How to choose and store a kayak: hardshell vs inflatable, transport and UK licences

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Buying your first kayak is exciting, and it is easy to choose the wrong one. The best boat is the one that suits where you will paddle, how you will get it there and where you will keep it. Hire or borrow a few types before you buy, and talk to people at a club.

Decide where you will paddle first

Calm lakes, canals and slow rivers: a stable recreational kayak, either sit-on-top or sit-inside.
Longer day trips and sheltered coast: a longer touring or sea kayak, which runs straighter and faster but asks more skill.
White water: short, specialised boats, plus training. That is a separate hobby.
Fishing: wide, stable sit-on-tops with space for kit.

Longer boats generally track straighter and glide further; shorter and wider ones turn more easily and feel steadier.

Hardshell or inflatable?

Hardshell kayaks, usually moulded plastic or composite, are tough, perform well and are ready to go the moment you get to the water. The downsides are size and weight: you need somewhere to store a boat that may be several metres long and a way to carry it on a car. Inflatable kayaks pack into a bag, fit in a cupboard or car boot and can go on public transport. Better ones use drop-stitch floors or high-pressure chambers and paddle well on flat water. They are usually more affected by wind, slower and less precise than a good hardshell, and they need inflating, drying and packing each time. Look for multiple separate air chambers, so a puncture in one does not sink the whole boat. Folding kayaks are a third option, packing smaller than a hardshell while performing closer to one. Whichever you choose, check it has enough buoyancy, decent grab handles at both ends and a comfortable seat and footrests that fit you.

Transporting a hardshell kayak

Use roof bars rated for the load and kayak-specific cradles or padding.
Tie down with cam straps rather than ratchet straps, which can crush a plastic hull.
Add bow and stern lines on longer boats so the kayak cannot swing or lift at speed.
Check the straps after the first few miles and whenever you stop.
A trolley makes the walk from car park to water much easier.

Storing a kayak

Out of the sun: ultraviolet light weakens plastic and fades the hull over time. Store under cover or use a cover.
Supported properly: rest a hardshell on its side or upside down on padded supports or wide straps, near the bulkheads, rather than flat on its hull on concrete, which can dent it.
Dry and ventilated: open hatches and let everything dry before storing, to stop mould and smells.
Secure: a cable lock through a fixed point is sensible if it lives outside.
Inflatables: rinse, dry fully before packing, and store loosely rolled in a cool, dry place.

UK waterways: licences and membership

In England and Wales, many rivers and canals, including those managed by the Canal & River Trust and the Environment Agency, require a licence to paddle. You can buy licences from each navigation authority, but many paddlers get one through membership of their national paddling body instead. Paddle UK (formerly British Canoeing) says its On the Water membership includes a waterways licence covering waterways managed by organisations including the Canal & River Trust, the Environment Agency, the Broads Authority and several others, along with insurance and other benefits. In Wales, Canoe Wales offers a similar membership, and Scotland has different access arrangements. Coverage, prices and the list of included waterways change, and not every stretch of water is covered, so check the paddling body's own website and the navigation authority for the water you plan to use. Carry proof of your licence or membership when you paddle; your phone is usually enough.

Check, clean, dry

Before moving your kayak between waters, check it for plants and animals, clean it, and let it dry. This helps stop invasive species spreading from one river or lake to the next. What kayak did you start with, and would you choose the same again? Share your experience in the comments.