Displacement Kayak Vs. Planing Hull

Kayaks have one of two types of hulls. Each type especially suits the purpose that the kayak was designed for. When using a kayak, you should be sure it has the right hull for the type of kayaking you plan on doing.

  1. Planing Hull

    • A planing hull means that the bottom of the kayak is relatively flat, like a surfboard. This makes the kayak ideal for surfing either on waves in the ocean or standing waves that are stationary (formed by rocks on a riverbed).

    Displacement Hull

    • A displacement hull means that the hull is round and displaces the water beneath the kayak. These hulls generally make for greater speed in the kayak but may sacrifice some of the quicker turning ability of a planing hull.

    Primary Stability

    • Primary stability refers to how stable the boat is from a flat position to around a 45-degree tilt. Because planing hulls are flat, the have superior primary stability. Rounded displacement hulls suffer in this area, because the boat is shaped more like a cylinder, which can easily be tipped.

    Secondary Stability

    • Secondary stability refers to how stable the kayak is from around a 45-degree lean to a 90-degree lean (which usually results in a capsize). Planing hulls provide less secondary stability, while displacement hulls provide more. This makes sense because as a planing hull kayak tips, there is less of the boat in the water. The round displacement hull allows for more surface area of the hull to be in the water all the way up until the capsize.

    Whitewater kayaks and their hulls

    • Freestyle whitewater boats, or playboats, have planing hulls. This makes them more suited for surfing waves and doing tricks, such as spins and rotations. Boats designed for running rivers, such as creekboats, will have displacement hulls. This gives them greater speed, increasing stability when paddling through rapids. Additionally, when landing flat off a waterfall, a displacement hull will prevent injury to the paddler's back because it enters the water gradually, while a planing hull smacks the water and comes to a complete stop.

    Recreational kayaks and their hulls

    • Touring kayaks, designed for use on calm, flat water will have displacement hulls. Because they are rarely paddled in rough water, they emphasize speed over primary stability. Ocean kayaks, designed for use in choppy water, will also have displacement hulls. Although more difficult to turn, they will track better through rough water and be harder to capsize completely .