Kayaks-Canoes

Canoe–Kayak: The use of the words canoe and kayak has become blurred over years. Traditionally one sits inside a kayak and the cockpit is covered with a splash deck. The term "kayak" increasingly applies to paddle-sports craft that look similar to traditional kayaks. A single cockpit kayak is known as a K1 Kayak, a double or tandem kayak a K2 Kayak and a triple cockpit kayak a K3 Kayak.

Kayaks and canoes can also be differentiated by the number of blades on the paddle. A kayaker uses a double bladed kayak paddle (wing paddle), whereas a canoe paddler uses a single bladed paddle.

Many countries consider kayaks to be subset of canoes hence the Governing bodies refer to the sport of Canoeing.

The International Canoe Federation governs the sport and determines the maximum length of a racing kayak as follows: K1 Kayak 5.2m and K2 Kayak 6.2m. Downriver kayaks or white water kayaks have their own kayak race regulations. As the Downriver Kayaks do not have a rudder skill is required to steer and balance the kayak in white water.

International competition kayaks are constructed of composite materials; fibreglass, kevlar and carbon fibre. Kayak racing classes have also been established for plastic kayaks and plastic surf skis based on the kayak or surf ski length. The “Short Plastic” class is for kayaks shorter than 4.5 metres. The “Long Plastic” class is a Plastic Kayak or Sur Ski over 4.5 metres.