Editing Kayak (section)

==== Stability from body shape and skill level ====
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:Weight distribution kayak.svg|The position of the center of gravity is affected by body shape. The lower the CoG, the higher the primary stability.
File:Stability for beginners.svg|Two different approaches to giving beginners more stability; left, a wider kayak, right, outriggers lashed across the stern deck
</gallery>

The body of the paddler must also be taken into account. A paddler with a low [[center of gravity]] (COG) will find all boats more stable; for a paddler with a high center of gravity, all boats will feel tippier. On average, women have a lower COG than men.<ref name=seakayak/><ref name=kayarchy_women/><ref name=kayarchy_kids/> Women generally may fit a kayak about 10% narrower than the kayak that would fit a similarly sized man. Commercial kayaks made for women are rare.<ref name=kayarchy_women/> Unisex kayaks are built for men.<ref name="long_narrow"/> Younger children have proportionately smaller and lighter bodies, but near-adult-size heads, and thus a higher center of gravity.<ref name=kayarchy_kids/> A paddler with narrow shoulders will also want a narrower kayak.

Newcomers will often want a craft with high primary stability (see above). The southern method is a wider kayak. The West Greenland method is a removable pair of outriggers, lashed across the stern deck.<ref name=kayarchy_kids>{{cite web|url=http://kayarchy.com/html/02technique/007seakayakingforkids/000.htm#childsizekayaks|title=Kayarchy – sea kayaking for kids|website=Kayarchy.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.traditionalkayaks.com/travelsandadventures/championships.html|title=Championships|website=Traditionalkayaks.com|access-date=November 29, 2017|archive-date=April 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422145612/http://www.traditionalkayaks.com/travelsandadventures/championships.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Such an outrigger pair is often homemade of a small plank and found floats such as empty bottles or plastic ducks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://freyahoffmeister.com/expeditions/greenland-national-championships-in-sisimiut-2006/|title=Greenland National Championships in Sisimiut 2006|website=Freyahoffmeister.com|access-date=February 23, 2022}}</ref> Outriggers are also made commercially, especially for fishing kayaks and sailing. If the floats are set so that they are both in the water, they give primary stability, but produce more [[Drag (physics)|drag]]. If they are set so that they are both out of the water when the kayak is balanced, they give secondary stability.<ref name=hobie>{{cite web|url=https://www.kayakshed.com/product/hobie-sidekick-ama-kit/|title=Hobie Gear SideKick AMA Kit Hobie Kayak Outrigger|website=Kayakshed.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wavewalk.com/blog/2016/03/04/outriggers/|title=Outriggers – Wavewalk® Stable Fishing Kayaks, Portable Boats and Skiffs|website=Wavewalk.com|access-date=February 23, 2022|archive-date=August 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812202447/http://wavewalk.com/blog/2016/03/04/outriggers/|url-status=dead}}</ref>