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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Napa Valley
    Posts
    279

    whitewater sit-on-top kayak

    Is there a better sit on top than the Fluid?

    http://www.kayaksession.com/fluid-ka...r-sit-on-top/7

    Looking to get some nervous newbies on the river.
    Want them to have the fun of a real kayak without the fear of
    being 'trapped' in an enclosed cockpit.
    Will be paddling class II and III.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Posts
    3,580
    That's an interesting boat, with the knee straps and all. Seems to have some good reviews, although there are comments about oil-canning, water leaks, and wishing the plastic were thicker.

    Nearest dealer appears to be in South Africa.

    I see a lot of Jackson sit on kayaks at rental places around here. Maybe a reason for that. They look pretty indestructible.

    I think an inflatable might be worth considering, as well.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    9,300ft
    Posts
    21,921
    That Fluid looks like a hell of a lot of fun... almost want... but must by SUP first.
    Quote Originally Posted by blurred
    skiing is hiking all day so that you can ski on shitty gear for 5 minutes.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    northern BC
    Posts
    30,810
    Looks good

    The back band/ knee straps/ foot pedals will allow proper hull control and the hull looks to be the right size ... all things that a sit on top usually falls down on as a real WW boat

    wonder what it weighs?

    I have a south african buddy who was importing or somehow dealing them at least 15 yrs ago but he since got a real job, im betting you will have trouble finding one in NA if fact they still make that model?
    Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    here and there
    Posts
    18,558
    I have found for newbies an inflatable wirks best
    watch out for snakes

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Napa Valley
    Posts
    279
    Stupid fucking newbies slowin' me down.

    Haha - it's all fun.

    God, I wish that Fluid was available. Looks good.
    Still looking.
    Inflatables are like taking a bus down a slalom course.
    So stupid.

    Need to get some of my friends on the river.
    They are not stupid.
    (they are)

    They want the real thing without the time spent.

    dumbasses!

    Short cuts are hard to come by.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Posts
    3,580
    Alpacka Raft makes some very interesting inflatables. Check out the Alpackalypse.

    But, yeah, nothing is going to be as good as a sit-in kayak.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    crown of the continent
    Posts
    13,947
    sit-on-top kayaks....aka swim-beside kayaks...
    Something about the wrinkle in your forehead tells me there's a fit about to get thrown
    And I never hear a single word you say when you tell me not to have my fun
    It's the same old shit that I ain't gonna take off anyone.
    and I never had a shortage of people tryin' to warn me about the dangers I pose to myself.

    Patterson Hood of the DBT's

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    9,300ft
    Posts
    21,921
    Quote Originally Posted by Tye 1on View Post
    sit-on-top kayaks....aka swim-beside kayaks...
    LOL

    "I'm totally getting back in the boat!"

    Keep on trying
    Quote Originally Posted by blurred
    skiing is hiking all day so that you can ski on shitty gear for 5 minutes.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    here and there
    Posts
    18,558
    Thats why inflatables are better, much easier to remount in the water.
    watch out for snakes

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    northern BC
    Posts
    30,810
    Quote Originally Posted by jibmaster View Post
    They want the real thing without the time spent.

    dumbasses!

    Short cuts are hard to come by.
    everybody wants to get to heaven but nobody wants to die
    Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2017
    Posts
    10
    I'm an experienced kayaker having used numerous sit on top and sit in plastic models and various inflatables including an advanced elements dragonfly. I was a little concerned about some of the reviews about stability and use in a larger lake.

    I got this for my 12.5 year old who's about 5' tall and 95lbs. We tossed it in our local large lake in a quieter section. It has nothing whatsoever on the bottom to prevent side slipping. The paddle is a cheap POC but lightweight and does the job. On the kayak he's got 2/3 of it out of the water and it'd be fine with some minor chop and wind or smallish (6" or so) waves. Wouldn't be good on the ocean, in white water or a big lake with big wind and big waves. Its plenty thick enough plastic but I leaned on the bottom of it on the beach and it flexed inward a bit. After he was done successfully paddling around for an hour I put one leg on either side and sat right in the middle. After being a bit tippy I found the sweet spot and with one leg on each side in the water I paddled around for 10 minutes by hand with no trouble. I had about 3" above the water line and I'm 6' tall and weigh 200lbs.

    I've seen a regular lake going family with 4 kids bring this to the same lake with some boat wake and plenty of minor chop and their kids from ~4 to ~13 paddle it around with no problems. Its a great mess around boat that you'd have to work at to damage, tip over or swamp. For 80-something bucks its exactly what I need which is an easy to pack small boat perfect for beach play. This is not for adults, even smaller ones. Its not for white water kayaking. Its not for the ocean. Its not for Lake Superior. Its not for paddling miles from where you started and back again. Its to throw in a pickup or SUV and toss in the water at a calm lake for kids up to the teen years to play around with.

    I also saw someone comment about boat registration. It has a registration plate on the back. California and as far as I know most if not all other states do not require a boat under 8' with no motor on it to be registered, insured or to pay a boat launch fee.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2019
    Posts
    7
    I wonder what material is considered the best for kayaks. I think it is plastic and wood.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    San Juan Islands, WA.
    Posts
    1,188
    Quote Originally Posted by mcc98c View Post
    I wonder what material is considered the best for kayaks. I think it is plastic and wood.
    I think seal skin and wood have been the preferred materials for thousands of years

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    here and there
    Posts
    18,558
    until we found the oil
    watch out for snakes

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jul 2019
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    2
    It seems we got a little sidetracked, but wow, I'd never seen or thought of a whitewater SOT. (We don't have much whitewater here in cent FL) but that looks cool.

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