Not content to just lounge around the beach? You might want to try ocean kayaking! Sometimes called sea kayaking, it is the sport of paddling on open waters using kayaks, which are small boats propelled by paddlers using double-bladed paddles. Kayaks typically have a covered deck and a spraydeck that covers the cockpit to prevent paddlers from inclement weather or in the case of whitewater kayaking, to prevent water from entering the boat. A spraydeck also allows one or more passengers to sit on the boat and steer it by paddling or rowing. Kayaks resemble canoes, and in fact are called such in Ireland and Great Britain.



Sea kayaks or ocean kayaks can be used from as short as few hours to as long as weeks. It can accommodate more than two paddlers together, with ample space for camping gear, water, food and other important supplies. Ocean kayaking allows paddlers to experience the vast expanse of the sea as their playground.

From their origins as the native wooden boats of northern Canada, Alaska and Southwest Greenland, contemporary ocean kayaks now come in a variety of shapes and sizes, depending on the intended use. Some design innovation includes sit-on-top kayak, or the rotomolded boats without an enclosed area, the recreational kayak, or the shorter ocean kayak with large cockpits and wide beams. There's also the inflatable kayak and what is called the surf skis, which are narrow boats mainly used for ocean racing.

Most ocean kayaks range between 12 feet to 24 feet in length. The beam, which is the width of a typical kayak, may range from 18 inches to 28 inches. The length is an important consideration, as it not only affects its maximum holding capacity for both paddlers and gear but also its tracking capability. Tracking capability refers to the boat's capacity to move in a straight line. Long kayaks are easier to paddle straight, but they're harder to turn. It's also important to take note of the width of the paddle, as it makes an impact on cargo capacity, the size of the cockpit, and the boat's overall stability.

The most important feature in ocean kayaking is the paddler, as he is the one who maneuvers the device. It is generally safer to paddle with one or more people, although some famous ocean kayaking expeditions such as the one done by Paul Caffyn in 1977 in New Zealand was done alone.