Selecting Kayaks for Adventure Racing

article043The following points need to be considered when selecting a craft for adventure racing:

Do you need a craft which meets the 1:10 rule?
Some time ago the idea was raised that adventure craft should conform to a 1:10 ratio. This means that the beam width of a craft should not be less than a 10th of its length. A craft with a beam of say 50cm should therefore not be longer than 5 meters, if it is 60cm wide, it should not be longer than 6 meters, and so on. Essentially the ratio is intended to ensure that the boat will be stable enough for adventure-type activities.

This rule would eliminate craft such as K2’s and surfskis from the competition, making it fairer for individuals who cannot manage such craft, or safer, if conditions required it.

For every event the race director should indicate if the 1:10 rule applies or not. If it is not stipulated, competitors need to consider their experience & skill level, duration of the event, amount of items to be carried, conditions and terrain into account when deciding on what type of craft to use.

Are you going to be on the water for a long period of time with your backpacks and additional equipment?
Do you need to be able to navigate?

The duration spent on the craft and the amount to be carried will dictate what craft should be used in a race. While keeping your backpack on your back is an option, it will restrict your movement and become more uncomfortable as the hours tick by. It is also without doubt a safety issue, should you swim. Stowage hatches distribute the weight of the packs within the boat keeping them dry. But, if you require stowage hatches, this will eliminate racing-type craft such as K2’s and surfskis even if the 1:10 rule does not apply.

Stability is also be required for map-reading, reading and eating en route. K2’s and surfskis are the fastest paddling craft around, but they may not be suitable in some conditions. Take Michael Schumacher for example. He would not feature in the Dakar to Paris Rally if he arrived in his new Ferrari solely because the F1 vehicle is not suited to the conditions in this event, not because he is not allowed to use it. Race directors should set paddling routes that make the right choice of a craft an important factor in the performance of a team.

What type of water is to be paddled?
This may be lake, dam, open river shallow river with rocks, river with rapids (grade should be supplied by the race director) or ocean (grade to be supplied by the race director – see the RECSKASA/TASKS gradings).

In the case of ocean paddling, the launching and landing points as well as changing weather conditions all have a severe impact on the grade.

A guideline for choosing the best craft for a particular terrain (keeping the above points in mind) is that there are horses for courses, meaning that some craft are better suited to specific ‘terrain’.

  • A croc (2-man inflatable raft) will perform well in tricky, fast-flowing, rocky rivers, but poorly on still waters, especially if there are headwinds. The fastest craft on flat and ocean waters would be a rigid and light fiberglass craft.
  • The best craft on shallow rocky rivers would be flexible plastic or nylon-laminated (Kevlar and the like) craft. Plastics are substantially heavier, but cheaper, than nylon-laminated.
  • While sit-in craft ensure you stay in your craft in rapids, sit-ons will make re-entry easier after capsizing – a factor which is more important on the ocean, or large lakes, than on rivers, where the banks are within easy reach.
  • Sit-ons with self-bailers are essential at sea, unless you are wearing a sprayskirt (splash-deck). This also applies to the new hybrid breed of kayaks, which are combined sit-on/sit-in craft. However, self-bailers on a rocky river are prone to being damaged, whether in fiberglass or plastic craft.
  • Sprayskirts on sit-ins and hybrids give weather protection and may be essential on extended races in cold climates.

What is your skill level? (all members of the team)
You cannot buy skill. Some skills, such as judging and riding waves, can take a lifetime to acquire. Whilst some adventure racers may be top paddlers, many may not be. Adventure racers must take time to acquire paddling skills and use craft within their level of ability (see the RECSKASA/TASKS levels of ability regarding sea kayaking).

Some kayak ranges also offer single equivalents of their doubles – for individual training. It’s essential that individual team members are able to put in the necessary hours of training by themselves.

Not being prepared for paddling may lead to disaster. At sea, sit-in kayaks require proficient rolling and re-entry skills. Hybrids and sit-ons require at least basic remounting skills.

Race directors should be prepared to stipulate the levels of experience and competence required for their races. As a result of the many deaths in river races, canoe race organisers now stipulate the required levels of paddling competence for their races and indeed participants are tested by their respective clubs for competence prior to racing.

Budget, quality and performance
Are you buying the best shoes, backpacks and bicycles or are you content with budget equipment? Kayaks fall under budget, moderately expensive or expensive categories.

While local plastic craft are cheap, the designs/models are limited to the recreational market. And, although plastic is robust initially, it lacks durability. Plastics are heavy and may become indented. Damage may be irreparable.

Imported fiberglass/carbon-composite craft can be the most expensive, but are light and strong with high performance. Local fiberglass/carbon-composite craft are moderately expensive but many models are available. The local hand-laminated fiberglass craft are good value for money – on the international market they cost two to three times more, depending on the exchange rate.

While fibreglass craft may be fragile (craft with nylon-laminates can be tough), they are repairable and durable, maintaining their lustre and high performance for years.

Note that kayaks must not only be tied across roof-racks, but also fore and aft. Please take extra care with this as more and more accidents are being reported.

Types of craft available

The following points need to be considered when selecting a craft for adventure racing:

Do you need a craft which meets the 1:10 rule?
Some time ago the idea was raised that adventure craft should conform to a 1:10 ratio. This means that the beam width of a craft should not be less than a 10th of its length. A craft with a beam of say 50cm should therefore not be longer than 5 meters, if it is 60cm wide, it should not be longer than 6 meters, and so on. Essentially the ratio is intended to ensure that the boat will be stable enough for adventure-type activities.

This rule would eliminate craft such as K2’s and surfskis from the competition, making it fairer for individuals who cannot manage such craft, or safer, if conditions required it.

For every event the race director should indicate if the 1:10 rule applies or not. If it is not stipulated, competitors need to consider their experience & skill level, duration of the event, amount of items to be carried, conditions and terrain into account when deciding on what type of craft to use.

Are you going to be on the water for a long period of time with your backpacks and additional equipment?
Do you need to be able to navigate?

The duration spent on the craft and the amount to be carried will dictate what craft should be used in a race. While keeping your backpack on your back is an option, it will restrict your movement and become more uncomfortable as the hours tick by. It is also without doubt a safety issue, should you swim. Stowage hatches distribute the weight of the packs within the boat keeping them dry. But, if you require stowage hatches, this will eliminate racing-type craft such as K2’s and surfskis even if the 1:10 rule does not apply.

Stability is also be required for map-reading, reading and eating en route. K2’s and surfskis are the fastest paddling craft around, but they may not be suitable in some conditions. Take Michael Schumacher for example. He would not feature in the Dakar to Paris Rally if he arrived in his new Ferrari solely because the F1 vehicle is not suited to the conditions in this event, not because he is not allowed to use it. Race directors should set paddling routes that make the right choice of a craft an important factor in the performance of a team.

What type of water is to be paddled?
This may be lake, dam, open river shallow river with rocks, river with rapids (grade should be supplied by the race director) or ocean (grade to be supplied by the race director – see the RECSKASA/TASKS gradings).

In the case of ocean paddling, the launching and landing points as well as changing weather conditions all have a severe impact on the grade.

A guideline for choosing the best craft for a particular terrain (keeping the above points in mind) is that there are horses for courses, meaning that some craft are better suited to specific ‘terrain’.

  • A croc (2-man inflatable raft) will perform well in tricky, fast-flowing, rocky rivers, but poorly on still waters, especially if there are headwinds. The fastest craft on flat and ocean waters would be a rigid and light fiberglass craft.
  • The best craft on shallow rocky rivers would be flexible plastic or nylon-laminated (Kevlar and the like) craft. Plastics are substantially heavier, but cheaper, than nylon-laminated.
  • While sit-in craft ensure you stay in your craft in rapids, sit-ons will make re-entry easier after capsizing – a factor which is more important on the ocean, or large lakes, than on rivers, where the banks are within easy reach.
  • Sit-ons with self-bailers are essential at sea, unless you are wearing a sprayskirt (splash-deck). This also applies to the new hybrid breed of kayaks, which are combined sit-on/sit-in craft. However, self-bailers on a rocky river are prone to being damaged, whether in fiberglass or plastic craft.
  • Sprayskirts on sit-ins and hybrids give weather protection and may be essential on extended races in cold climates.

What is your skill level? (all members of the team)
You cannot buy skill. Some skills, such as judging and riding waves, can take a lifetime to acquire. Whilst some adventure racers may be top paddlers, many may not be. Adventure racers must take time to acquire paddling skills and use craft within their level of ability (see the RECSKASA/TASKS levels of ability regarding sea kayaking).

Some kayak ranges also offer single equivalents of their doubles – for individual training. It’s essential that individual team members are able to put in the necessary hours of training by themselves.

Not being prepared for paddling may lead to disaster. At sea, sit-in kayaks require proficient rolling and re-entry skills. Hybrids and sit-ons require at least basic remounting skills.

Race directors should be prepared to stipulate the levels of experience and competence required for their races. As a result of the many deaths in river races, canoe race organisers now stipulate the required levels of paddling competence for their races and indeed participants are tested by their respective clubs for competence prior to racing.

Budget, quality and performance
Are you buying the best shoes, backpacks and bicycles or are you content with budget equipment? Kayaks fall under budget, moderately expensive or expensive categories.

While local plastic craft are cheap, the designs/models are limited to the recreational market. And, although plastic is robust initially, it lacks durability. Plastics are heavy and may become indented. Damage may be irreparable.

Imported fiberglass/carbon-composite craft can be the most expensive, but are light and strong with high performance. Local fiberglass/carbon-composite craft are moderately expensive but many models are available. The local hand-laminated fiberglass craft are good value for money – on the international market they cost two to three times more, depending on the exchange rate.

While fibreglass craft may be fragile (craft with nylon-laminates can be tough), they are repairable and durable, maintaining their lustre and high performance for years.

Note that kayaks must not only be tied across roof-racks, but also fore and aft. Please take extra care with this as more and more accidents are being reported.

Types of craft available

Type of Craft Examples of suppliers/brands
Crocs, inflatables ARK, Quiver
K1’s, K2’s, Surfskis Brian’s Kayaks, Knysna Racing Craft, Stealth, PaddleYak, Custom Kayaks
Plastic Sit-ins Maverick Sports, Canoe & Kayak World
Plastic Sit-ons Quiver, Epic, Pelican, C-Kayaks, Perception, Tripper, Coastal Kayaks
Fibreglass Sit-insFibreglass/Composite Sit-ons Canoe Concepts, PaddleYak, Coastal K
Fibreglass/Composite Hybrids PaddleYak Online Sea Kayak Store

 Kayak rating for adventure racing – applicable for doubles/2-man craft

Croc inflatable

  • Meets the 1:10 ratio
  • Can carry cargo
  • Suitable on open water
  • Suitable in rapids
  • Suitable in rocky rivers
  • Average skill required
  • Budget buy
  • K2

  • Weather protection sprayskirt
  • Suitable on open water
  • Suitable in rapids
  • Suitable in rocky rivers
  • Budget buy
  • Lightweight & fast
  • Surfski

  • Seaworthy
  • Self-bailing
  • Easy remounting at sea – no need to roll
  • Suitable on lakes/open water
  • Budget buy
  • Lightweight & fast
  • Plastic Sit-in

  • Meets the 1:10 ratio
  • Can carry cargo
  • Seaworthy
  • Weather protection sprayskirt
  • Suitable on open water
  • Suitable in rapids
  • Suitable in rocky rivers
  • Plastic Sit-on (no scuppers)

  • Meets the 1:10 ratio
  • Can carry cargo
  • Seaworthy
  • Limited water retention in the cockpit
  • Easy remounting at sea – no need to roll
  • Suitable on lakes/open water
  • Suitable in rocky rivers
  • Average skill required
  • Budget buy
  • Plastic Sit-on (with scuppers)

  • Meets the 1:10 ratio
  • Can carry cargo
  • Seaworthy
  • Self bailing
  • Easy remounting at sea – no need to roll
  • Suitable on lakes/open water
  • Average skill required
  • Budget buy
  • Fibreglass Sit-in

  • Meets the 1:10 ratio
  • Can carry cargo
  • Seaworthy
  • Weather protection sprayskirt
  • Suitable on lakes/open water
  • Suitable in rapids
  • No quite a budget buy
  • Reasonably light and fast
  • Fibreglass Sit-on (no scuppers)

  • Meets the 1:10 ratio
  • Can carry cargo
  • Seaworthy
  • Limited water retention in the cockpit
  • Easy remounting at sea – no need to roll
  • Suitable on lakes/open water
  • Suitable in rapids
  • Average skill required
  • Budget buy
  • Moderately light and fast
  • Fibreglass Sit-on (with scuppers)

  • Meets the 1:10 ratio
  • Can carry cargo
  • Seaworthy
  • Self bailing
  • Easy remounting at sea – no need to roll
  • Suitable on lakes/open water
  • Average skill required
  • Budget buy
  • Moderately light and fast
  • Composite Sit-in

  • Meets the 1:10 ratio
  • Can carry cargo
  • Seaworthy
  • Weather protection sprayskirt
  • Suitable on lakes/open water
  • Suitable in rapids
  • Suitable in rocky rivers
  • Lightweight and fast
  • Composite Sit-on (no scuppers)

  • Meets the 1:10 ratio
  • Can carry cargo
  • Seaworthy
  • Limited water retention in the cockpit
  • Easy remounting at sea – no need to roll
  • Suitable on lakes/open water
  • Average skill required
  • Moderately light and fast
  • Composite Sit-on (with scuppers)

  • Meets the 1:10 ratio
  • Can carry cargo
  • Seaworthy
  • Self bailing
  • Suitable on lakes/open water
  • Average skill required
  • Moderately light and fast
  • Fibreglass Hybrid (no scupper)

  • Meets the 1:10 ratio
  • Can carry cargo
  • Seaworthy
  • Limited water retention in the cockpit
  • Easy remounting at sea – no need to roll
  • Weather protection sprayskirt
  • Suitable on lakes/open water
  • Suitable in rapids
  • Semi suited to rocky rivers
  • Average skill required
  • Not quite a budget buy
  • Moderately light and fast
  • Fibreglass Hybrid (with scuppers)

  • Meets the 1:10 ratio
  • Can carry cargo
  • Semi-seaworthy
  • Self bailing
  • Easy remounting at sea – no need to roll
  • Weather protection sprayskirt
  • Suitable on lakes/open water
  • Suitable in rapids
  • Average skill required
  • Not quite a budget buy
  • Moderately light and fast
  • Composite Hybrid (no scupper)

  • Meets the 1:10 ratio
  • Can carry cargo
  • Seaworthy
  • Limited water retention in the cockpit
  • Easy remounting at sea – no need to roll
  • Weather protection sprayskirt
  • Suitable on lakes/open water
  • Suitable in rapids
  • Suited to rocky rivers
  • Average skill required
  • Light and fast
  • Composite Hybrid (with scuppers)

  • Meets the 1:10 ratio
  • Can carry cargo
  • Semi-seaworthy
  • Self bailing
  • Easy remounting at sea – no need to roll
  • Weather protection sprayskirt
  • Suitable on lakes/open water
  • Suitable in rapids
  • Semi suited to rocky rivers
  • Average skill required
  • Light and fast
  • NOTE: Plastics refer to local budget models. Imported plastic models are more expensive due to duties, transport and exchange rates. Sit-on and hybrid craft with no scuppers still limit water retention in the cockpit. Composite craft refers those made from Kevlar, carbon or such-like. Hybrid craft are combined sit-in/sit-on type kayaks.

    The above ratings relates to adventure racing only. For other applications the kayaks may rate very differently.

    Author: Johan Loots

    PaddleYak OnLine Sea Kayak Store. www.seakayak.co.za