Was wondering if anyone has expiremented with opening the cockpit of a sit in kayak before. I never use anything on the front of the kayak and would rather open it up to provide room to have stuff by my feet.
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Was wondering if anyone has expiremented with opening the cockpit of a sit in kayak before. I never use anything on the front of the kayak and would rather open it up to provide room to have stuff by my feet.
I remeber seeing a Youtube video on opening the cockpit. I think that it would comprimise the structure of the boat if it was opened up and not reinforced
There is a reason that sit-in kayaks resemble the original seal skin kayaks. Beyond the obvious advantage of skirts in the frigid waters of the Arctic the other advantage is the low center of gravity and stability of a light weight single hull. Most people will hopefully not use their kayaks in waters as dangerous as those in the Arctic and sit-on kayaks are perhaps more appropriate for fishing in less dangerous waters. Some people even believe they are safer as you will not get trapped when they are capsized. There is also the issue of getting back in which is much easier as well as they are self bailing.
The main advantage that a single hull structure affords is lightweight. Structurally a sit-on simply moves the upper deck down to a few inches above the water level. Those few inches however significantly alter the center of gravity because the cargo is shifted higher and a flattened structure must be heavier than a tube to provide the same structural integrity.
This year I changed from a 12 foot to 8 foot sit-in mostly so I could throw it in the back of my van. I also saved a few pounds of weight and lost a little stability and a good deal of speed. Longer hulls are simply faster for any boat that does not plane. https://www.easycalculation.com/phys...calculator.php. I find the compromises totally acceptable.
When you pick a sit-in you give up the ability to stand-up, cargo space and comfort. If you fish in rough water and are an experienced kayakers you gain safety in cold waters with a sit-in. That said I never fish in cold water because I'm not as strong as I used to be and don't need a heart attack. In over thirty years of fishing in a kayak I have never rolled over. That doesn't mean I don't think it will ever happen but I'm confidant enough that it is unlikely to have added a battery and trolling motor to my 8 foot kayak. Space is a real problem to the point where I'm only taking one fishing rod now. But with the trolling motor I have two free hands. It is all about what your priorities are and your style of fishing.
Since I have been fishing out of a kayak longer than many guys have been alive I tend to ignore a lot of the wisdom offered on the internet. I don't fish to catch more fish than the next guy. A good fishing trip is not one where I bring home a lot of fish home but one where I forgot about my problems. The people who catch the most fish work at it. The guys that out there two or three times a week know what they are doing. If they are kayak fishermen they almost universally use sit-on kayaks. They are simply better fishing machines. That doesn't mean you are a loser if you picked a sit-in. You don't pick a compact car to win any races you picked it to meet your needs and desires.
" A good fishing trip is not one where I bring home a lot of fish home but one where I forgot about my problems."
Well said brother. Someone here has a signature that says " Men go fishing and have no idea that it isn't the fish they're looking for", or something close to that.
I learned long ago that on the water, sometimes alone by choice, is where i find my solace. Thanks for bringing it back to the front of my mind. My wife often says that I can have a really bad week and be a raving madman. Get in the boat and 3 hours later I'm a very different person. Don't know how I would hold up without the time to recharge.
That sounds about right!Quote:
Originally Posted by skeetbum
Got a picture of how you rigged the motor on the 8' Yak?
I will try and take one next time I dig it out of the garage. I'm afraid I have been occupied with things other than fishing lately. Be patient I don't forget a promise.