Sit-On-Top or Sit-Inside

I'm always curious about our demographics.  So which do you fish from?

-Allen

  From the sit inside perspective has anyone noticed that you are treated almost like a pariah if you mention them on some of the kayak fishing forums?  Not this one of course. It’s like people think you die an instant death upon casting from "inside" a kayak.  I have seen some very misleading advice given in lots of forums that I suspect is a ploy to push a person into the sale of sit on tops from the hosts of that the web site is selling.  And please don’t get me wrong I think sit on tops are very cool and would like to own one someday.


Aaron

At our derby this year, Kevinator, the winner, was the only guy paddling a sit inside.   Gotta love that. 

In the NW, I think we see a higher percentage of sit inside kayak anglers than elsewhere, probably due to the deep roots of sea kayaking here.

Just curious, what sort of misleading advice is given?

I've not fished from a sit inside ... yet.  I'm going to give it a try sometime to see what it's like.

-Allen

   There are too many to list but the basic idea is you will die if you ride in a SIT, often called a SINK.  Type SINK or SIT into one of the fishing forums you will get a taste of it.  Here I will just attach a FAQ from Kayakfishingstuff.com.  While some points are valid I don't a think anyone could really say this is even close to a balanced comparison of SIT and SOT kayaks. 

http://kfs.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1211085601/m/4251029431

Once again I like SOT kayaks but obviously see many advantges to a SIK too. I personaly would like to have at least one of each.

Aaron

From JonS's post-

A kayak is not a boat so don’t think of it as one.

 

It seems pretty obvious JonS's kayak roots are SOT based.

Hi all.

 Well I just got the Hobie SUV (SOT), it's very wide and stable! So far at least... I guess 9" chop does not give it the full test for stability.

The foot peddles work great, leaving hands free for in my case photography, but for a fisherman would be perfect!  I was able to keep up with Victoria Paddlers narrower kayak without much effort!

 Three week ends ago, I did the Flat Water Sea Kayaking course in a SIS... which I found far too confining.

Our first run was in Clayquot Sound, near Tofino, then Kennedy Lake, which was fabulous. This weekend we headed to Cowichan Lake (both on Vancouver Island) The fishing was not great though! But that is the usual case with me...the fish generally disappear when I try fishing!

On the way home,yesterday, there were hundreds of boats around Port Renfrew... the Salmon Fishing was apparently very good! I have not heard yet what the prize winning salmon weight was...

Jim

Ahhh yes, the debate of SOT vs. SIK again... I can't speak for everyone, I enjoy my SOT Scupper Pro very much.  So far, it's gotten me to places I've never imagine I could possibly go by land.  I love fishing and it's real handy to just throw that fish in the tankwell in the back.  Most importantly for me, I can adjust my sitting position sideways, straddle, legs folded, legs over one side of the boat specially when my butt starts to fall asleep.

I find it difficult to move around when I sit in a SIK.  Unless I take the sprayskirt out but that would be kinda risky on choppy water.  Anyways, just my personal opinion.

Oh yes, SnapperJim nice paddling with you.  I had an awesome time camping at Kennedy lake, minus the bear visit in the night heheheh.  Nice HObie by the way, I'm sure I'll have to get one down the road.  I like the idea of having my hands free.

VP

No debate from me.  Both SIK and SOT have their time and place.

-Allen

Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but I'll stick with my hand built Chesapeake 17.  Varnished mahogany wins out over tupperware every time. 

Now find me a varnished mohagany SOT and I'll be in heaven.  I've tried to talk Pygmy into providing a kit, but there doesn't seem to be any interest.  I'll bug them again this weekend at WCSKS.

-Allen

Mahogany SOT:  http://www.clcboats.com/boats/seaislandsport.php

Mahogany SOT:  http://www.clcboats.com/boats/seaislandsport.php

Excellent!  I think I just found myself a winter time project.  Oh, and they'll be at WCSKS so hopefully they'll have one I can test drive.

Here's another ... http://www.jemwatercraft.com/products.php?cat=10, although I like the looks of that Chesapeake more.

-Allen

Very interesting.  I like that CLC boat as well.  If we don't get enough snow this winter to satiate my snowboarding habit, I may have to look into one of those as a project.  Has anyone ever built a stitch and glue boat before?  Maybe we could pilot build one as a larger group and have it as a community boat?  Just a thought.

Pete

I use to build stitch-and-glue boats for a living. I actually do the majority of my fishing out of a stitch-and-glue rowboat, Pygmy Boat's Wineglass Wherry. http://www.pygmyboats.com/mall/WGWSPECS.asp  It's a pretty easy and forgiving technique, and makes a bombproof, very light boat. I think the only way to get much lighter, would be to build a skinboat, using the Geodesic Airolite technique. http://www.gaboats.com/

 I've been pondering building a big skin-on-frame boat. Was going to post a link to a local outfit, but their domain name subscription ran out. (Skinboat.com)

The CLC SOT is the best looking wood SOT I've seen, yet. The price looks pretty darn steep. I'd probably try to build from plans.

So Bill, how much do you think a SOT kit should cost to build?  kit cost?  material cost? 

And just for grins, how much would it cost to pay someone to build one assuming the "normal" 70-80 hours build time?

-Allen