The length and width of a kayak are important, but I hope that I’ve made clear that hull design, load rating, and seat height matter, too. Larger anglers who need to carry a lot of gear are going to need a longer kayak to handle the weight. Those who are looking for a faster, more efficient and better tracking kayak are often looking for a longer kayak, too. But this is not always true, and hull design often matters more than length or even width.