: Hi All, I hope someone can educate me, from time to time I read on
: this forum about a low volume kayaks and would like to know
: what makes a low or high volume kayak, and is my Night Heron low or
: high volume kayak (just trying to understand the pro lingo)
: as always thanks for your help Nick R.
:

Low volume refers to a lower amount of reserve bouyancy. All the volume above the water line is reserve bouyancy. Smaller kayaks can still be high volume for their length, and there are no absolute metrics on what constitutes a high or low volume kayak. The Night Heron is a medium volume kayak, but there is a low-deck version that reduces reserve bouyancy.

In kayaks of a given length, say 17 foot, higher volume is useful for heavier paddlers, when carrying a lot of gear, and sometimes in rough water. The downside of high volume is more wind resistence, more difficult rolling, and a heavier boat.

My paddling conditions tend to be windy, and I have little need for a large storage capacity, so my choice is for lower-volume kayaks.

John
Rakiraki, Fiji