You've done the homework and know which boat is the right one for you but - and it's a big but- what colour do you choose?
Potentially, you could be sitting in your kayak for hours on end, so you really want something pleasing to the eye. That's one consideration but there are more to ponder on.
With composite kayaks, you could in theory choose from one of the hundreds of shades and colours on a RAL chart, so it can be a bit daunting. So let's see if we can help narrow it down a bit for you.
The first thing to notice is that the resolution on your computer may show the colours of the RAL chart differently to your friend's computer, so it's always best to look at an actual RAL chart to decide. I offer my RAL chart to folks to check out when they're buying a new kayak and they can take it away to mull over.
Here are some considerations on colour
Visability
This is high on everyone's list- you want to be seen on the water in case things go wrong.
Yellow and Orange- Highly visible on the water making them an excellent choice for safety as they stand out in various conditions, including foggy, overcast days.
Green and Blue- These can blend into natural surroundings depending on the sea state so perhaps not quite so visible.
White- Offers good visibility in dark or murky water but can blend into the surroundings, especially in bright sun or when there are white horses on the sea.
Red- Very noticeable, especially against blue water and sky. Red does absorb more UV light so is therefore more likely to fade in the sun.
Don't let visability mean that you reconsider your lifelong favourite colour of Ultramarine Blue. On the water, a bright paddle with reflective strips on it, bright cag and buoyancy aid are more important to get right. From the shore, a moving paddle is often the first thing people notice, search lights pick out reflective strips so easily, you can also ask for reflective decklines and bungee to be used on your kayak and again these will help visability in rescue situations. If you've capsized and lost your grip on your kayak, it's your colouring that matters!
Durability
Dark colours on a composite kayak will scratch through to the white layer underneath. I've seen an absolutely stunning, new, all black kayak after a day on the water coming back looking as though it had been through the wars. If you want a darker coloured kayak to maintain it's good looks, be prepared to take a bit more care of it and exit whilst still on the water and then lift to the shore.
An all white kayak will always look best over time with normal use scratches. For this reason, many people choose to have the best of both worlds with the hull in white and the deck a different colour.
As mentioned above, red fades more overtime than other colours as it is least UV resistant. All kayaks can benefit from regular maintenance and the application of a UV protectant such as 303 Aerospace Protectant being used every month or two will help keep your kayak shining bright.
Personal Preference
Aside from playing about with different colour choices of seat, cockpit rim and and seam colours, you can now take your designs a step further.
Manufacturers now are producing works of art in their kayaks. If you have the imagination to create a stunning kayak, then we can look at your graphics etc and see what can be done but there are considerations to ponder on.
Depending on the complexity, there may be additional costs.
The addition of lots of graphics and/or glitter will add weight to your kayak. In some cases this can be an additional 2kg or so.
A highly customised kayak will also be more difficult to repair seamlessly should your pride and joy have an "incident".
Weight
As mentioned above graphics etc will add weight to your kayak. However for the nerds amongst us, some sources suggest that certain colour pigments (especially british racing green) can be heavier than others. The difference is very minimal and unlikely to noticeably affect the kayak's performance or handling. It is however an interesting fact to hold ready for the pub quiz!
So, with the hundreds of colours available on a RAL chart, the addition of your own favourite graphics, possibly enhanced with a dash of glitter- deciding on the configuration of your forever kayak could take a bit of time!
The above photo is of me in my Explorer LV Penguin boat. When I first got it, I swore I would keep clear of rock gardens and it would not get scratched. First day on the water on Skye, I watched my friends all have fun exploring in amongst the rocks as I waited in the open water. I think this lasted for five minutes when I then decided that a boat is created to be used and enjoyed- scratches are only bravery badges!
Happy paddling :)
