New and Exciting Water Toys
Surfboards with electric engines, anyone?
As the industry leaders, Jet Skis get bigger and faster with designs straight out of Star Wars. But other gear is keeping up—some modestly, others wildly.
Some towable attention-grabbers are simply inflatable, yet in the shape of easy chairs and animals. A unicorn that seats six? No problem. There are inflatables that are stationary, such as jungle gyms and climbing walls. And at least one company, Aquaglide, makes toys that can be purchased separately or assembled into a complete water playground for lakefront estates, camps, resorts or municipal pools. Other clever products are smaller, for backyard pools—such as powered loungers and rafts, and remote-control snack and drink carriers.
Moving along, you can find inflatable kayaks and paddleboards, kayaks with clear bottoms, and underwater drones to photograph nature and the condition of your boat’s hull. John Paeno, founder and partner at CGT Kayaks, a rental outfitter in Bonita Springs, advises that Coast Guard paddle craft regulations now call for safety equipment (such as radios, flares and flashlights) when venturing far offshore.
Paeno reports a boom in hybrids— paddleboards you can sit on and paddle like a kayak, and kayaks you can stand up on and paddle like a paddleboard. The trend includes fishing kayaks complete with motors and elevated stadium seats and hulls designed to slice through water.
One catch: Even small motors bar the craft from waterparks that ban powered craft, Paeno says. Federal registration of all watercraft, whether they have motors or not, may be coming soon, he adds.
The Coast Guard cites high paddling casualty rates, led by Florida, which is a mecca for the sports because of its great weather, a huge coastline and myriad launch sites. “The USCG is trying to get a handle on it and they think making them all get registered will help,” Paeno explains.
Meanwhile, wing-shaped devices, known by names such as NautBoard or Subwing, are designed for people to hang on to while being towed by a boat or Jet Ski. According to information on Nautic Expo’s website: “You can dive up to 7 meters below the surface of the water or skim lithely along the surface. At slow speeds, it lets the user tranquilly observe aquatic life and enjoy the ride, but daredevils can turn the speed up a notch to easily dive deeper or even perform acrobatic tricks.”
Moving further along—literally— surf
boards with electric engines, anyone? It’s true. No more need for ideal waves. Several manufacturers such as Lampuga, Lift and Waterwolf make boards that can be ridden while standing, sitting or kneeling. They feature a large rudder-type foil that enables the rider and board to rise above the water’s surface and almost fly.
Even children can enjoy another motorized craft called a sea scooter, which pulls users atop or under the water. Makers such as Sea Doo, AquaPro and Yamaha offer scooters in a wide range of sizes and speeds. However, sea scooters and some of the other specialized gear can be difficult to find in local shops. Most boat dealers stick with larger craft but marine supply stores can special order what customers want.
And although some of the manufacturers are in Europe, they are happy to tell you how to find an American dealer. Bottom line: If you know what you want and are willing to spend, you can make it happen.