Kayaking is a type of recreational sport where the participants make use of specialized boats referred to as kayaks in different bodies of water. Although it is similar to canoeing, it is generally differentiated by the paddler’s sitting position and the number of blades that are on the paddle.
According to the International Canoe Federation, a kayak is basically a small boat that is human-powered. Kayaks also have a covered deck as well as a cockpit which is covered by a spray deck. They can usually be propelled using a double-bladed paddle that is held by a sitting paddler. The legs of the paddler are concealed, dry and warm, inside the boat.
Kayaks have been originally developed by the indigenous people who were living in the Arctic regions. They used the boats as a transportation vessel to hunt on the inland rivers, lakes and coastal waters of the North Atlantic, Bering Sea, Arctic Ocean and North Pacific oceans. The first kayaks were constructed using stitched animal skins like seal that are stretched over wooden frames which are made using collected driftwood. There are some archaeologists have discovered evidence that proves kayaks are not less than 400 years old. Some of the oldest existing kayaks are displayed in the Munich’s State Museum of Ethnology.
The traditional kayaks include these three kinds of boat: the Baidarkas, which were the oldest design and had a round shape and a number of chines, giving them an appearance similar to a blimp; the West Greenland kayaks, which had fewer chines and had a shape that was more angular, their gunwales also rose to a point on its bow and stem; and the East Greenland kayaks which are similar in appearance to the West Greenland kayaks, but are usually more tightly fitted to the sitting paddler and has a steeper angle in between the gunwale and the stem, offering easier maneuverability.
Contemporary kayaks have their origins traced mainly to native boats that were used in Alaska, Southwest Greenland and northern Canada. Up until the 1950s, the wooden kayaks as well as fabric kayaks which had wooden frames largely dominated the market. However, their sales were reduced when the first fiberglass boats were introduced sometime during the 1950s. In 1973, the roto-molded plastic kayaks appeared, which marked the beginning of the development and progress of freestyle kayaking that we see today.
Modern kayaks are the kayaks that are being used today. They have evolved into a number of specialized types, which could be categorized based on their uses or applications. Here are some of the different types of modern kayaks.
1. Sea kayaks
These have been designed for travel either by one or by two paddlers on open waters. In many cases, these kayaks trade maneuverability for stability, seaworthiness and cargo capacity.
2. Recreational kayaks
Recreational kayaks are basically used by casual paddlers who are interested in going fishing, doing photography or going for a peaceful paddle on a flat water stream or a lake. This type of kayak presently makes up the biggest segment of kayak sales. Unlike the other kayak types, recreational kayaks have a bigger cockpit, allowing easier entry and exit, as well as a wider beam, which provides more stability on water. They are usually not longer than twelve feet and have a limited cargo capacity. These boats are also usually less expensive compared to the other boats as they make use of less expensive materials such as polyethylene, although are those recreational kayaks that are made with more expensive materials, as well.
3. White water kayaks
White water kayaks could be highly maneuverable and are typically designed for just one paddler. Some sub-types of white water kayaks include specialized boats like play boats and slalom kayaks. Racers that make use of white water kayaks usually combine a fast and unstable lower hull that has an upper hull which is flared so that flat water racing speed can be combined with extra stability when they are in open waters. They have a similar level of maneuverability to the flat water racers and are not fitted with rudders.
4. Surf kayaks
These are specialized long and narrow boats which can be used for surfing breaking waves, racing and surf-zone rescues. Surf kayaks are designed to offer total stability and could be used similar to a surf board in riding the waves. They are typically made using fiberglass or rotomolded plastic.
5. Fishing kayaks
In recent years, doing some sport fishing from kayaks has gained popularity and can be done in either fresh or salt water, particularly in warmer regions. Fishing kayaks usually have outriggers and have a specialized design that is similar to the recreational sit-in or sit-on-top kayaks which have very wide beams to increase lateral stability. Kayak fishing has even become a huge boating sport over the past couple of years.
Before going kayaking, whether for leisure or for sport, you need to make sure that you are physically and mentally fit. It would also be important to be prepared with a good set of the necessary gear, which would include a paddle, a kayak and a life jacket. You would also nee d to have the basic knowledge and the safety precautions when going kayaking. Lastly, since you may be under the rays of the sun as you head on out to the open waters, it would be useful to have a pair of good sunglasses handy. You can browse through the eyewear that Edeloptics offers. If you have a little problem in your vision, you can also get some prescription eyewear by visiting their website, edel-optics.com. That way, you would be able to see more clearly and take in the beauty of nature and of the sea, as you go kayaking.