Patent ID: 7739976

Claim:
A kayak comprising: a hull having port and starboard sidewalls and a cockpit with an opening located substantially centrally between a bow and a stern of the hull; port and starboard flares extending between the bow and the stern substantially outboard from the sidewalls, said flares located proximal upper edges of the sidewalls to extend substantially horizontally above the water line in calm water conditions, each flare increasing in width from the bow and the stern toward the cockpit to a maximum width in a region proximal the cockpit opening, each flare further having substantially reduced width relative to the maximum width to define a recess in an outboard edge of the flare adjacent the cockpit opening, said recess extending substantially the length of said cockpit opening; wherein the flares are configured to increase the stability of the kayak in rough water without increasing drag on the hull; and wherein each said recess is configured to allow unobstructed paddling.