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| Tuesday, October 17, 2006 |
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Sit in kakays versus sit on kayaks
By murd10 @ 6:30 PM :: 288 Views ::
0 Comments :: General Subjects, Boat Care & Storage
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Hello. I'm responding to an article written by 'Stacy' on 11/9/06 comparing the Sit in Kayaks (SIK) to the Sit on Top Kayaks (SOT). I've always favoured the SIK and have used various models for many years in Oz for fishing (bait, spinning, trolling, jigging, drifting) and touring. I'd like to provide a few comments supporting the SIK:
Getting in and out: Why is this so difficult Stacy? I recently portaged over several hours for 6 kilometres through a river in the Gulf of Carpentaria (Northern Australia) without struggling to climb back in. It may be difficult for you, but I can't see where the problem lies or why you keep capsizing. Getting back in in deep water is trickier but not impossible with a bit of practice (again, skilled paddlers will never capsize and end up in the water). By the way, I've never seen anyone wearing 'waders' in either type of kayak over here.
Accessing the Ocean: Okay, the SOK has an huge advantage here if the swell is up. Getting out isn't the problem but trying to get in between swells is. I try to avoid open surf beaches and use the corners of headlands instead - Luckily Australia has thousands of these. However, anyone who is competent will not fill their SIK with water. If I need to do a
beach launch in my SIK, I time the waves to allow an easy entry. Coming
in can be tricky but in all my years I have never tipped. My boat has custom built spray/splash deflectors on the bow
rails, and will very soon have a 'small wave deflector' contructed
ahead of the cockpit (once I work out how to make it!) to make it even
more versatile in chop/waves. Waves over the bow can be a hassle but if
the ocean starts to become that rough, then its usually a sign to come in.
Keeping Fish: I have almost sunk my kayak with the amount of fish carried. It is very easy to slide your fish up past your feet or behind you, either in a bag or free.Why is this so hard? The weight is balanced and the boat rides well. If the fish are extra big its simple enough to secure them over the rear deck with a wet rag across them to keep them cool. The inside of a SIK is larger that the biggest tank-well you'll ever find on a SOK.
Comfort: I find it simple enough to hang my feet over the
sides of my boat if I need to, or stretch them out over the front deck.
I can even sit 'side-saddle' (but why would you bother?) It might be an
American pastime to leave your feet in the water but here in Sydney
it's not recommended because of the sharks. In the Top End it's definitely not advisable unless you want to feed the crocs. My seat is fine. If I want more padding/support I'll just glue on some foam from a camping mattress.
Other Things: I'm amazed how you mentioned that the SIK is limited to 'top water lures or floating fly lines', and that the SOT allows you to fish 'all' enviroments. That's strange, because I have an anchor setup on my boat to hold me to the bottom to allow me to fish the ocean floor quite comfortably. I also have a sea-anchor for drift fishing. I can fish as deep as I want in my SIK. But there's more - my boat comes with a Garmin fish-finder incorporating a bow mounted removable transducer (my invention). I cannot see where the SOK lets you fish more environments than a SIK.
I've kayaked and fished the wild rivers of the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north of Australia for the past eight years now. One of the biggest hazards of this are the numerous saltwater crocs that live in these waters. Attacks and charges are regular and you need a releable defense mechanism to prevent being eaten. I don't know about you, but I'd rather have my legs inside my kayak than floating around in the open baiting the reptiles.
In Summary: Each type of kayak has its advantages but saying one completely dominates the other is wrong. In my view the SOT kayak only excells where a surf beach entry/exit is required and where breaking waves are encountered. The SOT kayaks are heavy, and if you need to portage it and your gear for any distance over rocks, land, down/up hills you will notice it dearly. I believe the ideal option is to have one of each, and utilise them to the prevailing conditions.
Regards, Rick
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| Monday, July 03, 2006 |
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How To Maintain Your Kayak
By Stacy @ 10:19 AM :: 365 Views ::
0 Comments :: Boat Care & Storage
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You need to
know how to take care of your kayak, otherwise, you may find that your
kayak doesn't last nearly as long as you would like it to. Considering
how much kayaks tend to cost, this should definitely be a priority for
you.
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| Tuesday, June 06, 2006 |
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Canoe Transportation
By paddledogbill @ 1:32 PM :: 481 Views ::
0 Comments :: Boat Care & Storage
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If you have enough rope, time and patience, you can
strap a touring canoe to just about any vehicle and get it from place
to place. But the best way to transport a canoe safely is with some
sort of dependable rack system.
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| Tuesday, June 06, 2006 |
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Canoe Storage
By paddledogbill @ 1:24 PM :: 623 Views ::
0 Comments :: Boat Care & Storage
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Storing your canoe correctly can add years to its life.
The keys to proper storage? Protecting your canoe from the sun, the
weather, theft, and hull damage. The longer you store your craft, the
more important proper storage techniques become.
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