Rolf, you can use "thigh control straps" on a sit-on-top to brace or possibly do a roll. I would rather just pop out than get my head banged on the bottom though. There are a lot of sit-on-tops designed just for surfing and "surf skis" that are more surf board than kayak. Mine is a Maui.. that seems to work really well in the surf. I go out with a bunch of guys on surf specific boats and I catch as many or more waves. The Maui is like surfing a long board as compared to surfing a short board. Easier to catch waves, but less maneuverable. For actual surfing, I don't prefer the MirageDrive, but they are to good get out and back in thorugh surf. For surfing you have to pull up the rudder and use a paddle to brace into the waves so you can slide. The Maui also has a harder chine that allows me to stay on the face of the wave.
Fish hits? Don't think we have had any big fish take a bite out of the MirageDrive fins. These are likely the hottest item in fishing these days. We have a whole separate market there. The Mirage allows you to hold a rod and fish while pedaling, grab a drink, shoot photos, bird watch... whatever. We say "hands free" because you certainly can't do all those things while paddling. We have guys going for big fish (Black Marlin) on them. Charter boats are carrying them to spots and dropping fishermen in to be on their own. The kayak fishing craze is amazing. We are seeing kayak fishing tournaments that draw hundreds of kayaks and the Hobie's are starting to take over due to the better function for fishing, wind and waves.
Rough conditions? Story after story is told about Hobie Mirage kayaks pulling paddle guys back upwind and out of trouble. Yeah, they work in rough and windy conditions.
Wider boats? We have all styles. Long and fast like the Adventure and short and wide for fishing (like the red boat in an earlier post). More stable and better **** layouts are possible with wider boats.
