Are kayaks meant to be scratched?

They will naturally get scratched hitting rocks and sliding down concrete dock ramps. Despite what the first answer said, it really doesn't affect the performance of a normal kayak for recreational use. I have owned 12 kayaks, mostly rotomold plastic but also fiberglass and rubber hulled folding kayaks. ALL of them developed scratches from just about the first day of use. It doesn't bother me.

Saying a kayak is "meant" to be scratched is kind of a strange way to put it. You can EXPECT them to be scratched, and a plastic boat will not be much affected by this. Fiberglass ones can be patched and re-gelcoated if they get too badly damaged. Deep gouges in a plastic boat can also be patched in various ways but superficial scratches are not big deal at all.

I'm sure serious competitive racers obsess about having their boat hulls super smooth but for the rest of us normal paddlers, having a scratched up boat goes along with enjoying it. I've never seen a whitewater kayak, or a touring kayak for that matter, that did not have scratches on the hull.

no is the answer. as in Competition each scratch will cause the kayak to slow down. but as you catch a rock you will scratch it.

some time the scratches give it some respect as it has experience of rough water. where as an unscratched boat looks new and no use.