>>86616It depends on what you're doing. Open boats are nice and roomy and you can move around more and fish more easily, but in big waves or rapids you can ship a lot of water. That's when you want a closed boat with a sprayskirt.
I guess sit on tops are a compromise but the water here is way too cold most of the year.
Yes, you can take your dog, they also make lifejackets for dogs.
>>86624They're different boats for different uses. I like kayaks in rough water and canoes on flatwater/for camping.
