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Blog | Ultimate Water Toys: The Water Bike

Home » News » Ultimate Water Toys: The Water Bike January 17, 2017

How would you like all the fun and workout of a bike ride, but on water! That is exactly what you can do with the Schiller Water Bike. It is essentially a bicycle sitting between two inflatable pontoons. Judah Schiller, the founder of the company, did not create the “water bike,” but he may very well have perfected it.

A biking enthusiast, Schiller believed that his favorite hobby should not be restricted to “on-road” and “off road,” and should extend to the water as well. To prove that point, he became the first person in history to ride a “bike” of his own design across the San Francisco Bay and the Hudson River. What started out as a statement to the biking community, turned into a profitable company, and one Ultimate Water Toy!

In a nutshell, the water bike is loads of fun, and very easy to use. It can traverse shallow, or deeper water, and with enough “pedal power,” can get you going at a modest 6-8 miles per hour. Turning is simple and intuitive; just use the handlebars as you would on any terrestrial bike. In addition to sitting up high, which means you can enjoy views you cannot get from a canoe or kayak, the pontoon design makes for a very stable platform, which means you can also fish from the water bike.

Other Makers of Water Bikes

The Schiller Water Bike is not the only such water toy, nor was it the first. That claim is made by Ray Buresch, the inventor of the “Hydrobike” back in 1989. Since then 11,000 Hydrobikes have been sold worldwide. Like the Schiller version, the Hydrobike is lightweight, non-polluting, is easy to ride, and can hold up to 400 lbs., while maintaining stable flotation. The Hydrobike brand is a favorite for rental among US State Parks, many beach resorts, the YMCA, and thousands of other rental outlets worldwide.

Another in similar shape and style is the ITbike. Its flat, “single-hull” design, claims to provide more maneuverability and stability than the pontoon design of the Hydrobike and Schiller Water Bike.

A different concept entirely in water bikes, is the Aqua Cycle Water Trike. This one is more like a giant version of a familiar kid’s tricycle, but the wheels instead of being rubber, are large buoyant paddlewheels.

Whichever type of water bike you choose, you can be assured of hours of fun just paddling about, enjoying a workout, or a unique way to get from your charter yacht, to an onshore excursion!

The Water Bike joins a growing list of yacht charter “add-ons” such as the Flyboard and the Jet Lev Flyer that are taking water toys to new levels of excitement!

 Your Charter, You Choose Your Water Toys!

At 26 North Yachts, we always want you to have the charter experience of a lifetime. That is why we are constantly adding new boats, and the latest and greatest water toys to our packages. If there is a water toy that you have heard about and have been clamoring to try like a water bike, but do not see it listed among our current water toy options, let us know, and we will do everything we can to find it for you!

 

Choosing the right charter experience can be challenging. If you would like to benefit from our expertise in these areas, or if you have any questions or comments about this blog post, do not hesitate to contact our Charter Specialists, or call us at 954-235-3468

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