page_title: Sea kayak
section_title: Design
hierarchical_section_title: Sea kayak / Design
context_page_description: A sea kayak or touring kayak is a kayak developed for the sport of paddling on open waters of lakes, bays, and the ocean. Sea kayaks are seaworthy small boats with a covered deck and the ability to incorporate a spray deck. They trade off the maneuverability of whitewater kayaks for higher cruising speed, cargo capacity, ease of straight-line paddling, and comfort for long journeys.
  Sea kayaks are used around the world for marine journeys from a few hours to many weeks, as they can accommodate one to three paddlers together with room for camping gear, food, water, and other supplies. A sea kayak usually ranges anywhere from 10–18 feet for solo craft, and up to 26 feet for tandem craft. Width may be as little as 21 in, and may be up to 36 in.
context_section_description: Modern sea kayaks come in a wide array of materials, designs, and sizes to suit a variety of intended uses. In sea kayaking, where the designs continue along primarily traditional lines, the primary distinction is between rigid kayaks and folding kayaks.  Folding kayaks are in some ways more traditional boats, being similar in design to skin-on-frame kayaks used by native people.  Modern folding kayaks use ash and birch or contemporary materials such as aluminum for the frame, and replace the sealskin covering with synthetic waterproof fabrics.  Unlike native kayaks, folding kayaks can be easily disassembled and packed for transport.  Many folding kayaks include inflatable sponsons that improve the secondary stability of the vessel, helping to prevent capsize.  More recently, a class of inflatable folding kayaks has emerged, combining a more limited rigid frame with a tightly inflated skin to produce greater rigidity than an inflatable boat alone.
  In recent years, there has been an increase in production of sit-on-top kayaks suitable for sea use.
  Most rigid sea kayaks also derive from the external designs of native vessels, especially those from Greenland, but the strength of modern materials such as fiberglass, rotomolded plastic and carbon fiber eliminate the need for an internal frame, though significantly increasing weight. Modern skin-on-frame sea kayaks constructed with nylon skins represent an ultralight niche within the rigid sea kayak spectrum. Some recent design innovations include:
  Recreational kayaks—shorter kayaks with wide beams and large cockpits intended for sheltered waters
  Sit-on-top kayaks—boats without an enclosed cockpit, but with the basic hull shape of a kayak.
  A different class of vessel emerged in the 1960s, the Surf ski, a long, narrow boat with low inherent stability that is intended for use in surf and following waves.
caption: Kayaking in a double on Lake Union in Seattle, USA
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