Kayak
|
|
- Kayak is also the name of a Dutch progressive rock band.
A kayak is a type of small human-powered boat.
They are typically propelled with a double-ended paddle. The user or paddler sits down in the kayak with their feet 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 makes it possible that, should the kayak become inverted (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, playboats, surfing, sea kayaks, flat-water racing, downriver racing, slalom, canoe polo and recreational. These types may also be subdivided. Modern kayaks are made of plastic, fiberglass, kevlar, carbon fiber, canvas or wood. They come in one and two person models. Recently some sit-on-top boats have been developed and also called kayaks and propelled with a double-ended paddle.Scouting_-Big.jpg
| Contents |
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 skin. Kayaks were originally built by the man who would use them. The man would measure the frame for the kayak based on his forearm. This measurement style confounded early explorers who tried to duplicate the kayak because each kayak was a little different. Kayaks were used to hunt on the open waters of the Arctic Ocean.
Folding kayaks
A special type of kayak is the folding kayak, the direct descendant of the original Inuit kayak. A "folder" is a 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.
The classic manufacturer of the folding kayak is Klepper, a company in Rosenheim, Germany, which started manufacture of their "faltboot" in 1906 -- many years before hardshell boats were commercially produced. Their Aerius II model was introduced in 1951 and is still in production in 2003. In 1956 a Dr Hannes Lindemann crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a Klepper Aerius II, a proof of the folding kayak's integrity and seaworthiness!
There are about ten folding kayak manufacturers today. In addition to Klepper the most well-known brands are Feathercraft, Folbot, Long Haul, Nautiraid and Pouch. Long Haul kayaks are virtually identical to Kleppers, so a Klepper frame can be used with a Long Haul skin, or vice versa.
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.
Although some hardshell kayakers are critical of folding boats and do not regard them as true kayaks, they exhibit many of the same paddling characteristics as the original skin-and-frame vessels of the circumpolar north. Other than contemporary replicas of Inuit, Aleut, and Eskimo kayaks and baidarkas, they are closest relatives to the skin-and-frame boats of the past.
Inflatable kayaks
Inflatable_kayak.png
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 electic pumps. The pressure sounds low, almost always below 3 psi.
They are made of hypalon (a kind of neoprene), pvc, 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.
Whitewater kayaks
Whitewater kayaks are generally made out of high impact plastic. They are shorter than other types of kayaks (the size usually ranges from 6 to 7.5 feet/2 to 2.5 metres long although new models are going to 8 feet), and are among the most maneuverable types of kayaks made. However, they are much slower than many other types of boats. Whitewater boats though do not need speed. Their speed comes from their ability to ride the crest of flowing river. In competition whitewater kayaks should be able to remain in one place on the river (while doing tricks)
Flatwater Kayaks
Flatwater kayaks are generally made out of lightweight materials, and as such, are somewhat weak. They are thin, and very unstable. They require a good level of expertise to paddle well.
See also: canoe
External links
- KayakInstruction.org (http://www.KayakInstruction.org), A non-profit organization providing whitewater kayak training
- Kayakwiki (http://www.kayakforum.com/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/guille/wiki.pl), A wiki site devoted exclusively to kayaks and kayaking
- Folding Kayaks (http://www.foldingkayaks.org) A non-commercial site devoted to folding kayaks
- Faltboot.de (http://www.faltboot.de) A non-commercial site on folding kayaks in German
- ThamesWeirProject (http://www.thamesweirproject.co.uk) Community and information for Thames Paddlers in the UK
- International Canoe Federation http://www.canoeicf.com The international governing body for canoe and kayak sport
- British Canoe Union (http://www.bcu.org.uk/)
- Manhattan Kayak (http://www.manhattankayak.com/) a kayak club based in New York city
- Kayaking San Diego (http://www.sdaccess.net/~jonhartz/) a public service site for visiting paddlers
- Chicago Area Sea Kayaking Association (http://www.caska.org)
- PingWillauerKayaks (http://www.kayak.pingotter.com) A student weblog which documents a kayak-building expedition by Willauer Middle School (an Outward Bound school in Boston harbor).
- WaterTribe (http://www.watertribe.com/) A non-commercial site devoted to small, human powered boats and expedition racing
- http://www.mountainbuzz.com A site for Colorado kayakersca:Caiac
da:Kajak de:Kajak es:Kayak eo:Kajako fr:Kayak id:Kayak ms:Kayak nl:Kajak ja:カヤック fi:Kajakki sv:Kajak zh:皮艇