Buying a kayak has so many options today it requires you to understand how you will use it. Twenty years ago I built a 14 foot Severn ( Greenland style) CLC design kayak from 1/8 ply. It weighed 36 lbs, padded like a dream , and was very stable at 34 inches. I paddled that from Baja to montana and many lakes and bays in Texas. At the time I felt that anything under 14 ft will not track well. I have owned several kayaks from folding to inflatables.
My Severn has started to delaminate ( should have used the okume ply) it did provide 20+yeas of service. I live on the Oregon coast but a friend in the Florida keys wanted me to come help start a fishing business. I decided to buy a light $500 kayak to put on top of the truck.
For reasons I won't go into, the trip was canceled and so I added the the trip cash to the kayak budget. The peddle kayak didn't have the side to side motion so maybe I could get away with 12 foot, absolutely no shorter, I still may want to paddle. After 3 months of researching the hobie mirage drive was far superior for, weeds, shallows, ease of leg motion, and drive size and weight. I started looking at the hobie 12 passport. The local dealer didn't have one and the hull durability seamed suspect. The local dealer did have a compass that was ordered with the 180 kick up drive that the guy backed out. So in December of 2021 I purchased the seafood green compass. I was happy to see the rear rod holders were the new inserts.
I worked selling and rigging fishing boats for twenty years and the idea of rigging my new kayak was very appealing. I had a Lorance hook reveal 5 gps ff on a bigger boat and that was moved to the compass with a 12 volt battery. Next I added some rod holders, moved the round hatch up front and put the horizontal hatch with bucket. I had a 12 foot boat trailer that I modified for the the compass with a large box on the tongue to stow all the gear and a big roller at the rear. Put a large pad eye on the bow for wench with safety chain and ratchet strap in the back. I added two h rails on either side of the seat and an anchor trolly with anchor, rope, and bouy.
Next I installed the Texas power paddle with lithium battery and drive motor that attached to a new rudder. It came with a small rotary dial that attached to rudder handle for the throttle. I also purchased the hobie sail and added the roller furling.
I then raised the seat 1 inch with raisers and a kayak seat cushion. Two plano boxes, one for river and one for ocean for under the seat. Put a yellow cooler behind the seat with four rod holders and added the two side pockets. Reworked an old net with new netting and bungy system to hold net and rods in place. Got the mini hobie bin and attached to the h rail with new fishing pliers and knife.
Lakes and rivers are fun but for me the ocean is the E ticket ride! That required a new dry suit, booties, hobie pfd with whistle, hook knife, and waterproof vhf. Then added a light pole with flag.
After ten trips to lakes and rivers I felt confident to try the ocean. Luckily the day had no wind (10mpn in afternoon) and 2 ft 14 seconds (flat) . Launched out of Sunset Bay motored 2 miles south to Simpson reef. Hundreds of seals and sea lions, thousands of seabirds with babies. Caught some nice blacks and Cabazon. Meet a guy launching with a hobie PA 12, fished with him all day (he had to peddle the whole way) but was very fast with the turbo fins. The next day I purchased the turbo fins for the compass. I saw 7 other kayaks fishing at Simon reef, everyone was a Hobie!
The cost you ask, a little over $500 @ $7k.
