I Need Kayak Recommendations

donsfishingjournal

I'm looking for a fishing kayak 12 to 13 ft long with as high of a weight capacity and stable as possible. Ideally it will be easily converted to peddle propulsion later because it will probably have to be paddle at the moment to remain in my budget. The two main kayaks I have been looking at are the Ocean Kayak Prowler Big Game 2 and the Old Town Sportsman 120. My budget for the kayak is currently $1,500.

donsfishingjournal

The Big Fish 120 is another kayak I have been looking at...

JW_YakAngler

The Vibe Shearwater can be purchased without a drive with a plug or console where the drive unit would go for $1300. You can add the drive later for $600. Alternatively, you can buy it with the drive for $1800 and save $100 if you save up a bit more. They just came out this year, so there is a waiting list. I paddled a Vibe Sea Ghost 130 for years and loved it. They make quality hulls with great designs and loads of nice features.
If you can save a bit more, I really like the Old Town Kayaks for the instant reverse. I have the Predator PDL which is now called the Sportsman Bigwater PDL, and an Ocean Kayak Malibu PDL, which was recently redesigned by Johnson Outdoors(the parent company of both Old Town and Ocean Kayak) and is now called the Old Town Sportsman Salty. I love both kayaks. The PDL drives are fast and durable.

mplspug

I have a big fish 120.   It's extremely stable but heavy.  Not sure how heavy most 12' kayaks are, but the 120 is 100#s so they say.  It may be even more.

Spineyman

https://www.austinkayak.com/Ocean-Kayak-Malibu-PDL-2020/ACK27960P.html

JW_YakAngler

I have the kayak Spiney linked as my second kayak. I got mine for $900 off a guy with a 20 million dollar home who bought it for his grandson but they never used it and it sat in the 6 car garage for two years. It is a great kayak for the money and on closeout since it is being replaced by the Old Town Sportsman Salty. However, the upgrades to the Sportsman Salty are worth saving up $200 more in my opinion. The shape of the rear tankwell of the OK in annoying(it was designed to double as a jumpseat for a child). It has been enlarged to normal shape in the Salty. Also, the front accessory mounting tracks in the OK are the narrow variety that have a lot of wobble to them and they cant be upgraded because they sit on a molded in corner. The Salty has a flat surface that supports nice wide stable tracks. Both have identical hull below the water line and they are FAST when pedaled. They are super stable when standing and fishing as well. They do tend to get blown in circles if you are stand up paddling in shallow water in the wind, but I found you can limit this by leaving the rudder partially down when paddling across shallows. With the drive down there are no issues.

donsfishingjournal

Thanks, I will check some of these out.

Gun_Totin_Cracker

Consider he Kaku Zulu as well. Very stable and pedal drive can be added later. I demo'd it at Kaku's HQ in Tarpon Springs yesterday with the winding ripping down the channel. At 6' and 270, I could stand and paddle it confidently. I could stand and the chair and paddle as well but would want to practice that more before doing it with gear on the yak. Its a solid option that paddles well that you could customize to your needs.

BassHead

Used Hobie Outback?