HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT KAYAK FOR YOU
You may wonder what Weekend Warrior is all about. We are a specialist in Watersports and this is our passion and who we represent. Our product focus on Kayaks and Stand up Paddleboards.
We are the Australian Manufacturer and distributor for Weekend Warrior Kayaks and also the Manufacturer and distributor for CMP Boards Austrlaia which focus on Stand up Paddleboards. SO WE ARE A SPECIALIST IN KAYAKS AND STAND UP PADDLEBOARDS. WE open to the Public All year round from our store At erina.
Our aim is to help you with this Kayak Guide to explain a little more about how to Choose the right Product.
A BRAND IS SO IMPORTANT and with so many options you may get a little concerned about where to Start.
Weekend Warrior Kayaks was founded 5 years ago with the lack of an affordable entry level kayak range in the marketplace. Chad whom a lot of you will know from our store who is the owner of weekend warrior background is running a succesful roational moulding company in Australia. So all the Kayaks are moulded to the highest standard. He ran a plastic company prior to opening this venture as he could not bellieve that kayaks were not affordable enough for people to enjoy the sport like he did.
SO that is where it all began and now we proudly distribute Australia Wide for a great range of Kayaks.
LETS START WITH THE BASICS
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SIT IN KAYAKS AND SIT ON KAYAKS
This is an example of a Sit on Top (SOT) Kayak
Sit on Top (SOT) kayaks are when the seats are above water level and allows the paddler to sit on top of the kayak deck with your legs exposed, where everything is rigged out on top of the kayak. These are typically a wider, shorter body and slower than traditional kayaks to paddle but are extremely stable.
It is harder to stay dry on a SOT kayak but with Australia’s warm climate these are a very popular style.
What is a Sit in Kayak?
Sit in Kayaks have an open hollow cockpit where your legs are under the deck as the paddler climbs in and sits inside the hull of the kayak. The primary advantage of sit in kayaks include a much drier ride for you with the ability to use a spray skirt on most models and more dry storage space. Many people are concerned about flipping a Sit in Kayak, but these are really not that easy to flip. Whether sit in or sit on, the flipping factor has more to do with the kayak shape and hull design.
The Styles of Kayak we sell are:
- Recreational Kayaks.
- Fishing Kayaks
- Sea / Touring Kayaks
Recreational Kayaks
Recreational kayaks are designed for the casual paddler interested in fishing, photography, or a peaceful paddle on a lake, flatwater stream or protected salt water away from strong ocean waves and currents. These boats presently make up the largest segment of kayaks.
Compared to other kayaks, recreational kayaks have a larger cockpit (in the case of sit-in) for easier entry and exit and a wider beam (69–91 cm) for more stability. They are generally less than 3.7 m in length and have limited storage capacity. They do not perform as well in the sea as their touring counterparts.
Recreational kayaks are available as sit-in or sit-on-top and and are available as doubles or singles.
Touring Kayaks
Touring kayaks are suitable for longer distance paddling (several hours at a time), day trips or over-nighters on flat or semi-protected waters (creeks, lagoons, bays, estuaries). Something sleek and fast that will get you from A to B in good time, with room to pack a picnic or even your tent plus gear.
Usually these craft are somewhere between 3.8 and 4.8m in length.
If you’ve been told that you need a sea kayak for closed water paddling (such as Brisbane Waters) then you’ve been misinformed, a touring kayak will do just fine.
Touring kayaks are available as sit-in or sit-on-top and are available as doubles or singles
Sea Kayaks
A sea kayak is a craft designed specifically for sea touring and expeditions, which can handle surf and swell, perhaps something to paddle along the coast with enough storage for day trips, over-nighters or multi-day trips.
Sea kayaks typically have a longer waterline, and may also have rudders and/or skegs (fixed rudder) to assist with directional control. Modern sea kayaks often have two or more internal bulkheads.
This craft will usually be over 4.5m in length and have a distinctly up-turned bow for lift into oncoming swell and to prevent nose-dive when riding the wave.
Of course, a sea kayak can always be paddled on flat water too, whereas a recreational kayak is not usually suitable for use in the sea.
If you are new to sea kayaking it is advisable to get familiar with your sea kayak on calm waters before venturing out into the ocean, and enrol for a course in basic sea skills. Always wear a PFD when out at sea and suggested that you always check the weather report and paddle in the company of two or more kayakers.
Sea kayaks are available as doubles and singles.
Fishing Kayaks
The kayak has long been a means of transportation and a stealthy means of approaching easily-spooked fish. Kayak fishing has gained popularity in recent times in both fresh and salt water due to its broad appeal and low cost of entry.
Kayaks can be purchased inexpensively and have little maintenance cost. They can be stored in small spaces and launched quickly. Kayak wheels and trailers can be purchased to assist in the transportation of kayaks. Many kayak anglers have started customizing their kayaks for fishing, while other kayaks come already rigged by the manufacturer.
These manufacturers offer special models for fishing that are designed and accessorized for this sport, including specially-designed hatches, built-in coolers & rod holders, GPS receivers and equipment mounts. Other accessories include live wells, anchor trolleys, and running lights.
Generally, kayak fishermen look for stable and comfortable designs and so fishing kayaks usually have recreational sit-in and sit-on-top designs characterized by very wide beams (up to 92cm) that increase lateral stability. The increases stability may allow for the angler to stand up and fish on the kayak. These kayaks provide a considerable space for storage inside their hulls which allow the angler to stow rods, fishing gear, batteries for fish finders, extra paddles, anchors, and wheels to tow the kayak from vehicle to the water. The cut-outs moulded into the top of the kayaks are well-suited to hold milk crates with additional supplies.
Fishing kayaks fall into three primary classifications:
- Sit-in Fishing Kayaks (normally polyethylene)
- Polyethylene SOT Kayaks (the largest collection of fishing kayaks)
- Fibreglass Fishing Kayaks
- Pedal Watercraft
Kayak Fishing has taken off dramatically in Australia. Game fish are caught all along the coastline. Even large fish such as Marlin and Sailfish can be caught from a kayak.
Lightweight Kayaks
More and more people are looking for lightweight in a kayak. Historically it was only possible to obtain a lightweight kayak made of carbon or kevlar, but with the development of thermoformed technology it is now possible to paddle a kayak that is both lightweight and very durable. More recently Cobra Kayaks have introduced a superlight high grade linear polyethylene which results in a considerably lighter craft than the average polyethylene kayak.
Due to the increasing popularity of lightweight kayaks we have decided to create a category incorporating all the light weight kayaks in one area. We have categorised these lightweight kayaks into three sections, Thermoformed Kayaks, Composite Kayaks and Superlight Polyethylene Kayaks
Tags: Fishing Kayaks, Lightweight Kayaks, Recreational Kayaks, Sea Kayaks, Touring Kayaks, sit in kayak
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