How to Choose a Sea Kayak (Puget Sound Guide)
- Dylan
- Mar 24
- 15 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
A Practical Guide to Choosing the Right Touring Kayak for Northwest Waters
Northwest Outdoor Center · Seattle, WA
Choosing a sea kayak for Puget Sound is easier than it looks—and harder than most gear guides make it seem. The specs matter less than the question underneath them: how are you actually going to use it? And alongside that: how are you going to get it to the water? A kayak that's too heavy to load solo or too long for your garage will sit on the rack more than it's on the water. The best kayak is the one you actually use.
For a broader overview of kayak types, materials, and general considerations, our How to Choose the Right Kayak guide covers those fundamentals.
If you're new to kayaking entirely, start with our How to Start Sea Kayaking guide—this picks up from there.
At Northwest Outdoor Center, we've been teaching sea kayaking on Lake Union and Puget Sound since 1981. This guide is designed to help you land on the boat that matches your size, ability, and where you want to paddle.
The most common mistake Most paddlers either buy too much boat too early, or something so cautious that they outgrow it in one season |
We carry the full Delta touring lineup, from the 12s and 12.10 up to the 17, plus the 17.5T tandem. Everything below is based on how those boats actually perform here — spec sheets are useful, but they only tell part of the story.
One note: people do paddle recreational kayaks on parts of Puget Sound, and some rec kayaks with bulkheads can be re-entered after a capsize. But the process is harder and less reliable than with a kayak designed for open-water self-rescue, and rec hulls are less equipped to handle wind and current. For most Sound paddling, you're better off in a boat built for it.
Start with the Water, Not the Boat
The single most useful question to ask before looking at any kayak: where are you going to paddle most of the time?
That answer sorts most people into one of three situations—and each situation points toward a different type of kayak.
Lake Union and Protected Water
If you're just getting started, taking classes at NWOC, or primarily paddling on Lake Union, a calm bay, or a sheltered inlet, your priorities are stability and ease of use. You don't need a fast hull or a lot of storage. You need something predictable while you're still learning the strokes.
If you're newer to paddling, our Fundamentals of Sea Kayaking class is a good place to get real time in a boat before committing to a purchase. By the end of four days, most students have a clear sense of what they want.
• Shorter length (12–14 feet)
• More forgiving initial stability
• Simple setup, easy to handle on land
• Grows with your skills for a season or two
Puget Sound Day Trips
Once you're paddling beyond protected water—crossing open stretches, dealing with wind and current, heading out for a few hours—you need a boat that tracks reliably in those conditions. Puget Sound is cold year-round and conditions can change quickly, especially with wind. This is where the right kayak makes a real difference.
• 14–15 feet tracks better in wind and chop
• Rudder or skeg helps when conditions build
• Efficient hull that doesn't require constant correction
• Sealed bulkheads for safety and storage
If you're unsure how your kayak handles wind and current, our Rudder vs. Skeg guide breaks down what actually matters for paddling on Puget Sound.
Multi-Day and Dedicated Touring
If you're loading camping gear, doing island crossings, or spending serious time on exposed water, you want a longer kayak built for efficiency and capacity. These boats reward good technique and are designed for the conditions you'll encounter on routes like the San Juan Islands.
• 15–17 feet for speed and glide
• Higher storage capacity for gear
• Better performance in open water and wind
• More demanding to paddle well — edging and sweep strokes becoming more important as the kayak gets longer.
Still not sure? Start here If you're paddling in Seattle and want one boat that works on Lake Union and Puget Sounds, the Delta 14 is where most people land. It's stable enough to learn in and capable enough that you won't outgrow it after one season. If you're only going to own one kayak for Seattle paddling, this is a great choice. |
Want help choosing? Most paddlers figure it out within the first hour on the water.
We'd rather help you get the right boat the first time than sell you the wrong one |
Day Touring Kayaks (12–14 Feet): The Right Start for Most Paddlers
This is the right category for most people paddling in the Seattle area. Not just because these boats are easier to handle, but a kayak that matches your current skill level is one you'll actually want to get back into. Paddlers who buy a boat they're not ready for and capsize a few times early on will sometimes say they just need to grow into it. With instruction that can happen, but it's not likely if things get to the point where they're nervous to go back out. Starting in the right boat matters.
One more thing worth knowing: you don't need a longer kayak to paddle places like Lake Union. But if budget, storage, and getting to the water aren't limiting factors, a longer boat may still be more enjoyable — some paddlers appreciate the extra glide and the ease of holding a cruising speed. A longer kayak with a rudder or skeg is also more forgiving of less efficient paddling and requires less active boat management to stay on course, which can make paddling less tiring for someone still developing their technique.
That said, the returns from a longer kayak do diminish if you're not generating enough forward drive to take advantage of the extra waterline — a paddler who's not yet efficient through the water will get less benefit from a 15 or 16 foot hull than a stronger paddler would. A shorter kayak is more dependent on the paddler actively using sweep strokes and edging to stay on course, but those are skills worth developing and the kayak gives you honest feedback when you're not using them. A longer kayak can also take more effort to bring back on course once it gets off, especially in wind or current. These are tradeoffs worth understanding, not reasons to avoid longer boats.
If you want to understand how much the paddler influences how a kayak behaves, we break it down in our basic boat control guide.
At a minimum, whatever length you choose, look for two hatches, sealed bulkheads, and enough volume to re-enter and pump out if you flip.
Those features are what make a kayak genuinely recoverable on open water. We cover this in more detail in our Sea Kayak Self Rescue and Assisted Rescue Basics.
Delta 12s and 12.10
Both are light touring kayaks in a compact package with full sea kayak features — two hatches, bulkheads, sprayskirt-compatible cockpit. The main difference between them is deck height. The 12s has a deck that's about 1.5 inches lower than the 12.10, which makes a real difference in thigh room and how much a paddler can bend their knees. More deck height also makes it easier to get your legs in and out with your weight already in the seat. The 12s cockpit is also slightly narrower and shorter. If you're a smaller paddler, the 12s is likely the better fit. The 12.10 fits a wider range of body types and is one of the most stable boats in the Delta lineup.
Neither the 12s nor the 12.10 comes with a rudder or skeg option. If you want a rudder or skeg, get a 14. It's not worth trying to add one to a kayak not designed for it. While it's sometimes possible, we'd only recommend adding a rudder if the kayak is specifically designed for one by the manufacturer. Most of the time it makes more sense to sell the kayak and buy a new one with the system you want.
If you're going to paddle more exposed water where wind and chop are factors, we'd recommend moving up to the 14 or longer.
• Delta 12s best for: Smaller paddlers, lower deck height, 38 lbs
• Delta 12.10 best for: Wider range of paddlers, maximum stability in a short boat, 42 lbs
• Typical use: Day trips, skills practice, lake paddling and protected Sound
If you're newer to paddling or spending most of your time on Lake Union, this is the easiest place to start.
Delta 12.10
A stable, confidence-building short kayak that fits a wide range of paddlers. If you're newer to paddling or spending your time on lakes but want the ability to do some light day touring on Puget Sound, this is the boat we often recommend.
Delta 14
The 14 is the boat most paddlers at NWOC end up in, and for good reason. It hits the balance point that makes it useful across a wide range of conditions: stable enough for beginners, capable enough that intermediate paddlers aren't looking to upgrade after one season.
We stock it with a rudder, which is often the right call for Puget Sound — wind comes up, current moves, and a rudder lets you spend your energy going somewhere rather than constantly correcting course. That said, paddling without one builds useful skills, and some paddlers prefer it. We can order the 14 with a skeg if that's your preference, with orders usually coming in every 2 months April through August.
• Best for: Most Puget Sound paddlers, day trips, skills development
• Typical use: Lake Union, Puget Sound, protected Sound crossings
• What to know: 23.5" wide. Our most commonly recommended kayak — in stock and ready to demo. See current availability on our Delta Kayaks in stock page.
Full Touring Kayaks (15s–17 Feet): When You're Ready for More
You don't need a 17-footer unless you're actually going to use it. But if you're doing crossings, paddling exposed shoreline, heading into the San Juan Islands, or loading camping gear, you'll feel the difference immediately.
Longer kayaks have a higher theoretical top-end hull speed, but the practical difference between a 15s and a 17 is modest for most paddlers. What matters more is whether you have the strength and stamina to push a longer boat. A 17 has more wetted surface and more drag at moderate speeds — a paddler who isn't generating significant forward drive will actually go faster in a shorter boat, which has less resistance at the speeds they're working in. Sweep strokes and edging are also harder to execute effectively for a smaller paddler in a long kayak. This is exactly why the 15s can be the better choice for smaller paddlers — it's less fatiguing and more controllable. The 17 pulls ahead when you have the power and technique to push it.
Delta 15s
The 15s is designed for small to medium paddlers who want more speed and efficiency than the 14 offers. It's a slimmer, faster hull — narrower cockpit, lighter feel on the water, more responsive at pace. If the 14 fits well but you're looking for more glide on longer paddles, the 15s is worth trying.
• Best for: Smaller paddlers wanting more speed and efficiency
• Typical use: Puget Sound, San Juan Islands day trips, light camping
Delta 15.5 GT
The 15.5 GT is one the most stable-feeling single kayaks in the Delta lineup and the largest-fitting single. It's built for paddlers who want a roomy, stable kayak for overnight trips or for anyone who simply wants more space and confidence on the water. Where the 15s suits a smaller, efficient paddler, the 15.5 GT is the choice when a roomy fit and stability come first.
• Best for: Larger paddlers, or anyone who wants a stable, roomy fit.
• Typical use: Puget Sound, San Juans, day trips and overnights
This is the direction many paddlers go when they want more range and efficiency, and more confidence if conditions get choppy, without jumping all the way into a more technical boat.
Delta 16
The 16 is the most playful boat in the Delta lineup. It has a small amount of rocker — a slight upswept bow and stern compared to the other models — which helps it turn more easily and makes it more responsive to edging. It has noticeably less initial stability than the 15.5 GT, and meaningfully less than the 17. It wants to edge without as much coaxing, which paddlers who enjoy dynamic water tend to appreciate.
A note on fit: stability in any kayak is partly a function of where your center of gravity sits. A larger paddler with a higher center of gravity will find the 16 less forgiving than a smaller paddler would in the same boat — women often find it more naturally stable for this reason. A bigger paddler without much edging and bracing experience would be better served by the 15.5 GT or 17. The 16 is best suited to someone who's comfortable with an active hull and has the skills to work with it.
• Best for: Paddlers comfortable with edging and bracing, dynamic water
• Typical use: Puget Sound, San Juan Islands, coastal touring
Delta 17
The 17 is the overnight kayak in the Delta lineup. Long waterline for speed and tracking, tons of storage, and enough stability that most paddlers feel confident in it. It's the boat our staff reach for on multi-day trips in the San Juans. If you're doing serious coastal touring or loading up for a week on the water, this is what it's designed for.
If you're unsure whether your sweep strokes and edging are strong enough to control a 17-footer, get it with a rudder. The rudder gives you a reliable way to manage course in wind and current while those skills continue to develop.
• Best for: Multi-day trips, open water and coastal routes
• Typical use: Extended trips, open crossings, San Juan Islands and beyond
The Delta 17.5T: Paddling Together
The Delta 17.5T is Delta's tandem kayak: light for a double at 70 lbs, and well-suited for day to multi-day trips. It has enough storage for a 2–3 day trip comfortably; longer expeditions can get tight depending on how much food and gear you're carrying, though there's additional space in front of the rear cockpit's foot pegs that can be used for packing. It's a good option if one of you is less experienced and you want to paddle together without one person feeling anxious — and two people paddling well in a tandem cover ground quickly.
If you're introducing someone to kayaking or want to paddle with a partner of different experience levels, the 17.5T is the practical choice.
• Best for: Couples, families, mixed skill levels paddling together
• Typical use: Lake Union, Puget Sound, day trips and multi-day
• What to know: The stern paddler steers. The bow paddler sets the pace. If you're more experienced, put yourself in the stern
Model Comparison at a Glance
* Delta 14 is stocked with a rudder at NWOC. Skeg configuration available by order.
Beyond Length: What Actually Matters in a Kayak
Once you've narrowed down the length range, there are a few other things worth paying attention to.
Width
Length gets most of the attention, but width matters too. Touring kayaks are generally under 24 inches wide — narrower than recreational kayaks, which contributes to better tracking and efficiency but less initial stability. The Delta 14, for example, is 23.5 inches wide — narrow enough to move efficiently, wide enough that most paddlers feel comfortable in it. As with hull shape, width on a spec sheet only tells part of the story: how a boat actually feels on the water depends on how it carries that width through its length.
Cockpit Fit
A kayak that doesn't fit you won't paddle well, no matter how good the hull design is. You should feel connected to the boat — able to edge it with your hips and knees, not sliding around. Seat position, thigh brace height, and back support all matter, and most kayaks can be outfitted to improve fit: hip pads, closed cell foam on the thigh braces, or seat adjustments can bring a slightly too-large cockpit into a good position.
What you can't easily fix is a kayak that's too small. If the deck pushes your legs too flat you may have your feet fall asleep faster, and there's not much to be done. You can make a bigger kayak fit a smaller paddler. You can't make a small kayak fit a larger one.
Volume
A lower-volume kayak sits closer to the water, which means less freeboard — less hull exposed to wind. That can actually reduce weathercocking in certain conditions, depending on hull design. A higher-volume kayak carries more gear and tends to be more comfortable for larger paddlers who need the extra buoyancy to sit at the right waterline.
One thing worth knowing: a kayak loaded past its intended capacity gets significantly less stable the further it goes past that point. On the other hand, a correctly sized paddler with around 50 lbs of gear often makes the kayak perform at its most stable — the load settles it into the water at the waterline it was designed for.
Hull Design
Width numbers on a spec sheet only tell part of the story. A kayak that's wide at its widest point but narrows quickly won't feel nearly as stable as the number suggests — it doesn't carry that width for long. A narrower kayak that maintains its width through more of its length can be just as stable, or more so, and will move through the water more efficiently. This is one reason sitting in a kayak tells you more than reading about it.
Length affects how the kayak behaves underway. A longer kayak typically has more glide and holds a cruising speed with less effort. Once it's moving, it wants to keep moving. A shorter kayak is more likely to come off course, but it's also easier to correct.
For most paddlers on Puget Sound, that tradeoff resolves itself quickly: the 14 tracks well enough that course correction isn't a constant chore, and it's short enough to handle easily on land.
Construction
Delta kayaks are made from thermoformed ABS plastic — lighter than traditional rotomolded plastic and the most scratch-resistant of the common kayak materials. The material is designed for rocky beaches common on the West Coast and through BC, and takes quite a strong blow to cause real damage. It's a practical choice for Northwest paddling conditions where abrasion from beaches and docks is a fact of life.
Weight
Weight matters most when you're not on the water — loading onto a roof rack, carrying to the launch, storing at home. A lighter kayak makes all of that easier, which means you're more likely to actually use it. Delta's thermoformed construction keeps weights reasonable across the lineup: the 12s is 38 lbs, the 12.10 is 42 lbs, the 14 is 45 lbs. If lifting one end of the kayak overhead feels impossible in the store, that's useful information. It won't get easier on a windy day at the boat launch.
Budget
Light touring kayaks like the 12s and 12.10 run roughly $1,500–$2,000. Touring kayaks like the 14 start around $2,000 and go up from there for longer models. Factor in a paddle, PFD, and basic safety gear — another $300–$600 depending on what you choose. That's the realistic number to plan around for a complete setup.
One note: buying a kayak from us includes 15% off new accessories for six months. For most paddlers outfitting a new boat, that adds up!
One Thing That Matters More Than the Kayak
Puget Sound stays cold year-round at roughly 46–53°F, even in summer. The kayak you're in doesn't change that. What you're wearing does.
The most important clothing rule in cold-water paddling is simple: dress for the water temperature, not the air. A sunny 70°F day on the Sound still means 50°F water. If you end up in it, that difference matters fast.
What you wear matters as much as the kayak itself, and if conditions worsen, having the right clothing on makes a big difference. We break that down in our What to Wear Kayaking guide based on real Seattle water temperatures.
Try Before You Buy
The most reliable way to choose a kayak is to paddle it. Trying a few kayaks back to back tells you a lot, even 20 minutes in each is usually enough. Often you'll know intuitively when you've found the one that suits you and your paddling. We rent a range of single and double sea kayaks on Lake Union by the hour so you can compare directly.
If you want more time in a kayak before deciding, we charge our standard rental rates, but if you end up purchasing, we apply that rental time toward your purchase. Come in, sit in a few boats, and talk through your goals with us. We'd rather help you get the right boat the first time than sell you the wrong one.
• Hourly kayak rentals on Lake Union
• Free 20-minute demos of the full Delta lineup
• Full Delta lineup in stock
• Custom orders available 4x per year for non-stock configurations
Most paddlers narrow this down quickly once they’ve spent a little time in a few boats. If you’re deciding between options, the next step is usually getting on the water or talking it through with someone who paddles here regularly.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Compare models, see what's in stock, or come try them on the water:
→ Delta Kayaks Comparison — specs, photos, and side-by-side model breakdowns
→ Kayak Rentals on Lake Union — try different boats by the hour
→ Sea Kayaking Classes — build the skills to get the most out of the right boat
Questions? Call us at 206-281-9694 or stop by at 2100 Westlake Ave N, Seattle. We're on the water every day and happy to talk through what makes sense for how you want to paddle.
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