Kayak Technology

A kayak is a type of water craft first developed by the Yupik, Inuit, and Aleut peoples who have inhabited the Arctic regions of North America for thousands of years. Kayaks are also commonly referred to as "canoes."

  1. Description of the Kyak

    • A kayak is a boat powered by paddling. It has a covered deck and the paddler sits within a cockpit to propel the craft using a double bladed paddle. Some kayaks have two or more cockpits and so have more than one paddler. In some designs, the cockpit can be kept sealed against water by a spraydeck, or skirt, that keeps the lower part of the paddler's body dry. Other versions have open cockpits, in which the paddler sits on top of the boat, with the legs exposed.

    Materials used in Kayaks

    • Traditionally kayaks were built using a wooden frame covered by sealskin. The Inuit used kayaks to hunt for seals in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. Modern kayaks are made using either fiberglass, plastic or wood. The spraydeck of a modern kayak is made of rubber.

    Modern Kayak Technology

    • Modern kayaks are designed using computer aided design (CAD) software so as to be mathematically optimised for whatever specific attributes the designer wants. Kayak design involves trading off stability against speed, maneuverability against direction stability. The shape of the bow can determine wether a craft is more stable in rough or still water.