Sit-On-Top Inflatable Kayak Pros and Cons

Inflatable as well as fibreglass sit-on-top kayaks have been popular for years.

A sit-on-top has a similar hull shape to a regular kayak but instead of sitting inside the kayak, you sit up higher in a slightly sunken depression on top.

Below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of paddling a sit-on-top inflatable kayak.

Sit-On Top Inflatable Kayak Advantages

Small Investment
Many people love the idea of getting outside and enjoying the water but are not ready to make the investment of purchasing a good quality inflatable kayak. For brand new recreational paddlers, a sit-on-top inflatable kayak can be a good way to go.

Sit-on-tops tend to cost quite a bit less than other kayaks and consequently are very affordable. They can be a great way to test out the waters so to speak and see if you enjoy the sport of paddling.

Easy to Use
Another main advantage to an inflatable sit-on-top is that it tends to be very easy to use. For this reason they are great for people of all ages including young children as they take very little effort to paddle. They can be a lot of fun for the family to enjoy some recreational paddling in the lake or river.

Multi-Purpose
Sit-on-top kayaks tend to be very multi-purpose. They are very easy to re-enter from within the water so besides being great for just touring around they work very well for fishing, scuba diving, and surfing.

Comfort
One of the advantages that sit-on-tops have over regular sit-inside kayaks is that they tend to be quite comfortable. There are no restrictions so for those with a larger body type, extra long legs or limited flexibility you will likely feel less restricted and confined as well as possibly more comfortable in an inflatable sit-on-top kayak.

Great for Beginners
Many beginner paddlers feel very comfortable with a sit-on top because of their safety level. Sitting on top of the kayak means that there is no risk of getting stuck in the kayak if it should tip over and getting back on board is very easy. Therefore there is no need to practice rolls or wet-exits which is very appealing to many beginner kayakers.

However it is worth noting that many regular inflatable kayaks have open cockpits as opposed to an enclosed space and therefore there is no risk of getting stuck in one of them either.

Sit-On-Top Inflatable Kayak Disadvantages

There are also some fairly major disadvantages to paddling a sit-on-top inflatable kayak such as…

Performance
Although it is easy to paddle a sit-on-top there is no doubt that the performance will not be as good as a regular inflatable kayak. Sit-on-tops do not tend to track well and rarely have a tracking fin or skeg. Therefore they are truly best suited for easy and short paddling trips.

Quality
Sit-on-tops are very affordable but they also tend to lack in quality. They are great if you do not want to spend much money and just want to get the feel of paddling. However they will typically not last as long as a regular inflatable kayak (although there are some exceptions for sure).

No Storage Room
Sitting on top of the inflatable kayak means that there is no space to store extra cargo or accessories. You may be able to tie down a small dry bag but usually that is about it. Therefore a sit-on-top is fine for paddling around for a couple of hours but longer trips could be awkward.

Recommended Sit-On-Top Inflatable Kayaks

At this point Sevylor is the main manufacturer of inflatable sit-on-top kayaks. We have only reviewed two of their sit-on-top models but they have several to choose from – some solo, some tandem – all quite affordable.

View our Sevylor inflatable kayak reviews.

Or view the list of Sevylor Sit-On-Top Kayaks at Amazon.com.

New Review: Sevylor Rio Inflatable Canoe

We have added a new review this week for the Sevylor Rio inflatable canoe.

This is one of the few solo inflatable canoes on the market and is ideal for traveling, fishing and recreational use.

The Sevylor Rio is 9’ 10” long and weighs 25 lbs. This is the smaller version of the popular Sevylor Colorado canoe and is styled after a traditional North American Indian canoe.

I like the Rio quite a bit. It is not the best quality inflatable canoe out there but it is very affordable and overall quite fun to paddle. It can be paddled with a canoe paddle or with a kayak paddle.

I found the tracking to be not so great on flat water but in waves and a moving river, it was very responsive. Even though the tracking was not the best, I still enjoyed paddling it on the lake with my kayak paddles.

The seat is very comfortable and I found that there was enough room to not feel squished as well as to store some cargo.

One of the great things about the Rio is that it has the option of adding a 12-volt motor. For this reason it would be ideal for fishing and is light enough to bring anywhere.

I did find that I got frustrated with the air valves on the Rio. Often with cheaper models the valves are not as good and as easy to use as the valves on the more expensive models. However once I had them figured out, they did work well and there did not seem to be any issues with air leakage.

The Sevylor Rio comes with:

• 1 flexible bucket seat – that includes a back storage pocket and two bottle holders
• removable mesh stern storage bag
• nylon carrying bag
• easy grab handles on both sides as well as on the front and back
• d-rings and tie down loops
• paddle/oar holders
• repair kit
• 1 year warranty

Quick Stats for the Sevylor Rio

• Length: 9’ 10”
• Width: 3’ 1”
• Weight: 25 lbs.
• Load Capacity: 350 lbs.

The Sevylor Rio is a fun little inflatable canoe that is very affordable and offers a fair amount for the price paid. It would work well for beginners, recreational use, fishing and camping.

For much more detail including all the pros and cons as well as more pictures please see our Sevylor Rio inflatable canoe review.

Sevylor Inflatable Kayak Pros and Cons

Sevylor inflatable kayaks are very well known for two reasons:

• They have been around for a long time and are sold at a lot of different places
• They tend to be fairly affordable

Sevylor in fact is one of the oldest manufacturers of inflatable kayaks and inflatable boats. In the past Sevylor kayaks have been considered “cheap” versions of a “real” kayak. The quality wasn’t considered anything great but they would get you and your family out on the water for an affordable price.

Over the years their inflatable kayak fleet has changed and is constantly improving. Although they are still not able to compete quality wise with the top inflatable kayak manufacturers such as NRS, AIRE, Sea Eagle, Airis, Innova, etc. they still continue to have great popularity. If you have considered purchasing a Sevylor inflatable kayak there are some pros and cons you should be aware of.

Sevylor Pros and Cons

Pro Sevylor Inflatable Kayaks and Inflatable Canoes

• The price tends to be good especially for those just starting out
• The majority of their models are fairly light weight and easy to transport and travel with
• They have a decent selection of different models and different types of kayaks
• They have a very popular and fun to paddle inflatable canoe – the Sevylor Colorado
• Sevylor is constantly working to improve their quality while continuing to offer affordable choices for the masses
• Their inflatable kayaks are great for recreational paddlers
• They have a good choice of sit-on-top inflatable kayaks

Against Sevylor Inflatable Kayaks and Inflatable Canoes

• Not specialized and will not excel in performance
• Quality is known to be lacking and consequently it will not last you as long as some other brands
• There have been issues with certain models leaking air
• The durability of the kayak material used in construction does not compare to other more reputable brands
• Some of the cheaper models have been known to get pushed around by the wind

Bottom line for Sevylor Inflatable Kayaks

The bottom line is that if you are just starting out and would like to try kayaking without investing a lot of money than a Sevylor inflatable kayak may be a good place to start. If however you plan to paddle for years to come then you may want to look at a higher end brand name.

The reviews are mixed as I have heard of many people who have been very happy with their Sevylor inflatable kayak and I have head of many others who would never buy one again.

I think the Sevylor models are great for kids, camping and just plain old recreational fun. In my opinion their biggest assets are

• the Sevylor Colorado which is extremely popular and a good quality inflatable canoe that works great for fishing, expeditions, day trips and camping
• and their sit-on-top inflatable kayaks which are extremely affordable and very fun to paddle on lakes and flat water.

Even though Sevylor inflatable kayaks may not be top of the line, one thing that is for sure is that they will continue to sell thousands of their inflatable boats to great people looking for a convenient and fun way to get out and enjoy the water!

See our Sevylor inflatable kayak reviews for more detailed information on each individual model.

Sevylor Inflatable Kayaks

Sevylor is one of the oldest and original manufacturers of inflatable kayaks.   They are not for everybody but there is no denying that Sevylor kayaks are very popular and meet the needs of a lot of people.

While doing some research on Sevylor I found the story of how they began to be quite interesting and thought I would share it with all of you.

How Sevylor Began…

Sevylor began originally as an electronics company in 1948 in Paris, France. It was called Societe Electronique de Vitry… or SEVY for short.

SEVY was commissioned by a man in New York to produce high frequency welding machines that were capable of welding a new material (at the time) called PVC. The machines worked very well and the American company became very successful manufacturing swimming pool products. From there SEVY learned how to work with PVC.

One of the first products that SEVY produced was an inflatable bathtub called Dou Dou. It was a very popular invention in postwar France giving mothers a way to bathe their children even when there were no facilities. From there SEVY began constructing small pools and all sorts of flotation devices such as pool toys.

The company eventually established a new headquarters in a tiny Alsatian village called Buhl and decided to add the letters “lor” to its name… thus it became Sevylor.

In French, l’or means gold and with this new name they became a massive contender in the inflatable kayaks and inflatable boats market.

Inflatable Pool Toys or Inflatable Kayaks?

The fact that Sevylor began with making inflatable pool toys this branding has stuck with them and consequently many of their kayaks are considered to be like pool toys. They are known for producing cheaper inflatable kayaks but in recent years have begun to make some fairly high quality ones as well.

Their popularity I believe can be directly related to the fact that many of their inflatable kayaks are so affordable. For anyone looking for a play boat or a way to get out on the water a few times a year, the Sevylor prices can seem pretty good.

Even though the quality of Sevylor inflatable kayaks do not compare to other manufacturers such as AIRE, Innova, NRS and Sea Eagle, they are still one of the most popular inflatable kayak brand names and the company seems to be making a major effort to offer higher quality inflatables as well.

Most people who have used an inflatable kayak or have thought about using one have heard at some point or another the statement that inflatable kayaks are simply over-glorified pool toys. Unfortunately this kind of statement originated from having used a product such as a Sevylor inflatable kayak.

Of course it is not true, the inflatable kayaks of today are anything but a pool toy and are even used by the US Army and Navy as well as the Coast Guard. The inflatable kayaks of the past don’t even compare to the quality of the inflatable kayaks of today.

Sevylor was one of the original manufacturers of inflatables and have had to step up their game in order to compete with the amazing quality and performance that we see in inflatable kayaks today.

Conclusion on Sevylor Inflatable Kayaks

I may not be a huge fan but there is no doubt that Sevylor is here to stay and their products are used all over the world. I cannot deny that if you only want to spend a couple of hundred dollars then a Sevylor may be your perfect boat. I have heard from many people who have very much enjoyed using them and their higher end kayaks do deliver a decent performance and seem to be rising in quality each year.

The market for Sevylor kayaks is recreational paddlers looking for a low to mid price range. If this is you please check out our Sevylor inflatable kayaks reviews for detailed information and pictures for each Sevylor boat.

Cheap Inflatable Kayaks

I would classify a cheap inflatable kayak as one that can be purchased for under $500. Sometimes we don’t want to spend a lot of money on a boat if we are not going to become avid kayakers. If you are looking for an inflatable kayak to pull out a few times a year for some paddling fun or perhaps to bring along with you on camping trips with the family you may not want to invest a lot of money.

There are some really excellent choices for inflatable kayaks that cost less than $500 that will last a fairly long time. Just because you are not spending a $1000 or more does not mean that you will be getting a glorified pool toy. Inflatable kayaks have come a long way as far as quality and performance are concerned and there are some really good name brand cheap inflatable kayaks. Read more

New Inflatable Kayak and Inflatable Canoe Reviews

We have added four new inflatable kayak reviews and one new inflatable canoe review over the last couple of months that may be of interest.

New Inflatable Kayak Reviews

• Innova Twist – Extremely lightweight, small inflatable kayak that can be carried on your back and taken hiking, camping, traveling, cycling or on an airplane. Inexpensive yet with Innova’s great quality. Read full review.

• Advanced Elements Firefly – The smallest of the Advanced Elements kayaks it is really best suited for flatwater recreational paddling. It is recommended for new kayakers, children or for someone who wants a solo inflatable kayak that can be taken easily be taken anywhere in the world. It is not suited for a larger person. Read full review.

• Sevylor XK1 – Known as a river kayak but can actually be used on all types of water. Its versatility and lightweight make it ideal for traveling. Read full review.

• Sevylor XK2 – Tandem version of the XK1 and has a fair amount of room for two people. Good for traveling, rivers and ocean surf. Read full review.

New Inflatable Canoe Review

• Innova Vagabond Inflatable Canoe – Extremely rugged and superior river trekking inflatable canoe that can handles up to class III rapids. It is light enough to take anywhere and works very well for multi-day expeditions. Read full review.

Check back often as we are continuously adding more inflatable kayak and inflatable boat reviews each month.

View a complete list of our inflatable boat reviews.

Sevylor Pointer K2 – New Review

The Sevylor Pointer K2 has been added to our tandem recreational inflatable kayak category.  It is the first Sevylor that we have done a comprehensive review on.  I don’t get too excited about the Sevylor boats as I don’t find their quality to be as good as the Advanced Elements, Sea Eagle or the Innova kayaks.  However the Pointer K2 is worth looking at if you are a brand new kayaker and want an affordable boat to paddle with. Read more