About the Kayak Database

Background

Awhile back I was researching a project at work that used an SQL database for capturing Web server stats. Since I also had an interest in learning Java as a programming language I was looking for something that I could do for a feasibility test using an SQL appliclation written in Java. As I have an interested in Kayaking I thought a simple Kayak statistics database would demonstrate what I wanted. Once the prototype was completed I decided to continue this exercise in personal development at home and enhance the database so that it could be a useful tool for gathering information about kayaks.

Synopsis

When considering the development of a kayak statistic database I had several goals. I wanted to database to be fairly complete. Initially, I decided to limit boats to major brands (although there are a lot of them that are pretty obscure). Originally my focus was on Sea Kayak vendors but I later added whitewater boats, as well as the class of boats known as "casual recreational". This is a kayak database, and while some of the entries stretch the definition of what I consider to be a kayak, it does not some specialized kayaks, rafts or canoes.

Collecting Information

Most of the information in the database has been collected from annual buyers guide issues from a couple of paddling related magazines. I collected additional information and sometimes verified the information from vendor sales flyers and their websites. Rather than try and include every bit information about the materials used, physical dimensions, and available options I have chosen to restrict the records to the following fields.

Vendor Name

Model Name

Style

Material

Length

Width

Weight

Price

The Vendor name is the well known name of the company producing the kayak. I have used the name as it might be listed in a business directory. When doing a search you only need to type part of the name anyway. For example, entering Valley would show a list of kayaks produced by Valley Canoe Products.

The model names are generally complete. However, I chose not to create separate records for boats of the same name that are available in different compositions. In cases where a design is available in fiberglass and kevlar only the fiberglass version is listed. However, if the same model name is used for a poly and composite version I've inserted separate records since often the physical dimensions differ significantly in a poly vs. composite layup even though model name may be the same.

When creating a entry for a kayak "style" I also made some arbitrary decisions. The possible style types are:

Touring
Short Touring
Recreation
Whitewater (play, rodeo, creek, downriver)
Sit-on-top
Surf ski
Tandem
Tandem Recreational
Other

Touring is fairly explanatory. For the purpose of the datebase "short touring" is defined as a mid-level boat, typically between 12 and 15 feet long, and wider then a "touring" class boat. These are boats that are generally designed for the beginner that feels that stability takes a priority over tracking and speed. The "recreational" class describes boats up to about 12 feet long, and wide. Something like a Perception Keowee or Old Town Otter is in this class. I have tried to to distinguish the various whitewater categories such as creek boats, play boats, rodeo boats, etc. but typically the buyers guides just refers to them as "whitewater play" so the style is not always accurate in the database.

I also chose to limit the materials field to polyethelene, fiberglass, kevlar, wood, folding, and other. I did not distinguish various proprietary plastic layups such as Prijon's HTP. Some boats with layups in composite materials such as the EddyLine "Carbonlite" I specified as "other".

The Length, Width, and Weight fields are fairly self explanatory except of one caveat. Rather then print out the length in feet and inches (or centimeters) I chose to round it off to feet and tenths of a foot. It's much easier to sort it that way. Width and Weight are also floating point values. At some point I plan modifying the system such that it will print out the results in feet/inches.

The price is listed in US dollars. I was unable to determine from the information that I have seen whether some of the Canadian vendors listed are listing their prices in Canadian dollars.

Disclaimers

I make no guarentees of the accuracy of the data found in the database. I have made no attempts at verifying what information is indeed accurate. That includes typo errors. Anyone considering buying a kayak should not make a decision based on the information in this database alone or even written or electronic information provide directly from a vendor. Get out on the water and paddle a boat before you even consider buying it.

Bugs and Enhancements

I still consider this database to be in the continuous development phase. There are numerous enhancements that I have considered but because this is just a non-commercial pet project of mine don't expect it to change much from what it is now.