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SIT IN KAYAK CART: INTRO
Before learning about the Sit In Kayak Cart, we would like to suggest that you visit our Kayak Cart Ultimate Guide. The Ultimate Guide has been written to provide an in depth understanding of all things kayak cart. We want to assist in building your general knowledge on this subject, because doing so is critical to fully understand the benefits of this relatively new to market, kayak fishing product.
Overview
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I have included all of the important details about the sit in kayak cart in this KayakFishingCorner.com article. Keeping everything organized required that I break this post down into several different categories. The first category goes into some basics of the sit in kayak cart. The next category is a brief tutorial on how to use a sit in kayak cart. Third, we’ve included some features that you should look for in purchasing a sit in kayak cart of your own. Four, we’ve showcased one of our favorite models of sit in kayak cart and have included a link where you can visit the product page to learn more. Finally, we’ve included a short section about my own experience with a sit in kayak cart.
Now that you’ve used the Ultimate Guide to establish basic knowledge about the kayak cart and have decided that you’d like to buy a kayak cart for yourself, you’ll need to determine whether a “sit in” or a “sit on top” kayak cart is your best bet. This choice is a function of whether you typically use a “sit in” or a “sit on top” kayak while kayak fishing. Just as a refresher, we’ve included an image of each different kind below:
“Sit In” Fishing Kayak
“Sit on Top” Fishing Kayak
Yes, there are many similarities when comparing the sit in and sit on top kayak cart designs. It is important that you choose the style that is specific for the type of fishing kayak you use most frequently. Otherwise, you are at risk of causing a disconnect between the kayak cart and the fishing kayak. If this disconnect occurs, you’ll experience counter balanced weight distribution or even the outright inability to use the kayak cart altogether! This KFC post focuses on the Sit In Kayak Cart. It should serve as a guide to help you determine whether this type of kayak cart is right for your kayak fishing style!
Parts of a Kayak Cart
Basics
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Shortcut to Sit In Kayak Cart Review
The Sit In Kayak Cart is actually a pretty recent piece of kayak fishing gear to hit the market. It burst onto the kayak fishing scene and has filled somewhat of a transportation dilemma. Yes, it is true that there are a number of products, like fishing kayak trailers, that were built for purposes of moving fishing kayaks from Point A to Point B. This work great, unless Point B is located too far from the water. If it is, the kayak fisherman must carry a heavy and awkwardly shaped fishing kayak, by hand, a long way over difficult terrain. The Sit In Kayak Cart solves this dilemma!
The Sit In Kayak Cart has quickly become loved by kayak fishermen. These products are designed to be lightweight, inexpensive, and highly durable. Many are also collapsable so that storing the kayak cart in the garage or trunk of your car is not an issue. Each of these Sit In Kayak Cart features is great, but, there is one overall most popular feature of the Sit In Kayak Trolley: Ease of use (regardless of your skill or experience level) and convenience!
How to Attach and Use a Sit In Kayak Cart
Remember, one of the distinguishing features between a “sit on top” fishing kayak and a “sit in” fishing kayak is whether scupper holes are present. As we’ve shown above, “scupper holes” are small holes in the hull of a fishing kayak that have been designed to let water drain from the hull of the fishing kayak. As you might have guessed, they are engineered to not let water seep in! Scupper holes are usually the connection point for the sit on top (but not the sit in) kayak cart. Below we’ve added an image so you can see see how the arms of the sit on top kayak cart insert directly into the fishing kayak’s scupper holes.
Remember, a Sit In Kayak Cart will be designed to work with a sit in fishing kayak. They go hand in hand. Because sit in fishing kayaks do not have scupper holes, at least in most models, kayak carts for this type of style use a totally different type of design. Usually the design involves a pair of heavy duty V-Necked arms and some type of extra strength straps to keep the fishing kayak safely secured to the Sit In Kayak Cart’s frame. See how this works below:
Let’s take a look at a short checklist that will have your fishing kayak safely attached to your sit in kayak cart in no time flat! Remember, this checklist only contains the basics, but we’ve determined that even the basics are enough to allow you to get to and from the water safely and quickly.
- Assemble the kayak cart into its upright position.
- Double check that the wheels have been securely attached to the axle.
- Confirm that the wheels are inflated to an adequate pressure. If you have “fixed” wheels, ensure that there is no cracking or irregular shaping.
- Push the frame of the kayak cart apart such that the cradle is formed and located directly above the lower axle.
- Gently press down on each arm of the kayak cart cradle, checking to make sure that all of the joints are securely bolted and that the cradle doesn’t bend or sway when placed under pressure.
- Bring your fishing kayak nearby the sit in kayak cart, or vice versa.
- You’ll want to place your kayak cart at a location near the kayak’s hull. This is so you don’t have to move the kayak very far once you’ve lifted it.
- Lift the fishing kayak by grabbing the inside of its hull with both hands. I am right handed, so I typically stand to the left of the kayak, with the kayak cart situated to the right of the kayak.
- Maneuver the kayak’s hull to be located directly above the kayak cart cradle and gently lower the kayak into the arms of the kayak cart.
- Confirm that your kayak is safely balanced atop the kayak cart. You can do this by putting slight pressure on the front and then the back of the fishing kayak and evaluating whether your kayak cart begins to tip over.
- The more evenly you are able to distribute the weight of your fishing kayak atop the kayak cart, the easier it will be to transport the kayak to and from the water!
- Lastly, make sure you’ve attached the straps securely round the frame of the kayak and reattached them to the kayak cart. This will keep the kayak from bouncing loose if you travel over bumpy terrain!
Important Features
We’ve talked about some of the basics of the Sit In Kayak Cart, but what about the other important features you’d want to consider when deciding which Sit In Kayak Cart is the best fit for you? First, you need to confirm that your Sit In Kayak Cart is adjustable so that it can fit a wide variety of fishing kayak hulls. Why? Because your kayak cart will probably be used to transport more than just your own fishing kayak. Maybe not at first, but once your kayak fishing group sees how convenient this piece of kayak fishing gear is, they’ll be asking you to borrow it!
Be sure to double check the weight capacity, longevity and also the ground clearance of the Sit In Kayak Cart. Remember that a kayak cart is only as good as the amount of weight it can carry, and even if it can carry hundreds of pounds, you won’t go very far if the kayak cart doesn’t have enough ground clearance. Remember to consider rocks and other obstacles that are likely to be located on your path!
The Sit In Kayak Cart that we’ve showcased above, which is very unique in design, is also adjustable. In that way, its just like the kayak carts we’ve already showcased, allowing it to customize to many different hull sizes. Take a look at the graphic to see the adjustability.
This endless adjustability allows this Sit In Kayak Cart to align with almost any fishing kayak on the market today. What’s else? The frame is built of heavy duty material, complete with rubberized padding and pierce resistant wheels. These features all work perfectly together to make certain of a high quality kayak cart. One that can easily stand up to numerous instances of being wet, dry, and then wet again – A critical feature in any kayak cart, especially one built for kayak fishing!
Another great feature? A 150 pound “load capacity”. A weight capacity of this amount allows this Sit In Kayak Cart to stand up to even the heaviest of fishing kayaks. Remember, be sure to check the user guide that comes with your fishing kayak to check on your fishing kayaks specifications, they do vary widely from model to model, after all. It is rare to see a fishing kayak that weighs more than what a high quality Sit In Kayak Cart (like the ones you see showcased above) can handle, but you don’t want to take any unnecessary risks while you are on your kayak fishing trip!
Buy the Best Sit In Kayak Cart
(Commissions Earned)
There are a number of different kinds of kayak cart on the market. Many of them, sadly, simply do not hold for more than a handful of kayak fishing outings. Typically, these cheaper kayak carts will have wheels that are easily punctured or that simply fall apart over time. Sometimes you’ll find kayak carts that are made with cheap bolts. A cheap bolt will quickly fail under the strain of a heavy kayak load.
KFC’s suggested model of sit in kayak cart does not have either of these problems. The wheels are high quality, the bolts are plenty strong. The common theme of this particular model is its durability. Simply put, it has been able to withstand year after year of relatively heavy use, and it is still in as good of a condition as it was when we took it out of the box. There have been multiple times when we’ve even loaded two kayaks onto the unit at once. The kayak cart didn’t flex or sway in the least!
My Experience
I made the decision to buy a Sit In Kayak Cart after a recent kayak fishing trip to Blue Lake near Cuchara, Colorado. This is a beautiful mountain town located in the southern portion of Colorado. Blue Lake (which we’ve shown in the photo below) is an alpine lake. It is located at the end of a wandering mountain path. It is also quite far away from the parking lot near the campsites and picnic grounds. Feeling a little ambitious on this trip, I decided to “muscle” my sit in fishing kayak all the way! This meant I started by pulling the fishing kayak down from my friend’s SUV’s kayak rack and then attended to carry it all the way to the edge of the lake.
Eventually, after 30 minutes, I made it all the way down the rocky path without hurting myself, but I was so sore the next day! I remember thinking, “why would I go through the hassle of trying to physically carry my heavy fishing kayak all of the way down the dangerous Blue Lake path when I could have juts bought a Sit In Kayak Cart and allowed it to do all of the hard work for me”?
SIT IN KAYAK CART: CONCLUSION
I hope this post has helped you learn more about the sit in kayak cart and its various capabilities. We are always quick to suggest that KFC readers strongly consider making a kayak cart one of their very first purchases. Why? Because of all the strain it saves you from! It is so much easier to move a big, long, irregularly shaped fishing kayak with a kayak cart! Remember, if you have any questions about the sit in kayak cart that we’ve highlighted above, be sure to leave us a comment. We’ll get back to you quickly!
Lastly, don’t be the person trying to pull his fishing kayak all the way to the water! Kayak carts like the Sit In Kayak Cart have been on the market long enough, and are now inexpensive enough, that it is inexcusable to not have one! Kayak fishermen know this better than anyone. Why? Because fishing kayaks are bulky and heavy. They are hard to get a good handle on. A kayak cart will make for a more enjoyable kayak fishing outing. It will also lower the risk of injury that might otherwise occur when trying to “muscle” the fishing kayak to the water. Still not convinced that you need to buy a Sit In Kayak Cart? Take a look at our Top 5 Reasons to Buy a Kayak Cart! If you use a “sit” style kayak, you’ll benefit from some tips on how to cast from the sitting position!
Want to further your knowledge of the sport of kayak fishing? Find a favorite professional to follow, here!
Comments
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