Best SUP to Kayak Conversion KIT in 2024

The craze for stand-up paddleboarding is increasing significantly among youth and elderly persons. But the problem is that standing for a long time is not easy for many people. This becomes a barrier to their enjoyment.

However, to solve this problem, many SUP board brands now include kayak conversion kits for SUP.

With the help of the kayak conversion kit, you can easily sit on the seat whenever you feel tired. If you find yourself wanting that, then go for it.

In case you possess a plastic stand-up paddleboard. With just a few minor modifications, you can also have the SUP-kayak board hybrid, with a bit to almost no effect on your stand-up paddleboarding efficiency and comfort.

You must know about converting a stand-up paddleboard into a SUP kayakboard.

Why Convert Your Stand-up Paddle Board Into A Kayak Board?

There are many reasons behind converting a stand-up paddleboard into a kayakboard hybrid. Let’s now discuss the reasons below…

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Great For People Who Have Poor Balance While Standing

People with poor balance ability, fear the water while standing, or find it difficult and intimidating to paddle stranding should consider a kayak hybrid board.

Many people fear standing up on the Board but love paddling and are slightly urged to try stand-up paddleboarding. For those people, the SUP to kayak conversion kit is a boon.

They can practice standing up for a few minutes and then sit down on the seat. This way, they will gradually learn how to do stand-up paddleboarding.

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Easy On Your Legs And Back

Paddlers sometimes experience leg aches or backaches after a specific time of paddleboarding.

If you have an SUO and kayak hybrid board, things are different for you as you can sit down whenever needed. For instance, if you are a paddler, you reach half your destination and start getting a backache. What will you do then?

Easy To Paddle Into Chop and Wind

Kayak boards are more accessible to paddle into chop water and wind. You will have less wind exposure when sitting, which is closer to the water than when you stand on the Board.

If it is windy and you still wish to get onto the water, the kayak conversion kit will help you get through it.

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2-in-1 Board

Many people love stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking but do not want to invest in different boards or do not have sufficient room to store two boards. For those people, converting a SUP into a kayak board is perfect.

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Things You Need To Convert Your SUP Into a Kayak ComboBoard:

You’ll need mainly three items to convert your inflatable paddleboard into a kayak combo board. These items are

Kayak seat

Kayak paddle

D-rings so that you can attach the kayak seat.

Although this hybrid Board will not function like the best quality kayak board, it will perform well. Your converted hybrid Board will be as good as an average kayak.

So, let’s now know what you may need to convert your typical inflatable paddleboard into a kayak board.

Kayak Paddle

As discussed above, you will need to buy a kayak paddle. But we did not know that a kayak paddle should have two blades. There are two ways to go with this.

Either you can get an extra kayak paddle mainly made for kayaking to use during kayaking, or you can buy an adjustable paddle that you can assemble as either a kayak paddle or SUP paddle.

An average kayak paddle will cost you around $30-$50.

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Kayak Seat

It would help if you had a kayak seat to sit while paddling. There are many seats available that can convert your SUP into a kayak combo.

The price of these kayak seats varies a little depending on the material used, features provided by the brand, included accessories, etc. Some kayak seats feature a small carrying bag to store the seat in. At the same time, some don’t come with an included carry bag.

An average kayak seat will cost only around $40-$50.

D-Rings

 

Several paddleboards have enough in-build D-rings to attach your necessary gear and a kayak seat.

If your Board doesn’t have enough D-rings to attach the kayak seat, consider buying some and carefully installing them as required.

Install Holders For Paddle

It would be best to have these holders because it is a hybrid board where you will perform stand-up paddling and kayaking. It would help if you considered installing holders to keep your kayak paddle securely attached to the Board. These holders will also help keep your water bottle and other necessary accessories.

So, when you are paddling, you need to keep your kayak paddle aside, and similarly, when you choose to kayak, you need to keep your inflatable paddle aside. So, installing holders is a must.

It will be even better to install two holders for a paddle on each side if I follow the guide included with the paddle holders.

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SUP: If possible, set it toward the rear. & Kayak Hybrid Complete Package

If you want to purchase a complete package for converting your SUP into a kayak, you have choices. Some inflatable paddleboard packages include a convertible paddle.

For example, Bluefin’s inflatable stand-up paddleboard is among the many popular options. And there are also a few brands making a SUP kayak conversion kit.

However, these are mainly just the kayak seat and a cheap kayak paddle sold separately.

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How To Mount The Stand-Up Paddle Board Kayak Seat

The hardest part of this procedure is setting up a kayak seat. There are four straps provided on the seat. Where there are two straps for the front and 2 for the back. To mount the kayak seat, you need to follow the given steps…

• Place the kayak seat on the SUP board first. Try to place the seat bottom in the middle, where you keep your feet while standing on the Board. This will help you balance better and fit close enough once you sit down.
• Now hook the two front straps to the front set of D-Rings and then attach the back straps to the behind set of D-Rings.
• Hold your kayak seat straight up back. Tight the front straps up. This way, you can set the seat in the perfect position. If you begin with the seatback rested back, as soon as you put bodyweight on it, it’ll flex back even beyond and not provide any support. Your body weight will flex when you recline on the kayak seat.
• Take out the slack of the back straps. These back straps only keep the kayak seat bottom from gliding forward. The forward straps are the ones that are responsible for the actual work.
• Sit down on this seat on the Board. If the seat does not feel like it supports you, then tighten the front straps further. If the kayak seat feels like it is too upright, then loosen the forward straps. It would help if you repeated doing this until you find a comfortable position.
• As soon as you’ve set the front straps correctly, you can take the kayak seat on & off as much as you want, and it’ll be roughly at the right angle and right spot. Getting the front strap set up right for you may take some time.

TOP SUP to Kayak Conversion KIT

We now have a vivid idea of why you need to convert your SUP into a kayak combo board and what you need for the conversion. It is time to know the best SUP to-kayak conversion kits available. Let’s have a look at the list below…

Bluefin Cruise Sup Kayak

Cruise SUP Kayak from Bluefin includes all you need to start paddling in sitting and standing positions. Some reviews indicate a slight leakage in the air valve after removing the pump’s hose, so you must be very careful if you need additional air.

Although the shaping of the Bluefin stand-up paddleboard is not the steadiest, you’ll feel comfortable and secure when you are sitting down in the seat. The kayak has completely adjustable straps to personalize it to attain supreme comfort.

SPECS & FEATURES:

• Measurements: 10’8 * 32″ * 6″ (L*W*H)
• Maximum Weight Limit: 290 lbs
• It comes with a heavy-duty clip-in seat and also a specialist paddle end

PROS:

• Through narrow waterways, it is good to manoeuver
• Comfortable seat with entirely adjustable straps
• Secure GoPro mount included on the nose
• Use pro weave drop stitch

CONS:

• It is not the steadiest shape, with a tapered tail and pointed nose

Gili Air Inflatable Stand-Up Paddleboard

This GILI Air Inflatable SUP board is ideal for clipping into the kayak seat and enjoying the water sport from a different angle. The Board’s measurements stabilize this stand-up paddleboard without cooperating performance and speed. It is an excellent combination of balance, size, and weight. With a maximum weight limit of 280 lbs, you can pack all your equipment onto this stand-up paddleboard.

SPECS & FEATURES:

• Measurements: 10’6 * 31” * 6” (L*W*H)
• Maximum Weight Limit: 280 lbs
• Well-matched with the Kayak Seat additional from GILI

PROS:

• Good performing versatile Board
• Lightweight to manoeuver and transport to the water
• Super easy inflation and deflation process

CONS:

• Shorter D-rings

BOTE Deus Aero

This Deus Aero Kayak & SUP from BOTE has a unique paddleboard design and a kayak hybrid. It is shaped like a sit-on kayakboard instead of a stand-up paddleboard. You will have a paddleboard with very high sides as soon as you remove this seat.

If you wish to have some uncommon board, this BOTE kayak comes with a SUP hybrid board, which is your best choice!

SPECS & FEATURES:

• Measurements: 11’ * 33” * 10.5” (L*W*H)
• Maximum Weight Limit 300 lbs
• Exclusively designed and made sit-on-top kayak seat

PROS:

• Self-draining floor
• Detachable foot bar
• Seat top & back that is detachable to convert into a stand-up paddleboard deck

CONS:

• Expensive

BOTTOM LINE

That is a brief discussion on the stand-up paddleboard and kayak hybrid combination! From versatility and construction to your available budget and experience level, you can now decide which paddleboard and kayak conversion kit you need.

Several water activities, such as kayaking and SUP boarding, are decent ways to have comfort and relax your body, soul, and mind. It’s a great stress reliever and exercise that many people look forward to doing as soon as they get free time.

So, convert your SUP into a kayak combo board to enjoy both worlds on a single board. Have fun!

FAQ

Q. Can I convert A SUP to A Kayak?

A. YES, you can. For this, you will need a kayak seat and a kayak paddle. We should also mention that a few paddleboard manufacturers nowadays have picked up on this trend and have designed stand-up paddleboards that convert to kayak boards within a few minutes. So, as soon as you wish to swap from stand-up paddleboard to kayaking, you must remove the t-handle on the SUP paddle and slide in another blade instead.

Q. Can I put a kayak on top of the SUP Board?

A. YES, attach the kayak seat straps to the Board’s D-rings. As soon as all the straps of the kayak seat are appropriately connected, flip open the kayak seat. That’s it!