Sit on Top or Traditional Kayak

[SuperFlyGuy]

Okay.. So I've finally decided to get a kayak for my fly expeditions. Now the question is what type. Sit on top, or the traditional sit in type. Anyone have a preference. I want an all around kayak that I can take most areas like the delta, lakes, and slow rivers.

Im looking at the Tarpon series, vs the hobie adventure fish and quest models.

any opinions?

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I see more kayaks in this sport every year.

I guess there are lots of good ones out there now.

Eugene Graham has the Wilderness Tarpon 14' because he is a big tall guy.

Several of our buddies have those Hobbies with the foot propulsion system too.

Anything that will get you out on the water is a big step forward.

[Darian]

I'm no expert but I would chose a sit-on Hobie yak over a sit-in. I don't like the feeling of being inside the yak. I used a sit-on sea yak at East Cape, Baja, 2 years ago and was really impressed. 8) 8) It didn't have the Hobie propulsion system, tho. :?

Of course, your choice should be based on your intended usage. If you plan on doing any river running, you probabky would want the sit-in model. 8)

[Rob]

I feel that the sit in Kayak is more stable because your butt is lower to the water and closer to the floor. If you ever fall over the sit on top are way easyer to up right and you do not have a yak full of water. I do like having my legs out of the sun and cold weather. Cody and I have used are kayaks for duck hunting in weather at just above 0 deg. and it was nice to not have as much water/ice all over our legs. We have used ours in the Yuba River and many lakes in California and now in Utah.

The Yuba river

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/rgkempton/Kayaks/DSCN0013.jpg

Duck hunting Cutler Marsh in Cache Valley Utah.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/rgkempton/Hunting%20ducks/duckboy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/rgkempton/Hunting%20ducks/DSCN0054.jpg

And warm water fishing in northern Utah
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/rgkempton/Kayaks/RobSmallmouthWillardsBayresized.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/rgkempton/Kayaks/resized.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/rgkempton/Fly%20fishing%20Utah/DSCN0010-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/rgkempton/Fly%20fishing%20Utah/closeup.jpg

[Rickey Noel Mitchell]

Hey Micah,
Hey Rob you have pretty much named all the virtues of the sit inside. For hunting they could be the best way to go. I tried fly-fishing out of a sea kayak spry skirt, Eskimo Roll, the whole nine yards. It can be done but it’s not for the unskilled.
However when the time comes that you do capsize in a sit inside particularly a recreation sit in side kayak, (bigger opening) that kayak will weigh three times more than what it did empty. For any waters but rough and windy waters and the ocean they can be a good way to go.
Micah…I find sit on tops are the way to go for me because of the rigging and sit up options they give you, particularly now that they are making them out of composite (check out my post New Year New Yak)
If I were going to buy a plastic kayak it would be one of the WS Tarpons or their new Ride for those that want to stand and cast.
In a plastic yak a good combination of speed and stability is hard to find.
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n265/paddle-and-flies/BlackhawkAlturacopy.jpg

If you can afford the $1699 for the Alture, you won’t be sorry.
About the Hobie. First of all I am sponsored by Current Designs Kayaks. I mention this because I don’t want anyone to think I’m just attacking the competition. What happened is fact and it happened before I ever worked with Current Desighs.
I used a Hobbie adventure for a year. Between being a guide and a fishing addict I probably paddle at least 15 days a month. After a few months the hobie started leaking. At first it was a slow leak. which I didn’t feel was anything to worry about.
The last time I used the Adventure was on the Delta at Franks Track I’d had a pretty good day of fishing, and I was heading back when I noticed the Adventure was paddling and peddling a bit sluggish. When I reached open water I also notice the water was up to just under the logo on the side of the kayak. It was a good thing I wasn’t far from the launch, because when I got there I took off the hatch and looked inside the hull was almost half filled with water.
When I got the Hobie Home I it filled with water in hopes of finding the leak… no luck. I took it out to a local lake the next day and peddled it with the hatches off. Within minutes I heard the water coming in.
It was leaking from the seam line the opening where you put the drive in and it leaked when I peddled. To be fair to Hobie this was the first year for the Adventure model. They have repair kits they will send out for this problem because it did happened to other people ,or they will honor their warranty by replacing their hull.
(the body).
This was a subject I felt needed addressing.
See everybody at the expo.
_________________

[Rob]

Noel

If I stood up in my Yak I would fall out with the first cast. :oops:
Not that my Yak is not stable, I am not !!! :wink:
I came down with vertigo around 4 years ago and balance is not one of my good traits now !!





Boy you can't beat the peace and quit you get while paddling around in a Kayak. We use ours also for bird watching in our local marsh.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/rgkempton/Kayaks/DSCN0004fixed.jpg

[Hairstacker]

Boy you can't beat the peace and quit you get while paddling around in a Kayak.

I definitely second that! If you just slow down and take your time, it can be a very relaxing way to fish. :D

[Rickey Noel Mitchell]

There are times when I don't even take the rod out of the holder.





http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n265/paddle-and-flies/EgretP105.jpg

[East Bay Ed]

I have both a sit in (si) and sit on top (sot). I initially puchased a (si) kayak about 5 years ago. I did not do much research, but knew I wanted a kayak fo fish from. After purchasing the kayak I then started looking for web sites. The best web site for comparing kayaks and the si vs sot is the following:

http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com (this is primarily on the east coast)

Use the above site to do your own research. After visiting the above web site and doing my research I purchased a sot and have been much happier. I let my son use the si, but am thinking of selling it to get him a sot.

The advantages are:
the sot is much easier to get in and out of,
the sot actually feels stablier although it is not as wide as my si,
the sot is much safer (if you capsise its much easier to get back onto the sot then into a water filled si) and,
you can dangle your feet over the side of the sot or sit sideways in the sot which you can't do with a si.

There are probably other advantages, but these are the important ones I can think of right now. I have outfitted my Ocean Kayak (Prowler 15) with a fish finder, rod holder, and plastic milk carton (for extra gear). I have also made cords to hold onto my paddle, rod, and other gear.

Another web site that hase excellent local fishing information is the following.
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/bb/index.php?board=5.0

You will enjoy a kayak. Of course I would still like to have a large fishing platform too.

[Eugene Graham]

As Bill Kiene stated I own a 14' SOT Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140 14' Kayak. This is a very stable boat. I have had it in lakes, rivers, and the ocean, and have never had a problem with stablility. There is lots of room for you gear, especialy if you use a plastic milk crate in the back. You can the the Scotty Fly Rod Holdes, or just strap your tod to the side in the standard oar holders which does hold it very security. You can get this boat with either a rudder or not. You can always install a rudder later. A rudder will not only help you turn the boat while paddling, but help you manage wind and current while casting. When in shallows you can quickly flip the rudder up.
I have also used the Tarpon 100 10'. This is a slower but, but turns much easier. I would rather have a tarpon 140 or 160 as they are much easier to store gear, and carry more weight.
The tarpon has nice spots on it where you can install GPS or Fish finders later. I would strongly suggest with any Kayak to use if a few time before you install any additional equipment. This will help you figure out where the best placement will be before you drill any holes in your boat.
This last weekend I was out kayaking with some friends in Bodega Bay, and they were using the Hobbie with the peddles. They were moving are quite easily, even though the peddles are a little slower than paddling. They were also getting hung up on sand bars and seaweed, and they had to bring the peddles up. They also had paddles, so this was not a problem. Their only issue was getting tangled in sandbar with seaweed, and they were afraid to get out of the boat due to sharks that we were watching nearby, but that is another story.

http://www.kiene.com/gallery/albums/OurBoats/egkayak.sized.jpg

[Rob]

[quote="Rickey Noel Mitchell"]There are times when I don't even take the rod out of the holder.

I hear you !!!
Just paddleing around in a my Yak is as fun as fishing.

We are thinking about doing a overnighter he in Culter marsh.
From one end of the valley to the other and back is only arouind 20 miles round trip but we wound like to take our time and spend the night. Not a lot of room in our 9' Yaks so we can't take much. Mine has a 300 lb capasity but I think thats pushing it. :shock: I weight around 220 and I don't think I would put more than 30 lbs of gear on my Yak. I do wish I had a Yak that was 12-14'' but I do the way mine will fit in my pickup. :D