:if you decide to
: learn to roll and even for leaning the boat with various
: techniques, they are a necessity.

As an SOF paddler and roller, I'll take issue with this statement. Ok, well, maybe I'd qualify it some more.

Yes, padding in the hip area can enhance control to an extent, because you aren't flopping side to side.

However, with the idea of a traditional SOF boat, you are going to have a deck beam, either a masik or ajaaq seeqqortarfik (or some combo of the two) to lock in the thighs behind the knees. I think this allows better attitude control of the kayak, than simply swiveling hips against pads. In addition, no padding and the resultant hip sliding from side to side, actually helps to lower the center of gravity for balance/sculling braces, and also helps with some advanced rolls.

That being said, hip padding does help if you are learning to roll with a boat that doesn't have a masik-like member, for example a keyhole cockpit with thigh hooks.

Further to this, neither is necessary, as I was able to roll a CLC Chesapeake 16LT without hip bracing, or thigh hook padding under the keyhole cockpit. I think the fact that we cut one inch of height off the sheerline helped, and if I had it to do again, I'd whack 2 inches off. Damn, that deck is HIGH for someone used to SOF or who is small. Now, this rolling wasn't super easy, as I had to wedge my knees under the deck, and hope they weren't going to slide too much (which they did...) so you really need to wedge something somewhere.

I prefer wedging knees, personally, because if I have a hip pad putting too much pressure on my hip, I get nasty pain down my leg.

Just my $0.02.

Brian