Kayaking Basics

At some time in your life you have seen a kayak, maybe going down a river or on a lake or possibly in a magazine, on television or even on top of someone's car.

They may appear to be small, however in truth they are large enough not only for the occupant but supplies as well. Kayaking is a thrilling water sport that is enormous amounts of fun.

You will of course need a kayak if you intend of enjoying this pastime. A kayak is a small boat that is essentially a cage built using metal, wood or plastic or a combination thereof. The Hull is then covered with a cloth or plastic everywhere except for where the paddler sits, which is called the cockpit. (article continues below)...

When first considering the kind of kayak that you will need there are a few items that you need to take into account. You need to consider your size, fitness level and what type of kayaking you intend on doing.

The types of kayaks are various, white water, recreation, fishing, flat racing and more and you can find them for one to 4 users. Tandem kayaks are a very popular type of kayak and very versatile. They are a bit wider than a solo kayak with more storage room and they can be paddled solo.

They are a fantastic option for the beginning kayaker and perfect for teaching a child. A tandem kayak also allows the beginner to share the kayak with a veteran partner. After you have used a tandem kayak for a few months and become comfortable, you can then take on thrilling new kayaking experiences.

There are a number of kayaks today that are favored for one reason or another. The types range from skin on frame, surf kayak, sea kayak, inflatable kayak, recreational kayak, folding kayak and more.

The Sea kayak takes its name because it is built for kayaking on the sea. It has a very high stability factor; good storage place and it can carry two paddlers. There are two types of Sea kayaks, the sit on top and the strip built. The sit on top is a very popular kayak that allows you to sit above the water level and is longer than the normal rigid kayak. The strip built kayak is much lighter than its sit on top brother and follows along the lines of the traditional wooden kayaks.

When you want a kayak that is good for fishing, bird watching, photography or just a nice peaceful sailing then you would choose a recreational kayak. For rivers or places where you may face a bit of a current then you would want a White water kayak which is generally made of PVC and is smaller in length than the normal rigid kayak.

The surf kayak or surf ski as it is also called is specially built and designed to be able to surf breaking waves and is used a lot in surf zone rescues. It is very narrow and dissimilar to other kayaks it has an open cockpit. Racing kayaks are built with high speed racing in mind, however the problem here is that the stability is a harder task to accomplish.

When deciding on a kayak, keep in mind what you want to accomplish and then have a great time.