About the Different Types of Kayaks

The kayak is an ancient mode of transportation and utility in the water. In recent decades, the historic design has been adapted and merged with modern materials to create a wonderful recreational boat with many uses. From long, stable tours to the rush of whitewater, kayaks are one of the most versatile recreational boats.
Because kayak designs are so specific to its use, it is very important to be familiar with hull designs when choosing a kayak. Or, if you already have a boat, its design will let you know if it's able to hold up to whitewater or a long day in the ocean.

History of

Kayaks have been in use for centuries by indigenous peoples of the northern hemisphere. Used mainly for hunting, the small boats were constructed of animal hides stretched over wooden frames. The resulting vessels were both light and quick in the water, and allowed hunters at sea to keep up with their quarry. According to The Kayaking Journal, these early kayaks were made particularly sink-resistant by inflated seal bladders and could be stocked with provisions for several days. This ancient kayak design is still in use by some indigenous people of the arctic regions.

Features

Modern kayaks have come far in both design and materials. Though boutique wooden boats can still be bought or custom built, most kayaks are made of fiberglass, which offers a great deal of resiliency and more complex hull designs.
Generally, kayaks come with an enclosed hull with the paddler's seat, or cockpit, in a hole near the center of the boat. These hulls allow slimmer, faster boat designs and provide protection for the paddler, and are often very similar to early animal skin kayaks. Longer, more stable boats may incorporate lashings for gear or dry storage containers built into the hull.
In other kayaks, the paddler sits on top of the hull, allowing her or him more stability and easier escape from the boat if it should capsize.

Type

Kayak types vary widely depending on their use. The most common type is the recreation boat. These wider, more stable kayaks are ideally suited to casual paddlers who want to take in the sights of their local lake or slow-moving river. They are also common among photographers and fishermen. A recreational hull design can also be slightly redesigned and fitted with gear lashings and watertight compartments to accommodate multi-day touring.
Whitewater kayaks come in two main varieties. The most common is the play boat. Short (as little as six feet long), wide and stable, these boats are made to be versatile in many whitewater conditions and lend themselves well to recreational whitewater paddlers and enthusiasts.
Creeking boats are more narrow than play boats and less stable. They are the elite of whitewater kayaks, and are used by proficient paddlers to negotiate very tough rapids.
Sea kayaks also come in a couple varieties. These can be very long and stable, accommodating one or two paddlers, or a sit-on-top type in which the paddler sits on top of the hull.
These basic designs can be modified for many different uses, including racing, touring and trick performances.

Identification

When looking for your ideal kayak, it is important to be able to tell the different types apart, as well as to determine what a boat's ideal use may be based on its features.
Whitewater styles are readily identifiable from their length. Noticeably shorter than other kayaks, these boats can be as compact as six feet in length. Play boats have very flat hulls with a "banana" uplift at the tips. Both fore and aft of the boat are squared off. The wide, flat hull gives a play boat stability in rough water, while the tip profiles keep the boat from getting pinned between rocks. Creeking boats have a similar profile, but the uplift is less pronounced at the tips and extends instead across the entire length of the hull. Whitewater boats always have an attachment for a spray skirt.
A sit-on-type open hull is generally a sea kayak design. Very long or two person boats fit this category, as well. These latter kayaks often include a rudder in the stern (back).
Recreation boats have the most variety. Generally, these kayaks will be quite wide for stability. Bungee lashings or watertight compartments often indicate that a boat is made for long day trips or multi-day tours.

Misconceptions

Contrary to some thought, the stability of a kayak does not depend on its length. The width of a kayak's hull is the main factor in determining how easy it will be to keep it upright. The hull profile also plays a part. Flat hulls with abrupt edges will remain more stable than a round hull, though they are more difficult to right once capsized.
Length in a kayak largely determines tracking ability, or how easily the boat follows a straight line through the water. Whitewater kayaks are very short because they must be able to change direction quickly, while touring and some sea kayaks are longer to travel greater distances with less effort in steering.

Resources

• The Kayaking Journal