So, you have banked some time on the water and are starting to get pretty good. Now, you want to take things up a notch and learn how to increase the speed of your kayak. Alright, Lightning, let’s do it!
To increase the speed of your kayak, there are several steps to take. The first, and most important, is to focus on the kayak engine. That’s you. Improving your strength and refining your paddling technique will go a long way towards increasing the speed of your kayak. You can also make improvements to your kayaking equipment. Selecting a longer, narrow-hulled boat and reducing its frictional and wave resistance can help it track faster. Also, be sure to select a light swing-weight paddle that you can comfortably manipulate at speed.
**PaddleGeek.com is reader-supported. I may earn a commission for purchases made through links in this post.**
Table of Contents
How fast do kayaks usually track?
It is generally understood that kayakers move across the water at a speed of somewhere between 2 and 5 knots. I discuss this in much greater detail here.
At a speed of 2 knots you are meandering around from place to place, enjoying the scenery with little worry about deadlines or timeframes.
When traveling at 4 knots, you typically have a place to go and a time to be there.
And at speeds much higher than 4 knots, you are either paddling (efficiently) in a tandem kayak, or you just remembered you forgot to pick up an anniversary gift and are (justifiably) panicking.
For context, Olympic paddlers reach speeds well over 9.5 knots (which is simply ridiculous.)
What physical factors impact the speed of a kayak?
When trying to understand the factors that impact the speed of a kayak, or any boat for that matter, scientists and engineers frame the conversation in terms resistance and efficiency. In other words, what are the forces that impact the forward progression of a kayak, where do these forces come from and how does the kayak react to them?
The lower the resistance against the kayak and the more efficiently the kayak manages them, the faster its potential speed.
How does friction affect kayak speed? In general, the higher the friction, the higher the resistance. The higher the resistance, the lower the kayak speed.
Read on only if you have an interest in amateur hydrostatics.
A kayak hull is rough. At first glance It may appear smooth, but the closer you look, the rougher it appears. As a kayak progresses through water, a thin layer of water becomes trapped in this roughness. This trapped layer of water collides with other layers of water that are not trapped on the hull. A chain reaction occurs with still other layers of water. This all occurs in a space called the boundary layer. This boundary layer is where 99% of friction occurs.
What determines kayak friction? The higher the area of kayak hull that is actually in the water (wetted surface area), the higher the friction. Also, the higher the length of the very bottom of the boat that is in the water (waterline), the higher the friction.
Jamming these inputs into a high-school level equation, we learn that longer kayaks with more surface area in the water experience higher friction than shorter kayaks with less surface area in the water.
How does wave resistance impact kayak speed? As a kayak hull proceeds through the water, it forms two wave patterns. The first is the fan of waves that proceeds from the bow of the kayak. This is called the divergent wave and has only a minor impact on the boat. The second wave pattern contains transverse waves. These occur at right angles to the direction in which your kayak is travelling. They provide evidence of the energy lost through the process of pushing bow water out of the way and suctioning it back together again at the stern.
The amount of wave resistance is determined by many kayak characteristics, including: displacement, waterline beam, waterline length and form factors (chines, stern/bow shape).
The higher the wave resistance of a kayak, the slower its potential speed. However, wave resistance only really begins to impact kayakers traveling at speeds greater than about 4 knots.
What does all this talk about resistance and efficiency mean? Kayaks with longer waterlines and lower displacement-to-weight ratios are generally most efficient. They have greater hull speed, which means they create less drag and a higher level of speed for a given amount paddling effort. The reason is because the resistance provided by a standing wave is higher than the friction of the larger wet surface area. So, if you want to increase the speed of your kayak, a longer boat that efficiently moves less water out of the way, will help (assuming you can get the boat to the necessary speed to begin with).
How does kayak form impact its speed?
We noted above that the length of the kayak and its displacement-to-weight ratio impact its potential speed. Let’s discuss a few other factors that impact the speed of your kayak.
Hull shape – Shallow V design is faster. Kayak hulls are typically constructed in either a Shallow Arch or a Shallow V shape. The Shallow Arch provides good stability and is highly maneuverable. However, it isn’t as fast.
The Shallow V design provides stability but also tracks more steadily. The less frequently you have to course-correct, the faster your kayak will go.
Hard chine versus soft chine – Pick your poison. A kayak constructed with a hard chine sports a well-defined front edge where the hull bottom meets the sides. A soft-chined kayak provides a smoother transition from the bottom of the hull to the sides.
While there are many anecdotal opinions about which is faster, there doesn’t seem to be any hard, conclusive data favoring either style.
Rocker – Less rocker gives more speed. Usually. The rocker of a kayak is the degree of bow-to-stern curvature of the hull. A kayak with a higher rocker, meaning significant bow-to-stern curvature, is quite maneuverable – particularly in rough water. However, it isn’t fast. Kayaks with low curvature track well and are fast. However, if you hit rough water, then the benefit goes away. So, as is often the case, there is a tradeoff between speed and stability.
Swede Form is faster than Fish Form. Swede form kayaks are widest behind the cockpit. Their entry is longer and more slender. This allows them to accelerate and track very effectively.
Fish Form kayaks are widest just ahead of the cockpit. They have a more blunt entry and a slender exit. Their bows are typically more buoyant making them excellent surf zone boats.
But if you want to increase the speed of your kayak, then a Swede Form boat will likely prove superior.
Cockpit should be snug. In general, the snugger the cockpit, the more control you’ll have of your kayak. If you are developing serious kayak skills and looking to pick up speed, then a touring cockpit with built-in thigh braces will allow you to best connect to your boat.
Hull Width – Narrower is faster but less stable. Quite simply, wide hulls are more stable than narrow hulls. However, they also displace more water than narrow hulled boats. In general, a long, narrow-hulled kayak will track faster than a short, wide one (in perfect conditions).
(It’s just like people. Some of us are built for marathons while others of us are built for the 40-yard dash.)
Remember this, a narrow hull creates a lot more work. If your desire is to athletically track at 6 knots, then moving to a narrower-hulled boat will help. However, if you are hoping to pick up a little speed while on multi-day touring trips, then you might benefit from the added stability of a wider boat. Going skinny isn’t always the answer.
Fibreglass boats are faster than plastic boats. In pretty much every way, fibreglass boats are faster than plastic boats. New, unscathed fibreglass has less friction drag than plastic. Over time you bump into things, as well. Plastic is typically more prone to scratching and this increases kayak drag even further. Fibreglass is almost always faster.
Furthermore, dings and dents in fibreglass can be repaired. With a little know-how, some sandpaper, a squirt of epoxy resin and perhaps some touch-up paint, you can return your hull to its original glory. Or pay a professional to do it for you.
Here’s the rub. Fibreglass is almost always more expensive. Usually a lot more expensive. So, you’ll need to put a price on the speed that you hope to attain.
Kayak form absolutely plays a role in the paddling speed that you can ultimately attain. But it’s complicated. Shorter boats tend to have less friction at slower speeds while longer boats have less friction at higher speeds. If you are planning to track your kayak at 5-6 knots, then you will be operating at a speed where a narrower boat will provide some advantage.
How do you improve your paddling technique to increase the speed of your kayak?
Consider the following numbers. If you are planning to track at a modest pace of 3 knots (about 3.5mph), your body will need to generate about 0.02-0.03hp (horsepower). Such an effort is similar to that of walking and can be maintained by a human of good fitness for many hours.
To reach speeds of 5-6 knots, your body will be need to generate 0.1-0.2hp. For context, world class marathon paddlers generate about 0.3hp for upwards of 4 hours. This works out to about 8 mph (and it is brutal!)
All of this is to say that, while technique and fitness can improve the paddling speed of your kayak, the ceiling might be lower than you expect – particularly over longer distances.
Position your body correctly. Place your posterior in the seat (obviously). Sit upright with the balls of your feet pressed firmly against the pegs or braces. Make sure your seat is adjusted to accommodate proper paddling posture.
Bend your knees in a diamond shape with your thighs pressed against the thigh braces (if you are paddling a sit-in), or your thighs and calves against the kayak (if your boat is a sit-on-top.) Your legs should be slightly splayed.
Sitting correctly allows for optimal upper torso mobility. This reduces the risk of injuring your shoulder while at the same time increases the points of contact with your kayak. The more points of contact, the better your control.
Use your big muscles to paddle, not just your arms. When working on technique, remember the Paddler’s Box. To review, the Paddler’s Box is the invisible box you form when you hold your hands (and paddle) in front of your torso. When you execute a paddle stroke, rotate your torso such that this box always remains intact. This is a great technique to keep your shoulders firmly in their sockets.
As you paddle, maintain the Paddler’s Box and rely on your core power rather than just your arm strength. Not only will using your bigger muscles keep your joints safe, but they won’t fatigue as quickly.
Add your legs to the mix – Paddling is a full-body exercise. Push against the foot pegs with the balls of your feet as you paddle. This will provide the torque necessary to rotate your torso effectively.
Don’t just pull your paddle. Push it, too. While you are pulling the low paddle blade through the water, push the high blade away from you. This is a very efficient technique. By using your pushing as well as pulling muscles, you can track faster through the water for longer periods of time, while expending less energy.
Where do you place the paddle blades? Insert the low paddle blade into the water at a comfortable spot somewhere around your toes. (We call this the Catch.) Then, simultaneously pull the low blade through the water while pushing the high one through the air. (The Prooulsion.)
When the low blade is about level with your hips, quickly twist and lift the paddle out of the water. (The Release.) At the same time as you’re lifting the back paddle, plant the forward paddle in the water to initiate the Catch on the other side of your kayak.
Remember that leaving your paddle blade in the water for too long will increase drag and decrease your kayak speed.
Increase your paddle angle to track straighter. In other words, hold your paddle almost vertical when you place your blade in the water. This allows the paddle blade to move closer to the kayak hull. Stroking closer to the hull is more efficient, providing increased forward propulsion and less zig-zag. When you paddle vertically and closer to the hull, your kayak tracks straighter. This is a fast move.
Relax your paddle grip. You’re not a gymnast (well, maybe you are), but you’re definitely not swinging around on monkey bars like an 8-year old. So, chill out on the grip. When you grip a paddle shaft tightly, your forearms fatigue quicker and you could develop blisters.
Gently wrap your fingers around your paddle shaft. Then, use your thumb to secure its position. As you pull the low blade towards you, press your thumb against the paddle shaft. When pushing the upper blade, use the flat part of your hand.
**Pro-Tip: If you find that your paddle is not grippy enough, try wrapping it in electrical tape. Hockey tape gets funky when wet, wax gets messy and leaves residue, peel-and-stick grips are too small and make the grip too thick. Electrical tape. Try it.**
If you’re really worried about losing your paddle, you might think about a paddle leash.
Improving your paddling technique will help you increase the speed of your kayak. Your body will get stronger, allowing you to get more out each stroke. Also, your endurance will improve, allowing you to maintain a stronger stroke for a longer period of time.
Select a fast paddle
If you want to increase your kayak speed, you’ll need to move up to a faster paddle. This is going to cost you some money. There is no way around it. You’re going to drop $250-$500 to increase your kayak speed. I think you’ll be glad you did.
Think of it this way, over a mile, you are going to take about a thousand strokes. The comfort and efficacy of those strokes will be decided by the quality of paddle that you use.
Focus on low swing-weight. The highest-quality paddles tend to have the lowest swing-weight. When you lift your paddle blade out of the water, does it feel like you’re lifting a golf ball or a basketball? That is how swing weight works. After three miles, which paddle will feel better, the one that feels like a basketball or a golf ball?
Paddles with low swing-weight are constructed with light materials. The lightest shafts are typically made of carbon fibre. Some are fibreglass. A carbon fibre, bent shaft paddle will provide strength, rigidity and comfort.
Light materials and buoyancy are fast. The best (and fastest) blades are typically constructed out of carbon fibre, fibreglass and even wood. They have a foam core which increases their buoyancy and injects energy into your stroke.
They are also smooth, reducing friction when being lifted out of the water.
A wider paddle blade gives you a higher gear. To reach higher speeds, you’ll need a wider paddle blade. A wider blade is like a higher gear on your bike. It’s a little more work when traveling at low speeds, but is absolutely necessary to reach higher speeds.
Size your paddle properly. Most kayakers require a blade somewhere between 50”-60”. The actual size you need depends on your height, your arm length and how high you sit in your kayak.
The rule of thumb is that you want to immerse your blade completely in the water. You don’t want your entire blade plus 8” of shaft in the water. Nor do you want to see half your blade sticking out of the water.
For what it’s worth, my preferred kayak paddle manufacturer is Werner and my paddle of choice is the Werner Corryvreckan Carbon Straight Shaft Kayak Paddle.
(That’s a mouthful. In the interest of full disclosure, it’s also an Amazon Affiliate Link. Along with most other things in life, Werner kayak paddles can be found on Amazon at very competitive prices.)
Nevertheless, try a few paddles and see what feels right. But remember, if improving kayak speed is your focus, you’ll need to drop some bucks on a lower swing-weight model. (And it will quickly feel like the best money you ever spent!)
Parting thoughts
There are definitely steps you can take to increase the speed of your kayak.
In general, faster kayaks are longer, narrower, lighter and sharper. However, the magic to maximizing your kayak speed is matching the particular kayak hull to the (realistic) speed that you will be able to maintain. In other words, you need to match the hull to the engine.
Improving your paddling technique allows your kayak to track straighter, at a faster pace, for a longer period of time.
Finally, selecting a light swing-weight paddle with a wide, smooth and buoyant blade, will help you propel your kayak to that next gear.
Good luck with your need for speed.