What Type of Kayak is Best for Ocean Kayaking?

The appeal of kayaking lies in the fact that it offers an experience unlike any other-in. What other watersport can you paddle through serene, tranquil waterways and then, without warning, find yourself paddling against heavy waves or fighting strong winds?

In what other watersport can you explore the untouched beauty of nature, from lush forests to crashing waterfalls? But what type of kayak is best for ocean kayaking? How do you know what will work best for your needs?

You have many choices when it comes to choosing what kind of kayak works best for you: sit-on-top style boats are great if your goal is recreation, while touring boats are more stable and ideal for those with an adventurous spirit.

Learn what ocean kayak is best for you by reading what each style has to offer, what makes them unique from the others, and what your interests are before choosing which type will work best for you.

What is the appeal of kayaking?

The appeal of kayaking lies in what it offers that other watersports cannot. It’s one thing to paddle through a serene, tranquil lake and another to find yourself fighting heavy waves or strong winds at any second.

Tours are also much more active than what you would expect from a day on the water, giving people the opportunity for beautiful adventures while exploring beaches, Pacific-coastal waterways, or inland lakes without fencing.

Different types of kayaks and what they are best for

Different types of kayaks are designed for what you’re looking to do with the kayak. If you want a more leisurely experience, then a sit-on-top style boat may be best for you. On the other hand, if you’re looking for an adventurous outing that comes with high waves and winds, then a touring kayak would better suit your needs.

Here are the different types of kayaks and what they’re best for:

Sit-on-Top Kayaks

If you’re looking for a more leisurely experience, then what you want is a sit-on-top style kayak. These boats are great for those who like being closer to the water and enjoy the scenery around them. Sit-on-tops are also very portable and easy to transport and store, making them the ideal boats for those looking for what is essentially a recreational kayak.

Sit-on-tops are by far the easiest to get on and off of, making them ideal for both entry-level kayakers or those with physical limitations. Since you are sitting flat on top of the boat instead of inside it, like what is found with other kayak types, you are free to move around as you please. In what other watersport can you paddle through a peaceful lake and then decide to just lay down for a few minutes and watch the clouds go by?

Touring Kayaks

If what you’re looking for is an adventurous outing that comes with heavy winds or high waves, what you want is what is known as a touring kayak. Unlike what you find with sit-on-top kayaks, touring boats are more constructed and feature closed hatches instead of open ones that sit on top of the boat.

Touring kayaks are engineered to hold up against what rough waters may bring your way and are what most serious kayakers use. When you’re out on the water, you worry about what’s before you and what is behind you, not what might be leaking in or what may get wet if the boat capsizes.

Sit-in Kayaks

If what you’re looking for is a more exciting experience, then what you want is what is known as a sit-in kayak. These boats have what is known as a cockpit, which means that you are sitting inside the boat instead of on top of it, like what is found with what you find with sit-on-top kayaks or touring boats.

Sit-in kayaks offer what many consider more protection and control than what is found with what you find with what you might consider a recreational kayak. Of course, that’s not to say that what you are looking for is called a “Scottish-paddle” boat or what some call the “Canadian style,” which has what is known as an open cockpit.

Many people turn to what is considered a Scottish paddle boat or what some people call a “Canadian style” because what you gain in what it offers from what you might consider an entry-level kayak, what you lose is what makes this type of kayak so desirable.

What many will tell you about what is known as the Scottish paddle boats or what some people may call the Canadian-style kayaks is that they feel so much better on what you would consider a recreational trip

So, what type of kayak is best for ocean kayaking?

Different kayaks are designed for different purposes, but what do you need to know before choosing what kind of kayak will suit your needs?

You should first decide what your goal is with the kayak-are you looking to relax and take in the scenery or if you’re interested in a more adventurous outing where heavy waves and high winds are not uncommon.

Depending on your requirements, many different types would be able to suit those needs.

For instance, if you want something more fitted with stability features like a wide-body, shorter length, and flat bottom that’s less prone to tipping, then an easy answer would be a sit-on-top style.

This type, which is essentially a large rubber ducky with a seat and footrests for your feet, allows you to paddle about and take in the scenery or enjoy a calmer ride while still having some balance control.

On the other hand, the sit-in kayak completely encases your legs, and all of your body save for your feet and is what most would consider a more serious kayak.

This style will give you a lot more paddling power with the ability to be able to navigate what is potentially rougher water but what could make it less stable to stand or move about in when conditions are calm, what some people call “white caps” since they don’t provide a lot of what is called “secondary stability” when compared to sit-on-top models.

Final Thoughts

There are many types of kayaks that would be able to suit what you need for your ocean paddling, and what type is best depends on what you’re looking for.

If you want a more stable ride or something easier to stand up in when the waves are calm, then an easy answer would be a sit-on-top style as they give you some balance control while still enjoying the scenery around them.

The sit-in style gives you better paddling power but may not always provide enough stability in rough water conditions.

Regardless of which one suits your needs, it’s important that before purchasing any kayak from anywhere online or offline, know what features will work best for your individual preferences and what level of water you’ll be navigating.