Kayaks are small, relatively thin boats normally powered by a person. It is usually propelled by a person using a paddle. The area a person sits in is called the cockpit. Traditionally, the open area on top is covered to prevent water from filling the kayak. Covering the top allows the experienced kayaker to roll the boat to the upright position if it capsizes. There are many versions of this vessel. Anyone using a kayak plans to embark on an interesting journey since it is such a small vessel.
According to many historians the kayak has been around for at least four thousand years. They were first used by the inhabitants of the arctic regions such as the Eskimos. It was a utility vehicle used to transport Eskimo hunters to their hunting grounds.
It took a long time for Europeans to realize how versatile this small vessel was. Around 1905 Hans Klepper secured plans for a kayak design that eventually led to building of kayaks for sport. It was a design that could be folded to be transported more easily. This opened a completely new avenue for this functional design. Klepper began to sell this design to sports enthusiasts.
In 1936 kayaking was introduced into the Olympic games as "flatwater racing". Clubs flourished all over Europe and kayaks became more and more popular as the years passed. The kayaking events now part of the Olympics include several different events such sprints and long distance courses.
The native Eskimos may not recognize some of the contemporary designs. Originally used for hunting, modern designs fill a variety of purposes for the contemporary kayaker. Whitewater, racing, sea-going, recreational, and fishing are all uses for the nimble craft nowadays.
The materials used for the original kayaks were basically seal skin for the hull and whale bone for the structure or frame of the boat. Really, those were the most available sources of construction materials for Eskimos living in a treeless environment. Nowadays, we find the boat made of many different materials to include plywood, aluminum, plastic, and fiberglass. The skin or hull can be made of any variety of materials that are lightweight, can be made to be waterproof, and are not easily punctured.
For those that want to build their own kayaks there are a multitude of plans available. The detail required varies from very basic wood and canvas designs to designs that require more sophisticated shop tools. The length of time to build a kayak also varies depending on the purpose of the boat being considered.
The fastest way to access the wide variety of Kayak plans available is to conduct an Internet search. However, there are many craftsman publications available that discuss the world of kayaking and what resources are available to build your own. The fastest way to secure instructions is to order them online through the Internet. A more leisurely alternative, however, is to order plans through the postal service, have them arrive, and unfold or unroll the instructions to reveal your new project. Usually, this approach is in the form of a physically larger more elaborate set of plans. For the classicist, this may be more of an enjoyable experience than ordering online.
According to many historians the kayak has been around for at least four thousand years. They were first used by the inhabitants of the arctic regions such as the Eskimos. It was a utility vehicle used to transport Eskimo hunters to their hunting grounds.
It took a long time for Europeans to realize how versatile this small vessel was. Around 1905 Hans Klepper secured plans for a kayak design that eventually led to building of kayaks for sport. It was a design that could be folded to be transported more easily. This opened a completely new avenue for this functional design. Klepper began to sell this design to sports enthusiasts.
In 1936 kayaking was introduced into the Olympic games as "flatwater racing". Clubs flourished all over Europe and kayaks became more and more popular as the years passed. The kayaking events now part of the Olympics include several different events such sprints and long distance courses.
The native Eskimos may not recognize some of the contemporary designs. Originally used for hunting, modern designs fill a variety of purposes for the contemporary kayaker. Whitewater, racing, sea-going, recreational, and fishing are all uses for the nimble craft nowadays.
The materials used for the original kayaks were basically seal skin for the hull and whale bone for the structure or frame of the boat. Really, those were the most available sources of construction materials for Eskimos living in a treeless environment. Nowadays, we find the boat made of many different materials to include plywood, aluminum, plastic, and fiberglass. The skin or hull can be made of any variety of materials that are lightweight, can be made to be waterproof, and are not easily punctured.
For those that want to build their own kayaks there are a multitude of plans available. The detail required varies from very basic wood and canvas designs to designs that require more sophisticated shop tools. The length of time to build a kayak also varies depending on the purpose of the boat being considered.
The fastest way to access the wide variety of Kayak plans available is to conduct an Internet search. However, there are many craftsman publications available that discuss the world of kayaking and what resources are available to build your own. The fastest way to secure instructions is to order them online through the Internet. A more leisurely alternative, however, is to order plans through the postal service, have them arrive, and unfold or unroll the instructions to reveal your new project. Usually, this approach is in the form of a physically larger more elaborate set of plans. For the classicist, this may be more of an enjoyable experience than ordering online.
