Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post

Evenstar · 02-10-2006, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ITD

I'm fascinated by this, please refer me to the data or study which shows this.

I actually got that information from a paddlesport symposium that I attended last spring. I don't have time right now to do anything more that a quick search. (And there's like a million kayak sites.) So all I can come up with at this moment is a 2001 survey done in Minnesota:

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/aboutdnr/reports/trails/kayaking_study_summary.pdf
2001 Survey of Sea Kayak Owners in Minnesota: “Sea kayak owners are mostly middle-aged, in the 40 to 60 age range. Males account for three-fourths of owners, females one-fourth. The educational attainment of sea kayakers is quite high: 78 percent have completed college, which includes 38 percent who have completed a postgraduate degree. Another 6 percent have completed vocational or technical school. Nearly half of households (46%) are in middle income ranges of $30,000 to $80,000, while another 32 percent are over $100,000. Overall, the incomes are high, with a median in the $70,000 to $80,000 range, well above the Minnesota household median."

Another supporting point is that sea kayaks are by far the most expensive and the most difficult type of kayak to master (excluding extreme white water). There's just so much more to learn when you get into a sea kayak. These are high performance kayaks, which do require much more skill to operate (if you expect to be able to stay upright).

I've owned both types of kayaks - the difference in skill level needed is apparent as soon as you try to get into a sea kayak for the first time.

These are not beginner kayaks, so most people who own sea kayaks have been kayaking for quite a while, and they spend much more time on the water each season than the average recreational kayaker. All the people that I know of who own sea kayaks have had quite a bit of instruction on their use.

(I realize this information isn't great, but I will try to find more when I have more time. I just didn't want you to think that I was ignoring your request.)