Length Length is usually the first dimension you'll look at. To a large degree a kayak's length determines how fast it can go, how stable it is, and how much it will hold. There are really two separate lengths that must be considered for every boat. A boat with a LOA much longer than its LWL is said to have long overhangs. Long overhanging bows and sterns are often added to a design for cosmetic reasons.
Some paddlers feel that long overhanging bows are beneficial in rough waters.
But similar advantages can be achieved with a moderate overhang by increasing the volume in the bow. These long overhangs, particularly if they are overly upswept, can add considerable lateral surface area that makes a boat more difficult to handle in strong winds. Most paddlers know that a boat's top speed is related to its length. This speed is called the boat's hull speed. Actually your kayak can also attain very high speeds for brief periods when surfing down waves.