Being a long-time collaborator brand of Sitons, and a company not to simply stick to staples, Fatyak have surprised us over the years with their various product offerings. From their Hono bodyboard to the Kaddy carry all Somerset based Fatyak have always promoted a broad list of toys. It therefore comes as no surprise that Fatyak recently introduced the Samos stand up paddle board to audiences.

Now before everyone groans and calls the fact a SUP isn’t a sit on top, which we appreciate, we couldn’t not have a nose and see what’s what. Not least the fact the Samos goes against the grain in terms of being manufactured from plastic!

First look

So, yes, a rotomoulded plastic SUP is what the Samos is – just like other products in FY’s range. For a sit on this is standard form but when talking stand up paddling a plastic board certainly isn’t.

Straight out of the wrapping and the Samos grabs attentions. There are lots of grooves and channels cut into both deck and hull which make it appear space age in design. It’s super wide at 36” but fairly compact at 10’ in length. A variety of carry handles sit perched on rails, tail and nose with a centrally located recessed grab space for additional carrying versatility. A comfortable deck pad adorns the top and there’s even a stainless steel water bottle included.

As with their sit on top Fatyak have paid attention to fixtures and fittings with deep set rivets firmly holding handles in place. These are dependable once hoisted. Underneath, protruding from the tail, you’ll also find a standard US box fin with adds further function. (We actually found you can pilot the Samos without the addition of a fin due to the chines and grooves cut out of the hull. That said the fin does improve efficiency).

On the water

Stepping aboard the Samos and there’s no question of its stability – you really have to run off it to fall off it! Being a hollowed out hull there’s a degree of spring to the deck but FY have reinforced the inner to avoid complete sagging, which wouldn’t be good.

Towards the edges of the standing area paddlers will find raised gunnels which slope back down towards the centre. At first this may be an unusual standing position but riders will quickly get used to it and locate a comfortable stance.

Driving forwards the Samos’ rocker is very flat. Even with its rounded and voluminous nose the Samos tracks surprisingly well. It doesn’t push as much water as you’d expect and points efficiently. If wind and chop do increase then flotsam will inevitably lap onto the deck and some of the grooves do tend to pool liquid. That said with a solid stroke headway can be made without too many issues.

Down tailside and the Samos does taper quite nicely into a diamond that promotes manoeuvres such as pivot turns. There’s still enough leeway to get out of trouble and avoid dunkings but it’s nice to see the Samos is livelier than some would perceive.

Conclusion

There are plenty of paddlers who would enjoy ownership of Fatyak’s Samos stand up paddle board. As a pretty bombproof product it can be chucked around most watery areas without fear of picking up dings. Anyone fancying a first try out with SUP will find the Samos a very stable and confidence inspiring platform whereas seasoned stand ups would be able to have some fun in the sun aboard a craft that boasts decent agility.

Being rotomoulded, and fairly chunky, doesn’t mean the Samos is super lightweight but the benefits far outweigh this minor point. The Samos’ price point is also pretty attractive.

Price: £495

Info: https://fatyak-kayaks.co.uk/product/samos-stand-up-paddle-board/

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Fatstick 12.6ft inflatable hybrid SUP/sit on top

Hybrid paddle craft concepts aren’t new. We actually published a round up piece in 2013 that highlights this – www.sitons.com/articles/sit-kayaks-and-hybrid-design-concepts/ It’s taken us until now to actually lay hands on a hybrid toy, however – in this case Fatstick’s sit on/stand up inflatable 12.6ft offering.

FIRST LOOKS

Unlike stand up paddle boards inflatable sit on/sit in kayaks don’t have quite the same reputation. In most instances inflatable kayaks aren’t considered the best option – unless storage and transport is that limited there really is no other choice (we appreciate this is generalisation). Inflatable SUPs (or iSUPs for short) in contrast have become an extremely popular option for stand up paddlers. Manufactured from drop stitch material (multi-threads running between each layer of outer PVC covering with gaps to allow air between) iSUPs offer decent levels of rigidity, ease of use (including inflation) and performance once out on the water. Some brands employ patented ways of offering increased stiffness, such as carbon rail inserts, while other companies, like Fatstick, stick with the common formula. Being single chamber designs it’s easy to build in rocker and profile shape – with this is inherently more difficult with inflatable kayaks due to the nature of their shape.

INFLATION

Inflating is via the rear valve. The provided pump simply attaches with a quick twist (you need to ensure the centre valve piece is up) and then begin pumping. Although it’s a relatively easy process, ramming air into the board is time consuming to say the least. At 12.6ft the Fatstick requires a decent amount of pumping. A gauge on the pump handle tells you how much progress you’ve made but inflating to the recommended 15psi is sweat inducing work. From experience it’s also worth adding a bit extra as the more rigid a platform you have the better. You might be asking why we didn’t use an electric 12V pump? The reason is over inflation – you should always rely on the manual option as you can never ‘pop’ these boards that way. It’s physically impossible. Having shown up and blown up it’s then a case of slotting the rear fin into its box and attaching the seat. Embedded D-rings are extremely secure and robust and the provided padded seat is secured via standard brass clips. Upon inspection I was dubious about the paddling position. After all this is a SUP that can be transformed into a sit on top – what if the designers had got the cockpit location wrong? Too far back would cause drag while pushed forwards would no doubt induce nose diving. I needn’t have worried though as once out on the brine it was actually spot on.

ONTO THE WATER

As we’re all aware sit on top kayaks are designed with chines or grooves/spines cut into the hull. It’s these contours that allow your boat to work in paddling mode. Without this hull profile I wasn’t sure how the Fatstick would track. To my surprise it was actually pretty good – in fact the tracking of the 12.6ft is better than some SOTs I’ve tried! This is down to the rear thruster fin set up that keeps everything straight and true. The large central fin and smaller side bites do an impressive job of biting and providing direction stability. Even without a water piercing nose shape the Fatstick effortlessly glides across the water and doesn’t deviate from its course. Floating, as opposed to displacing, cuts down on resistance slightly during forward strokes. This changes when it gets breezy but for calm glassy days and/or moderately blowy periods the Fatstick does a pretty efficient job of getting you from A to B. Manoeuvring from seated isn’t quite as good as with smaller kayaks and you can’t really edge properly as the Fatstick’s rails don’t bite as you’d find with a kayak hull. Pilots will therefore need to put in wide sweep strokes to manoeuvre. We can’t stress enough how good the supplied seat is. It’s super easy to set up correctly and once in paddling position you realise how comfortable it is – in fact we’d go so far as to say it’s better than many specific sit on top seats currently available. Perched on a flat deck wasn’t an issue either – although we appreciate some seasoned paddlers may miss a moulded seating area.

STORAGE

Storage is limited to say the least. There’s a token area on the nose that has bungee cord for lashing gear to the deck but that’s it. This won’t cut the mustard for many who are more used to multiple compartments and tank wells. While not really the point of this hybrid concept, however, it’d be worth looking at your normal sit on top if carrying lots of gear is your thing.

DURABILITY

Many may be wondering about the durability of the Fatstick 12.6ft. Having dragged it up and down a shingle beach it stands up to a fair amount of abuse and certainly doesn’t puncture easily – we’ve yet to find a rip or tear. A repair kit is supplied as part of the package but it’s definitely worth checking for nicks and holes before you go afloat. As already stated, the 12.6ft is a single chamber air filled platform and having it sink once out on the brine wouldn’t too welcome.

STAND UP MODE

As much as this is a website about sit on top kayaking it wouldn’t be right not mentioning the Fatstick’s SUP capabilities. And capable it certainly is. Displaying all the traits as when sitting down it’s an extremely glidey machine that will inspire confidence in all paddlers – sit down or stand up. If you’re keen to do a bit of both SUP and kayaking then you could lash the paddle you’re not using to the deck, using the forward bungee cord, and swap about at will. The only thing to account for is the kayak seat – sitting slap bang in the standing area you’ll need to straddle this when in SUP mode and less nimble folks may struggle with this.

CONCLUSION

Fatsick’s 12.6ft inflatable SUP/SOT hybrid shape is a super versatile bit of paddling kit. Attach the extremely comfy kayak seat and you have a smooth gliding and fun double bladed machine. Step up to stand and SUP mode offers great stability for those learning and progressing. And the really beauty of this design? Simply deflate, pack down and chuck it in the boot of your car – no faffing about trying to manhandle it onto roofbars.

PRICE:

£529

INFO:

www.supdirect.co.uk/fatstick-shop/4584165157/fatstick-inflatable-sup/9146489

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Made in the same way as their rotomoulded sit on top kayaks, Fatyak’s Hono bodyboard is the perfect sit on top kayak accessory. It may not be an actual boat you can paddle but it’s a great compliment to you existing kayak and a toy all the family can enjoy. We’ve been using the Fatyak Hono in conjunction with our SOTs all summer long. It’s proved popular – especially with those not fussed by paddling kayaks.

The Hono offers a non-threatening entry into the watery world and can be used in a variety of ways. As a traditional bodyboard you can ride swells of all shapes and sizes, within reason. Due to its plastic construction the Hono is great in places like Sitons HQ where high tide shingly shore dump is a common occurrence. Blasting yourself shoreward is immense fun – without the worry of having a heavy boat capsize and chase into the beach. Tow your little ones behind your kayak or don some fins and get a little more serious with your surf shredding – however you choose to use the Hono you’ll be smiling from ear to ear. The bottom contours of the Hono are very similar to that of the brand’s sit on top offerings. With deep chines cut into the area in contact with water it’s a very directional ride that projects off swells. The Hono is also stable – not in the same sense as your normal sled but there’s no denying it’s a composed ride even in the choppiest of seas. Handles and fittings are top drawer with rivets secure and never coming loose.  The Fatyak Hono is hollow by design and as such features a drain plug at the rear. You’ll need to make sure this is screwed in tightly during on water sessions. And it’s wise to empty regularly, should it fill up.

As an added versatile bonus the Fatyak Hono makes a great snow sled for winter months. If you don’t fancy heading out on the water during the off season the Hono could be a nice alternative and a way to get your outdoor sliding fix – if you can find enough white stuff that is. Conclusion Fatyak’s Hono is a cracking little sit on top kayak accessory that will appeal to a wide spectrum of users. It could be the perfect way to get a previously uninterested party involved in watersports, or a secondary vehicle for surfing when your main sit on is being used. And let’s not forget the winter appeal of the Hono, which makes a fun sledding tool. Well manufactured, affordable and a worthy addition to anyone’s toy box, Fatyak’s Hono is a nifty little number.

Price: £71.00

Info: www.fatyak-kayaks.co.uk/product/hono/

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