About Sea Kayaking

Kayaking is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and immensely popular the world over. Stable, lightweight, capable of covering considerable distances, and easy to learn how to use, sea kayaks offer unique opportunities for the least and most adventurous among us. The near silent form of propulsion and ability to traverse shallow waters, allows a kayaker to easily get next to the shore and explore a coastline in an entirely new way.

Sea kayaks are among the most versatile, sea worthy and efficient craft ever built. The first kayaks were designed and built more than 2000 years ago by the Inuit, an Arctic people. Designed primarily for hunting, these kayaks were made from wooden frames covered in sealskin. As a highly developed hunting tool, the kayak relied on stealth to get close to prey. They were used in the oceans to hunt walrus and seals, and in rivers to hunt caribou. The kayak was also important as a form of transportation for both goods and passengers.

The kayaks built by the Inuit varied in design according to where they were used and for what purpose. These kayaks were also tailored to each individual paddler's measurements to ensure a tight fit. At one time, the kayak was used by almost all Eskimo groups, but today have largely been replaced by motorized boats in all but the north and south of Greenland.