Why are kayaks so expensive? (Kayak Materials)

Casual Kayakers uses kayaks made by Wilderness Systems, Perception, Dagger, (all part of Confluence Outdoor), Old Town, and Pakayak. These are mid-to-upper end of the rotomolded high density polyethylene (plastic) kayaks with better seats and hardware than many less costly models. We’ll limit our detailed discussion to plastic kayaks.

• Materials and quality of construction lead the way in what drives the cost of a kayak. Materials like fiberglass, carbon fiber, and wood are used in high-end kayaks and drive their significant prices. In addition, kayaks with more features and accessories are more expensive than basic models. These higher-end kayaks are expensive to make and repair and fiberglass models can be prone to damage from rocks, scrapes, and impacts, but are great for long-distance river or ocean trips.
  • Polyethylene is the most commonly used kayak material, by a significant margin, in the world of recreational kayaking. That’s been true since the 1970s when Perception Kayaks first introduced rotomolded kayaks.
    • Besides the comparatively budget-friendly price, plastic kayaks are also favored for their impact-resistance. Polyethylene hulls have some flex to them, meaning they are more likely to bend than to break or crack. High-quality, rotomolded kayaks offer great performance-to-price value; they are impact-resistant, scratch resilient construction is suitable for whitewater, rocky shorelines, concrete launches, and years of low-maintenance use.
    • Differing prices for these kayaks are in part based on the quality of materials (including UV protection additives and kayak-specific blends) and innovative designs to meet specific paddling requirements.
    • The term “rotational molding” is the process of making these plastic ‘yaks: Rotomolded kayak manufacturers use plastic pellets poured into the mold and baked rotisserie style until the melted polyethylene coats the inside of the mold evenly. The result is a one-piece kayak that is ready to be outfitted and put in the water. It is a straightforward process that does not involve layering materials or fusing separate parts (like in wood, fiberglass, or carbon fiber). This simplified manufacturing explains the comparatively inexpensive nature of rotomolded kayaks. Rotomolded kayaks can have thicker outer corners or other higher wear areas which help strengthen and lengthen the useful life of the kayak.
• Box store kayaks are best for those looking to enjoy occasional outings on calm, sheltered water or slow moving streams or rivers, rather than those wanting to develop their paddling skills and progress to more advanced, open water conditions.
  • These beginner to novice-level, less expensive boats are designed for quieter water conditions on lakes and rivers. These ‘yaks are typically recreational boats with simple or minimal outfitting and the quality/UV protection of the materials varies widely.
  • Recognize that most box store salespeople won’t have the same breadth of kayaking knowledge as a dedicated paddling store, so consider a specialty paddlesports retailer if you are thinking about making a more serious investment in kayaking.
• Brand name kayaks are typically made out better materials with more UV protection (so they can last longer), have more refined designs, and better outfitting. Because the kayaks are designed and outfitted for specific purposes, they are usually more comfortable and can better handle longer trips and/or more challenging conditions. These kayaks are usually sold at dedicated paddlesports stores.
• Casual Kayakers choice of kayaks is made based on extensive research and experience with mainly Confluence Outdoor brands (Wilderness Systems Kayaks, Perception Kayaks, Dagger Kayaks).
  • We found the Wilderness Systems seats more comfortable and more adjustable, the hatches and bulkheads are higher quality, and the hull designs are better for the trips we take.
  • We added Pakayak (Pak-a-yak) kayaks since they give the performance of a solid-hull rotomolded kayak but are much easier to store and transport and thus allow us to bring more kayaks to each location.
  • We have a few Old Town kayaks that fill specific customer needs (i.e. smaller paddlers). The majority of our kayaks are either higher-end recreational or mid-range, day-trip touring boats.