The Baidarka
Baidarka, a Russian word meaning small boat, was a name given to the skin on frame boats used by the Aleuts. Russian fur traders observed the Aleuts in these boats and how adept they were at hunting. Like the open jaws of a salmon, baidarkas have "bifurcated bows" where the front splits in two mini-bows.
Greenland
Qajaks were used by the Inuit people of Greenland for centuries. Typically long and narrow with a boxy hull, these "qajaqs" were adapted and used by Dutch whalers in the 1700s. Driftwood was used for the frame and seal skins were used for the skin.
Tuiliqs
Modern kayakers use spray skirts and specific waterproof jackets to prevent water from entering the kayak. Used by Greenlandic Inuits, the tuiliq is the early ancestor of these modern pieces of gear. Originally made from seal skins, tuiliqs prevented the Inuit paddlers from hypothermia and falling out of the qajak cockpit.
Umiaks
Umiaks, like the Inuit qajaks, were another style of skin on a frame boat. Larger and with an open deck, umiaks were rowed by women and used to transport families or larger groups of people.
Modern History and Name Origins
The name kayak means "hunting boat." Rarely used for hunting anymore, modern kayaks have evolved into high-tech design with space-age materials. Carbon fiber, fiberglass, kevlar and roto-molded plastic have replaced seal skin and driftwood.
Article Written By Eric Cedric
A former Alaskan of 20 years, Eric Cedric now resides in California. He's published in "Outside" and "Backpacker" and has written a book on life in small-town Alaska, "North by Southeast." Cedric was a professional mountain guide and backcountry expedition leader for 18 years. He worked in Russia, Iceland, Greece, Turkey and Belize. Cedric attended Syracuse University and is a private pilot.
