Editing Kayak (section)

=== Specialty and hybrids ===
The term "kayak" is increasingly applied to craft that look little like traditional kayaks.

==== Inflatable ====
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2021}}
[[File:28.8.15 Vyssi Brod Weir 090 (20773207060).jpg|thumb|right|An inflatable sit-on-top kayak]]
[[File:Inflatable Kayak.png|thumb|upright|An example of a man using an inflatable kayak]]

Inflatables, also known as the ''duckies'' or ''IKs'', can usually be transported by hand using a carry bag. They are generally made of [[hypalon]] (a kind of [[neoprene]]), [[nitrilon]] ([[nitrile rubber|nitrile-rubberized]] fabric), [[polyvinyl chloride|PVC]], or [[Polyurethane laminate|polyurethane-coated cloth]]. They can be inflated with foot, hand or electric pumps. Multiple compartments in all but the least expensive increase safety. They generally use low pressure air, almost always below {{cvt|3|psi|bar|1|order=flip}}.

While many inflatables are non-rigid, essentially pointed rafts, best suited for use on rivers and calm water, the higher-end inflatables are designed to be hardy, seaworthy vessels. Recently some manufacturers have added an internal frame (folding-style) to a multi-section inflatable [[#Sit-on-top|sit-on-top kayak]] to produce a seaworthy boat. Fully drop-stitch inflatable kayaks are also available, which are inflated to 8–10 PSI. They are much stiffer, which enhances their paddling characteristics to vastly outperform traditional inflatable kayaks.

The appeal of inflatable kayaks is their portability, their durability (they don't dent), ruggedness in white water (they bounce off rocks rather than break) and their easy storage. In addition, inflatable kayaks generally are stable, have a small turning radius and are easy to master, although some models take more effort to paddle and are slower than traditional kayaks.

Because inflatable kayaks aren't as sturdy as traditional, hard-shelled kayaks, a lot of people tend to steer away from them. However, there have been considerable advancements in inflatable kayak technology over recent years.

==== Folding ====
[[File:Taimen3 assembly.jpg|thumb|Assembling an aluminum frame for a folding kayak; the cloth covering (foreground) will later be stretched over it]]
{{Main|Folding kayak}}
Folding kayaks are direct descendants of the skin-on-frame boats used by the Inuit and Greenlandic peoples. Modern folding kayaks are constructed from a wooden or aluminum frame over which is placed a synthetic skin made of polyester, cotton canvas, polyurethane, or Hypalon. They are more expensive than inflatable kayaks, but have the advantage of greater stiffness and consequently better seaworthiness.

Walter Höhn (English Hoehn) had built, developed and then tested his design for a folding kayak in the white-water rivers of Switzerland from 1924 to 1927. In 1928, on emigrating to Australia, he brought 2 of them with him, lodged a patent for the design and proceeded to manufacture them.
In 1942 the Australian Director of Military operations approached him to develop them for Military use. Orders were placed and eventually a total of 1024, notably the MKII & MKIII models, were produced by him and another enterprise, based on his 1942 patent (No. 117779)<ref>Commando Kayak 2011, {{ISBN|978-3-033-01717-7}}</ref>

==== Pedal ====
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2015}}
Pedal kayaks represent a pioneering type of watercraft engineered for hands-free functionality, utilizing a propulsion system operated by the kayaker's feet. This mechanism usually consists of pedals that are rotated in a circular motion, akin to bicycling, generating forward momentum through a propeller or fins situated beneath the kayak. Steering is managed by a rudder or steering mechanism, typically operated by a hand lever or supplementary foot pedals for directional control.<ref>{{cite web |last=David |first=Graham |title=Pedal Kayaks |url=https://kayaks-hub.com/how-do-pedal-kayaks-work/ |access-date=February 25, 2024 |website=Kayaks Hub|date=January 4, 2024 }}</ref>

==== Twin hull and outrigger ====
[[File:Catamaran kayak by SuperKayak.jpg|thumb|upright|Inflatable catamaran kayak by SuperKayak]]
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2015}}
Traditional [[multihull|multi-hull]] vessels such as catamarans and [[outrigger canoe]]s benefit from increased lateral stability without sacrificing speed, and these advantages have been successfully applied in twin hull kayaks. ''Outrigger kayaks'' attach one or two smaller hulls to the main hull to enhance stability, especially for fishing, touring, kayak sailing and motorized kayaking.
Twin hull kayaks feature two long and narrow hulls, and since all their buoyancy is distributed as far as possible from their center line, they are more stable than mono hull kayaks outfitted with outriggers.