Fishing Frenzy

Kayaks are small, very nimble, slim boats usually powered by one person. The person uses a paddle to propel the boat through the water. The cockpit is the area the paddler sits in. Usually, the open area on top is covered by a "skirt" to keep the water from filling the hull. Keeping the water out allows the paddler to return the vessel to the upright position if it capsizes. There are a variety of versions of this boat. Kayak plans are available to be commercially made or made by someone in their workshop.

Kayaks have a long and colorful history. Estimates vary, but there is general agreement that they have been around for at least 4,000 years. They were originally created by the Eskimos of the Arctic regions. Their purpose was to transport the Eskimo to their hunting areas.

This vessel was not fully exposed to the European until fairly recently in history. Around 1905 a German named Hans Klepper bought the plans for a kayak from a German student. It was a foldable, portable setup that allowed transporting it very easy. Klepper created a market for this new design. Doing so allowed this unique vessel to be exposed to a whole new market of sports enthusiasts.

The kayak was introduced to the Olympics games in 1936 in Berlin. It was called "flatwater racing". As a result of this exposure, clubs were formed throughout Europe. The kayak concept became more and more accepted in other parts of the world as the years. Passed. Currently, the kayak is featured in several events during each summer Olympic game.

The designs of modern kayaks differ greatly from the native Eskimo designs. Whereas the original native designs were for hunting modern designs fill recreational, fishing, sea-going, surfing, whitewater, and racing purposes. Of course, this list is not an exhaustive list of what these vessels are used for.

Because of the treeless environment the arctic inhabitants lived in, whale bone for the frame and seal skin for the covering were the basic materials used by them to construct the original kayaks. Nowadays, a mix of classic material such as wood and modern composites can be found by the kayak-maker.

As in any craft, those that want to build their own boat have many options. The spectrum of difficulty ranges from rudimentary designs created in a home workshop to those requiring sophisticated shop tools. The length of time to build one also depends on the goal of the builder. A simple one to quickly place in the water all the way to classic designs made out of natural, expensive materials will each take different amounts of time to construct.

The advent of the internet has allowed an almost unlimited access to plans on how to build kayaks. The entire spectrum of materials, designs, and levels of workmanship complexity is available to the potential kayak builder. Plans can be delivered to the potential builder via postal mail in paper form or delivered online. If the kayak plans are delivered online usually the time it takes for a builder to receive them is drastically reduced. This may allow construction to begin immediately. Either way, for the dedicated kayaker the experience of building their own boat may be one they won't soon forget.