Overview
During the sport of kayaking, participants propel a small, lightweight boat across bodies of water using a double-bladed paddle. There are many types of kayaking, each having it's own culture, practices and equipment: sea kayaking, whitewater kayaking, kayak racing / fitness, surf kayaking, kayak fishing and recreational kayaking.
Kayak or Canoe?
Although both canoes and kayaks are small, human-propelled boats and share several characteristics, they differ in a number of key areas:
- Kayaks have closed cockpits as opposed to canoes' open cockpits
- Kayaks have smaller cargo capacities than canoes
- Kayaks are generally sleeker and more lightweight than canoes
- Kayakers sit with their feet stretched out before them, while the paddlers of canoes kneel on the bottom of the boat
- Kayakers use double-bladed paddles, while canoeists use single blade oars
Kayaking Products and Accessories
Kayak Online: Kayaks and Kayaking Merchandise
Amazon.com: Kayaking Products
Outdoorplay: Kayaking Apparel
Cafepress: kayaking T-Shirts and Gifts
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References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
"Kayak" can be translated to mean "man's boat" or "hunter's boat"
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Fact:
Also known as "paddling"
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Fact:
Kayaks were developed by indigenous arctic peoples an estimated 4,000 years ago
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Fact:
Original kayaks were used for hunting
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Fact:
First kayaks were made with wooden frames covered in sealskin
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Fact:
Most Kayaks are designed to seat one to three people
