Kayak Anatomy: Materials

Old Town has been a pioneer in innovative materials for canoes and kayaks that provide rigidity and resiliency, light weight and long life, attractive looks and affordable prices. Click on these links to learn more about our full range of paddlesport materials for every purpose and every budget.

PolyLink3™
Three-layer linear polyethylene technology that provides exceptional stiffness, low weight and built-in flotation at an affordable price.

100% Recycled Plastic
Made with 100% post industrial plastic. We use our own plastic waste and cutouts to produce these unique kayaks. But don't let the word 'waste' fool you. Our 100% recycled material actually contains stronger property materials than most recreational kayaks on the market. In addition Old Town donates 1% of the gross sales of our recycled boats to Waterkeeper Alliance.

Single Layer Linear Polyethylene
Excellent durable linear polyethylene at an affordable price, ideal for smaller kayaks like the Otter.

Variable Layer
Based on our time tested 3-layer process, this advancement gives us a 10% weight savings over single-layer polyethylene of the same stiffness.

Superlinear Polyethylene
A premium, high-density polyethylene that is very strong and provides bombproof durability.

Materials Comparison