This is a compilation of kayaking terms, yick-yak that you will hear seasoned paddlers talking about.
Until you actually know what they're saying - smile, nod your head, return to this page and look it up!
You'll be "Yak'n" with them in no time.
Back Stroke - A paddle technique to paddle backwards
Beam - the width of a deck on a boat (at it's widest point).
Bilge Pump - Also known as a hand pump - to bail water from the inside of the kayak if it is swamped.
Bow - the front of a boat/kayak.
Bow draw - an intermediate paddle technique used to turn the bow efficiently.
Bow/Stern lines - Straps used to tie the bow and stern of a kayak to a vehicle.
Brace - When a paddler uses the paddle blade, held flat against the water surface to prevent overturn.
Bulkhead - A watertight cargo compartment located on the fore or aft deck. Some are designed to act as floatation.
Calm water - A still body of water, protected from wind and current with an accessible shoreline. Also referred to as "flat water".
Cam lines - Webbing that fastens kayaks to roof racks.
Cockpit - Area of the kayak where the paddler sits. In a closed cockpit the paddler's legs extend under the deck.
Day Hatch - A watertight hatch located behind and accessible to the paddler.
Deck - The top surface of a kayak (or boat).
Deck Bungees - Straps of bungee cord typically "cross crossed" to fasten cargo to fore and aft decks.
Drytop - A paddling jacket designed of fabric to keep a paddler dry.
Dry bag - A waterproof bag to store clothing, gear, food, etc.
Eskimo roll - A maneuver that advanced kayakers use to right themselves when overturned.
Feathered Paddle - Paddle blades set at angles for more efficient paddling.
Flat water - Water that is still, not moving, protected from wind and current with an accessible shoreline.
Floatation Bag - An inflatable bag that is put over one end of a paddle to assist reentry when a kayak is swamped.
Forward stroke - Basic paddle stroke to move forward.
Grab Loop - Also known as a toggle handle on the bow and stern to carry a kayak.
Hatch - A compartment for dry storage, accessible from deck.
Hatch cover - A removable cover to the hatch that seals water out.
Hull - Refers to the bottom surface of the boat to the point where it meets the deck.
J Cradles -A rack accessory, shaped like a "J" to aid fastening a kayak to a vehicle.
Kayak - (for those who don't know) A self propelled boat made to move with a two-bladed paddle.
Keel - the center of the hull bottom, below the waterline.
Life Jacket or Life Vest - (see "PFD")
Offset - Paddles arranged at different angles to provide more efficient paddling.
Open Cockpit - Without an enclosed deck - such as Sit-On-Tops.
Open Water - A large body of water, unprotected from weather elements or shoreline.
Paddle - (for those who don't know) is a shaft with "blades" on each end used to move a self propelled boat such as a kayak.
Paddle Jacket - A jacket used to break the wind (does not shed water), also known as a "splash top".
Paddle leash - A safety cord attached to both the paddle and the kayak to prevent the paddle from floating away.
PFD - Abbreviation for Personal Floatation Device. A vest of buoyant material designed to aid a swimmer, particularly if they are unconscious. Also known as "Life Jackets" or "Life Vests".
Rack - A system that mounts onto a vehicle to carry kayaks or gear.
Roto-molded - A manufacturing process using polyethylene powder, placed in a mold, rotated and tilted, inserted in an oven to melt and coat the mold - producing a kayak. To watch the entire process, click on: Birth of a Kayak" - it's really cool.
Rudder - A blade, either fixed or removable, located on the stern that when rotated, steers the kayak. Not to be confused with skeg with is a fixed "wing" to the hull bottom at or under the waterline to help the kayak track straighter.
Self-rescue - The ability to reenter your kayak from the water when overturned. Usually with the assistance of a paddle float (a good item to take along).
Shortie - A short sleeved paddle jacket.
Sit-On-Top - A type of kayak, usually roto-molded plastic with an open cockpit, that the paddler sits on top of.
Skeg - A fixed or retractable fin-like extension, located on the hull bottom that improves tracking (how straight the kayak will move).
Spray skirt - Skirt-like gear fastened onto the cockpit, with straps to wear over shoulders to seal and prevent water from entering the cockpit area.
Stability - The amount of "lean". In the instance of entering/exiting and turning - a boat will lean. The stability refers to the engineered point at which the hull will lean before overturning.
Initial stability - the amount of lean when you enter/exit or turn a kayak
Secondary stability - how far the boat will lean before overturning
- Typically, a wider beam and the shorter hull of a recreation kayak provides more initial stability but less secondary stability which is just fine because it will aid with turning.
- A narrow beam and longer hull, like a sea kayak, will provide less initial stability but better secondary stability which is more suitable for long distance paddlers who are less concerned with turning quickly.
Stackers - A rack accessory to assist carrying multiple kayaks on a vehicle.
Stern - Rear of a kayak or boat.
Swamped - When a kayak is partly or entirely filled with water.
Sweep stroke - A basic paddle stroke used to turn a kayak.
Tandem - A kayak designed for two paddlers, longer with two cockpits.
Tow leash - A length of line packed in a small bag (can be worn around the waist) used to throw in rescue situations.
Tracking - How straight a kayak moves. Generally, a longer hull will travel straighter, but turns with more difficulty.
Waterline - The line at which the water meets the hull.
Weathercock - How easy or difficult the boat turns into the wind making paddling harder. A rudder or skeg will help control the difficulty.
Wet exit - When a paddler exits from an overturned kayak.
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