Umehluko phakathi kwe-kayak nesikebhe indawo yokuhlala ye-paddle kanye nenani lama-blades ebhodini lokugwedla. I-kayak iyisikebhe esinesitayela sesikebhe samanzi aphansi lapho umgwedli ehlala ebheke phambili imilenze ibheke phambili, esebenzisa izigwedlo ukuze adonsele olunye uhlangothi phambili noma emuva, bese ephenduka. Ama-kayak amaningi anompheme ovalekile, nakuba ama-kayak ahlala phansi kanye ne-inflatable nawo aya ngokuduma.
Ama-Kayak nawo angahlukaniswa ngokuya ngomklamo wawo nezinto zokwakha. Idizayini ngayinye inezinzuzo zayo ezithile, okuhlanganisa ukusebenza, ukuhleleka, ukuzinza kanye nesitayela sokugwedla. Ama-kayak angenziwa ngensimbi, i-fiberglass, izinkuni, ipulasitiki, indwangu, nezindwangu eziphefumulayo njenge-PVC noma irabha, ebiza kakhulu kulezi zinsuku, kodwa i-carbon fiber ekhanyayo. Impahla ngayinye nayo inezinzuzo zayo ezithile, okuhlanganisa amandla, ukuqina, ukuphatheka, ukuguquguquka, ukumelana ne-UV kanye nezidingo zokugcinwa. Isibonelo, ama-kayak enziwe ngokhuni angenziwa ngamakhithi noma akhiwe ngesandla. I-stitches kanye ne-glue, i-plywood kayak ingaba lula kunanoma iyiphi enye into, ngaphandle kohlaka olunamathela esikhumbeni. Ama-kayak aphefumulayo enziwe ngezindwangu ezingasindi ayawohloka, kulula ukuthuthwa futhi agcinwe, futhi athathwa njengokuqina kakhulu futhi ahlala isikhathi eside kunezinye izikebhe ezinendawo eqinile.