Kayaking is not only exciting and intense; it also allows you to get close to native marine and coastal animals. You paddle with your experienced tour guide; Georgia’s majestic mountains form the breathtaking scenery. This is the land of the midnight sun and it never gets dark in summer. We ride in sturdy double-hulled sea kayaks for the ultimate safety. No paddling experience is required for this trip. Besides, if you have a good knowledge of kayaking basics, it will be much helpful for your tour. Before you start your tour comfort zone? This trip could be!
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A Kayak for All Occasions
Kayaks are suitable for different areas. These include, for example, water hiking, kayaking, whitewater paddling, paddling on the lake, or even use as a sports or racing kayak. The individual categories have different emphases and are therefore more or less suitable for beginners. In many cases, it is worthwhile to gain initial experience in a club or course. This is especially true when there is an increased risk. Safety aspects, such as the Kenterrolle, you should practice in advance. Some areas of kayaking are often seen as recreational activities, while others are more of a professional sport. What is important for the individual orientations, you will find out here.
Water Hiking
Contrary to what the term suggests, you do not actually wander the water while wandering, but with your kayak. For water walking, which is often referred to as canoeing or hiking paddling, are particularly quiet waters. With this form of kayaking, it is important to know the route in great detail. In this way, possible obstacles can be precisely identified, such as nature reserve, weirs, locks, or other restricted areas. Water walking is an active leisure activity that is especially attended by many families with children. This is because water hiking is possible with little previous experience and is therefore ideally suited for kayak beginners.
Fishing
Those who like to go fishing in their spare time can combine this with a kayak excursion. Kayak fishing or kayaking is a mixture of the quiet fishing trip and the strenuous kayaking sport. Since it is not dangerous, no canoeist and canoeist should go alone, but take a so-called “back-up”. It is a person who can initiate a rescue operation in an emergency. Trust and exact arrangements are the alpha and omega here. Basically, kayaking is a venture for experienced paddlers who are keen on fishing and who want to practice fly fishing, spin fishing, troll fishing, or drift fishing.
Wild Water
Whitewater kayaking is a bit more adventurous, which makes this type of canoeing more suitable for experienced canoeists. In the whitewater kayak, it’s all about making quick decisions, mastering hurdles, and moving fluidly routes with waterfalls, but they have a higher difficulty level. In the whitewater kayak, the athletes distinguish between six levels, one being the lightest, six being the most difficult. Particularly professional drivers, who glide through the water like on rails, deliver a so-called Sickline, the perfect line through the whitewater. Whitewater kayak paddlers and paddlers much use a combination of strength and feel to master the toughest routes.
Lake Paddling
Sea paddling, also known as sea kayaking, coastal paddling, or saltwater paddling, is another form of kayaking that is also aimed at experienced canoeists and canoeists. This is mainly due to the fact that paddlers are further away from the shore and thus more exposed to the current. In order to do justice to the safety aspects, the kayakers have to master certain rescue techniques during sea paddling and be able to exercise the central role in an emergency. Seepaddlerinnen and paddlers who make themselves alone on the way should know very well, otherwise, they enter an increased security risk. The timing is in addition to the right equipment and a good sense of direction the most important point in Seepaddeln.
Race / Sports
In addition to recreational kayaking, kayaking is also a competitive discipline, such as the World Games and the World and European Championships. Since 1934 canoeing is also represented at the Olympic Games. The canoe competitions consist since 1992 of twelve canoes racing as well as four canoe slalom disciplines. The participating athletes practice kayaking professionally and train for years to participate. Beginners should first undergo special training before participating in an official competition. If you want to start early, you can participate from the age of about five to ten years, with the first scores count from the age of seven.
Explained about Kayak designs
Kayaks are built differently. They are both inflatable and foldable and in solid form. The respective variants bring their own advantages and disadvantages. Basically, however, it is a matter of taste that kayaks are interesting for their own use. There are also factors such as the travel destinations, intentions, and needs of the canoeist. For this reason, if you are interested, you should test different models and ideally test paddle.
Inflatable
Inflatable kayaks, also called inflatable boats, can be easily transported. They are therefore suitable for longer trips and weigh little. Even when it comes to storage, inflatable kayaks take up almost no space. They are also comfortable and cushion the waves well. The disadvantage, however, is that they are much slower and wind-prone. They also have a smaller boat interior and are very sensitive to damage, such as sharp edges.
Faltboote
Folding boats are – similar to airboats – well stored and transported, which speaks for them on trips. They have good running characteristics, are easy to repair, and usually light. The disadvantage, however, is that folding boats are difficult to assemble and disassemble, which is usually associated and with a certain amount of time. In addition, the folding boat is also vulnerable to damage, albeit not to the extent of an airboat.
Hard Shell
In kayaks with hard shells, the so-called rigid hull or solid kayaks, the advantage lies especially in the best conditions for driving. It’s a tough, sturdy boat that does not break that fast. In addition, it is ready to use. But transport is much more expensive. If you drive by car, you need special transport devices. This condition is made even more difficult by public transport, since the boats usually have a lot of weight and are even bulkier than a heavy bike, for example. If you want to store kayaks with hard shells, you must also have enough space or rent suitable rooms for accommodation.
Notice the Different Types of Kayaks | Which One Is Perfect For You
In addition to the different types, each kayak has other special features. For example, there are kayaks that are more suitable for water walking than for sports or racing. In addition, kayaks are suitable for different numbers of people. For example, one-person kayaks are just as possible as sit-on-top kayaks.
Kayak seat types
Kayaks have different types of seats. It shows how many people can paddle within a kayak. There are one-, two- and three-person kayaks and sit-on-top kayaks. In canoe racing, quad kayaks are also possible.
A Kayak
This is the type of seating that is most commonly used. The peculiarity is that exactly one person can take place, which moves with the help of the double paddle.
Double Kayak
In this class are two people in the kayak sitting in a row and their double paddles alternately put right and left in the water. Anyone working in sync has the best chance.
Three-Kayak
The three-way kayak is operated in a similar way as the two-person kayak, whereby three people can sit behind each other here. The same applies to the four-seated kayak in racing.
Sit-on-top Kayak
As the name suggests, canoeists or canoeists do not sit in the kayak on this variant, but on top. Since the hull is provided with air chambers, the boat cannot fall in the event of capsizing. Sit-on-top kayaks are usually suitable for one to two people.
Sea Kayak
A sea kayak is a form of a paddleboat, which was designed especially for the Seepaddeln. It most closely resembles the original form, as it once was among the Inuit, in terms of its texture and storage space. When sea kayak, for example, it is also possible to stow objects. This is handy when space is needed for equipment as well as provisions. Sea kayaks are characterized by their length, which is much more detailed compared to ordinary kayaks. Often the paddle boats are equipped with a compass, so canoeists and canoeists can better plan longer routes. In addition, the paddles are provided with a smaller area, which relieves the kayaks on time-consuming excursions.
Test Gumotex Seawave
Sea kayaks are mainly available as one- and two-person boats and are used in recreational sports. Canoeists usually rely on foldable or fixed boats. This is because; in particular, the latter variant is much more resistant, which is absolutely necessary on the open sea. For water walks, sea kayaks can also be interesting, as they offer high storage space.
Touring Kayak
Since touring kayaks are mostly used for recreational purposes, they are often found as two-seater, but also one-boats are possible. The kayaks vary in length. Usually, such a boat is between three and a half and five meters long, the narrowest kayaks are fifty, the widest seventy centimeters wide. Families, in particular, undertake such hikes through the water, and there are numerous manufacturers offering boats called “2 + 1”. These are kayaks that allow a third, light person, such as a small child. In addition, touring kayaks are equipped with plenty of storage space. In this way, the hikes across the water can take several hours. Hiking kayaks are available in all shapes – inflatable, foldable, and hard. Due to their nature, they are by no means usable for racing sports.
Racing Kayak
Depending on the sport, racing kayaks are available, for example, as a one- or four-person kayak. They are designed exclusively for the competition, which is already recognizable in the construction. So the canoeists sit in a seat that is adjustable and located inside the boat. Inside the boat also a so-called control fin is attached. This will allow the athletes to steer the boat. However, they do not need their arms to do this; they control the whole thing with their feet. In addition, the kayakers use the usual double paddle. A so-called spray cover prevents water from entering the seat hatch. The racing kayaks are usually found in hard shells due to the higher resistance and are usually used only for canoeing.
Whitewater Kayak
Whitewater kayaks are characterized primarily by high maneuverability, which is because the canoeists have to react quickly. It is important that the boat then goes along and the athletes lose no time. This is especially in complete contrast to the sea kayaks, which is why these two boats could never be exchanged because of their nature. However, the athlete loses speed due to the increased maneuverability. It’s also harder to ride straight on a whitewater kayak for a long time. For this purpose, such boats are simply unsuitable. In whitewater kayaks, different boats have proven their worth, depending on the level of difficulty. For easy and intermediate riders, canoeists can use the so-called River runner, for example. Paddlers often use inflatable or fixed whitewater kayaks, but foldable boats are also available. Basically, there is this special type of kayak only for one person, where there is a deviation from the topo duo.
Fishing Kayak
A fishing kayak not only depends on the storage space but also on many personal factors. Thus, for example, the weight and body size of the canoeist or canoeist as well as the favored fishing technique can be decisive. Fishing kayaks are usually a sit-on-top kayak. This form is very popular because the paddler or the paddler cannot easily capsize. The special design of the sit-on-top kayak prevents worse. In order to accommodate the appropriate equipment, kayakers should pay attention to sufficient space – not only for themselves but also for bait, best kayak fishing rod, and Co.
Kayaking Basics for Newbies
Conclusion
A fishing kayak is by no means suitable for racing or whitewater paddling. The special boats are usually available as one- or two-person kayaks and are very popular in solid form. However, they are also available as inflatable boats and in foldable versions [Folding Kayaks].