Rail vs. Mount

Just wondering what the consensus and preference is about using rail sections (like the yak attack/wilderness system) with moving mounts, versus the fixed mounts like the scotty  mounts. 

Why did you choose what you did. 

I have always used the mounts but I'm outfitting a smaller yak and wondering about using rails on it but wanted to get some advice who have tried both before I drill the holes.

I think that rails are better than fixed mounts, because you can install equipment from a variety of manufacturers on a rail, and you can change the location of equipment on a rail.  If you install a fixed mount on your kayak, you can only use equipment from the manufacturer of the mount in that mount, and you may later wish that you had installed the fixed mount in a different location for some or all purposes.  The advantages of rails over fixed mounts are greater if this is your first fishing kayak, because you will probably learn a lot about good ways to outfit a fishing kayak in your first couple of years of kayak fishing.

I'm with Pete. Rails with mounts is the way to go.its personal preference but anything a fixed mount can do, a mount on a rail can do better.

Good question! No right answer, though.  :-)
I like a rail just because it has a larger foot to spread load out onto more of the hull. Just because you can line a lot up on a rail doesn't mean it works well to do so. You need to think about visibility, access, congestion... Also, how do you transport your yak, right side up or upside down? If the latter you need to consider whether either rail or mount will interfere with a rack. Finally, whether a yak is set up better for fixed mounts or rail matters.
My experience is it's better to spend less time on the install and, as you are, more on planning it.
Tight lines!

I have over 3' of rails on my revo and love the versatility it provides.  Make sure you use backing plates to make your rails as bombproof as necessary for the gear you expect to put on them.

I don't do rails just because the most likely place to mount them is on the top of the hull and I frequently transport my kayak top side down, so I don't want to smash rails or damage the rack. thus I keep hull topside clear.

I transport my kayak upside down on its gunwales, but have padded bars on my roof rack, so the rack doesn't damage my gear tracks.

I was one of the first people in line to get Yak Attack rails, but now I'm over the "mounts on top of mounts, mounted to a mount". I'm working towards fewer things on my list of things to forget. So, I've recently removed most of my long rails and installed Scotty mounts or Ram balls. My only exceptions are for my camera; for which I use small sections of the plastic track. So far, so good.

I'm a track guy because I want to be able to move my accessories from kayak to kayak and as said above it's nice to use different configurations on different days (i.e. "move stuff around") and also to try different gear.

I also haul my kayaks upside down and so far have never been unlucky enough to have a track line up with a crossbar, so no harm done there.

I do wish Hobie would get with the program and just put flush tracks on the top of the gunwale like the Wilderness Systems Tarpons, Ocean Kayak Tridents, etc.

I'm a huge fan of rails. The flexibility  afforded is just too nice. You can customize to fit the day or your mood. I am in agreement with Captain Redbeard, I wish the Hobie came with them like my thresher did.

I fully understand the versatility of rail system and why many go that way, it's got merit for sure.

However, I'm a RAM mount fan.  Over the years as I found my groove, I've moved a few things around and removed a RAM mount here and there to make things work to my liking.

I fully understand the versatility of rail system and why many go that way, it's got merit for sure.

However, I'm a RAM mount fan.  Over the years as I found my groove, I've moved a few things around and removed a RAM mount here and there to make things work to my liking.

I use ram balls on my rails.  or scotty gear heads.  or mighty mounts.  That's part of the versitility of rails.  I used a ram mount for my fish finder on my newer santa cruz because there is only one place where it makes any good sense to put it unless I use an articulating arm which I'm not a fan of at all.  The santa cruz also comes with flush tracks already.  Yes, it's about time hobie did that.

Starting to use rails a bit more.  But I do NOT like them for my rod holders.  I have had bad luck with the Scotty Gear head rail mounts as I have broken two of them  They will NOT stand up to any decent size fish.  Yakattack items seem better built.  So far so good for things like fish finders and Broomstick camera mount.

The downsides to rails that I've found are:
- Cheap ones don't hold up to a big takedown
- Aluminum ones drag on the rails of my car rack
              - After enough drags, they get nicked up
              - Nicked rails are hell on a drysuit/PFD

All that said, they're versatile and let you dial in your set-up perfectly.

-Mark-

I have had bad luck with the Scotty Gear head rail mounts as I have broken two of them  They will NOT stand up to any decent size fish.  Yakattack items seem better built.  So far so good for things like fish finders and Broomstick camera mount.

I agree that Scotty Gear Head rail mounts are not acceptable for mounting anything which is subject to bending or twisting stress, such as a trolling rod holder.  They twist, and all their stress goes on a thin bolt.  However, they work fine for gear which isn't subject to stress, such as a fish finder head.