Upgrade kayak or move into a jon boat?

[Backroad Angler]

I know I just posted about possibly getting a jon boat, but now I'm debating if I should just upgrade my kayak.

I have been kayaking for about 2 years now, started fishing when i was 18, now I am 22, and got into kayaking to expand my areas of fishing about 2 years ago. I have looking at the pros and cons of each, but I wonder if just upgrading into a better kayak would suit my needs. I bought a pelican challenger as my first kayak, a simple, but pretty good kayak. Now I am thinking of getting a kayak that is more stable, to stand in and just overall bring better performance. The end goal is to end up in a bass boat, but I am a college student in my last semester and don't have a ton of money. 

My question is, would it be better to just upgrade to a better kayak and reap those benefits, or try and find a good deal on a jon boat and take that route?

Thanks and any advice is appreciated.

[flyfisher]

Not having money a kayak will be a better choice.  There is no upkeep, registration etc...A kayak you get and it is what it is.  now depending on your upgraded kayak you may be able to get a jon boat for a similar price.  For what I spent on my kayak and trailer i could have bought a jon boat but it isn't what i wanted for the aforementioned reasons. 

Ultimately its up to you an what you want to do...

[Michigander]

If you're trying to get into local tournaments, you'll need a livewell which is prohibitive on a kayak.

 

Honestly, I would just do some mods on your current setup and save the extra cash for a bass boat down payment. Also helps to have rainy day cash.

[Bluebasser86]

I just upgraded my kayak and if wasn't for needing my johnboat to take my boys out with me to the places they like to go, I'd sell the johnboat. Not having to deal with a trailer, batteries, gas, motors and motor repairs/maintenance, it's so much nicer to use the kayak. My range is a little less with the kayak, but the trade off is worth it.

 

If you're wanting to do tournaments the livewell is a non-factor since kayak tournaments are measure, photo, release tournaments where there are no fish brought to the scales like a 5 fish boat tournament.

[Choporoz]

I spent 4 years paddling and loved it.  However,  in the back of my mind, I still always thought I'd prefer a boat.  Two years ago I upgraded to pedals, and not once since have I thought about a jon boat.  Up front cost was pretty big.  Maintenance and usage cost has been negligible. 

  As @Bluebasser86said, tournaments are certainly an option in a kayak.  I fished ten this year.

[Hook2Jaw]

I started seriously bass fishing from a jon boat, but soon after bought a seven year old Hobie Outback.

 

I touched the boat two times after that before I sold it.

 

My advice is to grab a nice kayak.

[Dens228]

9 hours ago, Michigander said:

If you're trying to get into local tournaments, you'll need a livewell which is prohibitive on a kayak.

 

Honestly, I would just do some mods on your current setup and save the extra cash for a bass boat down payment. Also helps to have rainy day cash.

There are tons of kayak tournaments and the number is growing every year.  They are Catch-photo-release so no live well needed.  I also fish a few regular boat tourneys in my kayak that use the same, CPR. 

[moguy1973]

Some food for thought.  You have a kayak already that seems to do what you need it to do right now.  If you are wanting a bass boat eventually (AKA bass "hole in the water you throw your money into"), I would just save that money and build it so you can afford what you really want later.  

[Bankc]

1 hour ago, moguy1973 said:

Some food for thought.  You have a kayak already that seems to do what you need it to do right now.  If you are wanting a bass boat eventually (AKA bass "hole in the water you throw your money into"), I would just save that money and build it so you can afford what you really want later.  

Agreed.  

 

The biggest pro to a jon boat will be the ability to take others with you.  If you don't do that, then a jon boat won't provide you much over a kayak.  If you need a longer range, you can get a trolling motor for your kayak.

 

Being able to stand in a kayak is nice, but it's probably not as useful as you think.  I can stand in mine, however, I rarely do.  There are a lot of advantages to sitting so close to the water.  For instance, instead of flipping and pitching, I just roll cast with the rod parallel, about a foot above the water.  Skipping is easier from a seated position in a kayak.  And while it's nice to be able to see further, it's nicer to be able to sneak up closer without making any noise.

 

But ultimately, you're best off saving for what you really want.  You've already got a stop gap that's got you this far.  Getting something that's closer to where you want to end up, but isn't still quite there is a waste of money that delays your end goal.  

[Michigander]

1 hour ago, Dens228 said:

There are tons of kayak tournaments and the number is growing every year.  They are Catch-photo-release so no live well needed.  I also fish a few regular boat tourneys in my kayak that use the same, CPR. 

There are a lot of kayak tournaments, but that only helps if they are happening in the OP's area. There's a few one offs around here but I would be out of luck if I was looking for a regular club.

[the reel ess]

I bought a kayak a while back that had a trolling motor kit on it. It was very cool except it was too heavy and too much trouble to load and unload and set up when I got to the lake. I found myself going back to my older kayak because it was easier to handle. I sold it and I'm still sitting on the money I got. I would rather have a jon boat with a trolling motor on a trailer than that particular kayak.

 

I do still have a 1st generation Perception Pescador (old Wilderness tarpon mold) that I'm using. I'm 50. I'm getting to the point my back, hips and tail bone remind me for the whole next day that I've been fishing from this kayak.

[Boomstick]

I would go for the upgraded kayak to be honest. I bought and rigged out a Bonafide SS127 completely last year and I have it setup so I can store 5 rods in back, I think 5 3700 sized boxes fit in my blackpak, fish finder, etc. and it's small, easy to handle and quiet.

 

I could have got two Jon boats for what I spent on my kayak and the trailer, but the kayak is just more fun. My original goal was to buy a bass boat, but life threw me a curveball but I had so much fun on the kayak, but I'm really liking the kayak. Maybe I'll do some kayak tournaments next summer if everything permits.

 

The biggest advantage from the Jon boat is if you have a friend without a kayak or any kind of a boat, you could bring them with you.

[Darth-Baiter]

Without a clue to how much a Johnboat cost, I’d venture a guess a kayak isn’t far behind.  BUT!  I’ve notice some kayak people are like mtn bike people.  They want the latest and greatest.  The used kayak market is pretty good!  
 

get a pedal drive kayak and never look back. The CPR. style of tournaments HAS to be healthier for the fish. Catch -photo -release has to save more bass lives than banging and stressing in a live well. 
 

I met an older gent that bought a use Hobie Pro Angler.  Cheap.  It was dirty but perfect.  He stands and sits with ease.  My Hobie is much less friendly to standing up.   I can stand, but standing up is a challenge because the seat is so low. 

but I love it. It gets me places a boat can’t go or isn’t allowed. Like the lake 7 minutes from my house. 

[Backroad Angler]

14 hours ago, flyfisher said:

Not having money a kayak will be a better choice.  There is no upkeep, registration etc...A kayak you get and it is what it is.  now depending on your upgraded kayak you may be able to get a jon boat for a similar price.  For what I spent on my kayak and trailer i could have bought a jon boat but it isn't what i wanted for the aforementioned reasons. 

Ultimately its up to you an what you want to do...

Around my area, the comparable jon boat t is pushing 40-50 years old with what I would buy a new kayak.

 

10 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I just upgraded my kayak and if wasn't for needing my johnboat to take my boys out with me to the places they like to go, I'd sell the johnboat. Not having to deal with a trailer, batteries, gas, motors and motor repairs/maintenance, it's so much nicer to use the kayak. My range is a little less with the kayak, but the trade off is worth it.

 

If you're wanting to do tournaments the livewell is a non-factor since kayak tournaments are measure, photo, release tournaments where there are no fish brought to the scales like a 5 fish boat tournament.

Yup, the plan is to eventually get into tournaments, but I agree with you, It's a lot simpler to load up a kayak and just put it in the water, I know boats can be a hassle.

 

4 hours ago, moguy1973 said:

Some food for thought.  You have a kayak already that seems to do what you need it to do right now.  If you are wanting a bass boat eventually (AKA bass "hole in the water you throw your money into"), I would just save that money and build it so you can afford what you really want later.  

Right, I get that. The kayak I have, I bought new from academy for like 200 bucks, It does do the job, but its not the most comfortable and I know there's better out there. I believe the end goal, I will eventually get a bass boat, but I know I will always own a kayak for light trips and quick trips, which leads me to just upgrading to a better kayak now, which it would last me years.

 

3 hours ago, Bankc said:

Agreed.  

 

The biggest pro to a jon boat will be the ability to take others with you.  If you don't do that, then a jon boat won't provide you much over a kayak.  If you need a longer range, you can get a trolling motor for your kayak.

 

Being able to stand in a kayak is nice, but it's probably not as useful as you think.  I can stand in mine, however, I rarely do.  There are a lot of advantages to sitting so close to the water.  For instance, instead of flipping and pitching, I just roll cast with the rod parallel, about a foot above the water.  Skipping is easier from a seated position in a kayak.  And while it's nice to be able to see further, it's nicer to be able to sneak up closer without making any noise.

 

But ultimately, you're best off saving for what you really want.  You've already got a stop gap that's got you this far.  Getting something that's closer to where you want to end up, but isn't still quite there is a waste of money that delays your end goal.  

Right and that honestly was one of my plans is to start taking people out to fish with me, I have my yak buddies, but for the people that don't have access to yaks, It would be a lot easier to just say hey i got a boat. The reasons I want a standing kayak, is not so much that I thought it would bring me better fishing. But that I know its a more stable platform and allows me to get up and stretch and not remain seating for a whole 6 or 7 hours or whatever. Very true "getting something that's closer to where you want to end up, but isn't still quite there is a waste of money that delays your end goal" but in this case, I think I will always have a kayak and upgrading to a better kayak now, might be the right choice for me at this point in life.

 

2 hours ago, Michigander said:

There are a lot of kayak tournaments, but that only helps if they are happening in the OP's area. There's a few one offs around here but I would be out of luck if I was looking for a regular club.

I've actually met a few fisherman out at my waters in kayaks that invited me to tournaments, I live about 30 miles from a big city, San Antonio, so I'm sure there is a lot of opportunitiess for tournaments around.

[gim]

5 hours ago, Bankc said:

The biggest pro to a jon boat will be the ability to take others with you.  If you don't do that, then a jon boat won't provide you much over a kayak

 

This is one of the primary reasons any kind of boat provides an advantage over a kayak.  Some people prefer to fish alone, but you can also do that in a boat too.  You've received quite a bit of good advice on this subject already and since finances are a limiting factor at this time, I'd stick with a kayak.  Eventually you can decide if you want to buy a jon boat, bass boat, etc later on.

[Backroad Angler]

13 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

This is one of the primary reasons any kind of boat provides an advantage over a kayak.  Some people prefer to fish alone, but you can also do that in a boat too.  You've received quite a bit of good advice on this subject already and since finances are a limiting factor at this time, I'd stick with a kayak.  Eventually you can decide if you want to buy a jon boat, bass boat, etc later on.

I agree with your statement, I am on the verge of graduating college and hopefully will land in a job that would give me some financial freedom in buying a nice boat. I have the money to buy a better kayak than the one I won and if jon boats were more readily availableble in my area and I could ****** a good deal, I would go that route, but thats not the case.

[Dens228]

4 hours ago, the reel ess said:

I bought a kayak a while back that had a trolling motor kit on it. It was very cool except it was too heavy and too much trouble to load and unload and set up when I got to the lake. I found myself going back to my older kayak because it was easier to handle. I sold it and I'm still sitting on the money I got. I would rather have a jon boat with a trolling motor on a trailer than that particular kayak.

 

I do still have a 1st generation Perception Pescador (old Wilderness tarpon mold) that I'm using. I'm 50. I'm getting to the point my back, hips and tail bone remind me for the whole next day that I've been fishing from this kayak.

I have a Bonafide SS127 with a Bixby motor installed on the rudder.  Motor and battery weight nine pounds.   When I get to the water I attach the motor to the rudder, 60 seconds on a bad day.  

 

[the reel ess]

22 minutes ago, Dens228 said:

I have a Bonafide SS127 with a Bixby motor installed on the rudder.  Motor and battery weight nine pounds.   When I get to the water I attach the motor to the rudder, 60 seconds on a bad day.  

 

I had a 13' Feelfree Ride that weight close to 100 lbs before the motor and battery. While that's not enormous, it is a good bit more than the 50 or so lbs my Pescador weighs. I also dig the exercise.

[Hawkeye21]

For someone who wants to keep costs down I recommend going with a good, stable kayak.  You'll have to invest a decent amount of money up front but then you're basically done.  Low maintenance and easy to store is the way to go.

 

I recommend the NuCanoe Frontier or Pursuit if you want something really stable and customizable.  There are plenty of other good options available as well, depending on your budget.

[TnRiver46]

It all depends on what kind of water you live near in my opinion. Current/flow is the number 1 factor for me.  I have a several kayaks, a canoe, a Jon boat and aN aluminum bass boat. Why? Because I live near all kinds of different water. There’s class v whitewater rapids and several 30,000 acre reservoirs close to me. The TN river near my house moves very quickly, if you launch a kayak you typically need a friend and an extra vehicle (or an Uber?). But if I lived closer to a highland reservoir a kayak would be great to drop in anywhere and fish around in slow waters. I must have it all to satisfy fishing addiction but if I had to have just one, this one is it. Sentimental and functional reasons, it can run almost anywhere a jet can (except ott defoe’s jet that seems to run on gravel). And it was my papaw’s
 

 

[TnRiver46]

im also very fond of this craft, although it’s my fiancé’s boat. I’d say if you want to fish tournaments, stick with the kayak 
 

[Backroad Angler]

Ended up biting the bullet and purchasing a Native Manta Ray 12XT, thank you everyone for yalls inputs! Watched a ton of videos on it and seems like an awesome kayak. Also below budget, so I'll be able to buy a fish finder for it and possibly a trolling motor.

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, JoshFromBolo said:

Ended up biting the bullet and purchasing a Native Manta Ray 12XT, thank you everyone for yalls inputs! Watched a ton of videos on it and seems like an awesome kayak. Also below budget, so I'll be able to buy a fish finder for it and possibly a trolling motor.

Congrats! 

[Backroad Angler]

Quick question for everyone, I never really payed attention to the weight capacity of kayaks. But I noticed the native I ordered has a weight capacity of 325. Seems a little low to me.

I'm 6'0 180-185 pounds, would this capacity work for me?

[TnRiver46]

3 hours ago, JoshFromBolo said:

Quick question for everyone, I never really payed attention to the weight capacity of kayaks. But I noticed the native I ordered has a weight capacity of 325. Seems a little low to me.

I'm 6'0 180-185 pounds, would this capacity work for me?

Merely suggestions, you’ll be fine!