| Modern kayaks may be categorized into sea | | | | 4. Whitewater kayak: are highly maneuverable |
| kayak, white water kayak, racing kayak, and | | | | and are made of rigid material like |
| surf kayak. These kayaks are made from wood, | | | | polyethylene. The length of these kayaks is |
| rotomolded plastic, fiberglass, carbon fiber, | | | | small (6-10 feet) in comparison to others. |
| Kevlar, or fiber over aluminum or wooden | | | | Small boats are maneuverable but slow. |
| frame. They are available in single, double, | | | | Whitewater kayaks do not require inherent |
| and sometimes even in three- or four-person | | | | speed, as they move down with the current. In |
| models. Let us discuss about the modern kayak | | | | kayak rodeo competition, whitewater paddlers |
| in detail. | | | | use rapids features to do tricks while they |
| | | | are in one place on the river. |
| Modern kayak types: | | | | |
| | | | 5. Surf kayak: also known as surf skis, are |
| 1. Sea kayak: these are designed to | | | | narrow and long kayaks for surf zone rescue |
| accommodate one or two paddlers. These are | | | | and surf breaking waves. Surf kayaking uses |
| more maneuverable and have extreme stability | | | | kayaks similar to whitewater kayak design. |
| and cargo capacity. Sea kayak has further | | | | The only difference is that they have a |
| subtypes that include: | | | | planing hull. Surf kayaks can be 12 feet long |
| | | | to increase the planing speed on wave and to |
| - Strip-built- that is more close to rigid | | | | have good paddling speed for catching waves. |
| fiberglass boat but very light in comparison | | | | A variation to closed cockpit surf kayak |
| to it. | | | | design is open cockpit (Waveski) design. |
| | | | |
| - Sit-on-top- these are used for fishing, | | | | 6. Racing kayak: these are designed for |
| diving and can usually accommodate 1-2 but | | | | speed. To achieve stability, the paddler |
| also come have models that can accommodate | | | | requires subsatntial skill, as the hull is |
| 3-4 people. Normally, the seat of this kayak | | | | extremely narrow. These kayaks have subtypes |
| is above the water level, so the center of | | | | of flat water and slalom kayak. |
| gravity is higher. In order to compensate, | | | | |
| the width is increased for the same length of | | | | 7. Multi type kayaks: these include |
| a traditional kayak. | | | | inflatable and pedal kayaks. |
| | | | |
| 2. Skin-on-frame- the design, technique, | | | | - Inflatable kayak-these can be easily stored |
| material and construction of these kayaks is | | | | and transported. They are made of |
| more similar to traditional kayaks. These are | | | | polyurethane, PVC, or hypalon. You can |
| the lightest among all and are being used in | | | | inflate them with hand, foot, or electric |
| Greenland by Inuit people for hunting. | | | | pump. They are highly portable, stable, easy |
| | | | to master, and are slower than traditional |
| 3. Recreational- these are built for paddlers | | | | boats. |
| interested in photography, a peaceful paddle | | | | |
| in a lake, or fishing. These have larger | | | | - Pedal kayak- is a special type of boat |
| cockpit and wider beam for stability reasons. | | | | using pedals allowing the paddler to propel |
| The capacity of cargo is limited, and the | | | | the vessel with underwater flippers instead |
| length is less than 12 feet. | | | | of a paddle. |
| | | | |