Monday, May 28, 2007

Kayak

A kayak is a little human-powered boat. It classically has a covered deck, and a cockpit covered by a spray deck. It is propelled by a double-bladed paddle by sitting paddlers. The kayak was used by the inhabitant Ainu, Aleut and Eskimo hunters in sub-arctic regions of northeastern Asia, North America and Greenland. Modern kayaks come in a wide diversity of designs and materials for particular purposes. Kayaks are frequently referred to as canoes in Great Britain and Ireland.
Traditional kayaks typically accommodate one, two or infrequently three paddlers who sit facing ahead in one or more cockpits below the deck of the boat. If used the spray deck or comparable waterproof garment attach securely to the edges of the cockpit, prevent the entry of water from waves or spray, and making it possible in some styles of boat, to roll the kayak upright again without it filling with water or eject the paddler.
Kayaks differ definitely in design and history from canoes, which are more flat-bottomed boats propel by single-bladed paddles by a kneeling paddler, even though some modern canoes may be difficult for a non-expert to distinguish from a kayak. One benefit to a kayak is that with a canoe's high bow, it is harder to paddle against the wind. As Kayaks do not have such high sides, it is easier to paddle on a breezy day.

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