How to Customize a Kayak

Most recreational kayakers--who hit the water once in a while for fishing or floating--don't need to customize their kayaks. For serious kayak enthusiasts, however, a kayak needs to fit the body like a glove. The kayak fit is important for overall stability and control while on intense river kayaking trips or extended touring excursions. Kayaks are typically made with a standard seat that will fit paddlers of different sizes. Other seats are constructed to a designer's specifications and may not fit all paddlers. A popular way to customize a kayak seat and cockpit is by carving and shaping foam blocks, then positioning the blocks around the seat and coaming for added support.

Things You'll Need

  • Kayak foam blocks
  • Sharp knife
  • Coarse sandpaper (50-grit)
  • Quick-setting waterproof adhesive
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Instructions

    • 1

      Sit inside your kayak as you normally would while paddling. Be sure to put on your personal flotation device, and attach all straps and tighten all braces to give an accurate measurement of free space in the cockpit.

    • 2

      Grab your paddle and go through the motions of paddling as you normally would while in the water. Take note of the areas where you feel less support and stability. Typically theses areas are around the seat and, especially, the hips.

    • 3

      Measure the amount of space between your hips and the inner kayak walls. For best stability, you'll want to create support in this area to keep your lower body stationary while allowing free range of motion in the torso. An ideal area to target is from the waist line to the seat bottom and extending forward 6-inches from the hip joint.

    • 4

      Transfer your measurements to the foam blocks, then--using a sharp knife--cut the blocks to fit the measurement. Go back and place the roughly cut blocks in the kayak and sit in the seat. You should have to wedge yourself between the blocks in order to sit, and you may not be able to fit completely at first. This is just an initial fitting test.

    • 5

      Sand the blocks to fit the kayak's inner hull contour. This may take a little while, so sand a little bit and check the fit. Keep repeating until the fit is correct. Use coarse sandpaper to sand the foam. A 50-grit sandpaper will work faster and leave rough spots that will allow adhesive to set properly. When you're finished you should have a rough concave side on the foam block.

    • 6

      Sand the other side--which will contact your hip--to fit the contour of your body. These dimensions are yours alone. The fit doesn't have to be perfect, just close enough to be comfortable. Sand a little at a time using coarse 50-grit sandpaper until you have a rough convex shape. Check the fit periodically against your hip. Once you feel comfortable, take the foam blocks to the kayak, place them against the hull and sit as you normally would.

    • 7

      Perform a paddling motion with the foam blocks set in place. You should feel snug and completely secure in the seat. The fit shouldn't feel uncomfortable, and you shouldn't feel stuffed into the kayak. As long as you can fit into the seat, between the foam blocks, and your body doesn't slide on the seat, then you've shaped the right fit.

    • 8

      Apply a quick-set, waterproof adhesive to the foam, and secure the blocks into position on the inner kayak hull. Allow the adhesive to set in for a day.