Kayaking

Most people will have heard of the popular sport of Kayaking and may have even envisioned having a go at some point, as it is a wonderfully exhilarating hobby suitable for many but is especially good for those who have a love for water sports such as divers and those who have a strong sense of adventure. But it is important if kayaking is a hobby that you may be interested in; to make sure you have some expert tuition and guidance before starting. There are several differences between kayaking and canoeing and in simple terms, kayaks have a closed cockpit whilst a canoe has an open cockpit. Another noticeable difference is the position sat within the boat, kayaker’s have their legs extended whilst canoeists will either sit on an elevated bench seat or kneel directly on the bottom of the boat.

As with all hobbies, it is important to ensure that you read up on the hobby as much as possible prior to committing yourself to an expensive outlay or putting yourself at risk. There is an abundance of data listed on the internet which will give a lot of information crucial to those starting out in the sport.

There are different types of Kayaking such as Sea Kayaking, Surf Kayaking, White-water Kayaking or Ocean Kayaking and there are those, who like to Kayak on large expanses of open water such as lakes. The sport in general has increased in popularity tremendously from the 1990’s and the different types of Kayaking tend to lend itself to sub-classes so there is much to learn and it is important to learn the main aspects of the sport.

There are three different types of Kayak so again, it is worth reading up on these differences before purchasing and these are:

1. Rigid boat and these can be made up of wood, plastic, fibreglass or even carbon fibre
2. Folding boat
3. Inflatable boat

There are lots of considerations to make, such as weight, expense, strength and portability and it is important to be aware that one boat will not be appropriate for all types of conditions so consider what you want to achieve initially, invest in some practical tuition from a qualified instructor as this will then save time and money in the long term when purchasing your own equipment.