Kayak

A human powered boat developed by the indiginous peoples of the arctic? regions of Siberia?, North America and Greenland commonly known as the Eskimo. The word "kayak" originally meant "man's boat". Construction originally was a wooden frame covered by an animal skin such as seal skin. These original kayaks were used to hunt on the open waters of the arctic oceans.

A kayak is typically propelled with a double ended paddle. The user or paddler sits down in the boat with feet out forward. The top of the boat is covered with a deck. The paddler sits in a hole in the cockpit which may be sealed of with a spray skirt. This makes it possible for the boat to become inverted and righted again without taking on water. This maneuver is known as an [Eskimo Roll]?.

Modern kayaks fall into several catagories including: [white water]?, [sea kayaks]?, flat-water racing, and recreational. These catagories may also be subdivided. Modern kayaks are made of plastic, fiberglass?, kevlar, or wood.