Which kayak?

[wapsi smallmouth]

I'm looking at getting a new kayak this upcoming spring. I'm looking at bonafide and I'm torn between the rs117 and the ss107. I've fished out of a kayak for a few years now, but I can't stand in my current one so stability is my main concern. My other main concerns are ease of mounting a graph and tracking. I know the ss107 will track worse, but the internal storage seems like a nice feature. Any one have experience with these two? Or if you have another brand that would do better i'll take suggestions.

 

 

 

Thanks 

Wapsi smallmouth

[GTN-NY]

I wanted a Bonafide 127 so bad but no one has one in my area so I could test drive 1st which I highly recommend. I made that mistake the first time last year by not test drive in a kayak first that I was not comfortable standing up and even though everyone says it is per I made that mistake the first time last year by not test driving a Kia first that I was not comfortable standing up in even though everyone says it is. I did find a Jackson big rig to test drive and man that thing is stable.

What type of body of water do you fish because that’ll make a big difference for recommendations from other people?

[wapsi smallmouth]

I mostly fish lakes under 500 acres

[BigAngus752]

I'll be buying one of these this year.  I'm 6'4/240.  I'm not interested in going fast.  I'm interested in outstanding stability.  There happens to be a dealer just 20 minutes away and that is a big selling point for me.  

 

https://www.nucanoe.com/nucanoe-frontier/

[Brad Reid]

I'd at least take a very  hard look at a Native Slayer 12 XC, priced about the same as the two Bonafides, in that range as I recall.

 

It just has so many more important built in features than a Bonafide. It has a chain chute, one of my favorite ways to anchor quickly, adjustable seat, horizontal and vertical rod storage, an operable skeg, tons of storage under its seat and more. I'd think at its 36.5" width, it'd be more stable than a Bonafide.

 

I've owned a Big Rig, a really stable vessel but I'd buy this one if I were getting another paddler.

 

Brad

[LadiMopar]

Stability is huge for me as a disabled angler. So I started out with a paddle only Feelfree Lure 10, tons of room to stand and almost untippable.  Last season I upgraded to the FF Dorado 125. No more paddling for this girl, now I have peddle and motor drive, and plenty of space to stand, incredibly stable...and the tri cathedral hull design tracks really well. Some of the folks on here refer to the Dorado as an "aircraft carrier".  There is tons of storage, and one of the great features of the Dorado is it has a retractable built in transducer arm. In super skinny water you can just pull the arm up under the yak...and it supports side scan.

 

https://www.feelfreeus.com/

 

The Lure 10

 

 

 

The Dorado 125

[SuperDuty]

19 hours ago, wapsi smallmouth said:

I'm looking at getting a new kayak this upcoming spring. I'm looking at bonafide and I'm torn between the rs117 and the ss107. I've fished out of a kayak for a few years now, but I can't stand in my current one so stability is my main concern. My other main concerns are ease of mounting a graph and tracking. I know the ss107 will track worse, but the internal storage seems like a nice feature. Any one have experience with these two? Or if you have another brand that would do better i'll take suggestions.

 

 

 

Thanks 

Wapsi smallmouth

I've researched both of these boats quite extensively and owners seem to thoroughly enjoy them. Either one will be fairly easy to mount a FF to but the 107 may be a tad easier going out the bottom of the pod verses going out the front scupper on the 117. Both will be stable.  I haven't read anything horrible about tracking but a rudder can make any yak track well for a minimal cost. I think the chair is a tad better on the 107 verses the 117 from what I've read. Good luck on whatever you choose. 

[CountryboyinDC]

Both of those kayaks will be a pig to paddle, and even on a 500 acre lake you may not want to paddle it from one end to the other.  The 10' should be slightly worse than the 11' one, but neighter will have much glide.  I'm trying to remember if I've paddled either; if I have it wasn't enough to remember.  I have some seat time in the SS127.  It is also a pig, and I would say tracks okay, but is not super nimble.  That's because it has so much primary stability, it's nearly impossible to edge.  So you'll probably be amazed (I was) at the stability the Bonafides offer.  An almost impossible amount of primary stability.  And a really well thought-out layout.  The pod that your fishfinder goes in doesn't leak (Wilderness Systems' sure do).  Between the 2, I'd probably take the 10' model.  It has a hatch, which provides both storage and access to the hull when you're adding accessories.  The seat is better too, and it probably doesn't matter, but I like recessed track rail a lot more than that that is screwed on top of the gunwales.  Unless you're really trying to save money or keep the weight of the kayak down as much as possible, I'd think about the SS127 too.  It may be what I'm used to, but whenever I get in a SOT less than 12' long I feel confined.  The Bonafides are not for me, although I should say I haven't tried their SINK, but there are a lot of them out there for a reason. 

[wapsi smallmouth]

21 hours ago, CountryboyinDC said:

Both of those kayaks will be a pig to paddle, and even on a 500 acre lake you may not want to paddle it from one end to the other.  The 10' should be slightly worse than the 11' one, but neighter will have much glide.  I'm trying to remember if I've paddled either; if I have it wasn't enough to remember.  I have some seat time in the SS127.  It is also a pig, and I would say tracks okay, but is not super nimble.  That's because it has so much primary stability, it's nearly impossible to edge.  So you'll probably be amazed (I was) at the stability the Bonafides offer.  An almost impossible amount of primary stability.  And a really well thought-out layout.  The pod that your fishfinder goes in doesn't leak (Wilderness Systems' sure do).  Between the 2, I'd probably take the 10' model.  It has a hatch, which provides both storage and access to the hull when you're adding accessories.  The seat is better too, and it probably doesn't matter, but I like recessed track rail a lot more than that that is screwed on top of the gunwales.  Unless you're really trying to save money or keep the weight of the kayak down as much as possible, I'd think about the SS127 too.  It may be what I'm used to, but whenever I get in a SOT less than 12' long I feel confined.  The Bonafides are not for me, although I should say I haven't tried their SINK, but there are a lot of them out there for a reason. 

I have a dealer nearby so I'm gonna get some seat time in the coming months. Hopefully that will help make my decision.

[James Engle]

bonas were a big hit last year , seems like a lot of people got on em. That being said, there was/is a lot of companies making mods .  Ive been out with Ss127 guys in wind and they don’t last long paddling those boats. One objective bass fishing makes some nice motor mounts for them.

Bonafide , native , and liquid logic merged recently, so perhaps you will see bonas incorporating propel drives soon