Eddyline Sitka LT

Size, weight, capacity

At just 14’6” (445 cm), the Sitka LT is relatively short for a sea kayak. It has a beam of 23.5” (59 cm) and a keyhole cockpit that is 33.2” (84 cm) long and 17.5” (44.5 cm) wide.

The Sitka LT follows Eddyline’s trend of making lightweight kayaks, weighing in at just 49 lbs (22 kg). Coupled with the short length, this kayak is relatively easy to carry around on land, even on your own. The Sitka has grab handles on the bow and the stern, so two people can easily carry it, even if you’ve loaded the boat for a weekend away.

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When it comes to loading, you can fit a whopping 350 lbs (158 kg) into this kayak. This is an enormous amount of capacity for such a small boat. Just remember that the total weight includes not just yourself but all your gear as well.

Features

The Sitka LT is a sea kayak first and foremost. Its features make it progressive and ready for anything.

Inside the cockpit you will Eddyline’s Infinity seat system, one of the most comfortable sea kayaking seats available at the moment. As standard this comes with a backrest, but there is the option of changing this to a backband for those who prioritise efficiency over comfort. There are hip pads and padded thigh braces fitted, too, to increase control and heighten comfort. The footrest system is fully adjustable to keep you firmly in the seat and to allow you extra drive on the water.

Strong, reflective perimeter lines are fitted down either side of the kayak, while bungee crossing the top deck gives you storage for any gear you need to access on the water. For equipment you need to keep dry and safe, there are three watertight hatches, separated by bulkheads. The middle hatch is reachable from inside the kayak, perfect for anything you may need on a long day out, but don’t want to risk getting wet.

Carrying handles are fitted at the bow and stern on bungees. These retract when not in use so they don’t interfere with your paddling.

A skeg at the rear of the kayak, adjustable from the cockpit, gives you even more control in difficult conditions.

Performance

The Sitka LT is a fast and lightweight sea kayak which has maintained the maneuverability of a recreational boat. With high level outfitting and a keyhole cockpit, you can be sure of maximum control as you paddle around in all conditions.

The limited width and v-shaped hull means that some people find this boat to be a bit ‘wobbly’ initially, but that tends to pass after a couple of uses as they become more accustomed to this kayak. Secondary stability, however, is not an issue with this kayak. It performs lean turns and braces with ease.

The v-shaped hull makes the Sitka LT track very effectively through the water. Eddyline have balanced a long waterline with enough of a bow rocker profile to ensure this kayak turns well and remains playful on the water.