| Kayaks are small boats with a covered deck. The | | | | Folding Boats: these kayaks are advantageous |
| kayak cockpit is covered by a spray skirt or similar | | | | because of their easy portability and storage. These |
| waterproof material. A double blade paddle is used to | | | | kayaks are made of aluminum or wood and are |
| propel the kayak. Kayaks were mainly developed for | | | | collapsible. They are expensive and last longer as |
| the people of the Arctic region. Kayaks can | | | | compared to rigid kayaks. The resale price of folding |
| accommodate wo to three paddlers facing in the front | | | | kayaks is high. Although folding kayaks are flexible, |
| direction in one or more cockpits. The spray skirt is | | | | tough, and stable, they lack in performance and speed |
| attached to the edges of the cockpit to prevent the | | | | to that of hardshell boats. With folding kayaks, |
| water from entering and roll the kayak without letting | | | | construction is traditional and brings about a sense of |
| the water to fill in it. | | | | nostalgia. |
| Rigid kayak, folding boats, and inflatable boats are the | | | | Inflatable Boats: inflatable kayak is a special type of |
| three classifications of kayaks according to their | | | | kayak offering easy portability and storage. These |
| structure. | | | | kayaks can be transported easily using a carry bag. |
| Rigid Kayak: these boats are made of fiberglass, | | | | Inflatable kayaks are very cheap and are made of |
| plastic, wood, carbon fiber or Kevlar. Amongst these | | | | PVC, hypalon (type of neoprene) or polyurethane |
| hardshell boats, plastic kayak is quite cheap but is | | | | coated cloth. You can inflate these boats using electric |
| heavier. Plastic kayaks are tough, and repair ability is | | | | pumps, hand, or foot. Inflatable kayaks use |
| not that easy if damage occurs. A fiberglass kayak is | | | | low-pressure air. These kayaks are non-rigid, pointed |
| light in weight and more expensive in comparison to | | | | rafts. Inflatable kayaks are suitable on calm water or |
| plastic ones. These can be easily damaged and easily | | | | rivers. |
| repaired. Carbon fiber, Kevlar and graphite kayaks will | | | | Apart from easy portability, these boats are stable and |
| be more expensive and even lighter. | | | | can be mastered easily. However, paddling requires |
| Wooden kayaks are different as they possess beauty | | | | more effort and are slower in comparison to traditional |
| of hand-made quality. People like to assemble the | | | | boats. Recently, some manufacturers have combined |
| wood kayak by themselves and so purchase it in the | | | | the design principles of the folding boat with the overall |
| form of kit. The price of wood kayaks varies | | | | design of the sit-on-top kayak by making use of |
| depending on their quality. These kayaks are easily | | | | various inflatable sections to develop an inflatable sea |
| repairable and do not require maintenance. | | | | kayak. |