your kayak quickly in case of an emergency. If the opening is too wide, though, controlling your kayak becomes difficult. Front height and rear height of the cockpit are also important, as kayak builder Vaclav Stejskal, owner of One Ocean Kayaks in Watertown, Mass. points out. A higher front deck means easy entry and exit and it might keep you dryer than a low deck; and a higher rear is more comfortable for cruising and touring.
Proper Positioning
Step 1
Slide into the seat and sit up with a straight back. Place the balls of your feet lightly on the foot pegs or---depending on your type of boat---on the rudder pedals. If your legs are not exactly the same length, you can adjust the foot pegs separately according to your needs. Your seat position should allow your gently bent knees to lightly touch the deck; this is important for good boat control. Your feet should be slightly turned outwards. Adjust the backrest of your seat for maximum back support.
Step 2
Start customizing your boat. You can do this by using closed-cell foam. This is much cheaper than custom-made gear, but it does the job just as beautifully. Tack all additions into place with duct tape first and give everything a test run before you start using the heavy glue.
Most kayakers will need to place a block of foam underneath the foot pegs to give their heels a place to rest. Make sure the foam pieces are high enough to allow your feet a 90-degree angle to your lower legs. Other customizations you will want to consider are some cushioning where your knees touch the underside of your deck and the sides of your seat in order to support your hips. Keep in mind that you're mostly controlling the lateral motion of your kayak with your hips, so this should be a focal point of your kayak fitting. Added cushioning under your thighs can take pressure off of your sciatic nerve.
Step 3
Keep customizing your kayak to adjust the fit according to your changing needs and skills. Seat pads, hip pads and thigh braces and pads are four ways to refit your kayak if necessary.
Tips and Warnings
- Don't commit to a purchase before you have taken the kayak for a test ride. Just like you wouldn't buy a bicycle or a car without taking it around the block, you need to make sure that the boat you have chosen is indeed the right fit for you. Insist on some test paddling. If the shop of your choice doesn't agree to this reasonable request, find another store.
- Paddling in a kayak that is not properly fitted to your body type and kayaking needs may result in injuries or accidents.
Things You'll Need
- Scale
- Tape measure
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