Kayaks are compact, narrow boats that are powered by one person who sits in a cockpit.
A kayaker powers these boats using a double-bladed paddle, rather than a single-bladed paddle used when canoeing.
How Much Does a Kayak Weigh?
Kayaks come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, and they are used for different purposes. The most popular types of kayaks weigh between 20 to 80 pounds (9 to 36 kg).
Interesting Kayak Facts:
Down through the years, kayaks have been used for a wide range of purposes, including sport, to hunt, to travel, for tourism purposes, and in military operations.
The kayak, which means ‘hunter’s boat’ is believed to have been used as far back as 4000 BC. It was originally used by civilizations such as the Inuit, Yup’Ik, and the Aleut to hunt and fish for food.
Early kayaks were made from naturally-occurring materials, such as wood, whale bones, and waterproof skins of animals like seals.
However, as kayaks started to be used for other reasons than hunting, man-made materials, including plastic, fiberglass, and polyethylene replaced many of the natural materials used.
Since 1936, kayaking has been featured in the summer Olympic games.
Two types of kayaking competitions take place, and these include slalom and sprint events.
Sit-on top kayaks, Canadian canoes, touring kayaks, sea kayaks, white water kayaks, and inflatable kayaks are amongst the most popular kayaks used today.
Many are just big enough to fit a single person, while others are tandem or multi-person vessels.
Kayaks usually travel at 3 to 5 miles an hour. However, some kayakers prefer to travel at much faster speeds, especially when competing with other kayakers.
~Fun Fact ~
Kayaking attracts all kinds of thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. In 2009, Tyler Bradt took things to the limit by descending from Washington state’s Palouse Falls in his kayak.The Palouse Falls are taller than the Niagra Falls, measuring 189 feet!
Resources:
https://kayakguru.com/kayak-weigh/
https://www.globosurfer.com/how-much-does-a-kayak-weigh/