Cockpit

The place where you sit in a kayak. The cockpit is typically an oval, round or egg-shaped hole in the deck of the boat. The cockpit is rimmed by a coaming with a lip to which you can hook a spray skirt. In the cockpit you will find a seat and footbraces. The cockpit area will often be sealed off from the rest of the boat by bulkheads to limit the amount of water taken on in a wet exit.

There are two types of cockpit openings:

Keyhole Cockpit

This cockpit opening looks roughly like an old-fashioned keyhole - large where you sit and narrower forward. They tend to be roughly 40cm wide (16 in.) and 75cm long (30 in.). Unless you have really long legs, you can plunk your butt into the seat and then lift your legs and feet in. The narrow part of the opening has thigh hooks. These openings have the advantage of easy entry and egress. Disadvantages include being forced into a single braced position (often referred to as the 'birthing position') and the fact that the skirt, with a larger span, is slightly more likely to implode if a wave breaks over you.

Ocean cockpit

This is a smaller opening, usually round or slightly egg shaped. They are about 40cm wide (16 in.) and up to about 50cm long (20 in.). Due to the short distance forward to back, you cannot get in butt first. You have to sit on the rear deck, place your feet in the cockpit and slide forward into the seat. With no thigh hooks, you brace by lifting your knees anywhere under the deck - once you get used to this, thigh hooks seem like a pain. The smaller opening means that the skirt is less likely to implode in a breaking wave. The biggest disadvantage is it is more difficult to get in or out - though a wet exit is no more difficult than in a keyhole cockpit.

For a good Eskimo roll the cockpit should be outfitted with thigh hooks (AKA knee braces). A back band or back rest will make the kayak more comfortable.

Avoid a high backrest. The purpose of the backband/backrest is to keep you from sliding off the back of the seat. You aren't supposed to lean against it while paddling. Your seated position should be with a straight back, leaning slightly forward.