| the years, kayaking equipments have undergone a | | | | Fiberglass: About 15 to 20 percent lighter than the |
| major change. From a simple plastic kayak to better | | | | rotomold kayaks, the fiberglass kayaks need to be |
| quality materials like rotationally molded polyethylene, | | | | handled a bit more carefully. Unlike the rotomold |
| fiberglass and Kevlar are all used to make kayaks | | | | kayaks, these kayaks cannot sustain dings, abrasions |
| today. The use of these materials has greatly | | | | or a bumpy ride over rocks. They have to be secured |
| enhanced the quality and performance of the kayaks | | | | even from saltwater and cleaned thoroughly after a |
| thereby raising the overall standard of the sport. | | | | sea kayaking session as it spoils the kayak very |
| Major Materials for Kayaks | | | | rapidly. However, if used cautiously, fiberglass kayaks |
| Essentially, kayaks are made of three materials | | | | can last for many years. |
| – rotationally molded plastic, fiberglass or Kevlar. | | | | Kevlar: Known for its great strength and durability, |
| Rotationally Molded Plastic (Rotomold): The most | | | | Kevlar kayaks are the lightest available. Kevlar is an |
| widely used material, rotomold kayaks are the | | | | extremely lightweight material usually used for making |
| strongest kayaks and perfect for any roughing out. | | | | bulletproof vests. The ideal combination of strength and |
| This is just a type of plastic but is tough, flexible and | | | | light weight has led to increase in the popularity of |
| softer than usual plastic. Paddlers can easily take the | | | | Kevlar kayaks. |
| kayak over a patch of rocks without worrying about | | | | One of the major disadvantages of Kevlar kayak is |
| any damage to the kayaks. | | | | that if it develops any defect then repairing it is not |
| In fact even if these kayaks are thrown from the roof | | | | very easy. Also, Kevlar kayaks are the most |
| of the car, they would still suffer only a few minor | | | | expensive kayaks available. However, Kevlar kayaks |
| dings or abrasions. Rotomold is the cheapest of all | | | | need to be handled carefully and cannot be subjected |
| materials and is hence the most widely used for | | | | to major roughing out. |
| making kayaks. The only disadvantage of a rotomold | | | | Wood: Wood is one of the traditional materials used |
| kayak is that it is heaviest type of kayak. | | | | for constructing kayaks. Wooden kayaks are very |
| Rotomold kayaks are the least expensive form of | | | | pretty and also perform very well in all conditions. |
| plastic or polyethylene kayaks. A more expensive | | | | However, they lack the variety in designs and |
| form of plastic kayaks is the cross-linked kayak. The | | | | sophisticated features that most fiber glass, plastic or |
| cross linked kayaks comprise of thick foam core | | | | inflatable kayaks offer. |
| between two layers (outer and inner) of plastic. | | | | Carbon: Carbon is yet another widely used material in |
| This foam core makes these kayaks very strong and | | | | making kayaks. Carbon kayaks are lightweight but |
| durable than the rotomold kayaks. However, the | | | | offer great stiffness. |
| drawback of these kayaks is that they are very | | | | These are the most widely used materials in building |
| heavier and more expensive than the rotomold | | | | kayaks and it is recommended that paddlers opt only |
| kayaks. | | | | for kayaks made from either of these materials. |