The following page provides information about several popular kayak hull
designs. When choosing a kayak, tracking, stability, agility, carrying
capacity and seaworthiness are important characteristics to consider.
Kayak designs include sit in kayaks (SIK), sit
on kayaks (SOK), stand up
kayaks, sea kayaks and other styles. Each design has its advantages as
well as disadvantages.
Sit in kayaks usually offer plenty of room for storage and a more
protected, dryer experience while sit on kayaks are safer and are less vulnerable
to flooding.
The sea kayak, often called ocean kayak, is a type of sit in kayak that
is designed for longer trips and ocean environments. They incorporate a
skirt which shields the hull from water intrusion.
One of the more popular kayak designs is the sit ON kayak (SOK). There
are several variations of this design, but each type shares several basic
attributes. Most SOK designs are durable enough to handle rough waters
without sustaining damage.
Stand up kayaks utilize a special SOK hull with pontoons that swing out
when fishing. When deployed, the rear mounted pontoons give the kayak enough
stability to allow an angler to stand and fish. On most models, a leaning
post is used to provide extra stability while fishing.
Both SIK and SOK hulls are available in one person or two person
configurations. Two person kayaks have a variety of advantages. They allow a pair of
anglers to work in tandem, sharing paddling and other activities. When
fishing this can be a huge advantage as one person can control the craft
while the other fishes. In general, two person kayaks perform poorly with
only one occupant.