Choosing A Kayak

Before You Start

This page might very well be the first one you read on KFUK because your itching to get into the sport and want something to paddle, adapt to you’re needs and mostly enjoy! So here’s some information to guide you as you poke around the internet.

Nowadays its too easy to join a social media group and say “hi, thanks for the add, which yak do I get” as you’ll get everyone replying telling you all about how good theirs is! What you should do prior to going out there asking is do some homework. Not on kayaks but on yourself!

• How tall are you?
• how much do you weigh?
• Do you have any ailments/injuries?
• How much will your gear weigh onboard the kayak?
• Will you paddle on the sea? inland waters or both?
• What kind of fish will you be targetting? drift fishing for Mackerel in Summer or wreck fishing for Cod and Ling at anchor maybe? Tope fishing anchored to a sandy embankment in a large bay or drop off?

Yes, it’s a minefield and it all begins at home so get your facts right and make a note of them THEN go out there and pick brains of people who are like you. You’ll get far better results and may stay alive a lot longer too! There’s more info to come about kayak types and lengths etc.

Length of kayak makes a huge difference, going on eBay or Amazon is a favourite first for most online shoppers and you’ll be hit with a load of 9ft play boats made to look like fishing kayaks as they’ve been given a couple of rod holders! Please skip past them unless you plan to ‘play’ or fish close to shore or on an inland water/lake and look for a 13ft fishing kayak or use that as your search tag as this is what you’ll need for the sea or touring inland waters. You’ll see its all about SOT (sit on kayak) too and that’s because they’re virtually unsinkable! They’re hollow and sealed with many hatches. If you tip off it’s easily to put right and get back on unlike a sit in type kayak/canoe) and they’re very adaptable too!

If you plan to sea fish then a 13ft or longer kayak is recommended, it tracks (keeps a straight line on the water) better than shorter kayaks and has more room for equipment too. Equipment is also one of the considerations to take into account when fishing too as lead weighs more than any of your gear by far. Cod fishing over rough ground is going to eat into rigs as you lose them so you need plenty of spares and these weigh a lot. Its a very good idea to weigh the “gear” separately from yourself and then you’ll know how much your putting on a kayak. Too many paddlers buy a kayak with a weight limit to suit theirs then fill it with gear and find it lies too low on the water or is too slow to paddle.

Pre season (spring) is a great time to look for a used full set up of gear. Kayak, dry suit and everything you need so keep an eye open for this as it could save you a fortune and you may not take to the sport the way to thought you would.