Recommendations for stable kayaks?

[z3n0rax]

Hi everyone! I am long time reader,

but newly registered. Does anyone have recommendations on a stable kayak for standing up and fishing? I have been looking at the Ascend H10. Being able to stand up is huge IMO.

 

Thanks for any input

[Stasher1]

Your weight and budget will help everyone make appropriate suggestions. 

[J Francho]

I've been in just a few 10' boats that were stable enough to stand in, but none of them paddle well. This is a relatively inexpensive boat. Sounds like your budget is constrained to below $1000. Consider a used boat with a reputation for quality and stability. You should be able to find a Ride 115 in your budget used. 

[Dens228]

I had a Wilderness Radar that was very stable, my Wilderness Atak was also stable but rode lower in the water so didn't seem as stable. 

My current, a Bonafide SS127 is almost as stable as a pier.......I am a stocky 240 pounds and can stand up, turn around, walk off the front...........

[Denny]

Take a look at Old Town kayaks. I demoed one of their sportsman 120’s and it was extremely stable and I be was able to stand up pretty easy, even with it being my first time in a fishing kayak.  I’m gunna go with the 12 foot pedal version when they are back in stock at my dealer but they have a 10’5 and 13 foot versions 

[GTN-NY]

Jackson Big Rig is very stable. I found a used one for $1000. 
I test drove a Bonafide ss127. I found it stable but shaky compared to the Big Rig but still a very nice yak

[z3n0rax]

6 hours ago, Stasher1 said:

Your weight and budget will help everyone make appropriate suggestions. 

About 270lbs 6 ft and $1000 

Thanks for all the input guys!

[mcipinkie]

Stable kayaks are like good riding bass boats. 

 

There ain't no such thing.  Some are just more unstable (or bad riding) than others.

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

I've got an Old Town Sportsman 120PDL. It's a very stable boat that I can stand in easily. If you got the regular model I think you'd be good.

[Backroad Angler]

I have a Feelfree Molken 12.5 that is considered a stand in kayak, but I would not suggest it. It's pretty wobbly, but with practice, you would be able to do it.

[J Francho]

I've run a few Mokens in 12, 12.5, and the old 13 without the wheel.  They seem wobbly, but you have to tilt them to one side or another before it locks in.  If you've been in a canoe, you'll know what I mean.

[jimmyjoe]

On 1/18/2021 at 1:43 PM, z3n0rax said:

. Being able to stand up is huge IMO.

 

   Would you consider some sort of outriggers?                 jj

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

   Would you consider some sort of outriggers?                 jj

Outriggers are the bomb - I can stand to cast in my canoe with them.

[schplurg]

On 1/18/2021 at 12:07 PM, J Francho said:

I've been in just a few 10' boats that were stable enough to stand in, but none of them paddle well. This is a relatively inexpensive boat. Sounds like your budget is constrained to below $1000. Consider a used boat with a reputation for quality and stability. You should be able to find a Ride 115 in your budget used. 

 

I don't like standing in my Ride 115, but I also have nothing else to compare it to. 

 

I'm 5'11", 185, and 53 so not as stable as I used to be. I'm constantly "wiggling" back and forth, you can see the small waves/ripples as the yak pivots constantly left to right. Maybe that's normal?

 

I see Greg Blanchard and his boat is like a tank. Very tall seat, and he stands in that thing like it's nothing. 

[GTN-NY]

4 minutes ago, schplurg said:

 

I don't like standing in my Ride 115, but I also have nothing else to compare it to. 

 

I'm 5'11", 185, and 53 so not as stable as I used to be. I'm constantly "wiggling" back and forth, you can see the small waves/ripples as the yak pivots constantly left to right. Maybe that's normal?

 

I see Greg Blanchard and his boat is like a tank. Very tall seat, and he stands in that thing like it's nothing. 

I’m 6’ 200lbs 61, bad balance and can’t swim. I’m not afraid to stand all day in my big rig. Solid as a rock even in waves

[schplurg]

A Big Rig, if you mean the Jackson, is about 3.5 x more than the OP wants to spend. And it's a lot wider than a ride, well 4 - 6 inches I think. My Ride was $700 used here in Cali, with the ProMax seat or whatever it is.

 

I wanted a yak I could stand in when I bought it, but the Ride isn't stable enough for me. Or I'm not stable enough for it  

[z3n0rax]

17 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

   Would you consider some sort of outriggers?                 jj

I would definitely consider them. Do you have any suggestions? 

[jimmyjoe]

  

17 minutes ago, z3n0rax said:

I would definitely consider them. Do you have any suggestions? 

 

   No, I don't. The local kayak/canoe dealer has either gone out of business or is trying to ride out the pandemic. I would suggest either perusing offerings on the web ( not really the most reliable source if information) or search this forum, or else PM @MN Fisher directly to find out what he thinks about the ones he has.

   Good luck!     jj

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, jimmyjoe said:

  

 

   No, I don't. The local kayak/canoe dealer has either gone out of business or is trying to ride out the pandemic. I would suggest either perusing offerings on the web ( not really the most reliable source if information) or search this forum, or else PM @MN Fisher directly to find out what he thinks about the ones he has.

   Good luck!     jj

The one's I have are 'home-brew' - got the parts and put them together myself. They work pretty good, though I am making a change to them this winter.

[Dens228]

One thing to consider regarding stability is experience.   

My first kayak, the Radar 115, first few times I got in it I acted like I was walking a tightrope over Niagara Falls.  After a few drips I just got on and off without a thought. 

 

Fast forward to my SS127, first time out, seat in high position, it felt like I was going to flip at any time......by the end of my first time out it was like sitting in a recliner at home.  I've never even put the seat in low position.  I turn around in the seat, sit sideways with a foot in the water leaning back, no issues.  I stand, turn to one side and stand close to the edge to relieve myself, no issues.  You have to learn to trust the secondary stability built into most kayaks these days.  It will tilt a bit until you reach that point and then you'd really have to try to get it to tip all the way.    

[Bankc]

26 minutes ago, Dens228 said:

One thing to consider regarding stability is experience.   

My first kayak, the Radar 115, first few times I got in it I acted like I was walking a tightrope over Niagara Falls.  After a few drips I just got on and off without a thought. 

 

Fast forward to my SS127, first time out, seat in high position, it felt like I was going to flip at any time......by the end of my first time out it was like sitting in a recliner at home.  I've never even put the seat in low position.  I turn around in the seat, sit sideways with a foot in the water leaning back, no issues.  I stand, turn to one side and stand close to the edge to relieve myself, no issues.  You have to learn to trust the secondary stability built into most kayaks these days.  It will tilt a bit until you reach that point and then you'd really have to try to get it to tip all the way.    

There's a lot of truth to that.  The first time I took my kayak out, it was scary how easy it was to tip over, so I didn't even try to stand.  A few outings later, and I could stand, but was always being really careful when I did.  Now, I feel perfectly comfortable on it 99% of the time.  Every once in a while, a wake or wave will hit me just right and give me a scare.  But I have yet to fall out of it.  

 

You just have to learn how it balances, and how you have to balance yourself within it.  It helps if you keep a bit of bend in your knees at all times and go ahead and tip it over and keep it at it's secondary balance point.  It's kind of like riding a bike or skateboard.  When you first start, it seems almost impossible to maintain your balance.  But after a little bit of practice (not even a whole lot), it becomes second nature, so you don't even have to think about it until something goes terribly wrong.  And even then, you will usually recover before you have time to realize what happened.  

[GTN-NY]

17 hours ago, schplurg said:

A Big Rig, if you mean the Jackson, is about 3.5 x more than the OP wants to spend. And it's a lot wider than a ride, well 4 - 6 inches I think. My Ride was $700 used here in Cali, with the ProMax seat or whatever it is.

 

I wanted a yak I could stand in when I bought it, but the Ride isn't stable enough for me. Or I'm not stable enough for it  

Used original Big Rig can be found for $1000. I’ve seen 3 this week on buy/sell kayak groups

[arkman]

On 1/20/2021 at 11:36 AM, Dens228 said:

One thing to consider regarding stability is experience.   

My first kayak, the Radar 115, first few times I got in it I acted like I was walking a tightrope over Niagara Falls.  After a few drips I just got on and off without a thought. 

 

Fast forward to my SS127, first time out, seat in high position, it felt like I was going to flip at any time......by the end of my first time out it was like sitting in a recliner at home.  I've never even put the seat in low position.  I turn around in the seat, sit sideways with a foot in the water leaning back, no issues.  I stand, turn to one side and stand close to the edge to relieve myself, no issues.  You have to learn to trust the secondary stability built into most kayaks these days.  It will tilt a bit until you reach that point and then you'd really have to try to get it to tip all the way.    

This. Its not gonna be like standing up in your living room, especially the first few times. You have to practice it a little, preferably when the water is warm just in case. ?

 

With that said, I weight 250 and really like my Bonafide. 

[moguy1973]

Can I ask why being able to stand up in a kayak is "huge"?  I've never had the urge to want to stand up in mine.  I guess being able to get a higher vantage point to sight fish might be an advantage, but the taller seats some kayaks come with now would help with that.  If there's one thing I wish my kayak had was a tall seat to keep my butt out of the water when it splashes into the seat well.  I only fish rivers for the most part and standing in a kayak in current just sounds like an invite to a dip in the water and losing some gear.

[Dens228]

18 minutes ago, moguy1973 said:

Can I ask why being able to stand up in a kayak is "huge"?  I've never had the urge to want to stand up in mine.  I guess being able to get a higher vantage point to sight fish might be an advantage, but the taller seats some kayaks come with now would help with that.  If there's one thing I wish my kayak had was a tall seat to keep my butt out of the water when it splashes into the seat well.  I only fish rivers for the most part and standing in a kayak in current just sounds like an invite to a dip in the water and losing some gear.

I don't stand a lot, but when I'm fishing for 6-8 hours it's nice to be able to easily stand up and stretch my legs.  It's also easier to pitch into wood from a standing position.  Oh, I also stand to relieve myself.