| For many people, owning and storing a full sized plastic | | | | added complexity. |
| or fiberglass kayak is simply not feasible. A large | | | | Another very popular type of portable kayak is the |
| percentage of kayaking enthusiasts live in cities, where | | | | folding kayak. Folding kayaks are less often seen |
| space is limited and housing is expensive. Thus, many | | | | today, but were extremely popular in the early half of |
| people simply do not have the space to store a large | | | | the 20th century. Particularly in Europe, it was very |
| hardshell, which can be at least 10 feet and can be up | | | | common for people to pack up their folding kayak, hop |
| to 20 feet in length. Kayakers who live in apartments | | | | on a train, and travel to a lake for some weekend |
| and condos do not have to give up their favorite | | | | paddling. Some of the major folding kayak |
| activity, however. There are many types of kayaks | | | | manufacturers started making kayaks around this time, |
| that are easier to store and transport, including | | | | and have been around since the early 1900's. Folding |
| inflatable, folding, and sectional kayaks. | | | | kayaks are made using a metal or wooden frame that |
| A sectional kayak is probably the most similar to what | | | | can be disassembled, along with a fabric skin. When a |
| most people think of as a normal hardshell fiberglass | | | | folding kayak is assembled, the frame is assembled, |
| or plastic kayak. The typical sectional kayak looks the | | | | placed inside the skin, then tightened until the skin is |
| same as a hardshell except that they can break apart | | | | taut. |
| into sections. For example, a sectional kayak may | | | | The cheapest type of portable kayak is the inflatable. |
| come apart into three sections - the bow, the cockpit, | | | | These kayaks are relatively inexpensive, can be |
| and the stern. The smaller pieces can then be stored | | | | inflated and deflated quickly, and pack into a very small |
| away in a closet, or easily stuffed into the back of a | | | | space. One of the major drawback with this type of |
| car. | | | | kayak, however, is their lack of rigidity. Inflatable kayaks |
| When the kayak needs to be used, the sections can | | | | tend to flex more while they are being paddled, and |
| be reattached and held together by a set of strong | | | | some paddlers prefer the feel of a more rigid boat. |
| bolts. The benefit of a sectional is the ease of | | | | Some higher-end models include minimal frame |
| portability and storage with the same performance | | | | elements to improve rigidity of the kayak. |
| characteristics and rigidity of a single piece hardshell | | | | Any of these types of kayaks will allow a city-dweller |
| kayak. One of the few differences is that the sectional | | | | to have their own kayak. The kayaks can also be |
| kayak may weigh a few pounds more. Also, there is | | | | packed and shipped more easily, so that avid |
| not a continuous space inside the sectional kayak like | | | | kayakers can have their own kayaks when they |
| there can be for a single piece hardshell kayak. | | | | travel to distant paddling destinations. |
| Sectional kayaks can also cost more because of their | | | | |