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Some of the factors that you'll want to consider when beginning your search for the perfect boat are the type of waters you paddle on, your physical size, construction material, the stability of the boat, and what you hope to do with it in the future.
A sea kayak is normally between about 14-24 feet long. There are exceptions on both ends of the scale. Average widths are between 20-26 inches. Yes, it's as narrow as it sounds, but not necessarily uncomfortable.
The hole that you sit in is called the cockpit. The lip around it is called the coaming. The cockpit has a seat and a backbrace, and inside the boat are footbraces that must be adjusted for each paddler's comfort. While the cockpit may seem small enough before you attempt to slide in the first time, you will end up customizing the seating area with polyprylene foam to create a snug fit. It is said that you don't sit in a kayak, you wear it. There should be room for you to slide two fingers along your hip when you're in your craft.
Boating terms apply to kayaks. The top of the kayak is the deck, the front is the bow, the rear is the stern, the bottom is the hull, and the center of the hull is the keel.
Inside the kayak there may be bulkheads. A bulkhead is a partition that creates an airtight compartment in the nose or the rear of the kayak; usually a kayak will have both a front and rear bulkhead, or no bulkheads at all. This space is accessed by hatches on the deck, and in addition to providing storage also creates additional bouyancy. This compartment should be as waterproof as possible, and it is important to look for moisture in these areas when you seek to purchase your first boat.
Usual boat materials are plastic, wood, or fiberglass. Boats made of kevlar are available, as well as other high-tech plastics. Kevlar boats and boats of similar materials are strong, light, and expensive. Fiberglass boats are a step lesser in cost and step greater in weight. An issue to consider when deciding to purchase a fiberglass or kevlar craft is repair -- kevlar repair is quite costly, as is fiberglass repair. However, fiberglass repair can be learned and done by yourself. Wood boats are heavier, less costly, and may require at least annual maintenance. Plastic boats are sturdy, inexpensive, and heavy.
The shape of the boat will determine its stability, speed, and turning ability. Some kayaks are almost cylindrical; others have flat bottoms. Some have hard chines -- chines are lengthwise facets -- of various angles. Most sea kayaks have a hybrid form; a roundish boat with a softly flattened bottom or soft chines. Or both.
A flat-bottomed boat will provide great stability but be hard to turn. A round boat will feel tippy but if you do start to tip, you will have a better chance of recovery. Hard chines create a boat that is very easy to turn but will have a wobbly feel underneath you and may not 'track' well. Tracking means following a straight path. They are, however, easier to brace and roll with.
Some boats come with rudders that you control with your feet. Others have skegs. A skeg is a fin that sticks out of the bottom of the boat and makes the craft travel straighter. Skegs are frequently designed to retract into the bottom of the boat when the paddler tugs a control line on the rear deck.
The only way to determine what type of boat is best for you is to try every single boat you can get your hands on. Rent kayaks from your local outfitters, attend Demo Days that are held at outfitters and club events, and join a club in hopes of being able to try out your new friends' boats. The more you paddle, the better an idea of you'll have of what your true needs are.
