Do Sit On Top Kayaks Work In the Ocean?

One of the questions that I get asked semi-frequently is whether certain types of kayaks work for sea water navigation.Usually the case is yes. Most kayaks are built as sit in kayaks, and there are certain speed advantages, and although the stability of these kayaks is a lot less than what you will get with specifically built ocean kayaks (like the Old Town Tarpon), they are manageable because the low center of gravity allows you to handle waves. However, what about sit on top kayaks?

Sit on Top Kayaks Versus Ocean Kayaks

Most people think that sit on top kayaks offer an advantage in salt water because they are built to be more stable. However, the exact opposite is true! Sit on top kayaks, while having a nice advantage in still water, keeps its buoyancy from being an issue from shock waves inside the boat. However, when the force comes from outside of the boat, the taller an apparatus is, the easier it is to tip over. There might be a sit on top specifically designed for ocean fairing, with a heavy base, but in my experience none exists.

Fresh Water Versus Ocean

So, what about fresh water SIK's? First of all, all ocean kayaks are SIK's, but not all sit in's are designed for the ocean. There are attributes which distinguish the two apart, and here is what they are.

Hull: The hull of an ocean model is much wider than fresh water versions. This does two things. First, it provides addition stability, and you'll have to be hit by a sharper wave in order to lose control. Second, it distributes the weight throughout the cockpit and the rest of the kayak much better, so you'll be able to maneuver easier without tipping over. Another point to having a wide hull, is so that you can mount properly, equipment such as rods and fish finders. A good kayak fish finder can be the difference between a long frustrating day at the ocean, and a wall worthy Snook.

Round Versus Pointy Ends: Another attribute is the ends. In a fresh water version, the ends of your kayak are pointed. This gives you a much easier time tracking, helps you with speed, and actually provides stability bonuses while in still water. However, on choppy water, its another matter entirely. To remedy this, the ends of ocean bound models are circular. This gives them extra stability while sacrificing speed, but who cares as long as you don't tip.

Final Analysis

Like I've told many people, the best fishing kayaks for the ocean have to be at the very least, SIK's, as SOT's won't properly distribute weight, and lack the stability that you need to properly maneuver in the water without tipping over. In a perfect world you wouldn't try to use a fresh water SIK either, but a kayak specifically designed for an ocean. Here is a cool video on ocean kayaks which might help you understand a little better.