Seems my last post was lost in the recent crash. It appears that most seem to recomend a kayak over a canoe.
Nine out of ten people I ask agree that a kayak would be a better choice. Now the big decision…what model to go with.
For the time being lets say no budget requirements. What features are needed. My main reason for some sort of personal watercraft is to fish the shallow waters I cannot get my boat into and to have less of a cleanup when returning.
It would probably get equal usage in fresh and salt.
A bit of info about you and the uses you plan on for the Yak would be helpful to those who may have suggestions…Water types,Your size/weight requirements and such.
I suppose that would help. For starters I’m 6’1" and 200 lbs. I can see myself using in both fresh and salt.
Lakes, shallow shorlines and coves fishing for Bass & Bluegill (calm waters) unless the weather kicks up.
The coast, back bays & salt marsh. Here I would probably use just to cover territory and probably get out and wade.
In either case long distances would probably not be traveled. Something that will tow well behind a boat would be a plus. The later for motoring to those more distant sites and powering in until the water gets too shallow. I guess I could always throw it inside.
I was happy to get a kayak last Friday at a local sporting goods chain store, I got a Perception America 11.0 (sit-in). It’s 11 ft long as I’m 6’3" and had some trouble with the 9 1/2 footers. It’s the greatest thing I’ve bought in quite some time. All the kids love it, the wife even has a blast paddling around in it, she has osteo-arthritis and has no trouble getting around in it.
I would highly suggest you look at the SOT (sit-on-top) kayak to haul around with your fishing boat, they’re much easier to get on and off and they accomodate long legs much easier. Be sure to get one that has a back brace and maybe a seat pad. Anything else you end up needing you can add; rod holder, anchors, paddle holder, etc. And, towing the yak behind the boat will be easy to do.
Check out [url=http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com:044b1]Kayak Fishing Stuff[/url:044b1]'s web site for products, prices and more information.
There’s almost nothin’ wrong with the first lie, it’s the weight of all the others holdin’ it up that gets ya’! - Tim
[This message has been edited by MOturkE (edited 04 July 2006).]
Find a kayak demo somewhere and try a variety of models on the water for yourself before deciding. Spend at least a half hour in each model if possible to make sure how it’ll do on a long paddle.
I took the family to a local reservior today and rented a couple extra kayaks (both kids brought a friend so there were six of us for my two kayaks…).
Man, the rentals killed me after about a half hour! The “padded” seats in them were not adequate and there wasn’t enough leg room.
I was in a Malibu XL because one of my kids had my Hobie Mirage Outback. I’ve spent 3+ hours straight in my Outback’s seat with no complaints but a half hour in the Malibu XL had my foot going to sleep and my butt going numb.
If you’re covering long distances for your fishing, you’ll likely want to look for a long, slightly narrower kayak (not too narrow or you’ll feel insecure while fighting fish). Longer is faster and narrower is faster for kayaks.
Also ponder how you’re going to get it to and from the water. Make sure you can lift it onto the top of your vehicle or that it fits in the bed of your truck, etc…
I just went through the kayak purchasing research this summer…
Basically came down to two boats*: the Redfish by Heritage, and the Tarpon by Wilderness systems (both 14’).
The Redfish didn’t come with a rudder, has a more comfortable seat, and is more stable than the tarpon.
The tarpon (at least the ones I looked at) has a rudder… is about $300 more expensive, and is a faster paddling boat.
Both come with a little extra to make them fishing boats (the tarpon had a scotty rod holder… the redfish a paddle leash. Although either way, I was buying what the other didn’t offer as standard).
I went with the Redfish mainly for price (I got it for $650 new), and I wanted a stable boat to fish from for my intro to kayak fishing (not saying though that the tarpon is unstable).
Unless you’re an experienced paddler of kayaks, I’m not really sold that paddling each will make one much more attractive than the other. How would you really know which is better?
If money was no object, I would have 100% bought a Hobie kayak with the drive system.
Leo C - There is a combo canoe/kayak and I bought one of the first over 30 years ago. It is the Easy Rider TSL-1. If you have a family, this is a great craft. A decked canoe that you can put spray skirts on if you want. They make two versions, lite and not so lite. The lite is the one I owned, it has a balsa botom core. I used it on Puget Sound and the mouth of the Columbia River and it was very sea-worthy. I sold it to a friend about ten years ago, he had to have it and I have other pursuits. Check out…
[url=http://www.easyriderkayaks.com:874f9]www.easyriderkayaks.com[/url:874f9]
lots of options, i prefer a SOT for fishing b/c i am in and out of the boat a lot for wading etc. I can also turn side saddle without flipping, and they allow more freedom of movement.
Think about what you need, up top storage, dry storage, speed, weight, length, transporting, capacity…all factors you really need to decide up front and then go from there.
lastly, save the money on all that “fishing extras” that some suppliers offer. Get the yak and fish out of it a few times. get a feel for it, and how YOU want to set it up for the fishing YOU will be doing.
I have a wilderness systems Pungo which I think is a great Kayak. The down side is that service or replacement parts are near impossible to get. Their customer service is a joke so I no longer recommend anything that Wilderness Systems puts out.
I went through two kayaks before finding the one that does the job for me. I now have a Perception Sundance 12’. My first kayak did well but the cockpit was very small (as it is supposed to be) and left precious little room for tackle nets etc. The cockpit on the Sundance is 54’ long and is very easy to enter and exit. I chose a SIK because I fish early in the season and late in the season and while I still get damp (and you will - nature of the beast) I don’t get wet as you will with a SOT. I bought the 12 footer as this boat is also my touring boat. They make a 9’6" with a slightly smaller cockpit that may work for you. I fished the boat this spring and there is nothing about the boat I dislike. I now waiting for the Cardioligist to give me the OK to use the boat as therapy after my Quad Bypass.
BTW, I have quite a few other “craft” so opinion on the kayak is a structured one on the other boats.
17 ’ Jon boat, swivel seats small kicker outboard, 2 electric motors (one front one back) and a large casting deck up front for swinging the 9 wt at LMB likely spots.
14 ’ canoe - kayak replaced this as my back could not stand to kneel for hours at a time.
U-Toob - surisingly agile toob which has put me on many smallies back in the mouths of streams on Kentucky & Barkley lake. Downside is either take the big boat to make it to the other end of lake (pain) or kick the toob (much too much work).
Sorry for length of the post but like the kids say “Been there, done that”.
Clint
[This message has been edited by Bluegill Budd (edited 05 July 2006).]
Ocean Kayak’s Drifter model , Hobie Quest or Outback…I’m personally an Outback owner.and Love the thing…I’m 6’2" and since meeting my better half well over the 200 Lb mark, And these were the boats I was looking at when I made my investment earlier this year…
It’s really opened up a lot of water I was not able to either cover or had the time required to cover during a typical wade fishing trip…
Other q’s maybe how wet do you want to get…
some Hobie model’s come with a pedaling system ( Very efficient and a lot less force needed to drive than I’d originally anticipated )which keeps you much drier than the flailing of a paddle dripping on you…of course the paddle is also included…and handy at times where depth will not allow the use of the pedaling system…Just food for thought and things to consider…Hope you find the right yak for you…Price can also be a big factor …and the Hobie’s are not cheap…at least not to me.
Lots of great information. So many things answered I didn’t even consider. I can see this is going to be a not so easy task on selection.
All great info! Keep it comming.
The biggest obstical to overcome may be the convincing of the secretary of war around here I really need one. I don’t think I could hide it for long. I am King but only till the Queen gets home.
The point of trying them before buying was to help spot bad fits that don’t show up in a quick 5 minute paddle or a 1 minute sit-in-it-at-the-store-on-dry-land test. That won’t let you know if it’ll make your butt go numb after some time on the water…of if the spacing of the foot wells just don’t match your legs, does it feel too tippy, etc.
I too am sold on the Hobie Mirage and am about to buy one. However, I have a concern about the pedalling system and it’s ability to withstand shallow channel and underwater snag abuse. I plan to use this yak in rivers with fairly fast ( 3-5 mph) current. Hitting the bottom or a snag at those speeds could be a problem but I’m sold anyway.
Leo, whichever one you eventually buy will broaden your fishing horizons ( so I’m told).
As light as a kayak, even in Royalex, with greater capacity and much drier than any kayak save for a spray skirted expedition kayak. You can paddle it with a canoe or kayak paddle, and you can paddle while sitting or kneeling which gives you the ability to change paddling positions during a long day on the water. If you are like most people you might find that you appreciate the opportunity to stretch your legs without having to beach the boat.
Best wishes,
Avalon
[This message has been edited by Avalon (edited 06 July 2006).]
Leo, I’d recommend you check out [url=http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com:24dc3]www.texaskayakfisherman.com[/url:24dc3] for suggestions on what works down here.
Edit: As far as the cost is concerned, look at used boats. You can pick up a fishing-specific yak, often with accessories (paddle, seat, etc.) for roughly half to 2/3 the cost of a new one.
JB
[This message has been edited by JohnB (edited 06 July 2006).]
I’ve had mine in some shallow places and you do need to keep an eye on water depth, You need 2 feet of water to comfortably use the drive.
If you do see an obstruction coming up just push one pedal forward and hold it till you pass over the obstruction and are safely into more open water…I did hit a submerged log at a pace of 5…Knots?? MPH??? on the speedometer tube…The Hank Parker edition Outback comes with (All) of the listed accessories,Much to the chagrin of the shop owner where I purchased mine…She was pretty adamant about her thoughts on Hobie giving all the kewl must haves with the boat… Including plug in Cart that slips into the scupper holes for transporting to and from the water, Perhaps light portaging ?? weather any other models come with all this I don’t know…Not particularly thrilled to have his Sig. on it…but if that’s what it takes to have it come fully loaded…so be it…
and there was no damage/bending to the masts or any other part of the drive system.
But I surly would not want to repeat the incident…
I did not have mine in current yet but I plan on it by fall for sure.
after zipping around the local lakes I have little doubts as to how it might handle the rivers and creeks in my area.
Hobie sent me a catalog and most replacement parts are pretty reasonable…as well as upgrades available For the cart to convert it to Heavy Duty, Also a mast and fin upgrade to get a reported 10% increase in speed…( But you’d sacrifice )…in that they are longer and would require more depth…I don’t feel I’d ever need or want more speed… It clips along right nicely as is…Herd a few comments from guys fishing and talking on shore as I effortlessly cruised by!!! can’t exactly repeat in it’s entirety but the word Kewl followed in his 2 word expression!
Sorry for the rambling… My wife was afraid she was going to lose a husband upon my return from it’s maiden voyage…and she’s in for some loneliness next year… Shhhhh…lol also sorry about that red face…Thought I’d changed it…
[This message has been edited by billknepp (edited 06 July 2006).]
