Graham ‘Bertie’ Beckram is a sea kayaker with a guilty secret. He is sometimes to be found guiding novice paddlers along the Purbeck Coast, which can be seen in the background. These folk sign up at Lulworth Cove for a paddle among the amazing coastal landforms in the vicinity. However, they don’t take to the water in a 5.5 metre expedition sea kayak as pictured here. They (and their guide, Bertie) paddle sit-on-tops, which for the uninitiated, are open-decked and unenclosed kayaks with knee straps for control.
‘Proper’ sea kayakers have been known to sniff at sit-on-tops. However, a sense of perspective is required here. Sit-on-tops are cheap, accessible and unthreatening craft with which to first enjoy the sea and learn the basic skills. More crucially, the people who paddle them are the future of our sport. Sit-on-tops outsell all other types of kayak by a big margin. If we choose to exclude these folk, then they may eventually become an unenlightened burden on the marine environment (and maybe even the emergency services). However, if we put aside our prejudices and be nice to these folk, then today’s sit-on-top novice could be tomorrow’s expedition sea kayaker; one of us. This can’t be a bad thing.
Keep up the good work, Bertie.
Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha!
An entry all about me - I’ll take it as a compliment!
In all seriousness, SOTs open up a stretch of our great coastline, and offer the uninitiated an insight into the delights of sea kayaking, so it kills two birds with one stone. But then, I started surf kayaking on a waveski, not far removed from what we now know as a SOT!
And hey, even the great Douglas ‘WWW’ Wilcox started on a SOT by his own admission.
Well put Mark - they are the future of sea kayaking. We are broad ‘church’. Bertie will be expecting his OBE for services to the sea kayaking community in due course
I love your site and look forward to further exploring it. I am going to add this blog to my links at my site. The Wired Kayaker. And I’ll probably post about it on my other sites The “New” BenSpark - New Blog, still working on moving posts from the old blog, and The “Old” BenSpark. I found your blog through FuelMyBlog. Good luck with your book.
Refreshing words from the experts about sit-on-tops.
Yes they a great intro to the sport many customers on the tours have been smitten and have made a purchase.
Insurance companies love them too!
Top marks to Bertie and the boys for remaining as enthusiastic on the first tours in May 2006 to the last In November. Heres the plug!
Any more BCU level 3 sea instructors out there wanting to take tours ?? see
http://www.jurassic-kayaking.com
Contact Tom or Terry Mail@second-wind.co.uk or (01305) 835301 for more info… Top rates of pay and Top Job satisfaction!
Well said indeed! I actually bought one, a couple of years after I got a sea kayak! It is great for going snorkelling from and for fishing. My parents, who are 80 and 79, both potter about on it.