I am wanting to buy my first kayak and have been researching the matter.  It would be used 90% of the time for solo pond fishing (recreational river crusing the other 10%) so it would need to be light enough for me to carry a fair distance, stable and have enough room for my 'stuff'.

Can someone please offer some opinions on a sit on top vs. a cockpit kayak? 

Having never been in either, it would just seem to me that a sit on top would be less stable than a cockpit one because your center of gravity is higher, but I could be wrong.   What about the amount of storage space between the two?

Can someone please shed some light on this for me?

 

 

I much prefer cockpit kayaks to sit-on-top kayaks because, like you hypthesised, they are more stable than their counterparts. Also, there is more room for gear in a cockpit kayak vs. a sit-on-top kayak.
Crankbaits 4 LIFE!!!!!!

i don't know about having more room . our sit on top have a ton of room . my son paddles a native mantaray . his dry well holds a tent and sleeping bags . his wet well is designed to hold a full size ice chest . then he has three rod holders , tackle box , depth finder , and a 360 light .  stable enough he can stand in it . most of time he sits side saddle with both legs in the water drift fishing . as for mine , it is the same except i can't hall a cooler that big . sit in side , or sinks as we call them , pros and cons .
  pros - great for cold temps , low center of gravity , and most are very light weight . price can be less also .
  cons - water that gets in stays in , keep a small hand pump , sponge , or small bucket handy . if you want to stop an wade fish , can be tough getting in or out . and can be tough to reach things that are stowed away .
 sit on top pros - great for spring ,summer and fall ,  easy to get in and out of to wade , easy access to all your gear while floating . scupper holes in bottom design to remove water that may come in .
  cons - not so warm in winter , and they are on the heavy side , that's where a yak cart comes in handy .
    all i say is , try out as many as you can , sit on top and sit in side . what fits us may not fit you . i took someones word once , and started out with the wrong boat for my needs . it ended up more work than fun . there are four of us , and each have different needs . so i bought four different brands, types ,and lengths . hope this helps a little . good luck in your search . here's a few pics .

fishing is life , everything else is just details . and i prefer my tails with specks or spots .15 miles NE of austin

I agree with Texas Bulldog in try as many as you can before you buy. Go to several stores and sit in both kinds and several models. See if any friends  have ones you can try for a couple hours. We were considering buying a small boat or canoe and a friend lent me his kayak to try for an evening. After that we looked online and found a local kayak/canoe rental company that rented by the hour, but also offered 15 minute demos for free. If you like it and wanted to rent it you could afterward and just pay the rental fee. This allowed us to try a couple different models that they had. Also, they sell some of their used kayaks at the end of the season at reduced prices.

Ben

I agree try as many as you can.  Some shops will take you out for a demo or you can rent one.  I like the sit-on-top ones myself.  I also sit sideways.  have not had any problems with it being stable sitting either way.  And there is lots of room for lots of stuff.    If the water is cold try waderskeeps you dry and you can still paddle no problem.  Also I found it easier to get in and out at waters edge.  Good luck, have fun.

We have sit ontops and find them to very versatile. We've had them on lakes and the Hudson River in some pretty rough conditions and didn't have any problems with stability. Pretty dry as the water drains out the scuppers. Gear is very handy and the ride is comfortable. It's all personal preference though. Try to test ride before you buy. Hope this is helpful.

I think its a matter of preference. Me, I have a sit in kayak and am shopping for another. I don't want a sit on top because......

1: If an xxxx in a power boat comes ripping by I won't get swamped when the water comes over the bow.

2: I'm on the water for up to 8 hrs and althought I am tanned I can still burn.

3: All my trash ( cig butts, waterbottles, line and thrashed tubes lays in the cock pit and unless I flip it ( unlikely), it will stay there.

4: I am less likely to fall out when unsticking snags or landing the big fish.

 

 

"it doesn't matter if the horse is blind....Just load the cart anyway!!!" John Madden NFL Hall Of Fame) Fred Jefferson,MD (NAFC LM) (NAHC TLM)

I can recommend going to Bass ro Shop check out the Ascend yaks.....I purchased a Ascend 10 for $300 less then the FS10. Ten for about $100 dollars copied the FS10 rigging and did i my way. It is a sit in and I like that type.

Posted By diojisdad on 03 Feb 2010 05:18 AM
I think its a matter of preference. Me, I have a sit in kayak and am shopping for another. I don't want a sit on top because......
1: If an xxxx in a power boat comes ripping by I won't get swamped when the water comes over the bow.
2: I'm on the water for up to 8 hrs and althought I am tanned I can still burn.
3: All my trash ( cig butts, waterbottles, line and thrashed tubes lays in the cock pit and unless I flip it ( unlikely), it will stay there.
4: I am less likely to fall out when unsticking snags or landing the big fish.

"it doesn't matter if the horse is blind....Just load the cart anyway!!!" John Madden NFL Hall Of Fame) Fred Jefferson,MD (NAFC LM) (NAHC TLM)

I have a LiquidLogic Manta Ray 10 (Sit-on now sold by Native Watercraft). I have had no problems at all with at all.  Very stable and being a sit on, no restrictions, although sun exposure can be a problem.  Wore shorts for a long day.... once!  Comfortable seat is important if you spend long hours though.  Like "diojisdad", I've been out in the yak for some 8 - 10 hr trips, and it can be a load on the lower back if you don't get out and stretch a bit now and then.

I use my SOT for fishing and my SIK for hunting out of. I have friends catching 75# sturgeon, 30# salmon and strippers on their SOT's. I have a ton of storage inside my SOT. SOT is easier to rig for fishing, pole holders, fishfinders, nets, ice chests, tackle. I have one of the more tippy SOT's and can still sit side saddle. Drier storage for camping trips. My SIK I hunt out of I like because I can actually store more decoys on and in, and still get to them while on the water. Some people say it is dangerous to hunt out of a kayak, but I have never had a problem. Even if I load it up with 2 dozen dekes, it doesn't loose stability, even when shooting side ways. I can shoot out of my SOT also, but prefer the ease of use with the SIK. SOT is heavy, 65-70 #s. SIK quite a bit lighter. Both easy to load with rollers on my truck. Everyone has their preference, but I do prefer my SOT for long days on the water. I can move around on it, hang my legs over, carry more drinks. I would add pics but don't know if I can.

I've been thinking about getting one of these hobie cat inflatables. http://www.hobiecat.com/fishing/kayaks/i9s/ Anyone got any experience with them or the brand?

I have an otter sit in, its short and wide. Making it stable and easy to turn around in smaller creeks. It's lightweight and fits in the back of a truck. With it being a sit in you can put all of your gear in it and drag it to the water from your truck. I have budget straps on top to hold a cooler and paddle. I've had it on small creeks, farm ponds, and strip pits. If it helps I would buy another, and I have a friend that sold a sit on top to get one like mine. Good fishing.