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A Sea kayak is a Kayak developed for the sport of Paddling on open waters of lakes, bays, and the ocean. Sea kayaks are Seaworthy small boat with a covered deck and the ability to incorporate a Spraydeck . They trade off the extreme manueverability of Whitewater kayaks for cargo capacity, ease of straight-line paddling, and comfort for long journeys. Sea kayaks are now used around the world for marine journeys from a few hours to many weeks, as they can accommodate one or two (occasionally three) paddlers together with room for camping gear, food, water, and other supplies. The sport of sea kayaking (sometimes called ''ocean kayaking'' combines much of the appeal of hill-walking with a maritime aspect, few access issues and an almost infinite area to enjoy. HISTORY Archaeologists have found evidence indicating kayaks to be at least 4000 years old. The word "kayak" comes from a native word meaning "hunter's boat", and native Aleuts and Inuit used them to hunt on inland lakes, rivers and the sea, and were made of seal skins and frames from collected driftwood, as the areas where kayaks originated are treeless. Though the term "kayak" is now used broadly for this class of boat, native people made many different types of boat for different purposes. The Baidarka is a double or triple kayak developed by the Alaskan Aleut, used for hunting and transporting passengers or goods. An "umika" is an open decked boat ranging from 17 feet to 60 feet, made with seal skins and wood. It was paddled with single bladed paddles and typically had more than one paddler. It is thought the kayak originally started out as a decked over umiak and evolved into its traditional form. Contemporary sea kayaks trace their origins primarily to the native boats of Alaska , northern Canada , and Southwest Greenland . Wooden kayaks and fabric kayaks on wooden frames (such as the Klepper ) were common up until 1950s, when fiberglass boats were first introduced. Rotomolded Plastic kayaks first appeared in 1984. DESIGN Modern sea kayaks come in a wide array of materials, designs, and sizes to suit a variety of intended uses. The primary distinction is between ''rigid'' kayaks and '' Folding '' (skin-on-frame) kayaks. While many modern kayaks carry the design features of traditional craft, recent design innovation includes:
Size Most production sea kayaks are between 12 feet and 24 feet in length, the larger kayaks often built for two (or in rare cases, three) paddlers. The width ( Beam ) of typical kayaks varies from 18 inches to 28 inches, though specialized boats such as Surf Skis may be narrower. The length of a kayak affects not only its cargo capacity (for both gear and paddlers) but also its "tracking" ability -- the ease with which the boat travels in a straight line. While other design features also impact tracking, long kayaks are easier to paddle straight (and harder to turn). The width of a kayak impacts the cargo capacity, the maximum size of the cockpit (and thus the size of the paddler in that cockpit), and (to a degree that depends on the design of the hull) the Stability . Material Most rigid production kayaks are now made from Fiberglass , rotomolded polyethylene, and Kevlar , though there are more exotic materials, such as Carbon Fiber and Royalex, and hand-built systems, such as "stressed skin" Plywood . Skin kayaks are built on wood or aluminum frame covered in Canvas , Dacron or other fabrics, and may include inflatable tubes called Sponsons . Hull form Kayak hull designs are divided into categories based on the shape from bow to stern and on the shape of the hull in cross-section. Bow-to-stern shapes include:
Hull shapes are categorized by the roundness (or flatness) of the bottom, whether the bottom comes to a "V" at various points on the hull, and by the presence, absence, and severity of a Chine , an angled join between two parts of the hull below the Gunwale s. The hull design is the primary contributor to the boats Primary Stability and Secondary Stability , the resistance of the boat to tipping and to ultimate capsize, respectively. Flat-bottomed boats often have more primary (sometimes called "initial") stability, and feel more stable to the beginner. However, they often have less secondary stability, and once they do begin to tip, they capsize quickly and suddenly. Round-bottomed boats reverse the situation, having lower primary stability and (usually) greater secondary stability. The chine in some boats increases secondary stability by effectively widening the beam of the boat when it is heeled (tipped). The presence or absence of a V bottom at various points affects the kayak's tracking and maneuverability. A V tends to improve the kayak's ability to travel straight (track), but reduces the ease of turning. Most modern kayaks have V sections only at the bow and stern of the boat, and flatten or round out amidships. Bow, stern, and deck There are many design approachs for the bow, stern, and deck of kayaks. Some kayaks have upturned bows, with the intention of better performance into wave and better wave-shedding ability, while others aim to achieve this through increase Bouyancy in the bow. Kayaks with unobstructed stern decks may ease certain types of Self-rescue . Sea kayak decks typically include one or more Hatch es for easy access to the interior storage space of the boat. Kayak decks often include attachment points for ''deck lines'' of various kinds, which are aids in self-rescue and attachment points for above-deck equipment and storage. Other Many sea kayaks have steering gear or tracking aids in the form of Rudder s or Skeg s. In most cases rudders are attached at the stern and operated, via wires, from foot peddles in the cockpit. Rudders are typically retractable for beach landings. Skegs are straight blades that drop from a well in the stern of the boat to assist in straight-line paddling against adverse wind or current. PADDLES Sea-kayak Paddles , and the associated paddling styles, fall into two basic classifications:
TRIPS Weekend trips with overnight camping is popular amongst recreational kayakers and many people combine kayaking with watching wildlife. Modern sea kayaks are designed to carry large amounts of equipment and unsupported expeditions of two weeks or more are conducted in environments from the tropics to the arctic. Expedition kayaks are designed to handle best when loaded and it may be necessary to ballast a boat on shorter trips. NOTABLE EXPEDITIONS
SAFETY A sea kayak's primary safety device is its paddler. Most modern kayakers consider a well-practiced self-righting move called an Eskimo Roll to be essential to safe open-water kayaking, though this move can be difficult or impossible in a heavily-laden boat. While there are a number of technique for unassisted righting and re-entry of a kayak after a Capsize , most paddlers consider it safest to paddle with one or more others, as assisted rescues are more likely to succeed. Nonetheless, experienced paddlers do attempt open water crossings unaccompanied, and several major long-distance kayak expeditions have been carried out "solo". There is a strong culture of self-sufficiency amongst sea kayakers and extensive safety equipment such as towing lines, repair kits and survival gear is routinely carried. SEE ALSO
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