Background:

Read the article Hydrostatics for some Seakayaks to see what this is all about.

Disclamer:

Using the list below as a buyer's guide is naive at best. The waterdrag is calculated for fully loaded kayaks paddled on flat water. I haven't seen any scientific papers descriping how these numbers apply to empty kayaks or kayaks paddled in waves.

Data:

The best overview of seakayaks is available as The ISKA Buyer's Directory. But if you want to know how the various kayaks perform you should look at the reviews conducted by Seakayaker Magazine. Each review contains a range of measured and simulated data for a kayak. The data below was published in the period winter 1993 - October 2003. The numbers on resistance were calculated using the method developed by Matt Broze.

The only column which requires an explanation is the 4-5 knots rank column. It was calculated like this: First the kayaks were ranked for the different velocities. For example at 4 knots Kap Farvel was ranked #1. At 4.5 knots Extreme was ranked #1 etc. Then the ranks for 4, 4.5 and 5 knots were added for each kayak and the sums were finally ranked. These results are listed in the 4-5 knots rank column. Note that some kayaks were ranked equal.

Name Length Width Volume 2 knots 3 knots 4 knots 4.5 knots 5 knots 6 knots 4-5 knots rank Producer
Hawk 583 53 293 0.45 0.91 1.63 2.13 2.81 5.12 1 Superior Kayaks (USA)
Extreme 577 55 389 0.42 0.88 1.59 2.1 2.93 5.32 2 Current Design (CDN)
Inuk 550 51 315 0.41 0.86 1.63 2.13 2.95 5.22 3 M.A.R.Kayaks (GB/Port.)
Expedition 571 57 408 0.45 0.91 1.63 2.13 2.95 5.26 3 Current Design (CDN)
Artic Hawk 548 56 284 0.41 0.86 1.63 2.13 3.08 5.53 5 Wilderness Systems (USA)
Discovery 546 56 411 0.45 0.91 1.63 2.18 3.22 5.62 6 Northwest Kayaks (USA)
Artisan Millenium 555 56 343 0.41 0.87 1.61 2.19 3.25 6.1 7 Kajak-Sport (FIN)
Falcon 18 548 53 349 0.42 0.89 1.64 2.15 3.04 5.5 7 Eddyline Kayaks (USA)
Endeavor 532 57 322 0.4 0.86 1.6 2.18 3.32 6.1 9 Seaward Kayaks (CDN)
Pursuit 532 54 384 0.42 0.88 1.63 2.19 3.29 5.93 10 Northwest Kayaks (USA)
Avalon Viviane 580 55 392 0.43 0.9 1.66 2.15 2.99 5.22 11 Kajak Sport (FIN)
Khatsalano S 532 60 313 0.4 0.91 1.63 2.22 3.27 5.81 12 Feathercraft (CDN)
Sultan 543 54 336 0.44 0.9 1.66 2.17 3.04 5.56 12 Azul Kayaks (CDN)
Looksha II 610 51 392 0.41 0.91 1.68 2.13 2.9 5.03 12 Necky Kayaks (CDN)
Goldeneye 478 62 343 0.41 0.86 1.63 2.22 3.31 5.81 15 Pygmy Kayak (USA)
Chilco 557 58 344 0.44 0.91 1.66 2.18 3.08 5.62 16 Seaward Kayaks (CDN)
Lootas 557 59 357 0.45 0.91 1.63 2.22 3.36 6.21 17 Nimbus (CDN)
Anadyr 530 55 347 0.41 0.86 1.63 2.22 3.45 6.12 18 Janautica-Teknosport (I)
Quest 575 57 383 0.41 0.91 1.68 2.18 3.13 5.76 19 Seaward Kayaks (CDN)
Barracuda (PE) 508 56 330 0.43 0.9 1.66 2.21 3.23 5.98 20 Prijon (D)
Gulfstream 514 60 336 0.42 0.87 1.63 2.25 3.47 6.24 21 Current Design (CDN)
Glider 582 54 385 0.47 0.94 1.72 2.19 2.9 4.93 22 Seda Products (USA)
Legend 544 54 336 0.41 0.91 1.68 2.22 3.18 5.67 23 Watermark (NL)
Sitka 544 56 420 0.46 0.93 1.7 2.21 3.03 5.37 24 Dagger (USA)
FW 2000 562 44 301 0.41 0.9 1.7 2.23 2.89 4.79 25 Nelo-MAR.Kayaks (Portug.)
Futura II 575 51 291 0.47 0.96 1.76 2.21 2.89 4.68 26 Futura Surf Skis (USA)
Nimbus Telkwa 559 62 395 0.42 0.89 1.64 2.27 3.42 6.39 27 Rainforest Designs (CDN)
Shearwater 860 487 57 334 0.44 0.89 1.68 2.22 3.32 5.78 28 New Wave Kayaks (USA)
Enetai Standard 518 59 438 0.45 0.95 1.68 2.27 3.22 6.08 28 Wilkinson Boat (USA)
Coho (Holz) 534 59 326 0.42 0.87 1.68 2.2 3.4 6.5 30 Pygmy Kayak (USA)
Caribou 532 55 320 0.41 0.91 1.63 2.31 3.54 6.49 31 Current Design (CDN)
Mariner Max 517 59 383 0.41 0.91 1.63 2.31 3.58 6.49 32 Mariner Kayaks (USA)
Cadence LP 514 60 398 0.45 0.95 1.68 2.27 3.31 6.12 32 Northwest Kayaks (USA)
Magellan (PE) 508 58 371 0.44 0.89 1.65 2.27 3.49 6.49 34 Dagger (USA)
Kodiak (PE) 507 58 381 0.44 0.91 1.67 2.26 3.38 6.23 35 Prijon (D)
Epic (PE) 523 56 336 0.45 0.93 1.7 2.27 3.14 5.6 36 Wilderness Systems (USA)
Arctic Tern 517 57 352 0.44 0.9 1.66 2.25 3.52 6.48 37 Pygmy Boats (USA)
Reiver 521 52 284 0.41 0.86 1.68 2.27 3.36 5.99 37 Southern Exposure (USA)
Sirius M 520 53 307 0.41 0.86 1.63 2.31 3.67 6.58 39 P&H (GB)
Islander ME 517 54 363 0.45 0.91 1.68 2.27 3.4 6.17 40 Dragonworks (USA)
Alvik 516 59 359 0.42 0.89 1.64 2.32 3.47 6.52 41 Boréal Design (CND)
Yukon Eski 500 57 345 0.41 0.86 1.66 2.28 3.49 6.07 42 Prijon (D)
Intrepid 532 60 402 0.45 0.92 1.7 2.25 3.32 6.29 43 Pacific Water Sports (USA)
Ellesmere 518 55 309 0.42 0.87 1.65 2.32 3.47 6.03 44 Boréal Design (CND)
K1R 508 56 394 0.41 0.88 1.65 2.28 3.56 6.26 45 Point 65° North (S)
Night Hawk 480 56 320 0.41 0.88 1.67 2.28 3.45 6.02 45 Eddyline Kayaks (USA)
Storm (PE) 517 61 372 0.41 0.86 1.63 2.36 3.67 6.76 47 Current Design (CDN)
Kap Farvel 514 54 253 0.37 0.81 1.49 2.36 3.73 6.56 48 Rainforest Designs (CDN)
Cobra Expedition 530 58 312 0.45 0.94 1.72 2.28 3.31 6.18 49 Cobra Kayaks (USA)
Aquanaut 537 55 330 0.44 0.91 1.69 2.34 3.31 5.67 50 Valley Canoe Products (GB)
Falcon 488 53 287 0.36 0.86 1.63 2.4 3.72 6.58 51 Eddyline Kayaks (USA)
Viking 498 55 302 0.42 0.89 1.65 2.33 3.64 6.52 52 Kajak-Sport (FIN)
Elan 491 55 316 0.42 0.87 1.67 2.32 3.59 6.31 53 Mariner Kayaks (USA)
Capella (PE) 504 57 324 0.41 0.86 1.63 2.45 3.9 7.03 54 P&H (GB)
Meridian 488 56 312 0.41 0.86 1.63 2.45 3.95 7.08 55 Dagger (USA)
Looksha IV 515 57 308 0.41 0.86 1.63 2.45 3.95 6.94 55 Necky Kayaks (CDN)
Synergy 524 59 359 0.43 0.9 1.66 2.37 3.65 6.69 57 Northwest Kayaks (USA)
K1VR 508 56 355 0.43 0.91 1.7 2.29 3.53 6.31 58 Point 65° North (S)
Inukshuk (PE) 516 59 357 0.43 0.9 1.67 2.35 3.67 6.7 59 Boréal Design (CND)
Seeker 486 59 299 0.45 0.91 1.72 2.31 3.49 6.26 59 Dagger (USA)
Quest 536 56 337 0.41 0.89 1.68 2.35 3.67 6.53 61 P&H (GB)
Queen Charlotte 518 61 337 0.45 0.91 1.72 2.36 3.45 5.99 62 Pygmy Kayak (USA)
Thelon 17 517 64 437 0.49 0.98 1.77 2.35 3.37 6.21 63 AquaDynamic (CDN)
Daytripper 524 62 310 0.4 0.86 1.66 2.38 3.79 7.25 63 Novus Composites (USA)
Ally SeaTouring 556 59 421 0.49 1.03 1.87 2.4 3.13 5.17 65 Bergans (N)
Harpoon TR 579 52 398 0.48 0.97 1.86 2.42 3.12 5.14 65 Easy Rider Kayak (USA)
Sprinter 515 51 326 0.45 0.95 1.91 2.45 3.18 5.31 67 Ocean Kayak (USA)
Greenland Solo 542 60 385 0.5 1 1.91 2.45 3.22 5.4 68 Seavivor Fold. Boats (USA)
Elaho (PE) 482 57 316 0.39 0.85 1.63 2.59 4.32 7.43 69 Necky Kayaks (CDN)
Navigator 514 60 364 0.43 0.91 1.77 2.38 3.5 6.26 70 Seaward Kayaks (CDN)
Ellsmere 530 537 62 400 0.47 0.98 1.82 2.39 3.44 6.52 71 MontBell Folding (Japan)
Andromeda 526 52 305 0.4 0.88 1.66 2.46 3.99 6.9 72 Current Design (CDN)
Aurora 535 62 426 0.43 0.9 1.69 2.41 3.78 6.98 73 Seaward Kayaks (CDN)
Aspen 523 55 382 0.44 0.93 1.75 2.38 3.73 6.89 74 Azul Kayaks (CDN)
Avocet (PE) 492 56 Liter 0.41 0.87 1.7 2.45 3.92 7.03 75 Valley Canoe Products (GB)
Cape Horn 17 Pro 525 58 419 0.46 0.98 1.79 2.43 3.64 6.65 76 Wilderness Systems (USA)
Sealution 502 56 329 0.41 0.91 1.68 2.54 4.04 7.35 77 Wilderness Systems (USA)
Sea Lion (PE) 518 59 368 0.45 0.91 1.81 2.45 3.63 6.49 77 Perception (USA)
Expedition LP 530 68 413 0.47 1 1.8 2.48 3.59 6.27 79 Heritage Kayaks (USA)
Squamish (PE) 473 58 265 0.4 0.87 1.67 2.69 4.42 7.85 80 Current Design (CDN)
Raven 507 57 372 0.45 0.95 1.81 2.45 3.68 6.71 80 Eddyline Kayaks (USA)
Thunderbird LP 532 72 499 0.5 1 1.91 2.49 3.63 7.26 82 Pacific Water Sports (USA)
Coaster 410 59 317 0.41 0.86 1.68 2.86 4.67 7.94 83 Mariner Kayaks (USA)
Eclipse (PE) 521 57 375 0.45 0.93 1.97 2.55 3.58 6.26 83 Perception (USA)
Tchaika 424 55 253 0.36 0.82 1.68 2.95 4.94 8.35 85 Wilderness Systems (USA)
500 EX 502 64 392 0.49 1 1.86 2.54 3.81 6.91 86 FoldingCraft (USA/Japan)
K-1 Expedition 499 66 403 0.48 0.98 1.91 2.55 3.8 8.08 87 Feathercraft (CDN)
Seayak (PE) 485 58 355 0.44 0.92 1.87 2.56 3.95 6.99 88 Prijon (D)
Merlin XT 458 60 359 0.42 0.89 1.76 2.64 4.34 7.58 89 Eddyline Kayaks (USA)
Orca (PE) 472 57 310 0.41 0.88 1.74 2.79 4.63 7.92 90 Pyranha Mouldings (GB)
Raid 16 Greenland. 504 69 398 0.52 1.03 1.93 2.58 3.86 6.71 91 Nautiraid (F)
Gypsy 460 61 338 0.45 0.91 1.91 2.63 3.95 6.89 91 Seda Products (USA)
Calabria (PE) 439 63 367 0.43 0.9 1.75 2.83 4.72 8.23 93 Prijon (D)
HopOnTop 488 71 439 0.45 0.88 1.77 2.87 4.63 8.38 94 HopOnTop-Kayaks (USA)
Sonoma 13,5 415 57 310 0.38 0.85 1.74 3.15 5.31 6.56 95 Perception (USA)
Kodiak 459 71 435 0.46 0.98 2.02 2.75 4.15 7.38 96 Folbot (USA)
Beluga (Double) 638 73 658 0.66 1.29 2.39 3.03 3.96 7.17 97 Boréal Design (CND)
Arctic Tern 14 427 58 263 0.39 0.83 1.78 3.15 5.22 8.8 97 Pygmy Boats (USA)
Passat (Double) 670 68 705 0.69 1.32 2.44 3.14 4.06 6.6 99 Seaward Kayaks (CDN)
Naia (Double) 549 74 635 0.59 1.22 2.39 3.11 4.45 9.1 100 Seaward Kayaks (CDN)
Crosswind (PE, Double) 568 553 0.63 1.27 2.36 3.12 4.72 10.46 101 Current Design (CDN)
Manta 481 72 472 0.5 1.05 2.02 3.24 5.49 9.82 102 Ocean Kayak (USA)
Java (SOT) 470 70 413 0.59 1.17 2.96 3.74 5.03 8.53 103 Feathercraft (CDN)
Odyssee (Double) 485 65 516 0.53 1.13 2.54 3.59 5.85 11.64 104 Prijon (D)
Cabo(Double) 497 76 617 0.61 1.31 2.61 3.62 5.83 11.96 105 Ocean Kayak (USA)
Lengths are given in centimeters(cm), volume in litre(L) and resistance in kg. The columns can be sorted.

Changelog
Changes Date
First release. 28-10-2003
Added data provided by Ravn Hamberg. 10-10-2003
Fixed some units. 29-10-2003
Fixed broken links and tidied up the CSS. 7-3-2004