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Sit-on-Top Craze - ‘Better Access to the Goods’
Words – Dunbar Hardy
Photos – Benjamin Thouard, Herve Vidal, Paul Villecourt
What do fisherman, scuba divers, hunters, wildlife photographers, adventure racers, and families with kids of all ages have in common? Around the world, these diverse groups are discovering the incredible benefits of sit on top kayaks. First manufactured many years ago, sit on tops have recently experienced an explosion in growth. People in all walks of life are finding out that sit on tops are friendly, safe, and easy to use; they can also greatly increase access to a variety of other outdoor pursuits.
Before the advent and increased popularity of sit on tops, "kayaking" or "paddling" was not perceived as being readily available to the general public. Many people imagined kayaking to be a dangerous sport, only possible if one was willing to be inside a boat and risk flipping over and being "trapped" in the kayak. Sit on tops, however, allow the best of paddling without the scary downsides. Paddlers can fall or jump off the sit on top and climb easily back in; sit on tops can be quickly flipped upright and paddlers can be back on track with little effort. When someone new to paddling uses a sit on top for their first outing, there is a great chance for both fun and success. These early positive experiences will keep people coming back to the sport, and encourage them to introduce others to it as well.
Apart from the simple joys of being on the water in a relatively stress free way, new and experienced paddlers alike are discovering that from a sit on top they can also better access and enjoy many of their other favorite outdoor pursuits. Fishermen can visit coves, eddies or breaks that aren’t accessible by foot; photographers can quietly approach wildlife in generally less traveled areas; scuba and skin divers can reach areas they couldn't swim to without disturbing the marine life with a motor. There are a wide variety of activities that can be greatly enhanced by the use of a sit on top kayak.
For many years sit on top design, along with usage, was quite limited. Now with an increased market, manufacturers are paying more attention to designing boats with specific users in mind. Models are available that cater to different sports and varying types of water travel. However, regardless of design features unique to a particular sport, the main goal remains to make sit on tops fun, easy to use, safe and stable so that one doesn't need to be an expert to hop on board and have a great time.
Here are a few examples of how sit on top use is spreading into a wide variety of outdoor activities:
Kayak Fishing/Kayak Hunting
The sit on top kayak allows hunters and fishermen better access into hard to reach spots. With increased access, the fishing and hunting territory increases, and therefore the likelihood of success is greater. With forward strokes instead of a motor, hunters and fishermen can make silent approaches to these harder to reach areas. Sit on top kayaks are also incredibly stable platforms for hunting/fishing activities. Sport models are offered with rod holsters, as well as ample storage space. New stretches of water and wilderness are available and waiting if you simply climb aboard and start paddling.
Kayak Diving
There really isn’t a better, simpler craft to support skin diving than a sit on top kayak. Entry and exit through surf in a sit on top generally requires minimal effort. These open-decked boats are incredibly easy to climb back on top of after a shallow water tour chasing fish. And yes, the fish will be there as you drop in because you are able to approach in a quiet and stealthy manner. Once overboard, sit on tops are also easy to anchor. As stated by an avid skin diving enthusiast, “Those who use a kayak simply dive more than those who don’t.”
Family Kayaks Friendly.
That is the word that comes to mind for many parents when thinking of sit on top kayaks for their families. These boats are easy to use, relatively stable, and do not require much skill; therefore they are kid-friendly. Sit on top kayaks are a great beachfront or lakeside toy for the kids. Not only are tandem, 2-seater, models offered, but an infant 3-seater family model is even available for the whole family to enjoy.
Kayak Photography
With sit on tops, not only are photographers now able to access that hard to reach shot, but they can also take advantage of the unusual perspective that makes the great shot even better. Quiet strokes allow close up proximity to wildlife, filling the camera frame with an intimate view of birds, reptiles, and mammals. And that sunset shot over the water…well, you can now get it easily with a sit on top kayak.
Adventure Races
The newest addition to multi-sport events is the Adventure Race, which often includes a paddling segment. The majority of these events use sit on top kayaks because their less technical nature makes them usable for paddlers and non-paddlers alike. Sit on tops are fast and easy to mount or dismount in transition zones, and they are also stable enough to offer a bit of recuperation time for exhausted racers.
From children to parents to fishermen to adventure racers to wildlife photographers to scuba divers, sit on top recreational kayaks are indeed increasing the access to a large number of outdoor pursuits in a variety of settings. Sit on tops are also increasing the chance that first time paddlers have a fun and safe experience and therefore choose to continue kayaking. These friendly craft may be the newest key to helping more and more people get out and enjoy our beautiful natural world.
Words – Dunbar Hardy
Photos – Benjamin Thouard, Herve Vidal, Paul Villecourt
What do fisherman, scuba divers, hunters, wildlife photographers, adventure racers, and families with kids of all ages have in common? Around the world, these diverse groups are discovering the incredible benefits of sit on top kayaks. First manufactured many years ago, sit on tops have recently experienced an explosion in growth. People in all walks of life are finding out that sit on tops are friendly, safe, and easy to use; they can also greatly increase access to a variety of other outdoor pursuits.
Before the advent and increased popularity of sit on tops, "kayaking" or "paddling" was not perceived as being readily available to the general public. Many people imagined kayaking to be a dangerous sport, only possible if one was willing to be inside a boat and risk flipping over and being "trapped" in the kayak. Sit on tops, however, allow the best of paddling without the scary downsides. Paddlers can fall or jump off the sit on top and climb easily back in; sit on tops can be quickly flipped upright and paddlers can be back on track with little effort. When someone new to paddling uses a sit on top for their first outing, there is a great chance for both fun and success. These early positive experiences will keep people coming back to the sport, and encourage them to introduce others to it as well.
Apart from the simple joys of being on the water in a relatively stress free way, new and experienced paddlers alike are discovering that from a sit on top they can also better access and enjoy many of their other favorite outdoor pursuits. Fishermen can visit coves, eddies or breaks that aren’t accessible by foot; photographers can quietly approach wildlife in generally less traveled areas; scuba and skin divers can reach areas they couldn't swim to without disturbing the marine life with a motor. There are a wide variety of activities that can be greatly enhanced by the use of a sit on top kayak.
For many years sit on top design, along with usage, was quite limited. Now with an increased market, manufacturers are paying more attention to designing boats with specific users in mind. Models are available that cater to different sports and varying types of water travel. However, regardless of design features unique to a particular sport, the main goal remains to make sit on tops fun, easy to use, safe and stable so that one doesn't need to be an expert to hop on board and have a great time.
Here are a few examples of how sit on top use is spreading into a wide variety of outdoor activities:
Kayak Fishing/Kayak Hunting
The sit on top kayak allows hunters and fishermen better access into hard to reach spots. With increased access, the fishing and hunting territory increases, and therefore the likelihood of success is greater. With forward strokes instead of a motor, hunters and fishermen can make silent approaches to these harder to reach areas. Sit on top kayaks are also incredibly stable platforms for hunting/fishing activities. Sport models are offered with rod holsters, as well as ample storage space. New stretches of water and wilderness are available and waiting if you simply climb aboard and start paddling.
Kayak Diving
There really isn’t a better, simpler craft to support skin diving than a sit on top kayak. Entry and exit through surf in a sit on top generally requires minimal effort. These open-decked boats are incredibly easy to climb back on top of after a shallow water tour chasing fish. And yes, the fish will be there as you drop in because you are able to approach in a quiet and stealthy manner. Once overboard, sit on tops are also easy to anchor. As stated by an avid skin diving enthusiast, “Those who use a kayak simply dive more than those who don’t.”
Family Kayaks Friendly.
That is the word that comes to mind for many parents when thinking of sit on top kayaks for their families. These boats are easy to use, relatively stable, and do not require much skill; therefore they are kid-friendly. Sit on top kayaks are a great beachfront or lakeside toy for the kids. Not only are tandem, 2-seater, models offered, but an infant 3-seater family model is even available for the whole family to enjoy.
Kayak Photography
With sit on tops, not only are photographers now able to access that hard to reach shot, but they can also take advantage of the unusual perspective that makes the great shot even better. Quiet strokes allow close up proximity to wildlife, filling the camera frame with an intimate view of birds, reptiles, and mammals. And that sunset shot over the water…well, you can now get it easily with a sit on top kayak.
Adventure Races
The newest addition to multi-sport events is the Adventure Race, which often includes a paddling segment. The majority of these events use sit on top kayaks because their less technical nature makes them usable for paddlers and non-paddlers alike. Sit on tops are fast and easy to mount or dismount in transition zones, and they are also stable enough to offer a bit of recuperation time for exhausted racers.
From children to parents to fishermen to adventure racers to wildlife photographers to scuba divers, sit on top recreational kayaks are indeed increasing the access to a large number of outdoor pursuits in a variety of settings. Sit on tops are also increasing the chance that first time paddlers have a fun and safe experience and therefore choose to continue kayaking. These friendly craft may be the newest key to helping more and more people get out and enjoy our beautiful natural world.
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