Johnson Outdoors SI10 User manual

OWNER’S MANUAL
SI10 Sit-in Kayak
And
SO10 Sit-on Kayak
Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure Group®
4855 Broadmoor SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49512-5360
1-800-552-6287
www.jowatercraft.com
November, 2003

Thank you for purchasing this pedal boat from
Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure Group.
Your Kayak is the result of years of design, manufacturing
and material improvements. It clearly represents the best
value available and is designed to provide you and your
family with many years of fun.
This Owner’s Manual provides the key information on its
use and care. If you have additional questions, or would
like to learn about kayak accessories, pedal boats, fishing
boats, canoes, dinghies, electric deck boats and the other
fine products we offer, please contact us:
Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure Group
Customer Service
4855 Broadmoor S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49512-5360
1-800-552-6287, www.jowatercraft.com
At Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure Group,
we hope you enjoy this kayak for many years to come, and
use it to make a lifetime of memories.
Happy boating,
Sandra L. Spielmaker
President, Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure Group
Warranty
Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure Group warrants
its manufactured products to be free of material defects subject
to the following time limitations and use exclusions.
Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure Group warrants
the hull and deck of each new kayak to be free of material and
manufacturing defects for a period of two (2) years from the date
of retail sale. All other component parts and accessories are
warranted for a period of one (1) year or are warranted for the
period specified by their original manufacturer, whichever is
less.
Under this warranty, Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport &
Leisure Group is limited to the repair or replacement of the
components as defined above. Transportation to and from an
authorized repair facility is the responsibility of the purchaser.
Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure Group shall not
be held liable for incidental, consequential costs such as
registration fees, or other damages resulting from defects in
warranted components.
This warranty does not extend to or apply to any product that is
used for rental or other commercial use, nor products that are
damaged from abuse, neglect, accident, normal wear or repairs
made by unauthorized repair facilities or individuals.
There are no warranties either expressed or implied which
extend beyond those defined in this statement. This warranty
only applies to the original purchaser and is nontransferable.
To verify date of purchase, please return the product registration
card within 30 days. Also please retain your original purchase
receipt.
Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, November 2003
Sport & Leisure Group
4549 Rev B

Remember that to steer a kayak you must be going either
faster or slower than the current
Always make sure that you are wearing the proper
Personal Flotation Device (life jacket). ExtraSport®
company offers a full line of high quality PFD’s that are
widely available. Contact Johnson Outdoors-
Watercraft, Sport & Leisure Group if you have
questions.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Material Checklist Page 2
Illustrations of Models Pages3-4
About Your Kayak Page 5-6
-Hull Material
-Capacity and Flotation
Transporting Your Kayak Page 7-8
Using Your Kayak Page 8-10
Storage Page 10
Care and Maintenance Page 11
Safety Procedures Page 11-12
Warranty Page 13
1

MATERIAL CHECKLIST
Upon delivery of your kayak you should receive:
1. Warranty registration card. Please read and
complete the registration card and mail it to
Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure
Group, 4855 Broadmoor SE, Kentwood, MI 49512
2. Owner’s Manual and Statement of Warranty
(back page)
3. Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin. You will need
this certificate if you are required to register your
boat.
2
CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Maintenance of your kayak, including the camouflage
series, is very easy. Keep the surfaces clean by washing
them with a mild detergent and water. If necessary, use
may use a very soft bristle brush to help remove caked-on
dirt. Do not use Armour-Allor other plastic conditioner
products. They can discolor, and even weaken, the plastic.
If the kayak should develop a hole, a patch must be applied
by plastic welding. Glues and adhesives will not adhere
permanently to the polyethylene hull. For more information
about this process, please contact Johnson Outdoors-
Watercraft, Sport & Leisure Group.
SAFETY PROCEDURES
Be sure to check the current weather and forecast prior to
departure. High wind will create rough water that will
impede your progress and make it difficult to return to
shore.
When paddling in rivers and streams, stick to the smoothest
and deepest channel of the stream. Avoid obvious
disturbances in the water; they are a sure sign of an
underwater obstacle.
Always try to avoid overhanging trees and limbs. They are
often encountered along bends in the streams and rivers.
The current will try to carry you along the outside of the
bend, so additional steering may be required.
11

Sit-in Kayak Spray Skirt
A spray skirt is an optional accessory that is invaluable if
you get caught in rough seas, heavy rain or river rapids.
The skirt stretches tightly around the spray collar. The
upper perimeter of the “tube” fits around your chest and is
tightened with a draw cord. Properly installed, a spray skirt
will shed all but a tiny amount from waves and rain that
wash over the deck. It will not necessarily be 100%
waterproof but certainly will vastly increase the
seaworthiness of the kayak under very adverse conditions.
STORAGE
Kayaks should be stored on edge, upside down, standing on
end or hanging horizontally by straps or slings out of the
sun. When hanging the boats, run straps around the boat
near the cockpit. Storing the boat bottom side down may
cause distortion. Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport &
Leisure Group blends an added measure of ultraviolet
inhibitors into the plastic of your kayak to give superior
protection from ultraviolet light. However, to reduce the
effects of weathering, avoid storing the boat in direct
sunlight.
In cold weather, your kayak should be sheltered from the
weight of snow. The plastic will be slightly brittle in cold
temperatures, so store it in a protected area where it will not
be bumped or stepped on. Do not pile other items on top of
the kayak while it is stored.
10
3
SI 10 Sit-in kayak

4
SO10 Sit-on kayak
•If the paddle is a right hand control (when the right
blade is held vertical, the left blade “scoop” is up), the
right hand will stay tight and your left hand loose. If
using a left hand control paddle, the left hand stays
tight, and the right hand stays loose.
•A proper stroke is a forward power stroke. Place the
paddle blade in the water near your toes. Pull the
blade back alongside the boat at your hip. Lift the
paddle blade and take a stroke on the other side.
•A long paddle will allow for a longer stroke, while a
shorter paddle will give a shorter, faster stroke.
•If the paddle blade drifts out to the side in an arc, it
will force the bow of the boat to swing away from the
paddle blade. This is called a sweep stroke and is
used to turn the boat.
•Your kayak is very easy to use and very forgiving.
By beginning in calm water you can quickly get the
feel of the boat and paddle techniques.
•Relax your hands when paddling. Sit with good
posture, keep your torso vertical and choose a footrest
position that will allow your knees to be slightly bent.
For greater efficiency use your arms and your torso
by twisting slightly.
9

Both sit-in and sit-on-top kayaks are light enough to hand
carry. However, to transport the kayak long distances
when on foot, check with your local water recreation dealer
for the availability of kayak skates or totes which strap on
to one end of the kayak and allow the kayak to roll along
on wheels. Do not continually drag your kayak as this
will eventually wear a hole in the plastic.
Power boats or jet skis should not be used to tow your
kayak. Serious injury and damage to your kayak can result.
USING YOUR KAYAK
When paddling a kayak:
•Position yourself comfortably in the seat with your
knees slightly bent. If your legs are too straight, you
may find you put strain on your lower back. If your
knees are bent too far, your arms and shoulders will
fatigue prematurely.
•Lay the paddle horizontally in front of you to find the
proper hand placement. Start with your hands about
shoulder width apart and centered. If you place the
center of the paddle on the top of your head, your
elbows should form slightly less than a 90 degree
angle. There should be an equal amount of paddle
shaft and blade beyond each of your hands.
•Some paddles may have the blades offset, or
feathered (for more experienced users). A feathered
paddle presents less surface area for the wind to
catch.
8
ABOUT YOUR KAYAK
The sit-on-top kayak and sit-in kayak are general
recreational use products. They are designed for lakes and
slow moving streams. They are not designed for white
water (class II and above rapids.) The amount of rapids the
boat can safely navigate is far more dependant upon the
skill of the person then the structural limitations of the boat.
However, neither kayak has the structural rigidity to
withstand class II water flow if the boat is swamped and
pinned against an immovable object (i.e. rock, boulder, or
stump).
Hull Material
The Sit-on 10 kayak hull is thermoformed from a single
sheet of High Density Polyethylene. Polyethylene is many
times more impact resistant than fiberglass, will not
permanently dent, and is much quieter than aluminum.
Polyethylene is abrasion resistant but not abrasion proof.
Your kayak will sustain some scratches if forced over
obstructions such as logs, sharp rocks and gravel. Do not
be concerned if you notice the hull flexing as the kayak
passes over an obstruction. This flexing is one of the great
advantages of polyethylene. It bends and absorbs impact
without sustaining serious damage.
The Sit-in 10 kayak hull is a one-piece rotomolded
polyethylene unit. As stated above, Polyethylene is many
times more impact resistant than fiberglass. The one piece
design provides a simpler, stronger product.
5

Capacity and Flotation
If the weight carrying capacity of your kayak is exceeded,
performance and seaworthiness will be adversely affected
possibly allowing the kayak to be swamped by a wave.
Both the Sit-on-top and Sit-in models are made from
polyethylene which as a material is lighter than water so the
boat will float at the surface if it is swamped. The added
foam flotation will support your weight if you’re in the
water hanging on to the kayak.
Sit-on-top
The interior of the sit-on-top kayak is basically a
hollow chamber. This chamber is water resistant but
not waterproof. Some seepage of water into the interior
cavity is inevitable. There is a drain plug in the
cockpit. Drain the interior of the boat before you
launch the boat. Never store the kayak with any water
trapped between the hull and deck
Sit-in
The sit-in kayak has closed cell polystyrene foam
located in each end for flotation.
6
TRANSPORTING YOUR KAYAK
One of the easier ways to transport your kayak is to
purchase a roof rack. They come with a variety of
attachments from kayak saddles to stackers. The racks
should be padded.
*Prolonged storage or repetitive transportation of your
kayak in the same position can cause the plastic to dent if
pads are not used*
Follow the instructions that came with the rack for proper
positioning. Ropes can then be strapped across the boat
and tied to the bars. Do not over tighten the ropes or straps
as this can cause dents in the kayak. Saddles cradle the
boat and often come with their own straps. Stackers allow
multiple boats to be placed on their sides without falling
over.
An alternative from traditional rack systems are soft racks.
They tend to be less expensive and will work with most any
car. These are pads that sit between the kayak and the roof
of your car. Avoid over-tightening the straps which may
cause dents in the kayak or in the roof of the car.
7