Coastal Kayak - Article: Choosing the Right Kaskazi Kayak

Remember, never buy a kayak without having paddled it first. Demo the options before you buy!

The following checklist will help you identify key criteria for selecting the right sea kayak and identify the Kaskazi offerings that will suit you:

What type of kayaking do you envisage doing?

• Long Distance Expeditions
• Short Expeditions or Day Trips
• Recreational Fishing, Spear Fishing or Snorkelling
• Racing
• Adventure Racing
• Recreational Paddling

Recreational paddling
Recreational paddling is certainly the most common purpose for which kayaks are used. It is great fun to get out on the water - inland or open sea - for a couple of hours to explore the coastline or a river, see marine fauna and flora, or just to get some exercise.

Single or Double?
Do you want to be independent in a single or do you prefer the social aspect of paddling in a double? Aside from the social aspect, double kayaks are faster and more stable than singles. Double kayaks can be paddled single-handed but then they are slow and difficult to handle in cross-winds. One of each - a double and a single - is always a good option!

Sit Inside or Sit on Top?
The classic sea kayak is sit inside and should be used with a spray deck (spray skirt, splashy) in all but the flattest conditions. The choice between the two is very much personal preference and the following points should assist you in making the decision:

Sit inside kayaks are more stable, especially in rough conditions where it is possible to brace your knees under the deck of the kayak. The paddler is more integrated with the kayak and cannot be knocked off by a breaking wave for instance. Obviously it is not possible to eskimo roll a sit on top kayak.

However, if you do capsize, it is somewhat easier to right and re-mount a sit on top kayak. Once righted, the sit on top will have no water in the cockpit, whereas the sit inside may need some bailing or pumping out depending on your level of skill and whether there is another paddler to assist you.

With sit on top kayaks you are also more exposed to the elements. The spray deck keeps you relatively dry and protects you from cold, wind and sun. Optional decks with coamings and spray decks are available for the Kaskazi Skua AR and Duo AR sit on top kayaks which gives you similar protection from the elements, but not the stability of a sit inside.

Double Kayaks
The Duo is Kaskazi's double kayak. The Kaskazi Duo has an excellent track record being exceptionally stable and durable as well as fast. The last Cape Point challenge ever held - discontinued because the conditions were so challenging - was won by a Kaskazi Duo. The standard Duo is sit-inside while the Duo AR is a sit-on top version with the same hull.

Single Kayaks
Although the Kaskazi Skua is designed as an expedition sea kayak it is excellent for recreational paddling. It is durable, light and fast and can handle extreme conditions. It's speed comes with length which might be a disadvantage for some people since it is more difficult to manhandle than smaller kayaks. The Skua AR is a sit on top version with the same hull.

The Kaskazi Pelican is a sit on top only recreational tourer. It has large hatches like an expedition kayak, but is shorter and wider than the Skua and has a lot more rocker. It is slightly slower but very stable and easy to maneauvre with very quick response to the rudder. It handles surf very well and is a great all-round fun kayak.

The Kaskazi Avocet is a short but high volume sit inside kayak. It is very maneauvreable and therefore ideal for constrained waterways and is great fun in the surf. It weighs only 19 kg and its compact size makes it easy to manhandle, car top and store. Being a short kayak, it's limitation is speed.

The Breeze is Kaskazi's entry level kayak. Currently only a sit inside version is available, but a sit on top will be introduced soon. It is the only Kaskazi kayak which is not fitted with a rudder as standard since it is designed to be simple and hassle free. It is longer than the Avocet and has very good tracking ability. It lean steers easily and responds well to turning with the paddle.

Long Distance Expeditions
The Kaskazi Duo and Skua have been designed for long expeditions. Both kayaks have big hatches for storing gear and can carry big loads.

Short Expeditions or Day Trips
In addition to the Skua and Duo, sit on top kayaks would be suitable for shorter expeditions in favourable conditions: The Skua AR, Duo AR and the Pelican fit the bill.

Fishing, Spear Fishing and Snorkelling
The Kaskazi Dorado is a fully fitted fishing kayak. It is exceptionally stable, comfortable and can carry huge loads. Despite this it is easy to paddle and surprisingly fast. It has already gained an unsurpassed international reputation - check out some of the international reviews! The Kaskazi Dorado has a huge fish hatch, is fitted as standard with 3 fishing rod holders and anchor attachment lines. It is supplied with a plastic crate which fits the rear load bay so that you can load all your gear in one step.

The Kaskazi Marlin is a fishing version of the Pelican. It has a small tackle box in the centre console, 2 fishing rod holders, anchor attachment lines and a plastic crate that fits into the recess in the rear hatch cover. It is ideal for fly fishing and catch and release since it does not have a fish hatch.

Racing
Kayak racing is not a big sport in South Africa. Most offshore racing is done on surfskis but in rough conditions many paddlers would be faster in a kayak!

The Raven is Kaskazi's surfski which is designed as an entry level craft. It is relatively stable but still has the length to make it competitive, expecially for the less experienced paddler.

Adventure Racing
In multi-discipline events, many competitors would not be very experienced paddlers and therefore sea kayaks are much more suitable since they are so much more stable. The Kaskazi Skua AR and Duo AR were designed for adventure racing, with the sit on top format enable competitors to simply jump on and paddle without the hassle of a spray deck.