Category Archives for Buyer Guides

Choosing The Right Fishing Kayak

To learn how to choose the best fishing kayaks that are suitable for you, you will have to study the market carefully and find the yak that applies to your distinct tastes and needs. Firstly let's go through some of the materials and models so you can get familiar with what exactly you will be buying.

Looking for the best fishing kayaks under 1000? See the guide here.

Brand Rankings

After a lot of research we have put together a list encompassing reviews found all across the web and averaged them across all the reliable fishing products. This list is not a 100% accurate ranking of the brands. Please take this list with a grain of salt and use it more as a rough guide. One brand can have a kayak which is great and better then another even though it has a lower average rating then another brand so please keep this in mind.

Models and Materials

Many different materials go into the design of the best fishing kayaks, but there are four very common ones, these include the single layer linear polyethylene, three layer polyethylene, fiberglass, and Kevlar-carbon, here we will evaluate their pros and cons:

In our opinion, the Single Layer Polyethylene kayaks are much more robust, much heavier and perhaps a bit more durable due to their rough finish. Polyethylene is the main material for the construction of the majority of kayaks on the market.

Types of Angler Kayaks

	SIT On TOP or “Open”	Sit-In Closed	Pedal and Sailing	Inflatable
Properties	-Properties are polyethylene, fiberglass	– Polyethylene properties, fiberglass, kevlar carbon, fiberglass	– Polyethylene properties, fiberglass, kevlar carbon, fiberglass	- Rubberized fabric
Price	-Affordable price.	- Higher price point than an Open kayak	- Usually a higher price point than all others	- Low to high, usually cheaper then other kayaks
Speed	- Slower than sit in kayaks	– Faster than open kayaks	– Fast pedaling	- Slower then the average kayak
Weight	- Weight less then sit in kayaks unless you have many accessories	– Generally lighter than the open kayaks.	– Heavy, difficult handling, use of a truck for transport to embark and disembark.	- Usually weigh less than the average kayak
Notes	-They are the most popular type of kayak. -Ease of attaching accessories. -Technical expertise not necessary in its management -Safe and stable	– Less space, to attach accessories. – Need prior training: technique of paddling, buoyancy and – – Eskimo roll – Protect better from the cold	– Ease of attaching lots of accessories, as well as those that already come with them thanks to large onboard space – Usually come with a strong kayak seat – Less stress on arms since movement is done by pedaling	– Most are not suitable for fishing in the sea, however not to be too pessimistic there are some brands that were tested and said to be very comfortable and usable for fishing. These can be found in our inflatable kayaks section. Best inflatable kayak page here.

What Will You Be Using It For?

Your next question requires you to consider exactly where and what you will be using your kayak for.

- What are your goals for your yak?
- Will you be using it on an open ocean/sea or will you be using it on a placid lake, or will you be using it on rivers and rapids?
- Will the water be warm water, will it be cold water?
- Will you be launching through the surf?
- Are you going to be okay with storage space or will you need enough to camp out?

Think about your endgame, what exactly are you going to need and be honest with yourself - foresee the future. You don't want to buy a kayak you will be upgrading from a couple of months later. Once you start thinking about your needs and writing them down slowly, you'll start seeing that particular kayaks pertain more to you and your goals than others.

Long Vs Wide

Conversely, The wider kayaks, though they are slower are much more stable which is what you should be looking for as a beginner.  

A lot of kayakers will find out that kayaks that seemed stable and fun to use become more mundane and slow for them after time but this is not due to the kayak itself it's because of a kayaker's improved abilities over time. Some people recommend finding a kayak then getting the next best model of what you thought you would need since as the kayaker gets better at stability, balance, and fishing, they'll want more from their kayak, and the old version may no longer cut it.

Sit On Top Or Sit In?

Most fishing kayaks are geared to the sit on top kayak since they allow you to hold much more accessories and are much easier for bringing in fish and moving around. However there is a drawback, and that is how wet it can get within the boat can often fill up with water. However, with a sit-in boat, your maneuverability is more limited since you can't completely reel fish in and bring them within your kayak also the sit in models are a bit less stable in comparison.

An alternative is a more closed sit on top kayak which essentially has some enclosure but is not fully enclosed, so you have the ability to store things within it without the issue of too much water getting in. However, we recommend a sit on top kayak for the purpose of fishing.

Other Considerations

Primary Vs Secondary Stability

I had a Big Game kayak that felt as if you were going to tip over every time you moved. However, you would need to drop out of it to actually tip it over.

The reason behind this is the hull's design. It was a small v-shape at the bottom. Also, it got up and spread-out extensively and smoothly just above the water line.

Due to the buoyancy of it, the slim design at the bottom made it feel unstable. Now if you filled it right up to its weight capacity it'd remain lower while in the water and feel much less shaky.

Storage and Transport

However, if you rather be more economical, a roof rack would hold a kayak well. You would need to find your exact measurements and install it on top of your car.
There are also many options for making homemade kayak trailers with a simple base these can be as cheap as $400.

A kayak bike trailer, this allows you to load your kayak onto a mini bike trailer and drive it around short distances.

Getting To The Launch Point

Getting your kayak to the launch point from a close location can present many gear options as well. The most popular option is a kayak cart which allows you to transport your kayak on a vehicle like a dolly to your location.

Rigging Your Kayak For Fishing

The only difference between a kayak built for fishing and a kayak built for fishing are the rigging capabilities it has. Some fishing kayaks will come with nets at the front for holding items and fish, they will carry areas for your rod holders, for your tackle boxes and much more. Of course, if your a do it yourself person and want to save some money you can rig it yourself with a few power tools, and you can be on your way. For beginners, we recommend getting a kayak made for fishing, after all, custom work could cause holes and issues you would want to avoid.

Fishing Kayak Rod Holders

Some people tend to be obsessed with having as many rod holders as they can get on a kayak and go crazy turning a kayak into something that resembles a hoarder's attic. Avoid the urge to turn your fishing kayak into a monster! Two or three fishing rod holders are usually plenty, and if you want more, well there's nothing I can tell you, your addicted!

How do I Choose?

Since pedal kayaks are a fairly new technological inovation alot of people are lost as to how to choose the correct model. Here we compile a list of factors and things to go through to help you choose.

Push Pedals VS Rotational Pedals

Push pedals are easy to use, the motion is simple, by just pushing the pedals in you get propulsion. However, pushing pedals for a long time can result in adverse health effects on your back just like regular kayaks since you are not fully extending the legs. Some of the most common side effects of pushing forward pedals include leg and foot cramps, muscle injuries, back pain and early fatigue especially in the joints of your legs and feet. For the rotational pedals, the legs and feet move fully resembling walking thus resulting in less stress on your legs, feet and joints.

Considering the fact that these two systems are human driven, they are supposed to lose the least energy possible during exertion. An average person can only provide around 0.25 horsepower in an unsustainable manner.

Overall the difference between the two is pronounced. A rotational pedal driven kayaks motion mechanism involves a rotational propeller that is continuous and thus wastes little body energy, while the push pedal kayak combines push pedals with two side moving flaps thus making it the least mechanically efficient. There are many experts that have argued that the push pedals system is as efficient as the rotational pedals however comparing the two mechanically, rotational pedal driven kayaks are more efficient.

A flat, round shape of the hull often used in agile kayaks for small rivers makes the kayak more maneuverable though provides less tracking.

Brand Rankings

When it comes to pedal kayaks there are a few name brands that stick out. Over the years we have seen that the kayak market is getting flooded with more and more brand names though the pedal kayak market continues to stay somewhat unsaturated. Some brand makers have perfected the system while some continue to strive to achieve the best pedalling experience.

The Two brands that continue to stick out above the others are:

Pros - Can manuever well in shallow water with the pedal system.
         - The fins can be folded up against the hull when launching or within shallow water.

Cons - Will not track very well because it does not have a rudder.
          - Back and forth motion can be hard on the knees and patela area.
          - No reverse function.

Pros - Tracks well within any configuration.
         - Can be used to pedal in reverse.
         - The drive unit installed can be easily flipped out of the water while your in the                                    boat and you can then continue on with a paddle. The point above makes                                          launching the kayak easy. 

Cons - Needs about a foot of clearance to not hit the bottom of body of water.

Other factors to consider

Stability

There are primary and secondary forms of stability. Looking at the secondary point of stability it refers to which angle the boat will capsize at. With regards to this, v shapes can be the best for tracking and a good secondary point of stability however they are bad for the first point of stability. The best for primary stability can be the flat hull however they have bad marks for secondary stability which means the kayak will turn quicker but wont track well on a straight path and capsize in rough waters.

The increase in Primary stability from flat hulls can be great for very calm waters and be comfortable for beginners however when the waters shift to being rough this same primary stability can cause kayaks to capsize and tip over. For rough waters you would want to choose a stronger secondary stability.

"Primary and secondary stability:

Primary (sometimes called initial) stability describes how much a boat tips, or rocks back and forth when displaced from level by water movement or paddler weight shifts.

Secondary (final) stability describes how readily a boat capsizes. Primary stability is often a big concern to a beginner, while secondary stability matters more to experienced travelers who may frequent rougher waters. Primary stability increases as the boat's volume moves away from the centerline. For example, catamarans offer high primary stability and little secondary stability, given that their volume is on either edge of the boat." kayaking

Having a pedal kayak eliminates the added stability benefit of a paddle. The pedal positioning also makes a user take up less surface area for their weight and cause the slightest movement to shift weight to a portion of the kayak whereas for the paddle kayak when your feet are spread out your weight is spread throughout the kayak.

Speed

They also feature rudders for steering purposes; these rudders increase their friction within the water thus decreasing the kayak’s speed by an average of 10%. Also the added width makes them heavier, making them slower in the water. The above reasons make them put a lot more pressure on the user resulting in earlier fatigue. These kayaks are usually used for recreational purposes such as fishing and touring and not racing.

Through a survey of users the average speed of the Hobie Outback was found to be about 3.5 mph with about 6-8 mph top speed between 15-20 minutes.

As a comparison the Trident Prowler 13 which is a paddling kayak is reported to maintain a average speed of 4 mph

As a comparison a Mirage Adventure with a sail kit can achieve consistent speeds of about 15-20 mph with a wind rudder and sail kit

Longer kayaks make it much easier to get from point a to point b because of their longer hulls, usually a rule of thumb is the wider the hull of a kayak the slower the kayak will be. Alot of other factors can influence your kayaks speed including the hulls materials, fiberglass and kevlar and thermoformed plastic are better and make your kayak faster.

Tracking and Turning

In this section, we shall address how a pedal kayak is different from a paddle kayak in terms of tracking and turning. Considering the directional control of these two kayaks, the pedal driven kayak feels a little more unstable than the paddle driven one. It is for this reason the pedal kayaks hull must be built a bit wider to enhance stability while on the water. You will commonly see pedal kayaks being slightly wider and a bit bulkier. This is to try to make up for the stability issue. Although the pedal kayak is being propelled by one of your strongest body parts, your legs, the ability to steer is always more limited than the paddle driven kayak. A paddle gives the user ample ability to effectively control tracking and turning while propelling the kayak. Although pedal driven kayaks are equipped with a hand activated rudder steer stick, its operation in terms of tracking and turning is far less useful than in a paddle kayak.When comparing paddle kayaks to pedal kayaks, the paddles facilitate quicker and more efficient turning than the pedals. For instance, people using a pedal driven kayak usually cling to the sides of the kayak to keep it balanced unlike those in the paddle driven kayak who keep it balanced using their paddles on each side.

With a paddle you can make sharp turns whereas with a pedal kayak and a rudder you may have to do some adjustments similar to what you would see on a boat. Not quite like the titanic trying to avoid an iceberg but the difference is pronounced!

The pedal kayaks steering rudders are controlled by your hand through a lever usually located in the cockpit of the kayak. A well know statistic is that rudders embedded on these pedal kayaks cut down the kayak’s speed by an average of 10% thus making it harder for the user to get to the top speed they desire. Last but not least, while using the pedal kayak on shallow waters or in reedy waters, the rudders are likely to get stuck in mud and obstacles or rake themselves on the reeds bringing you to a halt.

Transport

On top of that the rudder provides another protruding object that could cause problems if it were to get hooked on something. Their transport to and from your location to the beach can only be done by a big vehicle and not a simple roof rack on a small car. Upon reaching the beach, you may also need assistance to get it into the water.

Launching and Beaching

Launching and beaching for the pedal kayak is just like it is for any other kayak. It can be smoothly driven into the water. However, it is advisable for the user to carry a secondary propeller such as paddle in case the pedal system fails.

Use in Shallow Waters and Vegetation Rich Areas

Whitewater

Pedal kayaks are not meant for white-water or fast running water navigation. They have minimal free-board which makes them easily filled with water from running water streams. Further, pedal driven kayaks’ are almost impossible to navigate in moving water since the re-positioned driver’s feet from the foot of the hull obstructs the ability to adequately balance and control the boat.

Fishing Considerations

The only limitation of the Pedal Kayak is that is doesn’t have the reverse capability thus going backwards can be a bit of a hassle. This issue is solved if you choose a rotational pedal kayak.

Standing Up While Fishing

Closing Words

We have discussed various attributes that make people choose a particular kayak. No matter what the reason of preferring a particular kayak, energy used to drive them should be considered. Our bodies are all we have and inflicting unnecessary stress on them can add up in the long run. Some kayaks can be more ergonomical and efficient than others and keep you from getting tired. With regards to the speed factor, it is debatable whether pedal kayaks are faster or slower than paddle kayaks but this can greatly depend on the users personal strengths and weaknesses, if you have chicken legs you may want to spring for the paddle kayak. There are many factors to consider when choosing your perfect pedal kayak, the best advice is always choose one that feels right for you and comfortable regardless of what someone tells you is the best or worst model.

What is a fish finder?

The ultrasonic waves go at an (almost) constant speed of 1500 meters per second, and when they strike an object under the water, for example fish or the sea bottom, one part of the sound goes back towards the source. By calculating the time it took the wave to hit the object and go back to the transducer, the distance of the object is calculated. This is then displayed on a different level of gray scaling, if it’s a monochrome fish finder, or in one of the 16 colors, if it’s a color sounder. Or, if you want it bluntly, it gives you a graphic representation of whatever is underneath your kayak, or other vessel, thus helping you identify fish. There are plenty of reasons why you’d want one, aside from the obvious, and here are only a few of the more important ones:

• You get a precise image of both the depth and structure of the bottom of the body of water, which lets you be sure and eliminate any guess work in finding that perfect spot
• When it gets dark or windy you cant properly gauge where to cast
• Finding structure, and the flat areas, is incredibly easy
  
  

Kayak fish finders have become a common sight, and anglers will tell you that they all benefit from such devices. However choosing one finder that works well while fitting your specifications and budget is difficult. Therefore, below you will find information on things you should know about fish finders, how to choose one, as well as a couple of very popular choices among anglers throughout the world. If you don’t find one that fits, don’t be afraid, you still have plenty of options, but be sure to read through first, it might save you a lot of the guesswork.

You only need a high power finder if you’re going to fish in deeper waters. For shallow water fishing, even low wattage fish finders will display results fast enough for you to be able to make use of them. It all depends on how much you can afford to spend, and the conditions you’ll be fishing in. it doesn’t really make sense buying an expensive, high power finder if you’re only going to be fishing in shallow waters.

One important consideration is the cone angle, since a wider cone results in a wider area coverage. However, with a wider angle, deeper waters will result in reduced sensitivity; so again, it all depends on the conditions. If you’re using an in-hull or thru-hull transducer, metal hulls and fiberglass go best with plastic housing. Wood and fiberglass hulls are best suited with bronze housing, while aluminum and steel hulls go best with stainless steel housings. These are all things you need to take into consideration when shopping.

Depth, Temperature and Speed Sensors

​Even if you’re a professional fisherman, reading your fish finder can be tough. So, before you spend your money, you should learn how to decipher the different icons on the screen. No matter what the cost of your fish finder, you are the one that will be responsible for reading the screen, and if you can’t do that, then the device isn't worth buying.

To find your catch, you will need to know the depth of the fish, the temperature of the water and the environment where the fish is. Most, if not all modern day fish finders are equipped with a depth sensor on the transducer, which allows you to know the depth of water under your vessel. Generally, on the top-left area of the screen, you will see the depth displayed. The depth depicted in meters is mostly accurate and depends on the model of your fish finder and its features.

In addition to this, you can also see the water temperature on your screen just below the depth reading. This is helpful if you want to target certain species of fish and know their habitats. For example, some fish prefer warm water, while others thrive in cold water. If you can read these two features, you will find it easier to find specific types of fish.

The third type of useful sensor found on your fish finder screen is the speed sensor. This is almost like a speedometer for your kayak, meaning, it shows how fast you’re moving. If you know the precise angles and the required speed for navigation, you will become a pro. Although these features seem small, they are significant.

Screen resolution

​As with any other display, the resolution here is measured in pixels. Having a higher number of pixels gives you a sharper image, and more details. There’s also more real estate on the screen, which, depending on the specific model, may allow you to fit more information on it. Any decent fish finder will have a resolution higher than 240x160, and some of the better ones go up to 640x640, which is plenty for such a screen.

GPS is somewhat of an optional thing, but if you need it, you could always get a fish finder that comes with it, instead of having two separate devices. This depends on whether you need it and/or want one, so it’s up to you.

Installation process

Being out and about in the water, you often can’t really afford to struggle with frustrating and complicated installation processes. Investing in a finder that is easy to install makes sure you spend less time on installing it, and more on catching fish. Most finders are not built for kayaks and you have it invest in some after market kit for mounting them, there are a few options out there but a lot of us are handy since having a fishing kayak necessitates some improvisation. We will be expanding this section soon with some options for installation stay tuned.

If you have a higher budget, you can also afford to go for reputable manufacturers such as Raymarine, Garmin or Humminbird.

When all is said and done, choosing a finder should be as easy as seeing which conditions you’ll be fishing in, and then choosing one accordingly. If you’re going for shallow waters, for example, a low power finder with a wide cone and high frequency transducer is great.

Top 5 Brands

​When you’re shopping around you will find that there are a few brands that are constantly front and center, from the cheaper models to their more expensive ones. These reputable brands are arguably the best options for anyone as far as reliability and precision goes, and you will see that most, if not all, provide a range of products for anyone’s budget. They’re all brands you can’t go wrong with, it’s only a matter of choosing which model from their respective lineups fits the bill. Here is a list of the most reputable.

Their HOOK series is a range of fish finders that start cheap and then offer more advanced features towards the higher end. If you want a finder/chartplotter combo, you might want to look at their HDS or Elite lines – they offer navigation features as well, and they’re made very well. It is another brand that’s pretty hard to go wrong with.

Wrapping things up

When you’re looking at a fish finder, there are plenty of things that you should know, and making a decision can be difficult. However, there are a few basic rules of thumb that you should follow, and which will help you not to make a mistake. First of all, you should always know the exact application that you’ll be using your finder for. Shallow water or deep water? Close to the shoreline, or further away? There are different finders for different uses, and it’s easy to make a mistake.

However, here in this guide you have a detailed description of everything you need to be looking at, in order to choose exactly what you need. There are also ten of the best possible finders that you will find on the market today, and they’re all hard to go wrong with. Which one is your favorite?

The term by itself, rudder, will have you thinking of a device that steers the boat. Even though this would be correct, rudders are instead usually used to keep the kayak on a straight path, rather than helping it turn. However, there’s much more than “a part that keeps the kayak going straight”, so let’s dive into the details and see what parts the rudder is composed of, how do they work, their pros and cons, as well as those of a skeg, and will you need or want one for your kayaking experience.

The rudder is a blade located at the stern of the kayak, and is made in such a way that it pivots from side to side, and that is controlled by foot pedals in the kayak’s cockpit. Those foot pedals are connected by cables, usually made of stainless steel, or made from super-strong cordage materials, such as Spectra. In order to turn the rudder, you push on one of the pedals, on the side you want to veer towards, and you relieve the pressure on the other pedal.

You should also remember that the rudder may come with a keeper cord, which is meant to lock the rudder down to the deck for storage and transportation, and this should be off before you launch. This option of the rudders to be lifted or lowered also means that when you have any kind of submerged obstacle, the rudder can lift itself over it when you’re going in a forward direction. Keep in mind that this can’t happen when you’re going in a reverse direction. Some kayaks, however, such as surf skis, will come with a through-hull rudder. This is mounted close to the stern, and not at the far end, and protrudes from the bottom of the hull. The cables are on the top of the back deck and usually concealed with a cover plate. What you should know is that this kind of rudder can’t be raised and lowered, and you should take special care when in shallow waters, as well as when you’re launching and landing.

The last part of the rudder are the foot control pedals.

They usually consist of a foot peg, which is mounted on a rail with graduated slots in order for you to be able to adjust the pegs. This allows for a variety of leg lengths to be able to fit. That rail is mounted on a track which lets both the foot peg, and the rail, slide forward and back and pull the cable. To make the rudder turn, one peg goes forward and the other one goes back, as mentioned above. This system of movement has one fundamental issue, and that is that it requires the paddler to bend, and then straighten the legs, which affects the paddler’s grip and fit on the kayak.

This problem, however, has actually been solved, as we’re seeing more and more kayaks being equipped with toe-control foot pegs which means that you only need to move your toes and not the whole legs, thus maintaining your control over the kayak.

How does a kayak rudder work?

The rudder itself is a fairly new innovation, as the originators of the kayak, the Inuits, didn’t use rudders. As mentioned earlier, there is a significant number of paddlers that go along with the simplicity of going rudderless, and prefer saving some strength that would otherwise be wasted on drag when the rudder is in the water. And, even though most kayaks don’t actually need a rudder, and proper paddling strokes can provide more control than you need, it is a fact that having one can be of great assistance in many situations. You will find that a lot of today’s commercially available kayaks come with a rudder option, or have a rudder included in the standard package, while some come with a skeg. The skeg is an interesting alternative to those who prefer going rudderless, as it helps keep the kayak on a straight course as well.

What are the pros and cons of a rudder, and what are those of a skeg?

If you find yourself at this point where you need to get a rudder, you will undoubtedly have certain paddlers, those mentioned at the beginning, that will either try to steer you away completely from such a solution, or get you to use a skeg instead of a rudder. In order for you to be able to make the final decision on your own, here are the most important pros and cons of both rudders and skegs, and hopefully they will help you decide what works best for you. We’ll start with the rudders first.

Rudder-  

Pros:

• They make the kayak much easier to control, it requires much less edging in order to maintain the course, and it’s a lot easier to turn the entire kayak.
• A rudder will give you more space in the stern compartment of your kayak.
• Many rudders can be pulled up and made retractable
• When surfing, you get much more control, as the rudder does the steering, and not the paddle.

​Cons:

• They cost more than a skeg to find and install.
• Rudders come with a lot of moving parts, and losing one of them, such as a nut or a screw, and you’re left to rely completely on your skill. Even worse, you might have to fight a rudder you have absolutely no control over, which can be very bad depending on the conditions.
• When stowed, they might act as a small sail and provide drag.
• If you forget to unlock the keeper cord, you will need another paddler to do that for you once you’re inside the cockpit.
• Can be easily damaged and if struck while moving backwards, they’re very susceptible to damage.
  
  

A skeg, unlike the rudder, is a fixed blade which is found at the bottom of the hull, usually behind the cockpit. Skegs can also be deployed using a control cable and actuator, and they’re usually added to a kayak in order to compensate for poor trim or give some newer paddlers added assistance. A skilled paddler, however, can compensate for the stern being pushed sideways by deploying a skeg, because the skeg itself adds a lot of resistance to the sideways motion. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of such a system.

Pros:

• Less moving parts and connection points than a rudder.
• When stowed, it doesn’t affect the wind.
• No muscle groups are required to steer.
• If you strike something, they usually fold in the skeg box.
• They’re cheaper to install.

​Cons:

• They don’t provide any yaw control.
• Skegs take up too much space in the storage compartment.
• A skeg box will create more drag than a clean hull.
• They’re not good for novice paddlers as they require skill in order to be able to turn and control the kayak.
• Rocks and pebbles may jam them if you drag the kayak down the beach.
• They’re easily damaged if something strikes them sideways.

Aftermarket Kayak Rudder/Skeg Options

There are a few options out there for people that already have a rudderless kayak and want to install their own. Usually these do require some installation so you can do one of two things, pay a professional handyman or do it yourself. There are a few reputable brands out there and kits that offer a clean install, these include sets from Pygmy, Kayak Sports, Sealine, , Wildwasser, Feathercraft, Mirage and Ocean kayak as well as other less known brands. A final option is creating your own, this is usually much easier with skegs, with rudders you may battle a bit since you have to include the moving parts of the foot pedals for rotating the skeg.

Here are some options of universal kayak rudders if your in the market off amazon.

FYI: Alot of different kayak models such as Hobie, Native Watercraft, Ocean have their own rudder kit designed specially for your kayak.

Hobie Kayak Rudder, Watercraft Rudder, Ocean Kayak Rudder, Advanced Elements Skeg, Seyvlor Skeg, Wilderness Systems Rudder Kit

Aftermarket Tracking Fin

Another option if you don't want the retractable option and are looking for something fixed or easy to install is the tracking fin. These can be easily mounted on the bottom of your kayak and will make your kayak track totally straight like a flat water boat. This is definitely the cheaper option for a kayak and is great for fisherman that know the turmoils of having their boats face the wrong way! The one downside of a tracking fin is that once its mounted its there forever and can cause some issues with storage and dragging the kayak into the water if your launching from an awkward position, but the trade-off is easy installation and great tracking.

Here are some options of tracking fins if your in the market off amazon.

Hanperal Kayak Skeg Tracking Fin
Material: PVC
Removable: Yes
Dimensions: 2 x 7.9 x 8.5 inches
Weight: 1 lbs
This skeg received 4.5 stars which was the highest among all the skegs reviewed, although it is a larger skeg it is more durable then the others improving tracking to a large extent and alsoo having the added benefit of being removable.

Conclusion: do you want, or need one?

While rudders are undoubtedly of great assistance in a number of situations, you will find that whether you need one usually depends on what kind of kayak you use, how you use it and in what conditions. Other factors that may affect this decision are your skill, and last but not least, your personal preference. If you’re paddling on open water, where you’re usually exposed to both wind and waves, you will most likely want a rudder to help you with keeping your direction.

If you have a longer kayak, a rudder is very likely to come as a standard piece of equipment, as longer kayaks require much more skills for you to be able to paddle them and a rudder is a good thing to help you with this. However, if you invest much more time in learning the paddle strokes, as well as improving your skills, chances are you might not need a rudder after all. The best thing to do is to check in real-life conditions, both with and without a rudder, and decide for yourself whether you can use one and if it helps you in what you need it for. At the end of the day, it’s your hard-earned money that buys the rudder.

How To Create Your Own Kayak Rudder and Skeg Resources

Instructables Make your Own Kayak Rudder Step Guide - http://www.instructables.com/id/Kayak-rudder/
Make a Kayak Rudder Paul Larsen Youtube Guide - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nsk6ydMnGrA
Written Do It Yourself Rudder Guide From Trails (No Pictures) - https://www.trails.com/how_12710_do-yourself-kayak-rudder.html

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Materials

Tekpad® Fluid Gel Airflow 3D

(5/5)

This ones a bit of a mystery to us, the fluid gel is in reference to a gel padded seat. This one is a material directly from the creators at Skwoosh, is has been said to be one of the more comfortable seat materials on the market.

How do you choose a good kayak seat?

Even though there are some kayaks that come with their own seats and practically no way of modifying them, most of them actually give you the freedom of buying another seat and switching it in. That is completely up to the manufacturer of the kayak, but advanced paddlers and people who know what they’re looking for will make sure to have this as an option, mostly because the original seat doesn’t really fit them that well, or they want a higher performance one.

This is important because no matter how comfortable a seat may look, you will never know unless you try it. When looking at the comfort, make sure that you feel good for a long period of time this can be difficult to gauge on the first sitting, and always look for additional lumbar support – you can never have too much of it.

It won’t do any good if the cushioning is in the wrong place and doesn’t provide comfort where it’s needed.

Kayak Seat Stability

This is also a crucial factor, especially for kayak anglers. A good seat should offer stability and not allow you to wiggle around in the cockpit as this will be a performance hit and will also increase your chances of flipping over, more so if you’re in whitewater rapids. Stability gets even more important when you’re using your kayak for fishing. Having a seat that will allow you to sit comfortably and not affect your focus on casting and fishing is ideal as even the smallest instability could lead you to end up in the water.

Therefore, if you consider yourself a frequent paddler, you should have durability and quality of build as some of the more important factors in consideration, as they may quite literally make or break a kayak seat for you, and let’s face it, who wants to go out and have to buy a new one every other month?

Price

Possibly the deciding factor for many, price is something that you won’t be able to neglect. An average price for a decent kayak seat should be around $60. However, if that is outside of your budget, there are also several more basic options that can be bought for less, and if you can afford a more expensive one, you will undoubtedly find higher levels of ergonomics in the more expensive seats. A basic rule of thumb would be that you get what you pay for, but when debating kayak seats, there is usually something available for everyone, at different price points.

What To Avoid When Buying A Kayak Seat?

Even though not that obvious, a bad seat can lead to a myriad of problems, here are a few things to keep your eye out when buying:

Avoiding Physical pain, pain has taken away a few potential kayakers and beginners without them knowing that the true problem here was usually a poorly designed or cheap seat.

The comfort a seat offers is going to vary, and it depends a lot on things such as the material thats used to make the seat, the construction of the seat itself, as well as the padding of the seat. We recommend you use a heavy duty material and seat padding that's not too thin to make sure you get a high level of support.

Avoiding Overheating and Sweating, there are some materials that can cause you to sweat a lot because of their lack of breath-ability, and there are some that are simply uncomfortable because they don’t stretch enough, or they stretch too much, or they’re too hard on your skin. A material that's not right for you could drive you crazy over time if your a daily kayaker, this is why its important to make sure you pay that little extra for a seat that is a bit more padded and uses a higher quality build.

Avoid Bad construction can also be a deal-breaker, as a seat that is too stiff will most likely be uncomfortable for most kayakers, and the problem persists with seats that are too soft and wobbly. Another issue we have seen brought up by kayakers is uncomfortable cushion construction with grooves that just don't match up with you and may dig into you over time.

The last on the list, bad padding, is another big factor. Lack of padding on both the bottom and back will mean that you’re basically sitting in the kayak’s body, and not on your seat, which isn’t comfortable by any means, especially if you’re going over whitewater rapids. Make sure you can gauge the thickness of the padding and if its gel the sensitivity on the gel in relation to your weight.

Reputable Seat Brands to Keep An Eye Out For

As with almost anything that you can buy, there are certain brands that stand out for a particular reason. For kayak seats, the brands mentioned below either offer amazing comfort and performance, or offer a number of features at a low price, but there are certainly reasons why they made this list. If you’ve decided that you truly want an aftermarket kayak seat, but you aren’t sure which brand to go for, this list would be a good starting point.

As its name suggests, the seat provides excellent comfort with the padded back. The nylon cloth construction is also there to guarantee durability even after longer usage. There are 4-way mounting straps which are adjustable and let you adjust how you sit in the saddle, for maximum comfort. There’s also a reflective logo with high visibility, as a safety measure.

It’s designed so it can be used on sit-on-top kayaks to maximize your pleasure while fishing. The high back, combined with a thick padding, will ensure that you’re comfortable no matter how long you’re in the water. There is also a rear gear bag, that allows you to store some small essentials, as well as built-in rod holders and tool holders. Also, not to be forgotten, there are D-rings that let you attach additional gear to it.

Their most popular options are the GTS series’ Sport and Elite, which are both made for sit-on-top kayaks. The Sport is the smaller of the two, but both have advanced contouring which ensure that you’re as comfortable as possible, and provide enough lumbar support for anyone. The construction is also made with durability in mind, especially at high stress points.

Their best offer is the Big Catch High Back seat, which comes with unrivaled lumbar support and cushioning. The seat uses technologies that ensure it’s cool, comfortable, and firm, and all at levels that give you superior pressure alleviation and comfort. There are also modifiable side wings that give more back support, and will go well with your body shape for a comfortable experience. The reinforced fiberglass battens will give you more stability and enhanced performance.

Benefits of a good kayak seat

Even though the benefits should be quite obvious, there are actually a lot of variables to a good seat. If you’re a paddler, by now you know that the kayak you use should fit you first, and then anyone else that may be using it, this may sound selfish but your going to be the one using it. There is an exception to this rule, and that's when you have a tandem kayak – in which case you need to be considerate of the other paddler. A kayak’s comfort is a combination of multiple things, including your size, the cockpit size, and the seat you’re using. Your size isn’t something that you can change, and the cockpit size is most likely already decided on. However the kayak seat is a variable that can be changed for maximum benefit.

This is crucial, especially for paddlers that sit for long periods of time, on a regular basis, because the human body isn’t actually designed for long periods of sitting. If, however, a seat fails to provide this kind of support, it doesn’t only damage your back muscles, but the spine as well.

Read More on the dangers of bad lumbar support

Lower lumbar damage can lead to stiffness and pain, which isn’t something any of us would like to deal with, especially when you take into consideration the fact that this can lead to much more serious issues, such as walking difficulties, and even paralysis in the worst case. Taking care of this isn’t something that should be avoided. It is rather like regular healthy habits such as quitting smoking, or brushing your teeth – you can never start too soon. If you’re a younger, more agile person, this might not be much of a problem at the moment, but it will definitely be in the future, and it isn’t something you’d like to be having issues with.

To better understand why this is so important while kayaking, you need to know what happens when you’re paddling. The traditional paddling technique is based on rotation of the torso which is initiated from your hips. This is a motion that is impossible to perform if you’re leaned towards the back, and can be best done if you’re sitting straight, or even better, leaning forward slightly.

This combination of leaning and continuously, repetitively rotating, puts a lot of stress on the lower part of your spine, which is also known as the lumbar spine. This happens due to the fact that it has to support your body, even when you’re rotating. To make matters even worse, while your lumbar spine is constantly rotating, your legs compress it against your seat’s backrest. This is actually how your paddling effort is transmitted from the paddle, through the body, and to the kayak, in order to propel it forward through the water. This force, which is by no means inconsiderable, is constantly applied to the lower spine, and that by itself is a pretty vulnerable area as it has no other bones to either support it or protect it. This is exactly why having a seat that reduces as much stress as possible from those areas, and provides enough support.

A well-thought-out seat, and a well-made one, will allow you to transfer your strength from the water to the kayak with minimal loss, which is very important if you want to achieve higher speeds and maintain them.

Another big performance factor is being able to move the kayak with your body. This is especially important in whitewater rapids, where you have a smaller kayak with a tight fit, and you need to use your hips and legs to maneuver it. Having a seat that doesn’t do its job in this situation will lead to a drop in performance, and you might even hurt yourself unintentionally. Due to this, it’s very important that your seat has enough stiffness for strength transfer, and not too much, for comfort.

There are compromises that might need to be made, and if you’ve read all of the above, you should have a clear image of where you can let go of some things, and what you should always strive for before you purchase. Additional features such as ventilation or rod holders might sound attractive, but why have a rod holder when your seat is so uncomfortable you can’t even spend enough time in the water to be able to fish?

Before going out and buying a seat, do a bit of research. See what price range you’re looking at, according to your budget, and see what you can get in that price range. Then, try to read some reviews on the seats you can choose from. And last but not least, always see if you can get your dealer at their demo day to give you some of the seats you’re considering for a test ride – you can’t go wrong if you’ve tried the seat, can you?