Kayak

[Yooper]

BTW, Hobie Alter just died a couple of weeks ago. He designed many of the Hobie things, most famously the Hobie Cat (I always wanted one of those).

Hobie makes some of those pedal-propelled kayaks. I took off one early morning in the gulf, and one of those sit on top pedal deals were taking off nearby, a fishing guy. That guy stayed right there with me, and I can go pretty fast. I was surprised.

Those pedal kayaks are awesome! I've always wanted one, but with salt water and the hassle of taking the pedals in and out when you stop is what stopped me from getting one. We go over a ton of oyster reefs, and the pedals stick way below the kayak, so it's not designed for rocks (at home!) and shallow water over oyster reefs.

I saw the coolest Hobie ever in a store on the coast in Texas. It was a fishing pedal Hobie kayak, with a sail. It had rod holders, perfect rigging, lots of room, and was pretty light all things considered.

We get big winds on the Texas Gulf coast- the wind is always blowing. I thought it would be beyond awesome to sail and/or pedal and save my poor arms. I have little upper body strength and endurance compared to my legs, and would think that would be awesome.

We really just keep ours on shore at our house and turn them upside down. We haul them in and out of the water just about everyday in Texas, and most days in the summer at home so I needed something light and easy. Those pedals require some messing around with, and can't be put in in shallow water.

 

[w0732400]

Native kayaks!!!

They make canoe crossovers with peddle systems or sight on tops they are built for the lake river kayaker that likes to fish/ go on overnights and camp

I have a 14.5 ft ultimate propel angler with a full set of skirts, these have been discontinued I think but they still make the 14.5 ft ultimate

Check them out for sure



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[w0732400]

You can add a pacific action sail to any canoe or kayak, I used them on sea kayaks on a fishing trip in northern Australia through paddle trek guides super awesome we were doing 7kts without paddling at all


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[passedpawn]

You can add a pacific action sail to any canoe or kayak, I used them on sea kayaks on a fishing trip in northern Australia through paddle trek guides super awesome we were doing 7kts without paddling at all

Those sails are very cool. All my boats are rudderless though, and I think a rudder is important when you are being pushed by the wind. Steering a kayak is simple without a rudder, so I've found them useless in my kayaking. Skegs, on the other hand, are invaluable when it's windy.

 

[passedpawn]

Paddling.net is a great site with loads of information. If you click Go Paddling, then Trip Reports, you get a lot of local kayaking advice.

 

[beeber]

Another option is an inflatable pontoon boat. On flat water I will use a trolling motor and battery, you don't need one for moving water. You are up out of the water and it's very comfortable. The 'toon is my favorite fishing platform. I have a bucks bags bronco.

 

[Zuljin]

Okay. Look at this hull. It's a Lifetime Tamarack. They make one setup for fishing with the same hull. And I realize Lifetime isn't in the business of solely making kayaks. They also make tables, chairs and other polypro items. I'm okay with that. Hopefully, it means they know how to make things out of plastic.

I figure this hull is flat(ish) and wide. Good initial stability. My main concern though is secondary (once inside it) stability. My canoes have all had flat wide bottoms. I found the secondary stability in them to be just fine, even in some chop and other rough water. This hull has more chine to it than a canoe. That seems to be the way kayaks are. It's got a pointed bow with some rocker. The stern has that, I don't know what to call it, fixed rudder? I'm thinking it's meant to make it track straight. I'm thinking the priority with this deign is overall stability first, tracking second, maneuverability third and speed last. It's 10 feet long and 50 pounds. Much shorter and lighter than my present canoe.

Behind it is a Sun Dolphin. Lots of nice features without being junked up, but the feet braces are too short. I'd have to remove them entirely to comfortably have my legs stretched all the way out. How important are feet braces? I mean, would it suck to not have any at all?

P.S.
I took a year of research, multiple dealership visits, three forums, searching the web like it was my job and asking strangers in parking lots to decide on our last car. This for a kayak is nothing.

 

[Thetonymartin]

Lifetime Products makes a good one for fishing. I have this one. http://www.lifetime.com/gallery/water-sports/kayaks/sport-fisher-kayaks/90121


Drinking = Lucky Red ale, Blonde Hag ale
Secondary = Tomahawk Amber ale
Primary = test batch IPA

 

[Thetonymartin]

And, yes, they do know how to blow-mold HDPE plastic. (They also sell a bracket so that you can run a trolling motor on this kayak.


Drinking = Lucky Red ale, Blonde Hag ale
Secondary = Tomahawk Amber ale
Primary = test batch IPA

 

[Zuljin]

Thanks, everyone

Lifetime Tamarack Angler. This very one. Picked up a 220-230 cm adjustable feather paddle, too.

What I already like is that I can load and unload it so much easier than a 95 lb canoe. I tossed it in the bed of my truck, tied it down and took off.

 

[Zuljin]

Drinking American beer is like making love in a canoe...........

Sorry, that's all I have.

Dark, rich and sweet?

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

Nice find on the yak


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[Zuljin]

Maiden voyage.

 

[passedpawn]

Maiden voyage.

Man I know you were loving it. Feels so good to be on the water, that close to it.

 

[Ridire]

Thanks, everyone



Lifetime Tamarack Angler. This very one. Picked up a 220-230 cm adjustable feather paddle, too.



What I already like is that I can load and unload it so much easier than a 95 lb canoe. I tossed it in the bed of my truck, tied it down and took off.

How much does it weigh?

I'm looking for something to take with me in my RV. I already pull a Jeep behind the RV so cannot trailer any sort of vessel. I'd ideally like something that can fit two people as my fishing partner is only 8 years old but I'd consider two of these (the boy would have to wait before he was allowed on open waters, but I could teach him on smaller waters now).


Sent from here, because that's where I am.

EDIT: never mind. I see you already said 50#.

 

[soccerdad]

I would look at a Tribe 13.5 .. light enough to carry atop the jeep and a good platform for having a kid with u on the water

 

[Ridire]

I would look at a Tribe 13.5 .. light enough to carry atop the jeep and a good platform for having a kid with u on the water

That is an option. During the summer the Jeep has the soft top, though, so I was hoping for a way to get them (it) affixed to the RV.

 

[Ridire]

My wife is going to prohibit me from coming on this site. Every time I'm here, I start spending money.

I'm now looking at that Tribe 13.5' and this: http://www.quadratec.com/products/12031_03_07.htm

 

[Zuljin]

Yeah. I'm gonna be on this thing again. And again. Easy to portage. Easy to paddle. Didn't flip over. Super shallow draft. Nice adjustable seat. It even came with an adjustable rod holder. I was expecting only hole type holders and to buy the other, but I found the upgraded piece in the hull.

The hull storage is a little weird. Both hatches open to the entire hull. Pros and cons, I guess, but I'll rig up a way to compartmentalize it. It's not for loading up like the Ram-X anyway.

I'd say there's a good bit of zig-zag to it, but some of that is probably me; screwing with the seat back, the paddle adjustments, paddling different ways. I don't know about these drip cups though. I got a lot of drips on me.

 

[Zuljin]

What type of anchor are yall using? I've a Hooker which I used on the canoe and a flat boat. I've seen this slide along the side rig people use. Yall use that?

One of my concerns is that I'm in loggy bottom areas. Maybe a disc or saucer type anchor?

Or I could do what I sometimes did with the hooker. Jam it up on shore and let out rope to where I wanted to be.

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

Just went to costco yesterday and they got their kayaks out. $449 for a tandem and $249 for a single. Not bad


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[TheDudeLebowski]

Anyone have any experience with LL Bean's Cascadia sit on top series? I've been meaning to pick up a simple recreational kayak during cookouts and such. There's a bunch of calm lakes and rivers in my backyard. Nothing fast unless you wanna go past the mills. I'm seeing a good price on a basic tandem but then I saw another good price on the angler (one seat). And I don't have a fishing kayak sooo? I have two choices. One for family fun or selfish me fishing to go along with an Old Town I currently own. The only thing that is a problem with me is I'm 6'3" with long legs. I've used other rentals and I pretty much have to ask for the Herman Munster special otherwise I won't fit which I'm hoping that sit on top is not a problem. The buy is at an outlet store so I can't quite try it out.

 

[soccerdad]

Go selfish. SOTs are great for fishing.

 

[Hello]

I'd go SOT Angler. Clearly not built for speed but for stability. Also, it is my experience that if the weight limit is 250 and you weigh 250, get one that has a greater limit. It'll be sturdier. I'm not small at all so I learned that I was more comfortable when I went up in the limits on the actual kayak. Nothing sank, it was more about how it rocked and felt overall.

 

[Zuljin]

I'm really wanting to upgrade. The seat in the Tamarack is not so great. I did put a bleacher stadium seat in it, and that helped, but... And I'm wanting a kayak I can stand in.

The Tamarack has certainly got the job done. For the $320 or so I paid; total good deal. Very much bang for the buck. They're $500 at Cabela's now. Still worth it, if your budget is topped out at $500 for a yak.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Lifetime-Tamarack-Angler-Kayak/2201873.uts

The new kayak requirements are:

Stand up in stable
Fishing stable
Sit on top
Faster than paddling a barge
No more than 12ft (but maybe 13ft). 10ft would be great, but the 12+s seem to be where it's at for standing.
Under $2,000

Under $2,000 coupled with the other requirements pretty much takes peddle drive out of the running.

I'm looking hard at these:

http://www.vikingkayaksusa.com/profish-gt/ ~$1,200.
https://www.nucanoe.com/pursuit-fishing-kayak/ ~$1,700.
http://www.bonafidekayaks.com/kayaks/ $1,300 to $1,600.

Bonafide is the front runner, even though they are brand new on the market. I haven't seen one in person. Should get to check one out in December.

Thoughts?

 

[madscientist451]

Do you really need to spend that much to get what you want?
Here's some others, I don't know what the prices are, but I'm thinking they are less than what you have listed:

http://kayakerstribe.com/sit-on-top-fishing-kayaks/

 

[soccerdad]

Interesting vid from bonafide .. in it Matt mentions CEO Luther Cifers .. hard to find a harder working, more dedicated, well respected person

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1915609652037497&id=1750024818595982

 

[Shwagger]

The difference between a good kayak and a Walmart special, cheap kayak is huge. They both work of course.

Been kayak fishing for 15 years plus

 

[passedpawn]

I just got a drone and I think I'm going to try to launch it from my kayak. Watch this space!

I'm anticipating some excitement, in one form or another. Kinda like this excellent plan:

 

[Zuljin]

Will there be a semipro fishing YouTube channel? There are some slick fishing vids made with drones.

I wound up with the Bonafide SS127. Very nice. The seat is great. Super stable. Paddles well. I don't have the fins yet. Haven't felt a need for them.