Are Sit On Top Inflatable Kayaks any Good?
February 10, 2010 by IK World
Some people classify most inflatable kayaks as sit-on-tops. This is for the obvious reason that many inflatable kayaks do not have the low seating that many hard-shell kayaks have.
However they are not actually sit-on-tops. They may not have the low center point as their hard-shelled cousins, but they are none-the-less usually much lower than an actual sit-on-top.
A true inflatable sit-on-top kayak will have the seat right on top of the kayak. There will be no “inside cockpit” to put your legs in and no storage room except for some bungee tie down cords on top. So is this type of inflatable kayak any good?
Typically sit-on-top kayaks are used by rental outfitters because they tend to be quite stable, easy to paddle and are very easy to re-board from within the water.
Some are constructed better than others of course and will offer different levels of performance and adventure. For the most part a true sit-on-top kayak will be purely a recreational boat that will be suited for flat waters.
One would not expect to do too many tricks and turns in this type of kayak and it would be suited well for families, kids, traveling or as a fun play boat. You will not get the “authentic” kayaking feel from a sit-on-top or that feeling of being “one” with the water.
That being said, sit-on-tops do serve their purpose and I have enjoyed many paddling experiences on one myself. They tend to be quite popular for those who are into diving and snorkeling as they offer a very easy platform to board from the water.
Is an inflatable sit-on-top any good? Yes, absolutely, they can be an excellent recreational kayak to own. They can be found under our recreational/flatwater kayaking section.
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I am a kayak tour outfitter in the San Juan Islands of Washington and have recently started a kayak rental program. These inflatable kayaks certainly have many advantages and I am considering adding them to my kayak rentals. But do you think inflatable kayaks would work well in a rental fleet? Can they handle that sort of abuse? Thanks for your input!
Sea Quest Kayak Tours website (www.sea-quest-kayak.com)
Hi Mark,
If you purchase the higher quality inflatable kayaks they should work well in a rental fleet. They are known to be very stable and safe so are great for beginner paddlers and yes they can definitely take a fair amount of abuse. The Aire Outfitter for example was originally designed specifically for rental outfitters (hence the name). I would suggest contacting a couple of the manufacturers as they can likely give you more specific info as to which inflatable kayaks would work best as rentals.
Cheers, Allison