What is the hull of a kayak?

The bottom of a kayak is called the hull. This “floating surface” forms an interface between the kayak and the water, and thus plays a primary role in determining how the boat will perform. Ultimately, the design of the hull of a kayak is the main factor in whether or not a kayak is right for you.

An educated buyer can look at a hull design and estimate how the boat will perform in the water. Different kayak shapes will have different paddling characteristics; speed and glide, tracking and maneuverability, and stability are all directly influenced by these shapes.

In general, hull design boils down to a few things: First, rocker, or upsweep of the kayak from bow to stern, establishes the balance between tracking and maneuverability. For example, whitewater kayaks feature plenty of rocker to assist agile handling in rapids, while sea kayaks have minimal rocker to enable easier straight-line travel (A.K.A. tracking).

Another are the chines of the kayak, which mark the transition from the bottom of the kayak to its sides. Chines, also referred to as edges, play a role in the way in which the kayak turns, and in how stable it feels to transition the kayak from flat on the water to leaning one way or the other.

Finally, the cross-section of the hull (as if a slice were taken from the kayak from side to side) is interrelated to the other elements and also creates numerous design options. The design of the bottom of your kayak influences speed, stability and turning. To help understand the different kayak hull types and which will be the best kayak for you, let’s take a look at the details of the major styles.