If you are looking for an adventurous way to spend your afternoon, trust me, a kayaking experience does not disappoint. With a sit-on-top kayak, you will experience all the beauty in water without getting in water or swimming. But it would be best if you braced yourself to the possibility of getting wet since there is no cockpit like in the sit-on-top kayaks. So going kayaking on a chilly and cold day, you will avoid getting wet at all costs. There are a few ways you can try and stay dry on a sit on top kayak. Although It’s not an assurance of staying completely dry, you can be sure you will enjoy your trip without getting soaked.
Elements to Consider to Stay Dry on a Sit on Top Kayak
- Dress in water-repellant clothing (What to wear while kayaking )
- Ensure your paddle is splash-less and shallow
- Avoid paddling on rainy and windy days
- Adjust the Kayak Seat and Floor for dryness
- Installing self-draining scupper plugs
- Get Into Your Sit on Top Kayak Slickly
Dress in Water Repellant Clothes
On a sit on top kayak, water comes from high and down low. To ensure that you remain dry, you need a water repellant headgear, dry suit, and Gore-Tex shell. The headgear keeps your head and faces dry even in the rain. Also, get a hat with a 360-degree brim and a chain strap. The chain strap ensures that your hat stays in place even when it’s windy.
With your head protected, now focus on the upper and lower body. A dry suit is an excellent option. A dry suit resembles a diving wetsuit but it is loose. These suits are made from heavy-duty nylon or vulcanized rubber that ensures you stay dry all through. Alternatively, you can use a Gore-Tex shell. The Gore-Tex Shell was invented in 1969; it repels liquid water to pass through but allows water vapor. Therefore, unlike a dry suit Gore Shell allows heat from the body to escape so, you will not be all sweaty at the end of the day. However, with the Gore Shell and Drysuit, ensure you get one that allows you to paddle without much of a hassle. When protecting the bottom part of your body, get a water repellant bottom. Again, a dry suit is a great idea, especially in the autumn or in chilly weather. In the summer, you can consider getting Gore-Tex pants or hydro skin neoprene shorts.
Maintain a Shallow and Splash-less Paddle
Our paddling technique determines how much water we splash on ourselves. To remain dry on the sit on top kayak, you need to change your paddling technique. To do this, you need to paddle less aggressively. Insert your paddle blade at a shallower angle this way; the blade on the opposite end of the paddle does not travel over the kayak, which will help you stay dry. The downside is that you will move slower, but I’m sure you’ll be okay with the slow movement if it’s for leisure.
Avoid Paddling on Rainy and Dry Days
Let’s face it; if you go paddling on a rainy day, you will come back home soaked in water. Also, on a very windy day, it’s impossible to avoid getting wet. The rain will soak you from head to toe and also leave your kayak wet. Similarly, in the wind, the choppy conditions will be driving water through the kayaks scupper holes into your cockpit. Again, this will leave you wet, especially on the bottom side of your body.
Adjust the Seat and Floor for Dryness
Most kayaks have high seats that help you stay dry. Fishing kayaks, for instance, have their seats in a position that the kayaker is six inches above the bottom of the boat. This helps improve your dryness and increases the kayak’s storage. But you need to know that the higher the seat position, the more unstable the kayak will be. If your kayak seat is very low, you can get your seat modified and raise your paddling position by getting a layer of foam and attaching a seat pad on top of the foam. Alternatively, you can get booster seats to lift your posterior out of the paddle.
Installing Self Draining Scupper Plugs
One way to ensure that outside water does not get in your kayak is by getting self-draining scupper plugs. These self-draining scupper plugs help ensure that no water from the outside gets into the kayak while allowing any water from the kayak to flow out.
Getting In the Kayak Smoothly
Most of the time, we get wet on the sit on top kayak even before we start sailing. The force applied while getting into the sit on top kayak forces water up the scupper holes and into their boat. To avoid getting soaked on the backside while entering your kayak, try entering the kayak delicately. You can also install scupper plugs in the scupper holes before getting in the kayak. Then, when you are already in, you can remove the scupper plugs. Removing the scupper plugs will be a harrowing ordeal, but if you are so keen on remaining dry, this should not be so much of a hustle. Alternatively, you can go ahead with the scupper plugs on.
Final Thoughts
Getting wet is unavoidable, especially if you are going out with a sit on top kayak. However, you can find ways to help you stay dry. I can’t promise that these methods will help you remain entirely dry, but at least you’ll not get back in the house soaking wet. The most effective ways to stay dry require you to spend money. For instance, Gore-Tex and Drysuits can be pretty expensive. Unless you are willing to dig dippers into your pockets, try checking on the weather patterns and get ready to get wet once in a while.
