Help me choose my first kayak

backyardhockey

hello. I’ll be fishing about 600 yards off shore on calm days. There are 2 inexpensive kayaks for sale locally. A vapor old town sit in and a tamarack lifetime angler. Both are 10’.  I am 6 feet 180.  Will be putting on top of car. Can get either for $150. Thoughts?

dcr

Check out the site some,  do some searching.  I think you'll find most will agree you need a bigger boat.

FloridaOD

After many years and a number of boats I settled on a sit on top.
One designed to stand up in, not to plan on using in stand up mode, but for the stability.

cpr

sit op top hands down

Spineyman

Do not buy a kayak simply because you can afford it. You could quite possibly end up no better off. Try out many different ones and get the one you feel comfortable with. I too prefer the sit on top, self bailing type kayaks.

sp00n-

Looking at both of those, I would choose the tamarack angler. Its made for fishing and sit-on is better in the ocean, especially if you are in somewhat unprotected waters. I am 5'10" and my 10 foot sit-in is just barely long enough for me. So a 10 footer is going to be tough for you, the sit-on is going to give you some more stretch room. Like others have said, trying yaks out before buying is better, when you can...on the other hand, if you see a great deal and its cheap and you want to pull the trigger on it - I understand that as well.

shamrock1188

$ 150. Go for it if it does not work out you should have no problem  reselling it for $150. It is like trying it for free. I found the smallest and lightest kayak you can get away with is best. Makes it easier to load and transport.

Grady-lady

shamrock1188 said:

$ 150. Go for it if it does not work out you should have no problem  reselling it for $150. It is like trying it for free. I found the smallest and lightest kayak you can get away with is best. Makes it easier to load and transport.

I agree!  That's an inexpensive way to find out if you like fishing from a kayak and what features you want in your next one.  Won't hurt to keep the 10' for a spare or for company to use if you decide to trade up. Definitely the sit on though.

Alex from GA

I used a 9' sit-in for years but not in the ocean.  It was 20 lbs lighter than the 10' SOT I use now and easier to maneuver in the creeks and rivers where I usually go.  Agree with the above people about a longer SOT for your application.

backyardhockey

Thanks all

krash

Offshore, SOT... 600 yards is not far and why not go farther, once you start you'll not stop. I do have a frien that used to paddle a 10' sit-inside mass produced kayak.. he paddled, could stand, poled, fly fished and caugh as many fish maybe more than most other people, but he fished inshore on the flats.

I'd personally recommend a longer SOT , kayaks don't really paddle (tracking and ease of paddlin) until they are 12' plus in length, something about wetted surface.. longer and skinny are faster and track better.

backyardhockey

There is structure 600 yards offshore. Next stop would would be 5 miles and I’m not ready for that!  Lol. Question....am I causing any real damage if I drag it about 10 feet on concrete during the load and unload?

Spineyman

Yes concrete will eventually wear a hole in the bottom and cause a leak. Use the grass embankment next to the ramp and if need be use gorilla tape on the bottom of the yak.

shamrock1188

Dragging a kayak on concrete is like very course sand paper and you with have a hole in it. Get a kayak cart. Keep the kayak off the concrete and unload on the grass.

Spineyman

If you want to save big bucks on a cart. Youtube diy kayak carts. Pretty amazing what some people have come up with and some dirt cheap and very effective too.

Garysmo

Definitely sit on top.  I have both but for fishing its hands down the sit on top.  I have one 10" and three 12'....the 12 track much better.  For $150 it might be nice to start and have a spare.

Monkeyland

Get the cheap kayak. Put one rod holder on it, and don't spend any more on it. If the bug bites you, you will be trying to figure out how to upgrade to a better boat as soon as possible but you will be able to fish in the meantime. i started with a second hand OK Scrambler that was tippy and way too small but it made me realize that I really liked kayaking. 

backyardhockey

Ya , I’m already looking to add a peddle drive , sail, and trolling motor to it!

ljk

If you live around Estero, best thing you can do is go to Estero River Outfitters and try out (for free) or rent several of theirs.  They even have used yaks for sale, I saw more than a couple for $200 apiece when I was over there last week.

backyardhockey

Ended up buying a hobie from them

krash

I bought my Native form them, Jeff... good enuf people to deal with and quite a selection of new & used all sorts of paddle craft.

jcanracer

backyardhockey said:

Ended up buying a hobie from them

Nice, what did you settle on?

jcanracer

Oops I forgot you answered in the other thread that you got a Revo13. 

backyardhockey

I hands free is definitely a game changer