Kayak questions

[Austin11C]

Well, I had a little money saved up towards a boat and some stuff came up and I no longer have anywhere close for a decent boat. I'm burnt out on being stuck on the bank. I'm interested in kayaks for two reasons.1st they're quite a bit cheaper than a boat and 2 they'll get me off the bank haha. I probably wouldn't take it out on the lake since I have little experience with kayaks but I mostly fish the river anyways. Any of you guys have any advice? Things to watch out for? What about the Walmart sun dolphin kayaks? They're definitely within my price range, are they complete junk? Is it difficult to fish out of one or just something you have to get used to and adjust? Any info is appreciated. Thanks guys 

[flyfisher]

Do a search as there are a bunch of posts about this already.  What i will say is find a shop that has demo boats available and try as many as you can before you buy.  There is a learning curve but that will be over in short order if you get out enough.  I have been fishing out of a kayak for 10+ years and I will say buy a decent boat first, doesn't have to be some 2k pedal drive beast either, and you will be happier in the long run and not feel the need to upgrade. 

 

There are so many good boats out there now to choose from that you really can't go wrong....also factor in a paddle, PFD and how you are going to transport the kayak into your budget.

[Austin11C]

Yeah I'm somewhat new to the site and I should have searched before posting. I don't know how to delete a post. And thanks for the advice 

[CenCal fisher]

1 hour ago, Austin11C said:

Yeah I'm somewhat new to the site and I should have searched before posting. I don't know how to delete a post. And thanks for the advice 

Don't worry about it, if everyone used the search function the forums would be dead. It seems like every thread about a gear question gets the "it's been covered try searching it" response, but people continue to reply to the thread so I'll keep the tradition going.

 

A walmart kayak isn't complete junk but with a cheap kayak you are giving up a lot to keep the price down. Forget about comfort, stability, or speed, all of these were sacrificed to keep the cost down. Check craigslist to see if you can find something used in you price range or even the same sun dolphin kayak for $100

[Austin11C]

Thanks, I'm going to continue saving for a boat but the way things are looking now it will probably next spring before I can get a boat so I thought a kayak would be a good way to get off the bank and on the water. I've floated the river a couple times on kayaks but it was a long time ago and I have no clue what kind they were, also I've never fished from one. I don't want to spend a whole lot of money on one since I don't plan to use that as my primary boat except for maybe this season and then a few other ones I may feel like taking it. I just want something I can float the river and fish with. I know a 200$ kayak will be far less comfortable than a 1000$ one but like I said I'm a little tight on money at the moment. Thanks for the info!

[Hawkeye21]

First thing to do is figure out what your max budget.  Then you need to factor in the cost of the kayak along with the cost of any accessories you want to add.  Don't spend all your budget on just the kayak unless you don't want to add anything to it.  You can easily spend an extra $500 on accessories if you want it to have more features like a fishing boat.

 

Once you know your budget you'll be able to narrow your search down a lot more.  You'll also be able to narrow it down by deciding on a sit in or sit on type kayak.  If you want to be able to stand then you'll want a sit on top style and one that's fairly wide for stability.

 

Keep in mind how you're going to be transporting it.  If it's going to be a roof mount you may want to make sure it's light enough for you to load and unload.

 

I almost forgot one of the most important things, the seat.  You'll be sitting for a few hours every time you go out so it's important to be comfortable.  You can get a cheaper kayak with a crappy seat and just add a cushion or replace the seat or you can buy a kayak that comes with a nice seat.  The ones that look like folding chairs seem to be the best.  My Pelican Catch 120 has a fantastic seat.

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

I appreciate your situation! I'm 68, retired, and not rolling in dough. Two years ago I was in exactly your position. One other consideration might be kayak storage.  I had to find a yak that was 10 feet or shorter.  And, at my age, I was more worried about stability than speed so I paid attention to kayak width.  One final thought. Look for scupper holes or built-in rod holders!!!! With a little imagination, and some PVC pipe, you can do wonders for rigging an inexpensive kayak for fishing. I could write several articles on poor-man's modifications that made my life easier. Took awhile, but I now have a sit-in kayak that meets my needs. Hope this helps!

[Choporoz]

Good advice above.  At your budget, you'd best be glued to craigslist and fb local swap or fishing groups.  IMHO, a sub $500 used kayak is almost always going to be much better than any new sub $500 yak.  Factor in a pfd, paddle, crate, rod holders, etc (some of which just might be included with a used one.)  You aren't going to 'love' anything you get for a couple hundred.  BUT, it will get you off the bank; and it should hold enough value that you can sell it for little loss and upgrade in a year or two. 

[Caliyak]

12 hours ago, Austin11C said:

Thanks, I'm going to continue saving for a boat but the way things are looking now it will probably next spring before I can get a boat so I thought a kayak would be a good way to get off the bank and on the water. I've floated the river a couple times on kayaks but it was a long time ago and I have no clue what kind they were, also I've never fished from one. I don't want to spend a whole lot of money on one since I don't plan to use that as my primary boat except for maybe this season and then a few other ones I may feel like taking it. I just want something I can float the river and fish with. I know a 200$ kayak will be far less comfortable than a 1000$ one but like I said I'm a little tight on money at the moment. Thanks for the info!

Austin, don't be surprised if you get a good kayak and decide not to get a boat. Plenty of guys prefer a kayak over a boat. I will never buy a boat. To me, waste of money. A kayak does get you off the shore and that is the most important. Kayak puts you in places that a boat can not go. 

Dude, since you will be on rivers, go with a sit on top kayak. Go with a 10 or 12 footer. Dicks Sporting and Academy has the Perception kayaks. REI has the Emotion kayaks. Craigslist is cool for great used kayaks. The Walmart kayaks are lower end but get the sit on top version. Big 5 also has sit on tops. 

Warning here is important. If you love to fish from your kayak, you will spend a lot of money on upgrades and modifications. Have fun with it and we are here to answer any questions. 

[Austin11C]

Thanks for all the awesome info guys, and Caliyak the main reason I want a boat is so I can take my girlfriend(who just really isn't too keen to the idea of kayaks) and my younger brother( my mom isn't too keen to kayaks)they say their unsafe.  With the little experience with kayaks that I have they seem just as safe as any boat I've been on but they don't seem to think so. It doesn't matter to me,if I can get off the bank and have fun, I'd be fine with an inner tube haha. 

And grumpyOlPhartte, storage isn't a problem for me but I don't want anything too big. I've seen some single person yaks that are at least 16' and thy seems a bit too big. I think 10-12' would be fine with me and as wide as I can get for stability. Once I get one I may be asking for advice on poor mans modifactaions haha. Thanks guys 

[MassYak85]

3 hours ago, Austin11C said:

Once I get one I may be asking for advice on poor mans modifactaions haha.

That's the best part 

PVC and old milk crates are your friend.

[Stlnifr]

I have a sun dolphin and it is probably one of the bet buys I ever made. Did a few mods to it and it will take me fishing.  Got a bream buster mounted and a ultra light reel. It has a anchoring systems on the far side, has a rod holder and a few tie offs and zigzag cleats. Also built a dolly to haul it from the truck to the water, the dolly will flip upside down and mount on the back behind the seat for storage until I need it to transport back to the truck. Has a paddle holder on this side with a paddle lanyard for safety. Has a cricket cage and a short wooden paddle for pushing off shore and pushing away from trees. for got to attach the kayak paddle for the picture but it is broke down and sitting on the floor in the yak.

[Stlnifr]

One more view.

I sit on a stadium cushion for comfort.

[NorthwestBasser]

I fish from a kayak... I didn't buy the Wal-Mart kayak, but I certainly didn't go too of the line either. Here is my honest take on the whole thing. First of all, and as mentioned before, comfort is the most important factor excluding safety. My seat sucks... first two hours I'm fine, hour three I'm getting uncomfortable, hour four I'm irritated and starting to feel some REAL pain. Hour five I'm back at the launch and can't hardly walk to the truck. Whatever you do get a good seat!! So here is what if do if I started over, go demo some kayaks and find two or three that have the options you want and are comfortable. Don't buy a new one!! Once you know what you want, look for used kayaks, getting a higher quality used kayak on what ever your budget happens to be is way better than blowing your whole savings on a lesser equiped new kayak. Sometimes the used ones have already got some upgrades installed too. Mine isn't a "fishing" kayak but it does the job. I would buy a fishing specific kayak if I bought another one though. Rod holders will help free up some space and keep you from losing a good stick, also before I installed the rod holders I would sometimes scrape, bend or stab my rods against rocks and docks I was fishing close to because i wasnt paying attention to what was behind me when i was turning or maneuvering near above water structure, as I would lay the extra rods down parallel to the water sticking straight out behind me. One more thing, lakes are actually easier and safer than rivers to kayak fish. The wind is hard enough to deal with in a kayak let alone toss in a good string current(at least until you have some experience). I recommend  a sit on top. Learn how to PROPERLY use an anchorin a kayak, using one can very easily swamp or flip you when applied incorrectly in the face of strong winds!!

[HeavyDluxe]

Have you heard the old story of the Princess and the Pea?   (Not meaning to call you a princess, by the way.)

 

Try to find someone who has the Walmart boat. Paddle it.

Try to find someone with a 'nicer' boat. Paddle it, too.

 

You may feel like, "Whoa! What a difference!"  Or you may not.

 

Get the best boat you can afford... If you can't afford one you like, believe me and the wisdom of age that you're better off saving longer to get one you like instead of 'wasting' any cash on one you know doesn't make you happy.

 

But, if you can be happy with a $200 kayak, there's absolutely no shame in that.

 

I have a WS Ride 115 (which was a pretty high-end boat when I bought it), but I have a couple cheap boats for the kids.  They are VERY different in the water, but they all function.

[JoePhish]

Check out Dicks and Academy Sports too. Right now there are some kayak sales going on. Though I do agree that the best deals will be on a used one. 

I also recommend that you join some local kayak pages on Facebook and see if any of the guys there have a boat they may want to sell.  Try Clinch Mountain Kayak Anglers and East Tennessee Kayak Angers. The guys on those pages are a load of help in many regards. Maybe I'll see you on the water someday or even at one of our tournaments.

 

[ClackerBuzz]

any kayak beats the bank.  you'll be in heaven.

 

the sun dolphin will suit you fine.  i've been through many kayaks and the one constant is my Perceptions 9.5' Swifty. it's not as nice as my buddies $1200 yak but i get along just fine.  plus i've never thrown out my back car topping it like him.  it's on sale now at Dicks for $250.

 

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/perception-swifty-deluxe-95-kayak-15ptnuswftydlx95spsk/15ptnuswftydlx95spsk

[Stlnifr]

I got my kayak from Walmart it was originally priced at $188.00 the outdoor store manager gave me a 25% discount so I got it for $141.00 plus tax. It was in my opinion a good buy, I did a few mods to my liking and will do a couple more. My main reasoning on purchasing a kayak was to get in a few lakes that I have been fishing from the banks on eventually I will get in the Wateree River when I build more confidence in my kayaking ability.