Every boat has characteristics that make it ideal for certain conditions, and unsuitable for others. Different bodies of water require different types of boats. Most recreational boats are short and wide, with flat-bottom hulls. These features make them very stable in calm conditions, and easy to turn in the meandering channels of a marsh. Their hull shape makes them slow, but who wants to paddle fast in a marsh? On the other hand, that wide flat bottom will be pitched and thrown by waves generated by wind, sea, or passing boats. The slow hull shape that is so great for "gunkholing" makes for an exhausting day of touring. The short, flat hull that makes these boats so easy to turn also makes them very difficult to keep on course in a stiff breeze or stronger wind.
Another factor that must be considered is how well a boat will stay afloat if it is overturned or swamped. Some manufacturers may claim that their plastic boats won't sink, even without flotation bags. While it is technically true that these boats won't sink to the bottom, they will float just at or below the surface and they will be next to impossible to rescue (empty them and resume paddling) if they capsize. There are two reliable ways of providing enough flotation to enable a practical rescue: air-filled flotation bags, and watertight bulkheads.
When we consider boats, we think of performance characteristics and flotation as matters of safety. A boat that is difficult to control in wind, waves and current is not safe for those conditions. A boat that cannot be rescued is unsafe in almost all settings. Most recreational boats don't meet safety or performance standards for our sea/tour kayaking programs, which encounter a wide variety of conditions. For safe sea/tour kayaking, your personal boat should meet the following criteria:
- Length: 14 feet or longer (kids' kayaks can be shorter if they have proper flotation).
- Flotation: Watertight bulkheads or full-size airbags in both bow and stern. A foam pillar is not enough flotation for safety.
- Cockpit: 36" or less in length.
Many sit-on-tops are not suitable for our tours and higher level instructional programs. We allow 14' long or longer sit-on tops on beginner programs.
All boats, including recreational boats and sit-on-top kayaks, are welcome on the following programs:
Basics, Core Techniques, Proficiency, Safety & Rescue, Thursday Night Skill Sessions, Annsville Easy, and private programs. However, your learning experience on the Core Techniques and Safety and Resuce programs will be particularly enhanced by the performance characteristics of sea/touring-kayaks.
To learn more about what to look for in a sea kayak, see How to Shop for Your First Kayak. Or you can drop by the Annsville Creek Paddlesport Center or Norrie Paddlesport Center for an in-person look.