Sit on Top vs Sit inside?

OK, I was wondering, I have two sit on tops, the Mini-X for fishing, and an old Mainstream for the nephews to play with. Eventually I want to add a Hobie Outback to the arsenal as a large water long distance boat for non-surf launches. The question I have is if there is any benefit to having a sit-inside in the arsenal, or are they pretty much obsolete? I have seen a few in action and they basically seem to be a floating trunk so that you can bring everything but the kitchen sink with you but outside of that and keeping your rear end dry, any other advantages? I have noticed that some of the manufacturers are now building "fishing" models with a few hatches and rod holders, as well as a much larger cock-pit opening so you can move around inside a bit more, but how do they functionally compare to the SOT's with the same features. I definitely see a disadvantage regarding surf launching and would use the SOTs for that but otherwise, anyone using any of these out there have any input?

PS: I moved this over from the general page (sorry about posting in the wrong forum).

I go in the ocean alot and would not have a SIK.  I'm sure there are folks out there who are proficient with a SIK and who feel comfortable in rough water in one, but I feel it's pushing your luck to have a SIK on open water where conditions could degrade to something that would swamp the boat as opposed to just soaking you on a SOT.  Did you watch the shark video where one big guy falls into the drink as the big GWS circles?  If that was a SIK I think he would've been screwed... 

I have an X-Factor and a couple Mainstreams as well as an OK Scrambler XT. 

SOT for the ocean for sure. Although I have a sweet little WS pamlico 13.5 double SIS that is the shizzle for lake and slow rivers. It scoots across the water and is so nice in the sierra lakes its not funny. Good luck. Craig

Old post with related topic here...

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,7302.0.html

SOT for the ocean for sure. Although I have a sweet little WS pamlico 13.5 double SIS that is the shizzle for lake and slow rivers. It scoots across the water and is so nice in the sierra lakes its not funny. Good luck. Craig

But seeing you in a SIK is just wrong!!!!

The thought of trying to execute an eskimo roll in the surf zone with 50# of rockfish onboard is scary beyond belief. 

Well here is a friend of DaveW's that does just fine. Even with his reel upside down and backwards. He caught a huge cab and some nice rockfish. In a beat up river whitewater kayak this guy can fish and paddle.

Yeah, Allen CHARGES with that thing.  And he flips me the bird every time I tell him he's got his reel on backwards, which I remind him about every time we go out.

That boat is nimble and fast, and more stable than sit on tops.  One day at Big River mouth we were trying to get out through the breakers and I got completely worked, while he made it out.....dry hair paddle out.  It took me about half an hour to get out, and when I finally did, he's sitting on the outside looking very irritated:  "Dude, WTF?  What are you doing f**king around in there?  Let's go!"  "Uh, sorry Allen."

Upsides to sit insides:

• They're waaay faster to paddle
• They're way more stable than SOTs
• They're warmer (Allen just wears a pair of shorts)
• You're not sitting in a puddle
• They are super light and easy to carry

Downsides:

• If you flip you should have a roll, but not necessary
• You absolutely must have float bags and a pump
• less leg room

I've never seen Allen flip his boat, but if you do, with floatbags and a pump it's not as bad as it seems.  Just get back in and pump it out.  Allen has his boat set up super light.  It takes him about half the time as me to get from the parking lot to the water...the boat weighs about 20lbs.  He just hoists it on his shoulder and away he goes.  He don't need no stinkin cart.......even on the steepest hills where I'm roping mine down the cliff.

One thing about going stripped down, though.  Allen doesn't have any "gear" to speak of other than his pole, which is nice and all, but he's always next to me asking, "How deep is it here?  See any reef?  Any fish"  It's nice to go "nakie" when your buddy is carrying the fish finder and gps.

The downside to a river boat like Allen's is they're not made to track, so long distance in wind is a problem.  When I can afford it, I plan to get a real sea kayak (like 16-17 ft) and rig it for salmon trolling.  When you are out at sea, sea kayaks are the real deal for speed and comfort.



 

Thanks for all the replies. I guess the bottom-line question is; Is there a niche that they fill that a SOT can not?

Thanks for all the replies. I guess the bottom-line question is; Is there a niche that they fill that a SOT can not?

Long distance at sea, they are more sea-worthy and efficient. They are also lighter.  Other than than that, no.  If I could have only one boat for fishing (and diving) it has to be an SOT.  But I want to get a SIK in addition to my small fleet of SOTs for salmon fishing and long distance paddling.  Some of the reefs I'm no looking at are many miles from the put ins.

The thought of trying to execute an eskimo roll in the surf zone with 50# of rockfish onboard is scary beyond belief. 

Meh. The fish would be stored safely in the hull. With a nice bulkhead between you and all them nasty sebastes. Rolling would be easy peasy.

Thanks for all the replies. I guess the bottom-line question is; Is there a niche that they fill that a SOT can not?

The only scenario I could think of in 2007, was busting through nasty surf to get to really good fishing. Even then you'd have to be in a group, as it takes a partner to get gear in and out of sea kayak hull storage. There's a video that has been posted here, of a bunch South African kayak anglers experiencing major carnage while trying to head out through some surf. A good sea kayak paddler would consider that kind of surf to be a playground.

I use a sik, a Pungo 120. I love it but I do not ocean fish. I only fish the rivers and lakes in Nor Cal. I do a lot of trolling and I think a sik is the way to go for that type of fishing. My bro has a sot and he gets tired way before I do and can’t keep up with my pace during a long day of trolling. If I fished the ocean I would get a sot……

I fished in a SIK tonight for the 1st time on a lake.  Definitely not as comfortable or stable as the SOT, it was a WW kayak though so I guess that is to be expected.  To me the crux of the SIK is not the boat it's the severely limited space.  It sucked butt trying to get into my tackle box for a lure change and when I need pliers.  I bet you could get everything rigged just right, but a SOT would be so much easier to deal with in every scenario I can think of.  The only thing I really LIKED about the SIK was it was WAY easier to walk down the trail to the lake

Definitely the sit on top.  I've yet to find a sit inside that can hold an 18-pack readily accessible for the summer lake trips!

-beenfishin