*More than a glossary * A technical article Richard Cree
The following is a list of words that are sometimes used when kayaking / kayaks are being discussed, this list wont ever be complete and is presented in no particular order.
Hard shell
These kayaks are made from Glass fiber, carbon or kevlar or can even be a mix of all three and some other space age materials. These kayaks usually come in one piece, but are sometimes available in 3 depending on manufacturer.
Folding
As it sounds a sea kayak that folds up. A wooden or aluminum frame with a skin stretched around it. Great for traveling where it would be difficult to get a hard shell boat to.
Inflatable
Perhaps not a true sea kayak, but an inflatable can be a way of exploring a coastline not accessible by bigger boats, these crafts have come on leaps since they came on the market.
Pitch
Rotation around the horizontal axis over the length of the sea kayak i.e. the up and down feeling as you paddle with a following sea.
Roll
Rotation around the horizontal axis over the width of the kayak (tippieness)
Yaw
Rotation around a vertical axis ie. the bow swinging left to right as you paddle through short steep confused waves.
Stability
This is how stable or unstable the boat is perceived to be, very difficult to rate kayaks in terms of stability as every person has a different perception of this.
Length
The length of the kayak, average sea kayak length is around 480cm - 540cm
Width
The overall width of the sea kayak 50 cm is considered narrow by todays standard, average width is probably 54-58cm anything bigger is considered wide.
Glide
This is the distance that the kayak travels without significantly loosing speed, the greater the glide the less effort to maintain a cruising speed. This is where a plastic boat is slower compared to a glass boat.
Waterline length
This is the amount of the kayak in the water, a kayak with a full waterline length, can be quicker than a kayak with a greater overall length. There is of course more than just waterline length that decides a kayaks speed.
Kayak Speed
The waterline length divided by the volume displaced. Ie. a longer boat is not nesesceraly faster, the same as a skinny boat isn't always faster. A long skinny boat (assumed faster) could be slower than a shorter wider boat depending on the displacement of the craft. Most touring sea kayaks travel at a similar speed.
Cockpit
Cockpits are usually 1 of 2 sizes, Ocean or Keyhole some manufacturers have come up with there own sizes, the only downside to this is that you will need a specific spraydeck. Ocean cockpits are where it all started these being the first, the idea was copied from the Inuit craft. More recently manufacturers have fitted a keyhole cockpit, this is bigger and for years has been very popular in white water boats, the bigger cockpit allows easier entry and exit from your kayak.
Coaming
The finishing around the cockpit, where the spray deck attaches.
Spraydeck
This is a fabric cover that protects the paddler from waves invading the cockpit. Spraydecks come in many sizes, to fit all the new boats to the market, they are constructed from either Nylon or neoprene. They have been developed to cover a variety of perceived needs with construction getting more and more complicated.
Gore-tex waist tubes, pockets, braces, latex rims to help adhesion and kevlar reinforced edges to protect against the rigors of sea kayaking.
Gunwale
Pronounced Gunnel, is a nautical term describing the top edge of the side of the kayak
Bow
The front of the kayak
Stern
the back of the kayak
Edge
The side of the kayak below the Gunwale.
Edging
The term is often used in kayaking as something to measure during turns, the more edge usually the tighter the turn. Edging your kayak is achieved by putting pressure on one buttock and lifting the other knee. When you are edging you shouldn't need your paddle for support, To gauge wether you are edging or leaning, has the centre of gravity moved from above the centre of the kayak. Imagine drawing a line from your head down your spine and out through your bum, if this isn't central then your leaning.
Leaning
Leaning is similar to edging in that you are doing something with your body to control the kayak edge, to lean your kayak you will probably need some speed or your paddle for support and your centre of gravity will have moved off the line above.
Rocker
the curve of the bottom of the hull, the straighter the rocker usually makes a quicker kayak, more rocker makes the kayak more maneuverable.
Keel
the centre line on the bottom of the kayak, also a chine.
Chine
the edges of the kayak under water where sections change direction, hard chined and soft chined terms relate to the angle of the kayak sides and there return to the keel.
Keel Strip
A protective strip that is attached to the keel of the kayak, this strip is usually made from glass tape or kevlar and is finished with a coat of gel coat. This can easily be added as an after sale accessory or if you inclined done by yourself.
Seat
Sometime glass, plastic or foam, usually hung from the coaming or the deck to the sides of the coaming, but sometime as in the case of foam pads attached to the hull. Some seats can be adjusted up and down as well as forwards and backwards.
Deck
the whole topside of your kayak.
Hull
the whole bottom-side of your kayak coming up to where it meets the deck
Seam
Where the deck and the hull are attached, this joint is usually made from glass tape applied to the inside and or the outside of the kayak then a gel coat layer is applied to the outside to make the job neat. Some manufacturers use an H seal to make this joint this is glued in place, the down side to this is it cant easily be repaired after a bump.
Bulkhead /s
The bulkhead is a slab material (usually similar to construction i.e.. Glass, Plastic, Wood) that is fitted to stop water entering in to a dry compartment within the kayak. The usual configuration is one to the front of the kayak and 2 to the rear one creates the rear hatch and the other a day hatch, this has been advanced recently and some kayaks now come with two day hatches and even hatches to gain access to dry areas above your knees.
Footrest
Can be more complicated than it sounds, the standard has been keeper type footrests an aluminum rail bolted to the side of the kayak that has plastic inserts that slide up and down to the desired length. Other options are similar, made from plastic with various types of twist and pull adjustments. Another option thats has been used for years is a full plate footrest, a block of foam fixed to the forward bulkhead. In recent times this idea has been taken further with angled full plate footrests now being available.
Hatch / Hatch Rim
The word Hatch is used to describe the hole in your kayak deck you use for gaining entry to the watertight areas created by the bulkheads, it is also used to describe the fitted material that creates the seal. Hatches come in all sizes from 10cm upwards, round or oval some you will find are more use than others. As a rule the smaller the hatches the harder to pack, this is where many dry bags are greater than one large one.
Hatch rim is the piece attached to your kayak that enables the Hatch to close. Usually made from plastic and glued to the deck, if its really difficult to get the hatches on and off try a spray of furniture polish round the rim (use one with a high silicon content)
Recessed fittings
this means that the deck furniture is fitted flush to the deck, this term could be used in conjunction with line fittings, hatches or compass recesses.
Deck Line
A line or cord that goes around the kayak deck, this is securely fitted at regular intervals, the deck line is vital in rescue situations giving the casualty and the rescuer something to hold on to. The cord should be 5 or 6mm in diameter and shouldn't stretch and become dangerous when wet.
Deck elastics
these are lengths of elastic bungee, they should be configured in a way that best suits you. The usual configuration would be across the deck (for a map case or other things you need close) also for storing split paddles and tow rope etc. It is good practice to keep your decks as clear as possible.
Toggle
A plastic handle attached by a cord, Handy for carrying your boat to and from the water (i know your told not to use the toggles to carry but i have never seen one break, and if the cord is serviced regularly the is no reason why it should.) be cautious of toggles that hang to loose with space for your fingers to get caught, this is a potential hazard in a rescue situation.
Pump
There are 3 main types of pump hand operated, foot operated and electric, each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Hand pumps either fixed to the boat or loose (stirrup pump) the advantages of a hand pump over the other include not relying on power and cables, disadvantages, you need your hands to pump out, in bigger conditions this can be a problem unless you are rafted or competent, other advantages of the hand pump, it can be passed between other members of the group and at around £25 it is the cheapest option.
Foot pump always fixed to the boat, a fixed pump operated by foot, very few suffer problems, can still be hard work in a big sea, most foot pumps discharge through a hole in the side of the kayak.
Electric pump sometimes fixed and sometimes portable, a more and more popular option, problems include the obvious, salt water and electrics aren’t great together, and you need to know there is enough battery left. However this said is buy far the quickest way to empty the boat (not counting gravity and a good old rescue technique), static electric pumps usual have an outlet through the hull. Portable electric pumps bungee inside the kayak and allow you to use them between boats.
Splits
This is in reference to your spare paddle that comes split in two, i store mine on my deck so its out the way if i need to self rescue.
Skeg
the skeg on a kayak is a movable fin placed near the stern of the kayak that adjusts the kayaks centre of lateral resistance, i.e. it stops the back sliding across the water. Most skegs are made from plastic these are adjusted by slides usually located towards the front of the cockpit at one side or the other. Although all skegs have sliders they work in different ways some are wire they work on a push / pull system, some are string and elastic and some are now hydraulic, each has its own pros and cons, however if serviced regularly and properly all work equally well.
Rudder
A rudder is a device used to steer a kayak. this is usually a metal plate that hangs of the stern of the kayak, and is operated left or right by foot control. there should be a way of raising and lowering the ruder without getting out of the boat. If fitted to your sea kayak it would be good practice to paddle with the rudder disabled. Remember if you have a rudder fitted to pack appropriate spares in your repair kit.
Towing cleat
This is the device used to hold the end of a fixed tow line, usually situated behind your back to one side or the other. The cleat consists of a jam (2 opposing jaws that jam the rope when the rope is tensioned towards the person being towed, to release you just pull the free end. This is an easy to fit after market device, just remember to use stainless bolts and big washers to stop the bolts pulling through under pressure.
Bulls-eye
this is a hoop or bridge mounted in the centre of the kayak usually between you and the rear hatch. its job is to guide the tow rope between the cleat and the person being towed.
Tow line
A length of floating rope with a crab to attach the line to the casualty, i use one with the lock part of the gate filed off. Some lines have floats and flashing colors these are down to personal preference.
Towing
25 meters is an ideal overall length I store mine “Daisy chained” (a shortening knot) so it is only 8m long, this is ideal for quick need situations (a longer rope is needed for traveling with the sea), this usually isn't as desperate and you will have the time to lengthen the rope. There are many techniques for doubling up the people towing and making bridals for more information seek out a good sea kayak coach.
Contact tow
This a form of towing where no ropes are needed the rescuer helps the person being rescued out of a situation by offering his / her boat as a tug, the casualty merely holds on the rescuer pushes or pulls. This form of towing is used in close quarters e.g.. rock-hopping.
Compass
A compass is a navigational instrument for finding directions. It consists of a magnetized pointer that rotates freely and aligns itself with the earths magnetic field. For kayaking these are usually deck mounted (hard fix) there is an indentation in the deck and a specific compass will fit the recess (removable) as it says attaches with bungee the advantages are that this compass could be used on many kayaks.