Fiberglass, paddle floats, navigation maps, self-rescue, you’d like to enjoy the water in a kayak, but perhaps you aren’t feeling ready for the investment of time and money it takes to get into the sport. There are lots of alternatives out there for new and recreational paddlers, one of which is a sit-on-top kayak.
Sit-on-tops have similar hull shapes to their traditional counterparts, but instead of sitting inside the kayak, you sit in a molded-in depression on top. Some are fiberglass, but most are made from tough, inexpensive, roto-molded plastic. Sit-on-tops share many benefits with traditional sit-insides, but often are easier to use and less expensive. There are sit-on-tops for fishing, surfing, touring, scuba diving and more. Some of these are considered specialty boats, but most sit-on-tops are built for multi-purposes and with recreational or beginning paddlers in mind.
Sit-on-tops have a few advantages over sit-insides, one of which is comfort. Paddlers with large body types, long legs, or limited flexibility feel less confined paddling a sit-on-top. One of the biggest benefits, though, is the self-rescue. Because sit-on-tops have an open deck rather than an enclosed one, there is no risk of being trapped in the boat if it tips over-no need to practice rolls or wet exits. That really appeals to new paddlers, and people who don’t plan to take their kayaks out on expeditions.
