Find the sea kayak that’s right for you

All the kayaks in Lite Venture’s range are suitable for use at sea. They have at least two bulkheads, so if you capsize, you can be sure the kayak will have enough buoyancy to stay afloat. That’s why, as well as sea kayaks, our selection below also includes touring kayaks.

‘Genuine’ sea kayaks have a hull designed for various uses at sea and the challenging conditions found there. Some are flattened in the seating area to provide greater stability and also to allow for surfing on waves. All ‘genuine’ sea kayaks have a skeg, toggles, all-round lines and a rather narrow seat for good body contact.

In terms of hull design, touring kayaks are optimised more for use in flat water. This means the waterline is long to ensure the best possible straight-line stability, rather than for agile manoeuvring in waves. They often also offer slightly more stability and a more spacious cockpit.

Many paddlers opt for a sea kayak so that they can manoeuvre effectively even in challenging situations at sea. In this regard, it can be a great advantage to be able to ‘heel’ the kayak and steer it using direct body pressure. Wind and waves can generate powerful forces that are difficult to counter with the paddle alone. It is therefore effective – and can save energy – to control the kayak through body pressure; and this works best with close contact with the kayak, particularly around the seat and thighs.

For this reason, the cockpit hatches on sea kayaks are generally narrower than on touring kayaks. On some models, the thigh supports are also designed to cover a very large area for maximum contact, meaning that getting into the hatches is not easy for everyone. Furthermore, with a flatter deck height, the seating position can be more stretched out, making it harder to pull your legs up and relax them.

Good mobility can therefore be an advantage when choosing the ‘right’ sea kayak with a snug fit.

If getting in and out very easily is important to you, and if you prefer to paddle along the coast in moderate conditions, you may find a touring kayak such as the Stellar S18 Expedition, the Stellar S16, the Stellar S14 or the WIG Mira a very comfortable choice.

Being a light person in a kayak that’s too big has several drawbacks: imagine a kayak designed for a heavy person carrying several days’ worth of gear. That can easily add up to 140 or 150 kg. With this weight, the kayak is still supposed to sit well in the water – in other words, not too deep. Now, if someone weighing 55 kg sits in this boat with only a day’s worth of luggage, the boat sits correspondingly high in the water, with the following disadvantages:

- the centre of gravity is too high; the hull does not sit optimally in the water and cannot function as well

- the kayak presents a larger surface area to the wind and becomes correspondingly difficult to manoeuvre

- there is a lack of contact with the boat, as the cockpit was designed for a heavier or taller person

Durability does not come from weight and mass, but from a precise, high-quality manufacturing process. Put simply, laminated kayaks are made from fabric mats (fibreglass, carbon, Kevlar, etc.) and resin. Both are placed into a mould. Once cured, the resin ensures that the fabric becomes rigid and retains its shape.

Various materials and processes can be used for this. A very simple method is to apply the resin evenly by hand and allow it to cure over time. The result is a kayak weighing between 26 and 30 kg. Whilst it is heavy, this does not automatically mean it is robust. Irregularities in the application, cheap fabric and temperature fluctuations during curing can have a negative effect. Cold temperatures, in particular, are very detrimental.

All laminated kayaks in the Lite Venture range are lightweight and manufactured using the vacuum infusion process with epoxy resin and heat curing. This means that the resin is distributed evenly under vacuum pressure and pressed into the fabric fibres. Excess material is extracted – this is one of the reasons why the kayaks are so lightweight. The kayak is then cured in its mould under heat. Although this is a labour-intensive process, it ensures a controlled and consistently uniform curing process – regardless of the temperature prevailing in the workshop at the time.

Naturally, you shouldn’t take a kayak like this on white-water trips or crash it onto rocks whilst being swept by the surf. However, should damage occur, all models are very easy to repair. In some cases, you can even do it yourself with a bit of skill.

In an emergency, the finer details can make all the difference: anyone out on the water in rougher conditions should always be able to get back into their boat if it capsizes. It’s essential to practise this, and the best way to learn is on a course. (Incidentally, we offer such courses at our Lite Venture Test Centre North)

If you capsize, you must grab your kayak immediately to prevent it from drifting away. So-called ‘toggles’ at the front and rear of the kayak are very useful for this: these handles move freely, so you don’t twist your wrist when holding on to them in the waves. Side deck lines are also useful, as they allow you to get a good grip on the kayak no matter what position you’re in.

Of course, your kayak mustn’t simply sink because it’s filling up with water! So always make sure it has bulkheads. These seal off the luggage hatches – which are closed with lids – from the open cockpit area. This ensures the boat still has enough buoyancy to stay afloat, even if you capsize and the cockpit fills with water. As mentioned earlier: all kayaks on our website have at least two bulkheads and are therefore suitable for trips on large bodies of water!

Furthermore, a skeg can be more useful than a rudder: in higher waves, a rudder blade can lose contact with the water. Steering and controlling a sea kayak is achieved mainly through body positioning and paddle strokes. In currents and wind, the skeg can provide very useful support: it helps to maintain the chosen direction and improve straight-line stability. The skeg is located at the rear of the kayak and is operated via a control near the cockpit. In the neutral position, it is fully retracted inside the kayak.

A great many paddlers come to our test centres and events to give us their feedback and compare our kayaks with those they have paddled in the past. From this feedback, we can summarise:

The Arrow Play model surprises many people in a very positive way – even those who have previously paddled traditional sea kayak models from manufacturers such as Nigel Dennis. Available in three different volume sizes, the Arrow Play offers a good ‘fit’ for almost every body type. The design is intended to make the kayak feel like an ‘extension’ of your own body in the water. Almost everyone who tries this kayak experiences this intuitive, playful handling. In our view, this makes it one of the best sea kayaks.

But the Stellar Nomad is another kayak of this kind, which is very well suited to a playful, agile style. It is lightweight and features a slightly more comfortable, wider seat. It is also available in sections for easy transport and storage. Find out more about the split Stellar Nomad from a customer’s perspective here.

If you’re looking for a kayak for long-distance trips and expeditions with a payload, the Arrow Empower, WIG Player and WIG Hunter models offer a fantastic selection of kayaks. The WIG Player offers exceptionally high stability thanks to the flattened section beneath the seat, making it a very reliable kayak for rough conditions. Even beginners can feel at ease in it right from the start. The WIG Hunter offers slightly more advanced paddlers a fast, British-style sea kayak with a modern design. A comparison between the WIG Player and the Hunter was published in KANU Magazin. Click here for the article.

Fast sea kayaks that can also carry plenty of luggage for expeditions or multi-day trips include the Arrow Empower and the Endless from DesignKayaks.

It’s best to think about which features are most important to you. Speed, stability, a comfortable seat, …? Then you can take the next step and get in touch with us: +49 7634/3409871. We speak German, English, French and Dutch.