Dictionary
a small canoe consisting of a light frame made watertight with animal skins used by Eskimos travel in a small canoe "we kayaked down the river"
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Wikipedia
Kayak (band)Kayak is also the name of a Netherlands Dutch progressive rock band.'' A kayak is a type of small human-powered boat; a covered variant of a canoe, typically used with a double-bladed paddle instead of a canoe's single bladed paddle.The user or paddler sits down in the kayak with feet facing forward. The top of the kayak is covered with a deck. The paddler sits in a hole in the cockpit which may be sealed off with a spray skirt (or spraydeck). This stops water splashing over the boat from entering it, and makes it possible that, should the kayak (capsize), the kayak will not fill with water, and the paddler, with skill, can right the kayak again without taking on water. This manoeuvre is known as an Eskimo Roll.In modern times kayaks have been further developed into several types including: whitewater kayakingwhitewater, playboats, surfing, sea kayaks, Canoe racingflat-water racing, downriver racing, Slalom_canoeingslalom, canoe polo and Recreational kayakrecreational. These types may also be subdivided. Modern kayaks are made of plastic, Glass-reinforced plasticfiberglass, kevlar, !Graphite-reinforced_plasticcarbon fiber, canvas, other fabrics, or wood. They come in one, two, and occasionally three person models. Some sit-on-top boats are also called kayaks, as the paddler propels the boat with a double-ended paddle. The design of different types of kayak is largely a matter of trade-offs between directional stability, or ''tracking'', and maneuverability. Touring kayaks, sea kayaks and flat-water racing kayaks are built as long as possible in order to improve tracking, because the better the directional stability, the more efficiently each stroke contributes to forward motion, but at a cost of reduced maneuverability; solo touring boats are typically 16 or 17 feet long while a cruising or racing boat can be 20 feet or longer. (Longer boats also have a higher maximum non-planing hull speed, but the effect is largely offset by increased friction, and only becomes a significant factor at racing speeds.) Whitewater kayaks, which generally depend upon river current for their forward motion, are built quite short, to maximize maneuverability; whitewater boats rarely exceed eight feet in length, while playboats are generally about six feet long. The design of recreational kayaks is an attempt to compromise between tracking and maneuverability, while keeping costs reasonable; their length generally ranges from nine to fourteen feet. There are, of course, many more elements of kayak design— see the external links for more information. Most kayaks are rigid hulled, although folding kayaks that can be transported easily, and inflatable kayaks are not uncommon.A special type of kayak using pedals allows the kayaker to propel the vessel with underwater "flippers" .
Origins - Kayaks were originally developed by the Inuit, the indigenous peoples living in the Arctic regions of North America and Greenland. The word "kayak" means "man's boat". These first kayaks were constructed as a wooden frame covered by an animal skin such as seal (mammal)seal skin. Kayaks were originally built by the man who would use them (with substantial assistance from his wife, who would typically sew the skins). The skin jacket of the hunter is then sewn into the skins of the kayak, to create a waterproof seal. The man would measure the frame for the kayak based on his forearm, and a typical kayak is about 19ft long. This measurement style confounded early European explorers who tried to duplicate the kayak because each kayak was a little different. Kayaks were used to hunt on the coastal and open waters of the Arctic Ocean, usually with harpoons and lances, but also with bird hooks.Because the user was sewn into the boat, it was almost like a piece of clothing, 'worn' by the boater. This meant that what is now known as a 'wet exit' (getting out of a kayak that has overturned, righting it, and getting back in) was impossible, leading to the importance of the Eskimo Rolleskimo roll manoeuvre, where the kayak is righted without leaving the cockpit. For the Inuit, without modern floatation devices or cold water protection, being thrown into the freezing waters of the Arctic Ocean was almost certain death in any event.Greenland style boats are typically narrower, and are paddled with greenland paddles, typically wooden, long and narrow.
Skin on Frame kayaks - Often an umbrella term for several types of kayaks, Skin on Frame boats are primarily considered a more traditional boat in design, materials, construction, and technique. They are often the lightest kayaks, and traditionally made of drift wood pegged and or lashed together and seal skin stretched over it, as those were the easiest materials to source in the arctic regions.The NetherlandsDutch were some of the first Europeans to take interest in the indigenous American boat design, spelling the name for these Inuit & Aleut boats, ''Qajaq''. This spelling of the word kayak has evolved to be synonymous with “traditional kayak” and often encompasses three sub categories of boats separated by development local:Baidarkas, from the Alaskan & Aleutian seas, and are a much older design. Their more rounded shape and high number of chines give them an almost Blimp-like appearance.West Greenland kayaks are what most neo-traditional polymer boats are modeled after. Possessing often fewer chines they are more angular in shape, the gunnels rising to a point at the bow (ship)bow and stern.East Greenland kayaks appear similar to the West Greenland boat, but are often more snugly fitted to the boater and possess a steeper angle between gunnel and stem. Lending maneuverability traits more adapted to the local environment.
Folding kayaks - A special type of skin-on-frame kayak is the folding kayak, the direct descendant of the original Inuit kayak. A ''folder'' is a modern kayak that uses a collapsible frame, of wood, aluminum or plastic, or a combination thereof, and a skin, of some sort of water-resistant and tough fabric. Many types have integral air sponsons inside the hull, making the kayaks virtually unsinkable.Folders are known for their durability, stability, and longevity: The Klepper ''Aerius I'', a single-seater, has been used successfully for white-water kayaking, due to its durability and excellent manouvrability, while many Kleppers have been in frequent use for more than 20 years.Folding kayaks exhibit many of the same paddling characteristics as the original skin-and-frame vessels of the circumpolar north. Of all modern kayaks, they are closest relatives to the skin-and-frame boats of the past.
Whitewater kayaks - Whitewater kayakingWhitewater kayaks are generally made out of high impact plastic, usually polyethylene. They are shorter than other types of kayaks. The size usually ranges from 6 to 10 feet/2 to 3 metres long; the trend was toward the shorter boats, but this is now reversing slightly to longer boats of around 7 to 8 feet that can become airborne more easily. Whitewater kayaks are among the most maneuverable types made, however they are much slower than many other styles of boat. Whitewater boats, however, do not need inherent speed. Their speed comes from their ability to ride the crest of flowing river. In "freestyle" competition ("kayak rodeo"), whitewater kayakers use features of rapids to do tricks, typically while remaining in one place on the river.Ultra-low-volume kayaks that are designed to be paddled both on and below the surface of the water are used in Squirt Boating.
Surf Kayaks - Surf Kayaks are similar in design to whitewater kayaks, except they have a planing hull (flat side to side) to carve into a wave face, like a surfboard. While typically seven or eight feet in length, competition surf kayaks can be nearly twelve feet long to increase both planing speed while on a wave and to provide faster paddling speed for catching waves. A variation on the closed cockpit surf kayak is an open cockpit design called a Waveski. Although the waveski utilises similar dynamics, in terms of paddling technique and surfing performance on the waves, construction can be very similar to surfboard designs. Elite waveski surfers are able to more closely imitate surfboard manouveres.
Recreational Kayaks - Recreational kayaks are designed for the casual paddler interested in fishing, photography, or a peaceful paddle on a lake or flatwater stream; they presently make up the largest segment of kayak sales. Compared to other kayaks recreational kayaks have a larger cockpit for easier entry and exit and a wider beam (27–30 inches) for more stability on the water; they are generally less than twelve feet in length and have limited cargo capacity. Using less expensive materials like polyethylene and including fewer options keep these boats inexpensive ($300–$800). Most canoe/kayak clubs will offer indroductory instruction programs in recreational boats as a way to enter into the sport.? rideaucanoe.on.ca
Flatwater Racing Kayaks - Flatwater Canoe_racingracing kayaks are generally made out of lightweight materials, and as such, are somewhat weak; they are not intended for anything other than flat water on a relatively calm day. They are thin, extremely unstable, and expensive, with a competitive boat running in the $4000 range. They require a good level of expertise to paddle well, but are extremely fast in the hands of proficient users. The beam of a flatwater boat is typically barely wider than the hips of the person who paddles it, allowing for a very long and narrow shape to reduce drag. The most common types of flatwater racing kayaks (sometimes termed 'sprint boats') are K-1, K-2 and K-4. These boats are raced at the Olympic GamesOlympic level by both men and women, over courses of 200m, 500m and 1000m. A highly specialized variant of flatwater racing kayak called a Surf skisSurf Ski has an open cockpit and can be twenty-one feet long but only eighteen inches wide, requiring expert balance and paddling skill. Surf Skis were originally created for surf and are still used in surf races in countries such as New Zealand, Australia, South Africa.Flatwater racing kayaks are closely related to flatwater racing canoes in that they are very long and narrow, and are usually paddled out of a common club or team.
Inflatable kayaks - Another special type of kayak is the inflatable kayak. Inflatable kayaks usually can be transported by hand using a carry bag. They can be inflated with foot pumps, a variety of hand pumps, or electric pumps. The pressure sounds low, almost always below 3 psi.They are made of hypalon (a kind of neoprene), polyvinyl cholridepvc, or polyurethane coated cloth.Besides being portable, inflatable kayaks generally are stable and easy to master, but they take more effort to paddle and are slower than traditional kayaks.
See also - Canoe Canyoning Playboating Squirt Boating
External links - playak.com - Playak - Kayak & Canoe News Online paddling community with kayak headlines from around the world, a large kayak database, event calendar, photo galleries and a large directory of paddling sites known as Kayahoo.tvccpaddles.com - Tennessee Valley Canoe Club A paddling club located in the southeastern U.S., hosting an annual paddle school on the Hiwassee River.rideaucanoe.on.ca - Rideau Canoe Club A competitive kayak/canoe club in Ottawa, Canadacanoekayak.ca - Canadian Canoe Association The Canadian Canoe association, encompassing kayakingppca-canoe-club.org.uk - Port of Plymouth Canoeing Association A kayaking club based in Plymouth, UK.americanwhitewater.org - American Whitewater The United States' 50-year-old organization devoted to whitewater.boatertalk.com - Boater Talk An international whitewater paddling forum.boatingbeta.com - BoatingBeta.com A site whose focus is kayaking and canoeing in the Southeastern US.KayakDude.com - KayakDude.com Kayaking portal with news, articles and links to kayak related sites.KayakInstruction.org - KayakInstruction.org, A non-profit organization providing whitewater kayak trainingkayakforum.com - Kayakwiki, A wiki site devoted exclusively to kayaks and kayakingfoldingkayaks.org - Folding Kayaks A non-commercial site devoted to folding kayaks kayakvb.com - KayakVB Kayak Resources for Southeast Virginia faltboot.de - Faltboot.de A non-commercial site on folding kayaks in Germanthamesweirproject.co.uk - ThamesWeirProject Community and information for Thames Paddlers in the UKInternational Canoe Federation http://www.canoeicf.com The international governing body for canoe and kayak sport bcu.org.uk - British Canoe Unionnswseakayaker.asn.au - NSW Sea Kayak Club (New South Wales, Australia) - a top-resource on all things sea kayaking: From skills and technique to nutrition facts, from preparation for expedition kayaking to trip suggestions.manhattankayak.com - Manhattan Kayak a kayak club based in New York citysdaccess.net - Kayaking San Diego a public service site for visiting paddlers caska.org - Chicago Area Sea Kayaking Associationkayak.pingotter.com - PingWillauerKayaks A student weblog which documents a kayak-building expedition by Willauer Middle School (an Outward Bound school in Boston harbor).watertribe.com - WaterTribe A non-commercial site devoted to small, human powered boats and expedition racinghttp://www.mountainbuzz.com A site for Colorado kayakersqajaqusa.org - Qajaq USA, A non-profit comitted to promoting Greenland style kayakingguillemot-kayaks.com - Kayak designnpmb.com - Northeast Paddler's Message Board, A site devoted to kayaking, canoeing and almost all things whitewater in the Northeastern United States.paddling.net - Paddling.net A site dedicated to all paddle related sports including kayaking.clubjkp.net - Club JKP A french club ok kayak (Paris). paddlepedia.com - paddlepedia - Another newer wiki about paddling purepaddling.com - purepaddling.com - An online community of surf ski paddlers, sea kayakers and other paddlersCategory:Human powered vehiclesCategory:Boat !typesCategory:Canoeingca:Caiac da:Kajakde:Kajakes:Kayakeo:Kaj akofr:Kayakid:Kayakit:Kayakms: Kayaknl:Kajakja:カヤックpl :Kajakfi:Kajakkisl:Kajaksv:Kaj akzh:皮艇th:การพา เรือคายัค< /text>
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Websites
Yacu Amu Rafting
Highly recommended whitewater rafting and kayaking adventures in Ecuador, South America. Beginners to expert.
http://www.yacuamu.com/
Sognefjord Norway
active holiday round the Sognefjord.
http://www.sognadventure.no/
Make the best use of the wingpaddle
Get at better paddlingstyle, by using the right feathering of your wingpaddle. The feathering of your paddle determines your style.
http://www.paddle-web.com/
Ghale Treks & Travels
Adventure and outdoor activities - trekking, mountain flights, rafting and exciting extension tours in Nepal.
http://www.asiatrekking.com/
Welcome to the Dan River Company
The Dan River Company provides professional rental and shuttle services on the Dan River. We are located in the foothills of the Sauratown Mountain Range and adjacent to Hanging Rock State Park in Danbury, North Carolina. Whether you are located in Winston Salem, Martinsville, High Point, Mt. Airy or Greensboro, you are less than 1 hour from adventure. Rent our canoes, kayaks and Sit on Tops, or bring your own boats.
http://www.danrivercompany.com
Auberge Gaspésie
Située en bordure de mer et à proximitée des montagnes, cette auberge constitue une base idéale pour partir à la découverte des Chic-Chocs et du Parc de la Gaspésie. Spas et sauna. Refuge et camping disponibles.
http://www.aubergesgaspesie.com/
www.kaymarantours.com
KAT offers a variety of eco tourism activities from small and large motorized boats (2-40 passengers) to Guided Kayak Tours of the nearby Ladner Marsh. You can even rent a bike. Bird watching and wildlife viewing opportunities are superb in the estuary which is home to the well known Reifel Island Bird Sanctuary on Westham Island.
http://www.kaymarantours.com/
Anacortes Sea Kayaking Tours
Sea Kayaking the San Juan Islands with Anacortes Kayak Tours. Avoid Ferry Hassles!
http://www.anacorteskayaktours.com/
Turismo Aonikenk - Adventures made in Patagonia
Turismo Aonikenk is an incoming tour operator specializing in adventure and discovery travel in Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego (Chile and Argentina).
http://www.aonikenk.com/
Wild Spain
Information on Nature and Outdoor Travel in Spain
http://www.wild-spain.com/
Holiday Accommodation in the Hautes Alpes (Ecrins National Park)
Holiday accommodation in the Hautes Alpes combined with local knowledge to allow you to make the most of your valuable holiday time.
http://www.alpsun.com/
Uncle Ducky Outfitters
Uncle Ducky Outfitters in Marquette, Michigan provides guided Fishing Trips by Canoe and Kayak in Upper Peninsula Lakes, Rivers, and Streams. Flyfishing trips and Canoe and Kayak Rentals. You only need a weekend to experience this this beautiful and pristene area if you live in Michigan, Wisconsin, Chicago, and Northern Illinois or Indiana.
http://www.uncleduckyoutfitters.com/
United States Water Trails
A site that is dedicated to give you access information to water trails across the United States. So your enjoyment of the beauty and the serenity of being upon the water on a water trail in America will be more complete.
http://www.watertrailslocator.com/
Gold River, British Columbia
a small westcoast community located in the heart of Vancouver Island wilderness
http://www.goldriverbc.ca/
Essex River Basin Adventures
Come visit us for a guide tour in the Essex River Basin, which is a tidal estuary for birds and kayakers alike. We can also help you find the right kayak that will fit you individually in our retail store.
http://www.erba.com/
e-Propuestas.com
Portal que ofrece diferents ofertas de deportes de aventura, riesgo y otras propuestas de ocio.
http://www.e-propuestas.com
Rios Ecuador
Whitewater rafting and kayaking in the jungle. Ecuador's finest rivers and most experienced guides.
http://www.riosecuador.com/
Canoe and Kayak Magazine
Winner of 30 national publishing awards, this is the world's leading paddlesports publication.
http://www.canoekayak.com/
Kayak Online
Includes kayak buying tips, information on manufacturers of kayaks and kayaking gear, and links to sea and whitewater clubs and events.
http://www.kayakonline.com/
Ocean Kayak
Originator of the world's most popular sit-on-top kayaks. Includes product support, dealer locator and featured destination section. Order accessories on-line and request a catalogue.
http://www.oceankayak.com/
Kayak Magazine
Published five times per year, devoting its content to the extreme paddling community with articles and photos.
http://www.kayakmagazine.com/
World Kayak Federation
Dedicated to promoting rodeo as a competition and as an event. Includes worldwide team information, news and articles.
http://www.worldkayak.com/
United States Canoe Kayak
Governing body for canoe and kayak racing in the United States.
http://www.usacanoekayak.org/
Kayak Kaua'i
Daily kayak tours and rentals, surf lessons, snorkel, surf, hiking and camping rentals. Sample the best of Kauai's land and water activities on our Discovery Tour.
http://www.kayakkauai.com/
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