New 2004 USCA Kayak Specifications
Specifications & Rules Used for All USCA Events - Effective 1/11/2004
H. Single Kayak, Sit-on-Top, of Surfski
1. Recreational: any single kayak, sit-on-top, or surfski with a
maximum overall length of 16', and a 4" waterline beam of at least 22"
2. Sea Kayak: any single kayak, sit-on-top, or surfski with a maximum overall length of 18', and a 4" waterline beam of at least 8.5%
of length, and an overall beam of at least 10% of length, 40 pound minimum weight, bulkheads plus hatches fore and aft, with the exception
of pre-year 2000 models, in which case they may have airbags in lieu of hatches and bulkheads
3. Touring: any single kayak, sit-on-top, or surfski with a
maximum overall length of 20', and a 4" waterline beam of at least 18"
4. Unlimited: any single kayak, sit-on-top, or surfski except ICF
I. Double Kayak, Sit-on-Top, or Surfski: any double kayak, sit-on-top,
or surfski except ICF
Additional rules for both Single and Double Kayaks:
1. Flip up rudders not included in length
2. No hull modifications
3. Must have sufficient flotation to support a 25 pound weight in
a boat full of water
4. No ICF, downriver, or Olympic trainer kayaks (ICF to compete in ICF
Classes)
Download Complete Jan 2003
Competition Rules in PDF
2003 USCA Kayak Specifications
Canoe Specifications & Rules Used for All USCA Events - Effective 2003
K1
Downriver Kayak
Maximum length: 4.5 meters (14'
9-3/16"), minimum width: 60cm (23-5/8"), no minimum weight.
No rudders. (These specifications follow existing ICF wild water rules
with the exception of the weight specification.)
ICF
K1
Maximum length: 520cm (204.72"), no
minimum width, no minimum weight. May be made of any material, completely decked and spray
skirts used. Steering rudders
are allowed. (These
specifications follow existing ICF specs with the exception of the weight
specification.)
USCA
Kayak Specifications
K1 Sea Kayak Recreational:
18ft max length, with a 4" water line beam of at least 22"
— and see further specs below.*
K1 Sea Kayak Touring: 20ft
max length, with a 4" water line beam of at least 18" — and see
further specs below.*
K1 Kayak Unlimited: any kayak or surf ski except ICF,
downriver, or Olympic trainer kayaks — no max length, no minimum widths
— and see further specs below.*
K2 Tandem Sea Kayak: must be a true sea kayak design with two
bulkheads and hatches. No ICF
K2s or conversions. And see
further specs below.*
*Sea Kayak Recreational, Sea Kayak
Touring, Tandem Sea Kayak:
1. Flip up rudders not included in length
2. No hull modifications, no weight
restrictions.
3. No ICF, downriver, or Olympic trainer
kayaks.
4. Lower outer surface must have a
continuous convex curve longitudinally at the 4" water line, and a
continuous convex curve cross-sectionally throughout the length of the boat.
*Sea Kayak Recreational, Sea Kayak
Touring, Kayak Unlimited, Tandem Sea kayak:
Must have sufficient flotation to support a
25 lb weight in a boat full of water.
ANNOUNCEMENT
with respect to the deleted item #4 above:
An Interim Announcement
Kayak Specifications: The
Convexity Rule
“USCA's Executive Committee recognizes that the ‘convexity’ rule
for Kayak specs (ie ‘that sea kayaks must have a continuous convex curve
longitudinally at the 4" waterline’) introduced at the USCA's Annual
Meeting in January was ill-conceived. Committee
members are actively working options on how to address the rule and get
information out to all members in a timely fashion for the 2003 nationals.
The intention of the USCA is to be more widely inclusive of existing
kayak types, and this rule unintentionally had the opposite effect.”
Modifications
to USCA Canoe specs effective 2003
NEW 2003 SPECS: For
all adult C2 National races,
Competition Cruisers & 3x27 Racing Canoes will qualify
2002 USCA Kayak Specifications
The 2002 specifications for sea kayaks adopted by the USCA at the Annual
Meeting which are superseded by any modifications made to them in 2003
Sea Kayaks
1. 10% minimum width: overall beam must be at least 10% of length, with a
4-inch waterline beam of at least 8.5% of length.
2. Maximum length not to exceed 18 feet (excluding flip-up rudders).
3. Minimum weight, 40 pounds.
4. Must have bulkheads plus hatches fore and aft, with the exception of
pre-year 2000 models, in which case they must have airbags.
5. No ICF, downriver, or Olympic trainer kayaks.
Open Sea Kayak
Any kayak or surf ski except ICF, downriver, or Olympic trainer kayaks.
Tandem Sea Kayak - Trial Marathon
Must be a true sea kayak, designed with two bulkheads and hatches.
No ICF K2s or conversions.
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