Kayaking

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Kayaking
The Kayak, or, "hunters boat," was originaly designed to hunt animals on lakes, rivers and seas. Kayaks where constucted with driftwood, collected off beaches, and wrapped in seal skin. The history of kayaks can be dated back 4000 years ago from archeological evidence.

A kayak is defined by the International Canoe Federation as a boat where the paddler faces forward, legs in front, using a double bladed paddle. Kayaking equipment is similar to canoeing equiment but is of its own catagory. There are seven major different classifications of kayaks; polo, slalom, whitewater, surf, touring/expedition, light touring/day tripping, sprint/racing and general recreation. Also from these classifications are subdivisions of kayaks for example a fishing kayak is a general recreation kayak outfited with specific accessories to fish. Each division of a kayak can be configured differentially. "Sit on tops," have the operator sitting on top of the kayak in an open area. Cockpit style has the operator with their legs and hips inside the kayak hull; this style will usualy have a spray deck or spray skirt to create a seal around waist to prevent water from entering hull. Inflatable kayaks have an open deck, but the paddler sits below the level of the deck. Tandems are configured for multiple paddlers, some are made to be used by two or even three paddlers.