Folding/ Origami Kayak

In reply:

So, are kayaks uae a type of hybrid kayak canoe? Or is it a canoe kayak hybrid? Or is it just a canoe canoe that is listed as a kayak? Sorry, I'm still learning about watercraft types.

In reply to suznommv :

I'll piggyback on this.  I'm not an avid kayaker/canoer.  When I'm in a boat, I prefer about 400 hp strapped on the back.  I was a member of a FB group that did kayak, canoe, float, and other water events.  It was a small crew of avid paddlers who started the group and it was a great way for amateurs to start the hobby.

I watched as dozens of people bought a folding kayak, an inflatable kayak, or some other inappropriately small boat so they didn't have to invest in transporting a bigger boat.  I was fortunate to have a van that could transport a full boat, but my friend with a convertible Beetle didn't have many options for that.  She bought an inflatable.  She took it on the water two times and sold it for a good folding kayak.  I think she took that one out once and sold it, and gave up on the hobby.

The general consensus was that folding or inflatable kayaks are like a cheap welder.  If you buy what's convenient, you'll never lay a good bead.  They're a solution to the transportation problem, but they remove so much functionality from the actual float itself.  You look at a kayak and think that it just needs to float to work, but there's so much more to making an enjoyable paddle.

There may be folding or inflatable kayaks that do a good job on the water, but I would venture they cost more than a rigid kayak plus the hitch and rack you might need to transport it.

90BuickCentury said:

In reply:

So, are kayaks uae a type of hybrid kayak canoe? Or is it a canoe kayak hybrid? Or is it just a canoe canoe that is listed as a kayak? Sorry, I'm still learning about watercraft types.

They're what I would call an open-deck kayak.  The lines are blurred, but generally canoes are something you paddle with a single paddle, and kayaks use a double paddle.  A traditional kayak is fully enclosed with just a hole for your torso, although newer designs come in all flavors.  Kayaks tend to be more nimble and quicker, while canoes are more utility - cargo, multiple people, dryer, etc.

There is a large reservoir a mile from my house that allows canoeing.  I was super intrigued by the convenience of a folding kayak, thinking they might work great for my family.  I watched several video reviews and was ready to buy but then I found a few videos about the safety gaps with these products -- they are pretty much impossible to recover from swamping, and cannot be re-entered while in the water.  No thanks.