Sit-in or sit-on kayak…which one?
I am thinking of buying my first kayak. Both seem to have advantages and disadvantages over the other. Most of my kayaking will be on the Indian River here in Florida, so there will be a few windy days, a very few days with white caps, and fairly shallow water (plus/minus 3 ft.). Which would you buy and why?
Mail this post
April 30th, 2010 at 11:03 pm
I’m not sure where the Indian River is but I live in SW Florida and had a yellow sit on top. Frankly I loved it. I am going to purchase another one soon but am probably not going to get a sit on top but the other style because I want to join the kayaking club here. They do long trips and I don’t want to worry about keeping up. I may get a sit on top and just hope they don’t leave people behind / that I don’t have the slowest yak because I do like them.
I haven’t used the other style but for solo journeys I actually like a sit on top. They have holes which let a little water in, but the point of them is to make it more stable. I found mine to be excellent for fishing and just cruising the canals. I’m not sure where Indian River is but there are gators where I live. I haven’t had any close encounters yet though. Now with the holes, your butt and feet do get wet. I found a couple of ways to get around it. I put a big pad on the bottom to sit on. For my feet, if its a nice day I don’t worry about them or I will prop them up at the top of the sit on top. It’s kind of an attack stance, rigid legs and back so I can kayak more forcefully. The other thing I have done is wear water proof high boots in cold weather.
I asked a question about this a few days ago and someone said get a used cobra, hobie or ocean kayak
"http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApKPbDx4UDXX6Am3LzdbMMbty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20100117155031AAs12Qt"
I can tell you I have seen a "wilderness tarpon" brand/model kayak up close and I would buy one of them in a heartbeat.
By the way, various publications will have maps and articles about where to kayak. I have a scrap book where I have accumulated a nice collection with the names of all the creeks and rivers in my area. I even have an article about a group that does a group snorkel once a month.
I am going to ask about kayak speeds because I would like to get another sit on top if its not a speed issue.
April 30th, 2010 at 11:03 pm
if you’re a beginner then i recommend sit-on-top, because sprint/ sit-in kayaks are more expensive and you have to learn to paddle and balance in them
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:13 am
That was a very good post,Maybe I will sign up to your rss.