Kayak

A kayak is an obvious piece of standard equipment required for kayaking! Kayaks are typically propelled with a double ended paddle. The user or paddler sits down or kneels in the hull with feet or knees out forward. The top of the boat is oftentimes covered with a deck. The paddler sits in a hole in the cockpit which may be sealed off with a spray skirt. This makes it possible for the boat to become capsized and righted again without taking on water. This manoeuver is known as an Eskimo roll. This makes the boat very seaworthy.

Modern kayaks fall into several catagories including: surf kayaks, whitewater, sea kayaks, flatwater racing, and recreational. These catagories may also be subdivided. Modern kayaks are made of plastic, fiberglass, kevlar, wood or traditional.

So, what is a kayak? By Function: it is a paddlecraft that is capable of utilitarian-based travel in ocean and river environs.

Terminology:

• In the UK and many other countries a kayak is also called canoe;
• In Alaska the primary traditional term for a kayak / paddle-craft is qayaq (Yupik, Cupig, Inupiaq).
• In the Pacific northwest US a generic Russian term 'baidarka' is often used
• In Greenland it is a qajaq.

It should be noted that "qajaq" is a preferred spelling for the traditional kayak in the US, while "qayaq" is preferred in Canada.