Upgrade kayak or move into a jon boat?

[Bluebasser86]

That still leaves well over 100lbs more gear you could put in it. You're not going to be putting every bait and rod, 3 batteries, a gas tank, a trolling motor, gas motor, and multiple depthfinders on a kayak like a boat. You'll have your crate with baits, seat, depthfinder and small battery to run it, whatever rods you're bringing, plus some misc gear.

[Hawkeye21]

On 12/1/2020 at 1:15 PM, 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?

 

That's a little low but if all you're bring with is tackle and some rods then you'll be fine.  If you ever plan to add a fish finder and trolling motor then it can add up.

[Backroad Angler]

If anyone that is interested, I let the weight capacity get to me and canceled the order. Ended up purchasing a feel free molken 12 footer v2 instead, found a awesome deal on one and met everything I'm looking for

[schplurg]

I considered putting a trolling motor on my yak, but at that point I think I'd rather just do a jon or aluminum boat.

 

For the cost of a pedal drive yak I can buy a used jon boat and put in a casting deck, trolling motor, and clean it up nice for a lot less money. There's little maintenance, no more than a yak with a motor.

 

And here you have to register a yak if it has any motor at all, so you can't escape that. The only real difference is the trailer, which has maintenance and reg costs, but is easier to launch with, at a ramp of course. 

 

For me, loading a yak, putting in the motor, my fishfinder is no easier than launching a boat. Different, but not easier, especially on my fragile back.

 

I want to stand too, but more so I can move around and not be confined to my seat all day. It's very comfy but I hate being confined when grabbing my gear, twisting behind me for stuff, or tying on a bait. I really don't enjoy that aspect very much and I get frustrated.

 

I also want hands free control of my boat so I can fish, and I want the motor in front.

 

For those reasons I will buy/build a boat as soon as I can.

 

To the OP - you have a $200 yak. May as well keep it if you have space, even if you get a boat. I probably will. You can always sell it for what you paid for it.

 

Borrow or rent a jon boat if you can. That will help you make your decision more than anything else.

[Matthew Pye]

I bought a pelican the catch 110 hydryve 2 kayak and love it so much I dream about fishing from it lol!  It was $1200.

 

I also bought a Pelican Icon XP paddle kayak for the fiancee which she takes out every week.  This was $540.

 

Since I bought the kayaks, I literally haven't taken my boat out once because I find it so much fun.

 

Just my $0.02

[NoShoes]

Kayak is one person rig. Get a 1448 jon boat with a good tiller steer and deck the front. Best of both worlds. 
 

I went from kayak, to 1448 jon, to 175 tracker within the year. I’d never consider going backwards. 

[flyfisher]

On 12/1/2020 at 2:15 PM, 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?

It will be fine.  The boat isn't going to miraculously sink at 326lbs.  The 325 is a guideline for optimum performance.  

Besides, if you are under 200 it is gonna take a lot to add another 125 to the boat.

[Stasher1]

The standard advice when considering kayak weight limits is not to exceed 70%-80% of the boat's stated weight limit. While a kayak will float while carrying its max payload, it will not handle correctly, may be unstable/tippy, and will (obviously) ride much lower in the water, which can rapidly become a safety issue with sit-inside kayaks. It can also result in a very wet ride due to water coming up thru the scupper holes in a sit-on-top. They act like little geysers. ?