Lake craft with a palindromic name

KAYAK

5-letter answer

This clue points to a small boat used on lakes, and the key hint is that its name reads the same backward as forward—a palindrome. "Kayak" fits perfectly because it’s a common lake or river craft and spells "K-A-Y-A-K" either way. The wordplay relies on recognizing both the type of watercraft and the palindromic structure of its name.