SOTs vary in their performance and ease of camping out of them. I have never tried the latter but I do know it has been done. Clearly, you don't have as much enclosed space for gear nor around you as you have with the Folbot. This forces you to carry more of your load on top of the front and back "decks". However, given that this is tropical paddling where you can go light on tent, sleeping bags and clothing it should be doable. Since you won't have an SOT you own that you may have modified with extra straps etc., you may want to bring something for strapping down deck gear and pray that there are sufficient deck fitting hooks, etc. to tie things down. As for a compass, you could strap one down on the deck in front of you with the bungee holders they often have, like the Suunto has on one model. The holes are to let water out but, more often than not, it lets water in. As for straps to hold you in place, most SOTs don't have them except those meant for whitewater. Don't worry about rolling one. You just climb back aboard and there is nothing to empty out. As for speed, it's like the situation with any fiberglass, plastic, folding etc. type kayak, i.e. some are slow and some are fast. I would think that the SOT is some resort beach hotel or town would be on the slow side and also have the minimum in the way of hatches and tie downs. In fact, I would be surprised that they had hatches at all as that adds to their cost, although the beach resort may have gotten a deal on a batch of them that may have come supplied more fully configured. I think Sandy has camped out on an SOT and can comment on this aspect of them. In parting, I think it is probably okay not to lug along your Folbot to such a place if all you plan to do is a few hours of play paddling in which any SOT would be just fine. But if you want to do more things and go overnight, you may be better off in a boat you know that you can bring from home as you have a good idea of how it behaves in various conditions plus how much you can carry for camping and where to place it. ralph Tina wrote: > > I'm seeking information about sit on top kayaks, and whether its possible > to use them for multiday trips, carrying camping gear, food and cook stuff, > water, etc, etc. > > My only time experience with a sot was a rental in Southern California a > couple of weeks ago, and I wasn't very impressed. The hatches were held > shut with single bungees, and there seemed to be a hole in the bottom that > leaked water into the foot space. It also seemed pretty slow, (could have > been the plastic paddle...) No seat belts were available, so it would have > been hard to brace in rough conditions, and impossible to roll. > > Turns out that most of the rental kayaks available in Bocas del Toro are > sots. I will do almost anything to avoid shlepping the Folbot and all it's > gear to Panama, but have some serious doubts about sot boats. (Where does > the compass go... on your knee??) Any reassurances from experienced sot > campers would be most appreciated! > > Tina > Portland, OR > > ------------------------------------------------------------- > ___________ > / OOOOOOO- / I > / -OOOOOOO- / I > /___________/ / > I___________I / > > Have you hugged your bento today? > Check out the BENTO BUGGY website > at: http://www.pcez.com/BentoBuggy > ------------------------------------------------------------- > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not > to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ > *************************************************************************** -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Feb 18 2000 - 09:31:54 PST
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