I need help with a water craft

Perhaps I should put this under the paddling section but it has to do with picking a water craft for a very bad back. Had one of those real serious heart to heart talk with my doc today, damn that gal is great, so I am reaching a turning point again in my life.

My back is getting so bad that I can barely walk now without some type of walking staff or a cane. Very soon I will be possibly facing surgery and or disability retirement from Federal Service. I really do enjoy serving our military members so I am sad at the thoughts of having to leave serving them. Well I told doc that I was thinking on trading off my canoe for a kayak. She thinks that would be a good idea as she says her yak is much easier on her back than the canoe she once had. I have an annual mooring slip at the local lake so I wouldn't be hauling the thing around every time I want to go paddling.

My canoe Rogue River 14TK in very good shape with plenty of extras like Sit Backer seats, Bass boat seat, 32 lb thrust Minn-Kota trolling motor with extra prop, battery with box, $200 dollar outrigger set that makes for a nice stand up casting platform and more gear. I am thinking trade value on it would be about $1,000 so I would be looking for a kayak in the $1,000-$1,500 range. For my budget the lower the better.

Doc says a good yak wiht a good seat is much less stressful on the back than the canoe. I figured you folks here know more about it than me and not that I do not trust doc but, well you all are like family that I really have come to trust. Should I stay with the canoe or go to the Kayak? I would be more than willing to go used, sell my canoe outright instead of trade it in, then use the money for a kayak with accessories. Kind of on a limited budget so I am thinking in the $1,500 or less range.

Admin if this is in the wrong place please do that voo-doo you do best;) and move it for me.

Eric,
Check this place out. They also sell "blems", etc. http://www.oakorchardcanoe.com/sportspal.php Check ouyt their "clearance" deals, etc. If I ever buy another canoe, I'll look there first.
Don't rule out a light canoe such as the SportsPal or Wenonah Fisherman with a folding seat with back support. The room to move your legs a bit may be a good thing.
Give me a holler!
Mike

Eric, I was playing on line last week and looking at the Nucanoes. They have some very interesting stuff and offer some seating variations that might be worth your time to look at. I don't know prices but they caught my eye . Also you might want to look on line at canoe seats. I just looked, Gander Mountain has several types, even with lumbar supports, and they were just one of many places. Okay, When I REREAD stuff, I read it all, You already have good seats, Sorry. The NuCanoes are interesting though, maybe worth a look.

Eric,

I agree with Byron, check out the Nucanoes, they are a sponsor of FAOL and I have seen many of their kayaks and they are built well. I believe the price falls within your wishes, depending upon how you equip the vessel.

Larry ---sagefisher---

Hi Eric, having in the past had a back problem I can say the Kayak with a properly set up seat is much easier on the back, but you may need to get out for a stretch more often. I would keep the Minn-Kota as you will find most yaks have a place for them these days.
Let us know how you go and what you end up with.
All the best.
Mike.

Eric,
With a bad back, just be careful loading and unloading it to/on your vehicle.
Jeff

NATIVE WATERCRAFT ULTIMATE KAYAK!!!!!!! That is the best watercraft that I have ever floated in. Stable, sleek, mobile, and you don't have to blow it up. I have purchased the ultimate 12, and have loved every day in it.









I

I have a hard time walking, and I use a inflatable WaterSkeeter, that I sit in and move around with fins on my feet. It has two poontubes that the cushion seat (with floation) rest between, the back of the seat is inflated with with a inflated head rest. It as a curtain that lays across my lap for unhooking fish, and has a builtin measuring ruler to make sure that they are legal size. There is a large storage bags (with zippers) on the top of each poontube, the whole poontube deflates to 12" x 36" x 36" for storage. When inflated it still fits in the back of my Saturn VUE, it only weighs 50 pounds when inflated, and has a strap for carring it on your back from the vehicle to the water. The poontube can be filled at any service station in less than 5 minutes. I ride high above the water line, and I normally wear the bottoms of a scuba wet suit and socks when using it. My fins float to the surface if one becomes unattached... I store my fly boxes, lunch, and water bottle securely on this setup.

~Parnelli (thanks you LoTech Joe of selling it to me)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Steven McGarthwaite

I have a hard time walking, and I use a inflatable WaterSkeeter, that I sit in and move around with fins on my feet. It has two poontubes that the cushion seat (with floation) rest between, the back of the seat is inflated with with a inflated head rest. It as a curtain that lays across my lap for unhooking fish, and has a builtin measuring ruler to make sure that they are legal size. There is a large storage bags (with zippers) on the top of each poontube, the whole poontube deflates to 12" x 36" x 36" for storage. When inflated it still fits in the back of my Saturn VUE, it only weighs 50 pounds when inflated, and has a strap for carring it on your back from the vehicle to the water. The poontube can be filled at any service station in less than 5 minutes. I ride high above the water line, and I normally wear the bottoms of a scuba wet suit and socks when using it. My fins float to the surface if one becomes unattached... I store my fly boxes, lunch, and water bottle securely on this setup.

~Parnelli (thanks you LoTech Joe of selling it to me)

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You're welcome Parn,
BTW, that was the Waterskeeter Day Tripper float tube. BIG tube and comfortable.

Thanks all for the responses. Belly boats and toons are out. It's all I can do to carry a fly rod right now but a yak or nu-canoe can be kept in the mooring slip I rent at the local State Park. I just found out I can get a Nu-canoe at a local outfitter for under $1,000 brand spanking new!

I had forgotten all about these guys even though I drive past them quite often:

http://bluemountainoutfitters.net/

They even have a nice write up in their news letter about their new line up of Nucanoe. Nice thing about them is that I can schedule a demo and they do take trade ins. I am off to the lake for a few hours to try some photography, sorry but the back is too sore for fishing today. Going to be sitting a lot in my new to me wheels. 2001 Mercury Sable LS Premium should be able to handle any yak or canoe with ease:

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...IMGP2197-1.jpg

Nice to have a little luxury for once even if it is already broken in.:)