How did kayaks differ from umiaks in the American Arctic?

In the American Arctic, kayaks and umiaks served distinct roles and featured different designs:

• Design and Structure: The kayak was a closed boat, typically built for one occupant, featuring a pointed bow and stern and a covered deck with a cockpit. In contrast, the umiak was an open boat, often larger and elongated in shape. Both were constructed by stretching seal or other animal skins over driftwood or whalebone frames.12
• Primary Use: The kayak was primarily a men’s hunting and fishing craft, valued for its shallow draft and stealth, which allowed hunters to navigate constricted waterways. The umiak was traditionally known as the "woman’s boat," used for transporting families, children, the elderly, and possessions. However, in whaling and walrus-hunting regions, the umiak was also used as a hunting vessel, manned by a professional male crew.123
• Operation: Kayak paddlers sat facing forward using a double-bladed paddle. Umiaks were often rowed by women facing backward when used for transport, but when used for hunting, they were paddled by a male crew facing forward.13