Kayaking Trips and Safety

 The word kayak literally translates to “man’s boat” or “Hunter’s boat”. Kayaks are small, human powered boats that accommodate one or two paddlers. They differ from canoes in several ways. Kayaks have enclosed tops, or decks. The cockpit of a kayak is enclosed in a spray deck, which forms a watertight seal against the body of the paddler. In a canoe by contrast, the top of the boat is open and a passenger is free to move about the length of the boat. Orientation and maneuvering in the boats are also different. Kayak paddlers face forward and use a single paddle which is dual bladed held in both hands. The paddler alternates strokes with the left and right blade. In a canoe however the paddler is often seated facing the rear with an oar in each hand. The oars are also attached to oar-locks in a canoe instead of being free of attachment in a kayak. In the case of rowing teams canoes will often give one oar to each paddler, and the oars stroke together instead of the alternating pattern of kayak rowing.

Kayaks were first used by the native peoples of Alaska, northeast Asia, and Greenland to navigate the subarctic coastal waters. In modern times the kayak has split into several distinct types suited for specific applications. These include sea kayaks, whitewater kayaks, sit-on-top kayaks, and folding kayaks.

Sea kayaks trade maneuverability for cargo space and stability. They are far longer than other types of kayak and have plenty of room for cargo storage below deck. When planning a kayaking trip of several weeks, this is the most likely candidate for your vessel.

Sit-on-top kayaks are a sub group of the sea kayak. As the name implies these kayaks are designed so that a paddler sits on top of the deck rather than sealing themselves within a cockpit. This design is particularly useful for applications such as scuba diving, where a paddler needs to be able to enter and exit the craft easily or often.

Whitewater kayaks by contrast are built for maneuverability and strength.  They are typically frameless; the entire body is molded into a single piece of high impact plastic. They are far shorter than sea kayaks, with the extreme short end of the spectrum called a play boat. Play boats are not stable, but are extremely maneuverable; they’re usually used to do tricks by exploiting the currents of rapids and not for trips. The creek boat is a more stable and streamlined craft. Creek boats are larger than play boats, but still small and agile. They have more volume for cargo, but are still able to navigate small waterways with low water flow. Creek boats are used for inland kayaking trips for which a sea kayak would be too large.

Folding kayaks are comprised of a skin which is usually made of water resistant fabric, and a collapsible frame. Frames are made of aluminum or other lightweight metal. They are highly durable if maintained well, and are virtually unsinkable, one of the trademarks of a kayak. The folding frame allows these kayaks to be stored inside many passenger vehicles and also allows for better home storage as well.

Kayaks are an extremely safe boat to use because they will not sink if capsized. The most important thing to remember when kayaking, or in any water sport is to wear a personal floatation device or life vest. Before you plan a trip, check the weather to ensure no dangerous storms are going to be moving through your area. Let someone know where you are going to be before you leave, and always bring a first aid kit on trips. Before embarking on kayaking trips alone, it is advisable to take a kayaking rescue class. These classes are taught by certified instructors and will educate you in the basics of kayaking safety, including how to flip or exit a capsized kayak, how to re enter a kayak mid stream, and how to evacuate water from a swamped kayak.

 

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