What are the different types of kayaks?

i just bought one at ***** sporting goods for $230. it a 10ft boat that i sit inside. since i have bought it, i have learned of sea and white water kayaks. i bought mine more to go out with friends on lakes and stuff, but i eventually want to get into the rough stuff. what kind do i have? what are some things you think i should know about this sport?|||Hello Epic Race, what a good question with a vast array of answers. Wild water kayaking has many facets, including play boating, freestyling, general river running and creeking to name a few. You can get cross over freestyle/river running boats which gives you a bit more option with your boat.





Can I suggest you go along to your local kayak club and have a chat with the guys there as to the choice of boats and access to your local waterways. Alternatively your local kayak shop/outfitter will be able to give you loads of advice too.





In terms of wild water paddling, always go with a group, get some coaching in the skills, this makes it safer and much more enjoyable for you.





Good luck with it and get out there and do it, it is awesome!|||Some good answers above but if you really want some good advice on types of kayaks, selecting them and user reviews, as well as excellent forums, check out http://www.paddling.net, probably the biggest non-profit kayak and canoe user board.





Meanwhile, get some instruction, particularly in safety (even if you are going in what seem like placid local waters -- people die on them every year from the simplest and most preventable accidents.) ALWAYS wear your PFD.





And be careful with that D1ck's cheapy boat -- those "rec" boats hull designs are not suitable for white water or open water like oceans or the Great Lakes. Most outfitters offer demo boats and rentals so you can test paddle various styles in various waters before you commit to a more costly boat. Your kayak will be fine for noodling around on lakes and small streams, but I think you will be surprised at what a higher end longer boat feels like in terms of performance, speed and agility, especially with a high quality paddle (a factor many people don't consider -- a good paddle is arguably more important than the quality of the kayak since the paddle is your propulsion tool.)|||Ditto everyone's info that rec boats (yours included) do NOT belong in rough water - open water or moving water.





A quick lesson in boat stability. A wider, flatter profile will follow the surface of the water. On flat water that's fine (stable), but in rougher conditions, it will ride up the wave face into the vertical (no longer stable, eh?). A narrower, rounder profile may be a bit harder to keep upright in flat conditions (but you'll quickly get used to it), but just like a log, it will be unfazed by the angle of the wave face. For the WW folks, riding up the wave face in a short, flat-bottomed (planing hull) playboat is just part of the fun as its short pinched length is much easier to slice %26amp; pitch in the vertical.





It depends on what kind of rough stuff you're looking to get into - moving water (rivers) in which WW (white water) boats will be your ticket OR open water (coastal, major lakes, open ocean) in which sea kayaks will be your ticket.





Either way, for rough water paddling you should be looking into a tight boat fit so you and the boat can act as a single unit, a water-tight craft (in WW, that means a Roll or Die attitude) that even if you do come out, will not sink (sea kayaks have bulkheads, or a sea sock in the case of folding boats).





If your heart's set on rough water, whether WW or open water, then learn to roll. It's your first and best line of defense. Forget any nonsense you may have heard about paddlefloat reentry, or dragging your WW boat in to shore to dump. Just Learn To Roll.





That said, rolling is fun. Rough water paddling is more fun. And paddling in conditions that may force a roll or two is a freakin' blast!





So check up on the local paddling clubs that match the kind of paddling you'd like to get into, talk with folks, try out various boats, learn rolling (on %26amp; off side), and then build your skills up slowly enough that you don't get in over your head.





A here are a few links to get a taste of the open (rough) water paddling spectrum:


http://www.valleyseakayaks.com/


http://www.kayakfit.com/


http://www.cpakayaker.com/index.php?page鈥?/a>


http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?i鈥?/a>


(check Anas Acuta %26amp; storm paddling albums)


http://www.scribd.com/doc/21195934/Wavel鈥?/a>


(for W. Coast contacts %26amp; info)|||Eventually you are gonna want to get into a bigger boat that can take as you say the rough stuff. You mean waves on the lakes right?





For right now you have a good little boat for bopping around between islands and you can take some light white water, get yourself a skirt.





have fun|||Hey EpicRace,





If you want a kayak that is more of a crossover between class II and class III rapids and moderate lake kayaking check out some of the kayaks from liquid logic. http://www.kayaks.net/river-kayaks/c1000004854/ ..it has a drop down skeg for when your not on rough waters. Skeg - use the lever when your on lakes and calm deep rivers.|||I prefer "sit on tops" but thats just me|||Sea Kayaks





These are primarily designed for straight line, peaceful water travel. These kayaks are designed for long trips as well as with possible below deck storage. Sometimes these crafts can be built to accommodate up to three paddlers.





Folding Kayaks





These seem to be the direct descendents of the original kayaks. They are built with a frame that is collapsible and have a skin much like that of the first kayaks. It is made of either a metal or wood frame that is collapsible and then has a skin that stretches over it to create the craft. It is water tight and in most cases will also have a float so to speak in the bow of the craft to make it virtually unsinkable.





Sit On Top





This type of kayak is made primarily for the leisure boater. This craft usually has a fixed rudder and a flatter bottom in order to promote stability. It is meant more to be a craft for relaxation than taking on white water and waves.





Surf Kayaks





These kayaks are designed much like a whitewater kayak, except they have a flat hull. This is so they will be able to cut into a wave much like a surfboard does. In this kayak essentially you are surfing while sitting with a paddle.





Racing Kayaks





There are different types of racing kayaks depending on the type of racing that it is that you intend to do. In most cases these kayaks are slimmer in design so as to allow the ability to cut through the water quicker and more efficiently. Depending on the type of racing will depend on the waterline that it has as well as whether or not it will be equipped with a rudder.





Whitewater Kayaks





These are the traditional kayaks that many of us are used to seeing when we picture a kayak. They are designed to be able to cut through the water as well as to be able to provide stability. In most cases these boats will be thrown around so they need to both durable and flexible as well.





My white water boat is a Pyranha Ammo (L-M-S) and that is the BEST boat I have ever got. It is a allround boat that can do playboating as well as creeking and big stuff. It had got me through a grade 5 flooded L-shaped weir alive !