Fluid Kayaks, the South Africa-based kayak manufacturer, plans to start producing a sit-on-top whitewater kayak for beginning boaters next year. Dubbed the “Do It Now,” the boat will be made of the same pastic used in Fluid’s skirt-enclosed boats. The founder of Fluid, Celliers Kruger, says the boat will be in production in the United States beginning in February.
“It is unique, it is innovative, and it will change the way would-be paddlers are introduced to the sport of whitewater kayaking,” Kruger said in an email.
The big idea behind the boat is to remove the fear factor of being trapped inside a kayak, a big obstacle to keeping new paddlers in the sport. Presumably, the boat will feel more like a real kayak than “duckies,” the inflatable single-person rafts that many a would-be kayaker has paddled in whitewater.
According to Fluid, the boat also feels more like a normal kayak than previous sit-on-top whitewater boats. “This was achieved by raising the knee area of the sit-on-top high enough for the knees to push against, with short thigh straps to keep the knees in position,” Fluid writes in a press release on the boat. “This allows the paddler to control the kayak properly by edging the boat accurately when needed, and it also allows the paddler to roll the boat.”
I’d LOVE this for low water, hot summer days! Who cares “how far are they going to take the sport”. If someone enjoys river recreation they will help care for the rivers. Let’s get people in boats! Yes, a backband would be nice and a must for a roll. Where can I buy one?!
i spent the summer before last learning rolls and playing in my favorite light rapid section and had more fun than i ever imagined. i had a good teaching partner and a pool to work with so i had a blast. then last summer i very foolishly joined a friend in a small fast creek for a pleasure float, and left my helmet behind the seat. within 200yards i was sucked under a tree, flipped over, and rapidly drug for 150feet in 1.5feet of water. every time i could feel my handle i hit another rock and lost it. nothing in my life has ever scared me enough to haunt my dreams, but i woke up in a panic for the next several nights. that boat has been sitting ever since. i am very excited about this new product, and the possibility of getting back into some rapids, with the option to continue rolling, but without the newfound anxiety from being locked in, or having to swim ashore to drain the craft.
As a second season “beginner” boater I think this boat rocks. I got a “regular” boat and a decent roll, I plan on continuing to progress my skills by getting in my boat as much as I can. But boating isn’t like riding a bike, you gotta maintain your skill level. This boat will be perfect for someone like my wife who will be able to follow me down the river have a blast but not have to commit as many hours in the boat as I plan to. You could jump in this boat once a month, have a great run play on the features, with out the “upside down anxiety”.
How much does the Do It Now cost? Thanks, Peter
I’m fairly new to the sport of Kayaking. As an amateur I prefer a sit on top. I’m not looking to kayak the most dangerous rivers, I just enjoy riding wave and a few whitewater trails.
With that said, I can not wait for this kayak. I just wish I knew a little more information as to when it’s available. As well as the price.
This design looks amazing!
I used the Perception Torrent for years in an instruction setting (when boats were longer and Torrents were “short”). The fun and safety of SoT’s cannot be over-rated. My nervous beginners thrived and many rapidly moved on to the “Sit-Insides”. As an instructor my stress levels plummeted (every instructor knows the stress of having to have eyes on everyone all the time and being within reach to do a barrel roll) . Yes these will be rollable but why bother? With all those great handles they will be easy to get back on top of.
This boat looks great, it will remap the learning curve for many and open the whitewater aspects of sport to those who lack the confidence, time or desire to develop the skills needed to enjoy it.
Well done Fluid.
I have been paddling WW for about 4 years now. Nothing over class III. Except for in the very beginning…..I never really had that much fear of being trapped in the boat but I do know it is a major issue for many. After my first combat wet exit…..I was fine. I toyed with rolling a little but never got it. I have paddled a bunch of boats from WW river runners to crossovers to SOT’s to IK’s. My go to boat now is an Aire Lynx. I love it! I finally realized that I do not need to roll to have a blast paddling class II/III WW. I still own an XP10, Torrent and a Coupe and will paddle those occasionally and keep around for friends. I think you are spot on….not everyone can…..or even wants to be a class IV/V paddler. I am always looking to try new designs and can’t wait to try out the new Do It Now!!!
I think this is brilliant. As an instructor, I think it’s extremely difficult to help students transition from the pool to the river. Yeah, there are a few who do it and end up loving paddling, but most of them never get on a river because the perceived risk is too high (I taught at a university where most of my students were not already active in other outdoor sports, something that I think normally helps students pick up kayaking quicker). Folks never really enjoy paddling until they have their roll down. Hopefully this can ease that transition.
I too think it is a good idea – but maybe only for schools or as a 1 time rental… Lets face it, if someone really needs to be in a sit on top for a year to get over their fear – then how far are they going to take the sport? Most people I have helped on their first trips out have been tepid about being locked upside down in a boat – but after spending an hour doing wet exits and hip snaps transition to the next steps. The learning curve for most boaters is pretty steep over the first few months – a new paddler is dealing with rolling, edging, hip snaps, paddle sweeps, forward strokes etc… A new paddler goes through a few boats over the first 2 years as they progress their skills. If someone is really bitten by the paddle bug and wants to paddle, they are going to transition out of this boat in a week. So, I can see the point of making an aggressive sit on top that paddles like a normal boat – but anyone that really wants to a paddle a normal boat will make it happen. That is why I say it is good as a rental or camp or kayaking school boat. Last thing, kinda surprised no backband? May be hard to roll without a backband – or are you not supposed to roll a sit-on-top – guess it is more of a ‘turnover’ instead of a roll?
Thanks, I’m glad you agree that the Do It Now is good as a rental or camp or kayaking school boat. But I respectfully disagree with your opinion that the boat is only good for those purposes.
There are many paddlers out there who would love to run whitewater in a kayak-style boat, but who will never get their heads around the issue of being “trapped” upside down in a normal whitewater kayak. The kayakers who are now enjoying the sport are those who would make the transition out of this boat in a short period. But there are countless would-be kayakers out there who were lost to our sport because they couldn’t or didn’t want to make the transition, and therefor quit whitewater kayaking altogether.
To quote “… anyone that really wants to paddle a normal boat will make it happen.” Exactly. The Do It Now was developed for those who don’t really want to paddle a normal boat. In my opinion, the biggest barrier of entry to the sport of whitewater kayaking is the fear of being trapped upside down in a kayak. It keeps people out of the sport who could have had a very enjoyable experience if it wasn’t for this specific issue.
Not everyone who gets into whitewater wants to become a superstar. Some people really just want to have fun on easy whitewater in a comfortable, safe way, without fearing the dreaded swim. Apart from being super stable and less likely to capsize than any normal kayak, the Do It Now has the added advantage that you can climb right back onto the boat if you capsize, instead of having an exhausting swim with a swamped kayak to the side of the river where it needs to be emptied first before you can continue your journey.
It is possible to roll the Do It Now. A backband won’t make it any easier to roll though. Reasons for omitting a backband: (1) The back of the moulded-in seat comes up quite high and gives good lower back support as it is. An extra backband is not really needed. (2) Wanted to reduce snag risk as much as possible. Thigh straps are far more important than a backrest on this boat, so eliminated the backrest in favor of the thigh straps.
Celliers
Where in ATL Ga., USA can I buy a D.I.N.? Thx.
It does’nt look like it’s for tall paddlers. I’m 6′ 3″. Thinking my knees would be up a bit high to be one with the boat. Probably the main gripe of tall paddlers and ww sot’s. (Dagger Torrent and LL Coupe),owned both. More cockpit length. Will there be a longer model made? Love the design. Thanks David
We actually tested the Do It Now with some tall paddlers too. Tallest was 6’6″ (Hugh du Preez, Fluid team paddler) and he was very comfortable paddling it. I doubt that a longer version will be needed. Celliers
6’6″, really?
I know several paddlers 6’6″ and more. I’m 6’11″. Have paddled a Pyranha Everest & a JK Super Hero (with the footrest replaced by foam), I was really looking forward to trying out the SOT, thought this could be the solution to the spasms I get in my legs from squeezing into inadequate boats, but obviously not. Pity, coz, I really want to further my paddling opps, but we are restricted by the boats available to us…