Tandem kayaks are also called doubles since they can hold two people in the same boat. A tandem kayak is really ideal for the newbie who is a bit shy of being on the water alone. Team up, feel secure and share the fun of a tandem kayak.



There aren't any regulations about who can be in a tandem kayak. In fact, kayakers take children, parents, friends and even family pets in the tandem kayak. One of the interesting things about a double is that the second passenger doesn't have to raise a finger if they don't want to. Maybe your second passenger is too young, too old or just not physically capable of paddling. That's alright because they can just sit and enjoy the ride.

A tandem kayak is wider than the single standard single style. This actually makes a tandem kayak more stable in the water giving your passenger a sense of security.

For families, tandem kayaking is an excellent option. If the kids are very young, parents can keep them on their laps. Older kids can sit flanked by parents where they will be safe. This means the entire family can enjoy a day on the water safely.

Make sure to consider who's sitting where before jumping in the boat. Careful consideration to this question will aid in creating a smooth and simple journey.

The weight and the size of the individuals in your party need to be taken into account when deciding who sits where. Try to keep the weights in each kayak equivalent which means including the weight of the paddles themselves. And keep in mind the the heaviest weight needs to be in the rear of the kayak and the most experienced paddler should take a rear seat as well.

The two people sitting in a tandem kayak should try to work as team. If the second person has not just come along for the ride and both are paddling, the tandem kayak will be much quicker. When paddling is done in unison, kayaking can be efficient. It's the quickest way of kayaking as long as there isn't too much clashing of paddles.

Enjoy kayaking with a buddy in tandem and remember teamwork is the key.