Hello all! longtime bike tourer, couple time kayaker here. would love to get myself into a touring/sea kayak for longer overnite/weeklong trips. what size and brand and style etc are you’all recommending? hoping to paddle some long slow rivers and open lakes etc while camping along the way. like bike touring on water! just unsure of the practical length needed for this style, knowing that longer is faster-straighter etc, is a 14-15 worthy of several day trips? cheers and thanks!
1 Like
My friend Paul who has done the cross the USA twice on his bike bought a used 17 ft, plastic, sea kayak and a hammock for kayak camping.
1 Like
Length of a sea/touring kayak depends on how much you want to carry. I can do a few days out of a 13-14foot boat, but would want a longer boat for longer times. More than a week and you might want a 17-18 foot boat to carry the needed gear. Paddling on fresh water (where you can filter, rather than having to carry drinking water) and in warmer/drier climes (where gear is smaller) can help you downsize boat needs.
The good thing about bike touring going to kayaking is they know about synthentic vs cotton. They know how to pack light. They know how to Pace themselves.
Bike gloves though aren’t as good as sailing gloves.
1 Like
If you plan to paddle/camp with other people you’ll want to consider the speed of the boat. You’ll find yourself lagging behind or exhausting yourself if you’re paddling a 14 ft boat and others are in 17 footers. When trying out boats keep in mind the capacity. Paddling too much boat on a windy day isn’t nearly as fun as paddling one that’s just right. You’ll want a rudder or a skeg to deal with wind. I prefer a skeg.
If you can find a real kayak shop and try out something like a Current Designs Prana, you’ll be much better prepared to get into your new game.
@Rex said:
If you plan to paddle/camp with other people you’ll want to consider the speed of the boat. You’ll find yourself lagging behind or exhausting yourself if you’re paddling a 14 ft boat and others are in 17 footers. When trying out boats keep in mind the capacity. Paddling too much boat on a windy day isn’t nearly as fun as paddling one that’s just right. You’ll want a rudder or a skeg to deal with wind. I prefer a skeg.
I too prefer a skeg, but have no significant justification. However, the skeg box takes up some of the rear hatch space … and in a somewhat awkward way. Were I still a camper I would prefer the rudder option to get more space in the rear hatch.
The following is a gross generalization, but I would say that if you plan to carry gear for week long trips or longer, and still want something reasonably efficient on the water, you would be better off with a kayak at least 16 feet in length, and longer would probably be better still. Whether you need to carry more than a one-day supply of fresh water with you will make a big difference.
You might also consider a canoe for your intended use.
Great suggestions everyone! thankyou! for practicallity within my location(Colorado) i may have to lean towards a 14ish on the lakes/reservoirs around here. transporting a 17/18 could be overly cumbersome. at least i could do some overnighters and keep my fitness. Ive always wanted to paddle the entire Mississippi River and the rivers/lakes in the Midwest…may need to rent a longer boat for those experiences?
I’m just a lowly canoe person but from what I can tell there is as much variety in kayaks and the way they are used as bikes so I suggest you describe yourself and the planned use for your kayak(s) in as much detail as you can and you’ll get good advice. I’m sitting here in the Midwest thinking that we have lots of friendly slow rivers and quiet small lakes but also have faster, more dangerous rivers and lakes like the Great Lakes where there are important differences in your boat requirements.
I easily camp for several days with a Hurricane Sojourn 135. My gear: 2P tent (Kelty Trail Ridge); Helinox cot, table, and chair; Exped Synmat 3-D 7. That setup is the most comfort you can possibly have for kayak camping.!)
@climate666@yahoo.com said:
Great suggestions everyone! thankyou! for practicallity within my location(Colorado) i may have to lean towards a 14ish on the lakes/reservoirs around here. transporting a 17/18 could be overly cumbersome. at least i could do some overnighters and keep my fitness. Ive always wanted to paddle the entire Mississippi River and the rivers/lakes in the Midwest…may need to rent a longer boat for those experiences?
Why do you think a 14 foot is less cumbersome?
We’re always going down tight dirt roads with my 15.5’ and his 17’9" boats atop our 2-door Jeep. Rarely do we find that one of us have to get out to spot the other when reversing direction. We can carry them both at the same time to the launch. The only time that my shorter boat seems to have an edge over his is when we are in salt marshes where the 2’ difference means I have a less difficult time turning around. That’s not enough of an advantage to choose the shorter boat.
Were I you? I’d get the 17-18’ boat particularly since you want to do a longer expedition style adventure.
Mississippi………I’d get the longer boat… It carries more. It is usually more trackable. My 14ft is more turnable and more of a play boat that takes more paddle to make speed and distance. Also the 17 ft boats can carry more gear and weight without piling it up on top. Speaking of weight. If you were a dedicated bike tour rider weight is not a factor so much. But if you’re heavier the longer boat will support you better. It all depends upon how you pack, paddle and travel.
Colorado? ……. All I ever did out there was drink beer, eat and go to a special school. I got no idea.