The Parts of a Kayak

Kayak Rudders: Found on North American Style Sea & Day Touring Kayaks, provides paddlers the ability to control direction (steer) using their feet via a rudder system with cables attached to sliding or pivoting foot peddles.

Kayak Retractable Skeg: (not shown) Found on British or Greenland Style Sea Kayaks, the skeg is deployed from the hull and can be lowered up, down or anywhere in between using a hand controlled lever or dial for use as a tracking aid.

Kayak Drop Skeg: (not shown) Found on some multi-purpose Day Touring & Recreational Kayaks as a tracking aid, it can only be dropped completely down or raised out of the water completely by an external deck cord.

Kayak Rudder Support: A bracket on the stern deck, which the rudder sits in when not engaged, and provides the paddler with solid bracing as it prevents the foot peddles from moving. A rudder support also provides a safe lock down position when transporting a kayak.

Rudder Cord: Enables the paddler to easily raise or lower their rudder system by hand as desired, using an internal or external cord.

Drain Plug: Some Day & Recreational kayaks provide a drain plug to conveniently relieve water.

Kayak Backband: Sea Kayaks tend to have a multi-adjustable low-slung backband while recreational models tend to have a higher backed seat, which, may or may not be adjustable.

Cockpit: The designated area the paddler sits in to best control their kayak. Sea Kayaks tend to have a small opening allowing better bracing and control while, Recreational Kayaks have larger openings for easy entry & exit.

Kayak Seats: Most modern kayaks have comfortable, multi-adjustable seats although some Recreational & Sit-on-Top Kayaks simply use a one piece molded sitting area.

Bungee shock Cords (bow): Perfect to store a map, water bottle or attach a low-slung deck bag to house small pack items in an easily accessible area.

Bungee Cords (stern): Most Sea Kayaks provide a bungee system in the shape of an X providing paddlers the ability to perform self-rescues.

Kayak Footbraces: North American Style Kayaks (rudders) use a sliding or pivoting footbrace system, which controls the rudder. British Style Kayaks (skegs) provide a fixed foot-peddle system for solid bracing.

Kayak Hatches & Storage Compartments: North American Style Kayaks commonly use composite hatch covers with neoprene liners or rubber gaskets while, British Style Kayaks tend to use oval or rounded rubber hatch covers providing convenient virtual watertight storage and safety through buoyant airtight chambers.

Kayak Bulkheads: (not shown) A composite wall in fibreglass & Kevlar kayaks or a foam wall in polyethylene kayaks to separate the kayaks storage area from the boats cockpit area and to limit water access.

Bow: Refers to the kayaks front end.

Stern: Refers to the kayaks back end.

Grab Handles: Secure handholds to move a kayak.

Kayak Cockpit Combing or Rim: Refers to the collar around the boats cockpit for which a spray skirt can easily be attached to keep the cockpit area dry.

Cleat: Most North American Style Kayaks offer a starboard side cleat to lock the rudder in a down position for safe transport.

Hip Pads: Help eliminate sideways movement for paddlers which, in turn provides them with more refined kayak control.

Thigh Braces: Enable paddlers to lock the inside of their knees under the forward cockpit area which, in turn allows them to "become one" with their kayak for better boat control through body weight transfer.

Perimeter Lifelines: Enhance paddler safety as bow & stern lifelines best enable paddlers the ability to grab the kayak from an in water position.

We trust Frontenac Outfitters descriptions better enable YOU to understand the basic Parts of a Kayak!