$800 yaks

[Nai]

I've been looking for my next kayak upgrade. There's a lot of contenders in the 800 dollar range. Off the top of my head I can think of almost 10. Im looking for a 11.5-12 footer, and there is quite a few options. Ill be using it for small lakes, but also occasionally bigger reservoirs and creeks. I have a 10 lifetime sit on top, but after several years this is definitley the year for an upgrade. I was leaning towards an ascend because cabelas is closer to me than the closest kayak shop, but apparently the ascends arent all that great anymore. The dealership has the big fish 105, the vibe yellowfin, the feelfree $800 yak, the native one in the same price range, and the catch 120s. I dont really think theres a clear winner, so the best option is probably to go see for myself. But anyways, any suggestions are welcome:)

[Brad Reid]

There's a similar thread working here and you might look at some of the thoughts posted over there. I posted that I have recently bought a 2020 Native Ultimate FX 12 Pro from incoming inventory to a dealer here in Texas. My cost with a discount is $854. It should arrive this coming week.

 

12'1", 30.5" beam, 60 lbs. w/o its seat, 65 with, seat has a high/low adjustment, under-seat tackle storage, seat can be trimmed forward and back, lots of gear track, rod stagers, front bow hatch standard, feet pads standard, hard handles front and rear. 

 

One important point or distinction is this kayak doesn't have scuppers (it has no bilge area) so it can't self-drain, more like a canoe in this respect. It is intended for rivers, lakes and smooth bay fishing. Because you stand with your feet a bit lower than the water line, it is supposedly a pretty stable kayak.

 

Brad

 

 

[walleyecrazy]

I just picked up a Feelfree Moken 12.5 V2, which is right at your price point. I haven't gotten it on the water yet due to the water being a little hard still in NY, but from what I've seen so far I am pretty impressed. It seems to be made very well, and I absolutely love the fact that it has the wheel in the keel. It is so much easier moving it around because of that.

[Nai]

50 minutes ago, walleyecrazy said:

I just picked up a Feelfree Moken 12.5 V2, which is right at your price point. I haven't gotten it on the water yet due to the water being a little hard still in NY, but from what I've seen so far I am pretty impressed. It seems to be made very well, and I absolutely love the fact that it has the wheel in the keel. It is so much easier moving it around because of that.

Didn't know about the wheel. Ill have to look at it again thank you

57 minutes ago, Brad Reid said:

There's a similar thread working here and you might look at some of the thoughts posted over there. I posted that I have recently bought a 2020 Native Ultimate FX 12 Pro from incoming inventory to a dealer here in Texas. My cost with a discount is $854. It should arrive this coming week.

 

12'1", 30.5" beam, 60 lbs. w/o its seat, 65 with, seat has a high/low adjustment, under-seat tackle storage, seat can be trimmed forward and back, lots of gear track, rod stagers, front bow hatch standard, feet pads standard, hard handles front and rear. 

 

One important point or distinction is this kayak doesn't have scuppers (it has no bilge area) so it can't self-drain, more like a canoe in this respect. It is intended for rivers, lakes and smooth bay fishing. Because you stand with your feet a bit lower than the water line, it is supposedly a pretty stable kayak.

 

Brad

 

 

Seems pretty good

 

The dealer near me offers a cheaper native, but it still seems like a good one nonetheless. The lack of self draining is a big offputter though, as when I creek fish theres some pretty sketchy riffles that'll fill up your yak, and windy days on dredge lakes can be sketchy as well. If the native thats around my price point doesnt have scupper holes, I dont think Ill get that one. Thanks for helping me out

[Hower08]

Have a couple buddies with pelican the catch. One has the 12 and one has the 10 footer. They both love them lightweight and stable. Slow though. I fly past them in my wilderness systems with ease 

[Hawkeye21]

I recommend the Pelican Catch 120.  It's the kayak I started with and is pretty good for the price.

[BoatSquirrel]

I battled between buying a kayak that is super stable while standing and casting versus a boat that is fast and can handle a bit of current.  I recommend you choose between the two because the boat that can do both very well is a rare unicorn.  I am sure plenty of folks have this exact perfect balance in their boat but I have decided on a different kayak for each.  Hope this helps man.

[Smalls]

Definitely keep an eye out on your local used market. There are steals to be had. If you have to buy new, I'd stay away from the Ascends, though. They suck to paddle, the deck flexes, the seats are terrible, etc. 

[Nai]

12 hours ago, Hower08 said:

Have a couple buddies with pelican the catch. One has the 12 and one has the 10 footer. They both love them lightweight and stable. Slow though. I fly past them in my wilderness systems with ease 

That might be what I go with, thanks

8 hours ago, Hawkeye21 said:

I recommend the Pelican Catch 120.  It's the kayak I started with and is pretty good for the price.

Yeah thats probably my best choice

5 hours ago, BoatSquirrel said:

I battled between buying a kayak that is super stable while standing and casting versus a boat that is fast and can handle a bit of current.  I recommend you choose between the two because the boat that can do both very well is a rare unicorn.  I am sure plenty of folks have this exact perfect balance in their boat but I have decided on a different kayak for each.  Hope this helps man.

I still have my 10 footer, which Ill probably still use as my beater kayak. Thanks for the help

4 minutes ago, Smalls said:

Definitely keep an eye out on your local used market. There are steals to be had. If you have to buy new, I'd stay away from the Ascends, though. They suck to paddle, the deck flexes, the seats are terrible, etc. 

Thanks for the warning about the ascends, as I was pretty much decided on that. Im keeping my eye on the used market, but more than likely Ill have to buy new and just get a pelican catch or a vibe. 

[flyfisher]

 Not sure how far way you are from FarmVille, VA but Appomattox river company has their demo days in june and you can try out any boat under the sun and they usually have good deals on boats as well.  

[Nai]

53 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

 Not sure how far way you are from FarmVille, VA but Appomattox river company has their demo days in june and you can try out any boat under the sun and they usually have good deals on boats as well.  

I live in Northeastern Md so that'd be a bit of a drive, but anyways thanks for the suggestion.

[Smalls]

59 minutes ago, Nai said:

That might be what I go with, thanks

Yeah thats probably my best choice

I still have my 10 footer, which Ill probably still use as my beater kayak. Thanks for the help

Thanks for the warning about the ascends, as I was pretty much decided on that. Im keeping my eye on the used market, but more than likely Ill have to buy new and just get a pelican catch or a vibe. 

Don't know if it helps or not, but some places like Austin Kayak deliver pretty cheap, like $99. And a few also have financing options. I know buying local can really limit your options depending on where you live. And financing some of it definitely helped me get into a little nicer of a kayak. 

[michaelb]

In the end, you need to decide why you need to upgrade from your current boat, what does it lack or do you need in a new boat? Are you looking for better paddling or better standing and fishing, or more storage, etc.

 

I like clean decks with open space for standing and tracks so I can do my own rigging. in your price range, I would want to paddle the Jackson Bite and get to see it in person on the water. I also like the look of the moken 12.5 mentioned above, with the new upgraded seat. But the other boats you are looking may all offer something.

[Tizi]

Check out Jackson's Bite Angler.  Right in the price range you are looking to spend.

[Brad Reid]

My mention of a scupper-less Native and not being self-draining is important.

 

So, I wanted to mention that many two-skinned, heavy, polyethylene scuppered kayaks actually don't drain or drain well. Why? If the vessel is pressed down into the water to the point where the outside water line is > than the floor of the kayak, water will actually come into the kayak, no possible way for it to drain the other way. 

 

Why? First, most kayak capacity figures are literally just made up. In other cases, they are calibrated differently. Eddyline, for example, publishes its kayak's capacities and they are defined as being including the weight of the vessel. So, if it says 350 lbs. and the vessel weighs 50 lbs., it means there is only 300 actual loading pounds left (person and gear). Second, people are just so much heavier these days and then add a lot of gear. 

 

For BTB, it is critical to get this right else you will get swamped. Water is very likely going to come over the gunwales, the bow and the stern. I suppose my general warning is if not having scuppers is a concern, and it should be, just know that a lot of kayaks have scuppers . . . and they don't work under certain conditions.

 

Brad

 

 

[Hook2Jaw]

Moken 12.5 V2.

[Nai]

23 hours ago, Smalls said:

Don't know if it helps or not, but some places like Austin Kayak deliver pretty cheap, like $99. And a few also have financing options. I know buying local can really limit your options depending on where you live. And financing some of it definitely helped me get into a little nicer of a kayak. 

Thanks for the suggestion

 

The dealer thats near me has a decent selection, but Ill definitely consider the shipping option. I really dont want to finance a yak (or yet at least) 

22 hours ago, michaelb said:

In the end, you need to decide why you need to upgrade from your current boat, what does it lack or do you need in a new boat? Are you looking for better paddling or better standing and fishing, or more storage, etc.

 

I like clean decks with open space for standing and tracks so I can do my own rigging. in your price range, I would want to paddle the Jackson Bite and get to see it in person on the water. I also like the look of the moken 12.5 mentioned above, with the new upgraded seat. But the other boats you are looking may all offer something.

The boat I have now is just a little cheap beater kayak. Its also a 10 ft, and I've using it for 3 years now, so I wont to get one a little bigger and with hopefully better tracking. Im just looking for a good yak that has decent stability and not too awful tracking (I dont stand too much). Its probably gonna end up being a feelfree like you said or a pelican, thanks for the advice btw

8 hours ago, Tizi said:

Check out Jackson's Bite Angler.  Right in the price range you are looking to spend.

Might see if I can get one. A different dealer sells those but its a bit further than the one I was going to do business with.

 

Thanks

[Nai]

6 hours ago, Brad Reid said:

My mention of a scupper-less Native and not being self-draining is important.

 

So, I wanted to mention that many two-skinned, heavy, polyethylene scuppered kayaks actually don't drain or drain well. Why? If the vessel is pressed down into the water to the point where the outside water line is > than the floor of the kayak, water will actually come into the kayak, no possible way for it to drain the other way. 

 

Why? First, most kayak capacity figures are literally just made up. In other cases, they are calibrated differently. Eddyline, for example, publishes its kayak's capacities and they are defined as being including the weight of the vessel. So, if it says 350 lbs. and the vessel weighs 50 lbs., it means there is only 300 actual loading pounds left (person and gear). Second, people are just so much heavier these days and then add a lot of gear. 

 

For BTB, it is critical to get this right else you will get swamped. Water is very likely going to come over the gunwales, the bow and the stern. I suppose my general warning is if not having scuppers is a concern, and it should be, just know that a lot of kayaks have scuppers . . . and they don't work under certain conditions.

 

Brad

 

 

Ok, first off thank you because this is very helpful advice, and I extremely appreciate it. Im a bit on the lighter side, and my gear usually only goes to about (at most) 15lbs. But Im definitely going to take in account the weight ratios because I dont want to sink. Im just scared of there being no drain holes because the creek I float fish has some rapids than can fill up your boat. But when I go Im still going to look at the native because it does look pretty nice.