SOT vs SINK

[ruge13]

I know some of you will love this since I swear by my SINK. While I was in NC my girlfriend rented a SOT so she could come out with me. Given all the hype form you guys I hopped on to reaffirm my support for the SINK. I have to admit, the SOT (wilderness sys...not sure what model. About 10 ft, not a ride or tarpon, smaller.) was a stable roomy ride. Fishing would have been comfortable and I was in what I would say were fair conditions. Heavy chop with white caps...I still swear by my SINK but i now think SOT's are a good choice for fishing. There I said it.....that hurt

[Wes]

Shaun,
Good for you, recognition of the problem is the first step of the twelve. I was there once but now I own 1 of each. I got the SOT first as a loaner, get the kids and wife out with me, you know, I wouldn't have to paddle it. But I tried it a couple times, I didn't want to scratch the wooden boat jumping out on rocks and stuff.

Did you know that you can stuff fully rigged rods, even 9 or 10 fters. in the aft hatch of a WS Tarpon? And you can swing around and get it or other tackle out of that hatch if you want while you're afloat? And jump out and wade sandbars in current with 3 ft of water over them? I'm not ditching the sea kayak yet but it's great to have options. The only place I really expected the SOT to excel and it didn't was surf landings. I'll be able to fix part of that problem (falling out) with a set of thigh straps. The other part is a lot of sand and water getting in the hatch covers, amybe try neoprene covers inside the plastic covers for that.

But I'll be in my SINK once it starts to get cold again.

Jim

[ruge13]

I knew it wouldn't be long before someone chimed in.....I was expecting to hear from you Wes..Jim....I have to admit...being able to jump on and off is appealing...but you are right....its not warm here long....

[SamRiley]

How well to SOTs take the really rough stuff? What about wind?

[Wes]

Ok.

[ruge13]

Nice picture....I tried to do that just after a storm here on winthrop. I went out with several surfers...I don;t htink they liked me around but ahh well...anyway, with a SINK I was ok with a spray skirt. I found I coldn't use the rudder at all or I was in trouble...with the rudder down I got tossed wherever waves wanted me to go...without it I was ok with paddle steering. Ony problem is in winthrop you are thrown into rocks....makes a rough roll.

[Wes]

Seriously Sam, they do fine. It depends on the boat and as with SINKS some are better than others. This one is a WS Tarpon and its design is closer than most to a typical sea kayak. Some SOTs are offensively beamy in my mind and have sponsoned hulls. I would expect that they pitch around pretty good in rougher stuff but would be stable. I don't find any difference in the wind. It's interesting that the Tarpon at 16ft and 28 inches is not really that much slower than the sea kayak 17 ft 23.5 inches, at least at normal paddling speeds. The sea kayak has a higher top end which I seldom go looking for.

[Wes]

Shaun,
I was also using the SINK in that stuff and found it was easier to control than the SOT. If I had thigh straps for the Tarpon may have been a different story. What my son did there was get too far ahead of the wave, bow was driven into the sand and he went arse over tea kettle. If I got ahead of the wave I could let the SINK get broached as a last resort and then lean and brace into the wave. It was a trip when you caught it right, but these things don't surf real well.

You never want to under estimate the power in those waves, you are just more wrack to lay up on the beach to them.

[SamRiley]

Great shot Wes :)
That look like what I did on the Brewster Flats a few years back.

Ditto on Shaun's rudder comment. When it's down, I find the waves want to swing my stern around and roll me. Learned this the hard way at Singing Beach last winter :eek:

[ruge13]

You never want to under estimate the power in those waves, you are just more wrack to lay up on the beach to them

I have some advice for anyone that may try this....its not easy. But, when you do roll, and I promise you, you will, and you will roll hard....go with the roill of the wave...when you feel it start to go...go with it. don;t fight it, you will never ever ever win and come out upright. The first few times I did it I would fight the roll of the boat and try to stay up. This caused me to instinctively put my arms out ahead of me to brace the fall. Not good. Every time I wet over I came up with bloody hands. Just tuck, hold your breath and go with the boat, your body will apreciate it.
second tip....if you have an extra paddle, bring it, use the worst most clunky disgusting paddle you can find because you might end up 1 paddle short in the end. I have broken 2 paddles doing this just from getting it caught between the boat and the wave when I rolled. Of course I was the genius using wood paddles too....I now use a cheap $20 paddle I got at the collinsville show. You will notice in WES's pic his son throws the paddle. Hold onto it and it will break or hurt you. Keep it on a leash and toss it when you roll....that what I do now anyway...untill I learn to eskimo roll on the surf....ha imagine that one

[Wes]

My friend lost 2 paddles that day, wooden one broken and an aluminum bent, good spare now. Paddle leashed to the bow BUT NOT WITH BUNGEE CORD. You can jump out with yr paddle and run up the beach, kayak has to follow eventually. And you aren'tstanding there looking for the bow handle when the next wave bashes yr kayak into yr shins.

[bluewatr]

My SOT sucks in chop!

However when fall comes and it gets cold... I would definately prefer the SOT...

F_____ the sit in!

This is the time to use the SOT!!!!!!!!

Get a good wet suite! and plan on getting wet!

Bond with the water! Plan on getting wet and be prepared!

It will happen!
Better "used to it" then freaking when you find yourself neck deep in water!

-mike

[PeteV]

whew for a moment I thought that was a shark blitzing the yak...glad it was only someone playing in the surf. I was going to ask at what speed do you troll a yak to get a hit like that.

[notime]

I think that picture deserves a spot in the Photo Gallery.

[Wes]

bluewatr,
At some point, though, it gets too cold for wetsuits. I know I'm taking a few chances but I'll go out sometimes when it's bitter cold. I need dry gear too, then the SOT would work.

[paulyfish]

All this talk about sinking, getting wet, rolling over...please! From my perspective, Sit on tops are the way to go, I have tried to get good photos in a sit inside but I missed some of the best parts cause they were are stuffed inside the hull.
:rolleyes:

[McKee Boykin]

Sounds like you need a drysuit?

[mark_h37]

Here is my $0.02 worth on the subject. Paddling here in the Gulf of Mexico it is usually reasonably flat and warm. I know don't you just feel sorry for me.....;) However, with that said after paddling a sit on top for a while I wanted something faster and easier to paddle longer distances. So I built a sit in. The boat that I built is a Chesapeak Light Craft. http://www.clcboats.com/ The model is a West River 162. The boat is a dream to paddle compared to any sit on top that I have tried so far. As warm as it is here most of the time I paddle without a spray skirt and welcome a little liquid cooling. I have included a picture of it the day that I launched it for the first time. It was a cool February day
http://www.fishingworks.com/Users/UserFolders/mark_h37/PhotoImages/Yak%203.jpg

[GRH]

For me it is a question on comfort. Why do poeple upgrade their 17CC to a 22cc. More room and comfort. I always felt confined in a SINK and battlin fish a little tippy. The SOT increases my comfort when fishing for hours and the ability to swing my legs over the sides or jump on and off gives me increased security. Comfort, security, and convienence! If its too rough for my SOT, then its too rough to yak fish. I got my yak to have access to limited fishing grounds from shore, very rarely do I paddle that far from where I launch so speed isn't a big issue.