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A SOT kayak is on the cards. Primary purpose is so I can go out on the water with the wife when she is open water swimming. Potential uses include both of us paddling somewhere occasionally so she can swim back.
I’ve used SOT and sit in kayaks before, but never a tandem one, either two up or solo. My gut feeling is that it would not be ideal solo due to poor weight distribution. Some of the tandems have a central seating position but it’s usually a moulded seat not one of the more supportive ‘proper’ ones.
Any thoughts?
I find it fine. I'm 64kg though. Sit in the back and paddle away. I don't find it any harder than when Madame is in and paddling and conserably easier to keep straight. How she swims in a straight line I have no idea.
We sold our Sevylor inflatable and just rent things like this now. Keep your head down, that's a long paddle.
Cheers. I’m a touch heavier that that which I dare say would be a factor.
Depends what you're doing, it'll be fine for pootling about but it will be grim in rough or windy conditions where the weight distribution and side profile will make you suffer.
Have you considered a canoe? You can enjoy paddling a tandem boat solo, also just more relaxed and you don't have to get a wet arse which is mandatory in a kayak.
It’ll be sea lochs - so tidal, sometimes a bit rough - but not the edge of the actual ocean. Not sure if that counts as coastal or not!
Hadn’t really thought about a canoe to be honest. Are they still good in the sea?
Hadn’t really thought about a canoe to be honest. Are they still good in the sea?
I think part of the answer depends on your confidence and ability.
The advantage of a SOT is if you fall off it, you can in theory get back on, which is very favourable in the sea.
The same might not be true of a canoe, even with buoyancy bags.
Are there any SOTs that don't have moulded seats, but rather ones you can move?
To be honest, if it's a fairly big craft, I'd have thought you'd be fine on your own. You could always pile a bit of luggage on the front.
You could put some weight in the front of the SOT to help trim it. Big bottles you can fill with water when you get there. Or a dry bag of kit you can strap there, but that will probably be too light to make a difference
You can move the seats in our inflatable, not sure if that helps or not.
Yeah maybe not a canoe if you're going out on the sea. I think in a tandem on your own you'll just need to be careful with the wind as I think it could get out of hand quite easy.
To be honest, if it’s a fairly big craft, I’d have thought you’d be fine on your own. You could always pile a bit of luggage on the front.
Used to sea kayak with a guy who built his own fibreglass boat. It paddled like a pig unladen so he lined the keel inside with roofing lead. It paddled well and was self righting, he didn't (initially) see the downside.
I think a solo probably makes the most sense
Our feel free tandem had a middle seat that had the back rest fixings.
It was a big old lump to paddle solo though.
We have got two different SOT's. Both doubles and both have a middle seat location option.
Sat in the middle they paddle fine one up certainly on lakes, rivers and tidal harbours. Much better than sit at one end and ballast it.
I don't find them especially hard going solo but then I'm used to trying to paddle them with the "help" of one child or other. 😜
he didn’t (initially) see the downside.
Did it eventually sink?