what kayak????

Memnos

Memnos

Scout
Bushclass I
Joined
Apr 21, 2011
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the hills of mo
hey guys, ive been researching what kayaks to buy within my price range for the past week and still havnt decided on a favorite...that being said, i already have a 16' aluminum canoe that weighs 500 lbs. (or , it feels like it does). but seriously, its heavy, too heavy for me to take solo trips down some creeks this spring and summer. I started looking at kayaks for more solo paddling and overnighters. what kayak do yall prefer, and why? I'm really liking the native watercraft manta ray 12, but at $900, its a little out of my range. i'm also looking at the perception sport pescador 12, which is only around $500. my budget is really about $500-600, and I'll have to drive at least 3 hrs one way to get it (actually, I'll have to drive that for any kayak I get)...so, with all that, what do yall prefer, and why? I like the looks of the pelican 116 and 130, which are bout $500, but keep hearing bad reviews on them. keep in mind, that this will be used solo and mainly for overnighters on small to middling creeks and rivers. thanks for any help you can give me...oh, and I prefer a sit-on-top, with plenty of storage..
 
I'd suggest a 12 Peception Prodigy. Or if you could squeeze out the bucks, a 12 ft Wikderness Pungo. My paddling buddy has a 14 ft Pungo and it's a great boat. I paddle a 12 ft Wilderness Pamlico.

Are you looking for a sit-in or sit-on-top?
 
if you want an awesome ride...I'd 2nd the Wilderness Systems idea. In the early 2000's I took it to heart to put my 'butt in the seat' of as many boats as I could - well, me and son.

We went to "paddle fests" and "demo days" in 3 states...made mini-vacations out of it....and probably paddled in over 100 boats....and both of us wanted WS tarpons. I got a 12 and he got a 10 (120 and 100 models) they are different now...but if you could find one used even....you'd have an awesome boat.

At first I thought their "special hull design" was marketing bunk....but honestly...it was WAY better than most of the other stuff we tried.

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disclaimer - since we got those, have not sat in another - could be better stuff out there now....and these have since been sold. The boy wanted a jon boat and no paddling....and I happily went back to my canoe, lol.

Good luck on your search! have fun and take your time!
 
yea, im really liking the native 12 but man, its expensive...idk if my ole lady would go for that...lol
 
I know you're asking about kayaks but I have benched my 12' old town castine kayak in favor of an an old town solo canoe I picked up at #####, on sale, for $350. It has way more room and it very stable on the water. Fantastic for fishing and very light. Just my $.02..
 
ksquared said:
I know you're asking about kayaks but I have benched my 12' old town castine kayak in favor of an an old town solo canoe I picked up at #####, on sale, for $350. It has way more room and it very stable on the water. Fantastic for fishing and very light. Just my $.02..
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yea i was considering a canoe but i want a kayak rite now...ive got a 16' canoe ifn i wanna take a canoe out..
 
I spearfish off a Scupper Pro by Ocean Kayak. It’s a long boat, but I know they make shorter models. Mine has been in (at times) big ocean surf from Montauk NY to Damariscotta bay ME and has never let me down. Good boats for short money.

Wolf
 
Plastic is not very

bushcrafty.

I'd second the suggestion to build, but I'd recommend a short (as long as you can stand) fat (as skinny as you can stand) punt, with matching bow and stern.

Like the Cambridge Poling punts, but shorter and a wee bit fatter.
 
I paddle mine with a double bladed kayak paddle. The Greenland hunters would use their storm paddles as single bladed paddles when approaching a seal with stealth, and several Alaskan kayak peoples used single blades exclusively so the option is viable.

Wolf
 
tired_old_man said:
bushcrafty.

I'd second the suggestion to build, but I'd recommend a short (as long as you can stand) fat (as skinny as you can stand) punt, with matching bow and stern.

Like the Cambridge Poling punts, but shorter and a wee bit fatter.
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yea as long as plastic is getting me out in the wild its bushcrafty to me
 
tired_old_man said:
'Bushcrafty to you' does not bushcrafty make. Nor does plastic.
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Wow - hey, we tend to say "whatever works best for you" around here!


and while a wood strip boat is great...and some makers here have posted some stuff they've put theirs thru...there is no way you are gonna get me to give up my OT Pack in Royalex that I can drag over rocks loaded with decoys,.....bang my way down streams that disappear to trickles and then drag it behind me till I can get back in and float some more.... or head down a creek like the Mulberry around here that goes from Class 1 to Class IV in about 2" of rain - which can come in a day!!!
 
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bushcrafting, in my opinion, doesnt matter whether you are in a truck, a boat, or just whatever....as long as you are outdoors, doing something that relates to a hobby or something you enjoy doing, you are still getting outta the house...and sometimes thats all that we can do...
 
Before deciding between a sit on top or a sit in I'd paddle both, which you may have done already. People always say the SOT kayaks are more stable but you sit higher than a sit in so your center of gravity is higher. I'm actually more comfortable in a sit in with a lower center of gravity. Wilderness systems is probably the most recommended brand, although I haven't paddled all their kayaks, I like the few I've tried.

For the last several years Costco has carried a 12' sit in kayak package that includes a cheap paddle and foam blocks for carrying the kayak on a roof rack, it's only available in the stores in the spring. I can't remember what the brand name is but meanie's sells the same kayak with a different brand name in a fishing version. The kayak was a better price at Costco, I want to say it was less than $300, but if you were going to add rod holders and didn't need a paddle or planned on buying a better paddle anyway the kayak at meanie's wasn't a whole lot more. I sat in them several times and decided that there just wasn't enough room for my feet, but everyone is different. When I was looking it seemed like the best value in a new kayak, better quality than the pelican kayaks but with prices similar to pelican. Obviously if you can buy used you'll save a lot, I ended up buying a used Wilderness Systems Pungo Classic 12' for $300.
 
kornphlake said:
Before deciding between a sit on top or a sit in I'd paddle both, which you may have done already. People always say the SOT kayaks are more stable but you sit higher than a sit in so your center of gravity is higher. I'm actually more comfortable in a sit in with a lower center of gravity. Wilderness systems is probably the most recommended brand, although I haven't paddled all their kayaks, I like the few I've tried.

For the last several years Costco has carried a 12' sit in kayak package that includes a cheap paddle and foam blocks for carrying the kayak on a roof rack, it's only available in the stores in the spring. I can't remember what the brand name is but meanie's sells the same kayak with a different brand name in a fishing version. The kayak was a better price at Costco, I want to say it was less than $300, but if you were going to add rod holders and didn't need a paddle or planned on buying a better paddle anyway the kayak at meanie's wasn't a whole lot more. I sat in them several times and decided that there just wasn't enough room for my feet, but everyone is different. When I was looking it seemed like the best value in a new kayak, better quality than the pelican kayaks but with prices similar to pelican. Obviously if you can buy used you'll save a lot, I ended up buying a used Wilderness Systems Pungo Classic 12' for $300.
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man, i wish i could buy a used one......ive never even sat in a kayak, so i dont know...i just need something for solo overnighters and stuff,..,.and i really lke the looks of a kayak...
 
These guys have some models in that price range
http://www.pelicansport.com/

The Pelican "vantage 144" sit in is about 600$ here in canada with some good storage the only down side is the 325 lbs max load...Im 220 lbs so if your under 200lbs it might be a good option depending on how much stuff you want to carry
 
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I love my Native Watercraft Ultimate 14. Perfect cross between a kayak and a canoe. Handles like a kayak, has the room and openness of a canoe. Great for fishing or just paddleing down a river. But, even buying it used I paid $800 for it. Try Craigslist, every once in awhile you can get a deal there. The Pelican brand kayaks are okay for the price (you can get a 10' sit in for around $200 brand new in my area).
 
Memnos said:
man, i wish i could buy a used one......ive never even sat in a kayak, so i dont know...i just need something for solo overnighters and stuff,..,.and i really lke the looks of a kayak...
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I'd call your local (relatively speaking) dealers and find out if they have any demo days planned or if they have guided trips you might be able to join and get a chance to paddle a few different kayaks. One of my local dealers put on a huge demo day last summer, they had about 10 different manufacturer's reps with at least 100 boats available to paddle around, it gave me a chance to try a lot of different kayaks.
 
if you want to stay with a canoe rather than a kayak take a look a RADISON CANOES have had one for 20 years , not pretty but they only weigh about 43 lbs and are aluiminum and have a 750 lb capacity.
 
kornphlake said:
I'd call your local (relatively speaking) dealers and find out if they have any demo days planned or if they have guided trips you might be able to join and get a chance to paddle a few different kayaks. One of my local dealers put on a huge demo day last summer, they had about 10 different manufacturer's reps with at least 100 boats available to paddle around, it gave me a chance to try a lot of different kayaks.
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My yak was one of the boats that one of our local shops used for Demo Days. Because they used it for a demo, I got it for 1/3 off of list. They always put those boats on sale after, and the more time that passes, the lower the boat price goes.
 
I paddle a Native Ultimate 14.5 tandem so that I can go solo if need be or put the front seat in for my wife/nephew. If weight of the craft is the issue a solo canoe will be lighter and easier to carry. My boat weighs 65 lbs and is 14.5 ft long. A WStarpon 120 which I really like the looks of weighs 63 pounds and is 12 ft long. So same weight for 2 foot shorter boat. The OldTown Pack is 12 feet and weighs 33 lbs. If your a gear junkie canoes have a greater carrying capacity than kayak. I am currently saving for another boat which will most likely be a solo canoe of some sorts mainly because I find them easier to carry to out of the way places. Which if you want to be left alone on the water, the harder the stream is to get to the less people you have to fight with. At least thats my experience in Southern Missouri anyways.
 
We have 2 kayaks. An Ascend D10. It's a 10 footer. Tracks really well for a shorter boat. Paid about $350 at Bass Pro last spring. The other is an Ocean Kayak Trident 13. I had 2 requirements when I was looking at what was available. I wanted a good fishing platform and I wanted lots of storage for at least a week long trip. The storage compartment is the entire length of the kayak. The center hatch opens for access to the center and rear and has mounts for rod holders molded in. Front hatch has a pretty large opening. I can put full length rods in under/behind the seat without needing to break them down. I haven't found anything with near as much easy access dry storage yet. It has a small flip up hatch where you can put a fish finder if you use one. I bought it from Sierra Trading Post for $650 which is almost half price. They sell seconds with minor blemishes. Mine had a small mark from when it was pulled from the mold.
P.S. Those aren't laser beams, I use reflective deck lines :)

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Davros said:
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That 13' Trident is an awesome kayak especially with the rod pod feature. Wish I could afford one. They are VERY popular here in the islands. Many locals here will put a insulated fish bag inside the hull and access it through the rod pod hatch. I have seen some huge Shibi (Yellowfin tuna), and Ono (Wahoo) stuffed through that rod pod.
 
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