Sit on-top vs sit inside for a newbie.

[moose338]

I'm thinking of getting my first kayak and am trying to determine which is better. It seems to me that a sit inside would be more stable, but I assume there must be some benefits to sit on tops since they make so many of them. So my question is what are the pros and cons of each type.

My intention with whatever kayak I get is just for recreational trips and maybe some fishing if that makes a difference.

 

[LeonardC]

My only experience with kayaks is an Old Town sit inside and mostly on small lakes. I don't like getting in and out; "old man knees" just don't work very well. I've gotten wet a few times while I danced around getting in/out. My toes are crowded in the front feet rests.

Once inside I've never felt the least bit unstable. I've had the wind come up and had waves coming over the bow and still felt fine. Mine has a bit of storage space behind the seat so I can carry emergency gear, water, lunch, fishing gear, handgun when I'm on the water, clothes, etc., all tied to the canoe "just in case".

Mine is light enough I can pick it up and carry it. Most of my time with it has been on Nacy Lakes Canoe Trail system. I almost always carry fishing stuff, but have seldom fished out of the canoe (edit: should read kayak).

I sure like the looks of the Hobbie kayaks and have read the stories about taking them out on the salt water to chase the big fish.

 

[moose338]

Thanks for the input. I don't plan on going out on the ocean, just interior lakes and maybe some rivers.

 

[love2hunt]

Sit inside for me in Alaska. The water here can be cold and miserable if you're soaking wet. I've paddled with sit on tops before but it was in Belize and other warm places, just my two cents.

 

[68 Bronco]

I've had a couple of kayaks. Did 10 days on the Yukon with a sit inside by Prijon that was designed for and called Yukon Expedition. We took 10 Boy Scouts; they had canoes coupled as catamarans tied with plywood decks and with sails (re-assembled on site), 3 adults with kayaks , 2 had folding kayaks and did just fine. I had more storage and room for bear gun. My kayak was fine for Five Finger Rapids, which I was glad of since it was my first big paddle adventure. And yes, great on chilly rainy days with the skirt keeping me dry and warm.
Two seasons or so later I decided my wife needed a kayak so I bought her an GP Epic recreational kayak sit in (discontinued) Carbon fiber and fiberglass. At 13' and barely over 27 lbs. and for our mostly flat water use, the next yr. we bought another Epic and sold the heavy Yukon E. (70 lbs.) We are aged and these are so very easy to load, paddle well w/o a rudder on waters we frequent. We have used them a lot, being so convenient and totally enjoy them. Sometimes my old knees are no help, as Leonard C. mentions above. The Epics we have, not designed for rocks found in many of our rivers. Tougher plastic varieties are better there.

Yes, in general sit-ins are more stable, your butt below the water surface and your knees against the hull for stability, warmer for certain! - I've done some winter paddling. It is worth noting that sit-in kayaks for ages have been the small crafts that in practiced hands can handle very rough seas.
Sit on top designs have come a long ways too, however. And the newer designs with fishing in mind look good. No matter what you chose, you will get wet - so it is a matter degrees of how cold and wet, and how heavy a boat you want to handle. I assume most, if not all , SOT's are unsinkable, but with good bulkheads, hatches, and float bags, properly outfitted Sit-Ins are good to go.

Think about your primary use and remember the extras (carbon fiber paddle, neoprene, etc.) can add up to close to half your costs. Shop and read. Big fun, great recreation.

 

[iofthetaiga]

No matter what you chose, you will get wet - so it is a matter degrees of how cold and wet, and how heavy a boat you want to handle.

Put me down as a drysuit fan. The water here is too damn cold, regardless of boat type.

 

[68 Bronco]

Put me down as a drysuit fan. The water here is too damn cold, regardless of boat type.

Best insurance for certain. Lots of pants, paddle jackets and so on with gaskets - but still don't equal the protection a dry suit offers.
Self and assisted rescue techniques are also important for kayak owners, they are myriad and there are good books and I'm sure plenty of on-line sources.

 

[wesley f]

I've been a kayak fan for about 15 years now. I've had hobbies, old towns, Jackson's, feelfree, and a bunch of other on the cheaper end.

One thing is for certain you get what you pay for when it comes to kayaks. Thin hulls on the cheaper crafts will wear thin quickly fron dragging in and out of water.

The sit on top or sit inside debate has raged on for a long time on the kayak fishing forums. I've always preffered sit on tops for rough or bigger water. I've paddled out a lot miles in the gulf of Mexico in both types.For smaller water I really prefer a sit inside. I've currently got a Old Town Loon 160T for my sit inside. It's great for a few things, I absolutely love duck hunting out of it (lots of space for decoys and room to use as a layout, it hauls alot of weight, and it's tracks really well for its size. My sit on top is a Hobbie pro angler 12. For me anything shorter then 12 feet is too unstable for ease of use. The Hobbie is absolutely fantastic but for that quality your gonna pay a pretty penny.


In the end it really comes down to preference. Try them both out and see what you like better. Everyone is gonna have their own reasons as to why they like one above the oother.and whatever you choose, get a good PFD and hope you get as much enjoyment out of them as I have.

 

[bottom_dweller]

I have to use a kayak just about daily. My skiff remains on a mooring bouy and if I need to go anywhere I take a kayak to the skiff. Easy to drag up and down the beach. Pull it aboard or leave it on the bouy. My shoulders and knees would not allow a sit inside. I’ve been in some nasty weather with them and I feel better knowing I can bail out anytime and not be stuck in the hull. We have about 8-10 of them in all sizes and configurations. Malibu seem to hold up well. Also if you are handy, a plastic welder works great on them. I have only dumped once. I lost my high school sweetheart…..870 I won at the homecoming football raffle.