Sit on Top Kayak Advantages

Sit-on-top kayaks have a similar hull shape to sit-in kayaks, but you sit on the boat's deck and not in a cockpit, according to Lindsey Beck, a kayak guide and salesperson at an Okanagan Lake running and kayak store in British Columbia. Used for recreation in calm, protected waters or for surfing in waves near the shore rather than for expeditions, there are many advantages to sit-on-top kayaks. Some types of high-end sit-ons are made of fiberglass, while others come with a rigid frame, fold into a duffle bag and are inflated when you are ready to boat. The most common types are made from tough, rigid plastic.

  1. A Good Choice for Kids and Beginners

    • To kayak safely in a traditional kayak, you need to learn how to roll the boat while still in it, and to get back in if you tip out (a wet exit). In a sit-on-top kayak, with its open deck, you won't worry about getting trapped in your kayak, upside-down under water. A lot of people opt for a sit-on because they are afraid of getting stuck. The wide, stable boats are self-bailing with drain holes built into the hull. However, it is just as important to wear a Personal Flotation Device in a sit-on-top as it is in a traditional kayak.

    Comfortable for Bigger Paddlers

    • Bigger paddlers and those with mobility issues find a sit-on-top more comfortable and easier to use. A traditional kayak's cockpit can be a tight fit, and less flexible paddlers have a difficult time maneuvering into it. A sit-on-top is a good option for people with long legs as well, as even sit-in kayaks with generous foot-peg adjustments may not fit.

    Stable Platform

    • These boats make perfect platforms for fishing, as they are very stable. If you have good balance, you can stand on a sit-on-top to cast. SCUBA divers find sit-on kayaks ideal, as they are easy to get in and out. Kids spend much of their time jumping on and off sit-on kayaks, rather than actually paddling them, making them a good choice for the family cabin.

    Cost

    • Most sit-on kayaks are reasonably priced, at one-third to one-half the cost of a traditional kayak. According to the Ocean Kayak website, you should be able to buy a sit-on-top kayak, paddle and backrest made of roto-molded plastic for between $500 and $800, as of 2011. Most traditional kayaks cost more than $1,000.