Looking for the smallest kayak boat that you can stand up.

[Jeffrey Walker]

I like to fish ponds, some of them a decent size where i wish i could get on the water so i’m looking for something super light and small but sturdy enough that you can stand in. i want something i can throw in a truck or on top of a car.  anyone have any ideas?

[MN Fisher]

Old Town Topwater 106 - 10'6" long, 73lbs - $900.

Pelican Catch PWR 100 - 9'9" long, 75lbs - $1000.

 

Probably the best bets for quality standable yaks that aren't too big or heavy.

[Bluebasser86]

I've got the next size up of the same basic model of the Topwater (Sportsman 120). You can stand with no issues in the 106 and I can carry my 120 for short distances and pick it up to put it in my truck bed, the 106 should be no problem at all. 

[michaelb]

The crescent ultralite may be the best light smallish kayak out there? I don't have one, but it looks nice. what you can stand on depends in large part on your size (and skill), and on the wind and waves on any given day.

 

https://www.crescentkayaks.com/product/ultralite-fishing-kayak/

 

edit: also, the nucanoe f10 is a really interesting pond boat, would be much more stable for standing, and at 62 lbs is still carryable. The crescentlite would dust it in terms of speed on open water, so everything is a tradeoff.

[Darth-Baiter]

My friend has the Nucanoe F10. 60ish lbs.  Empty. 
 

it is a super standy boat.  The seat is high, and he just stands like he is getting up off a lawn chair. 
 

 

[J Francho]

I stood in a Malibu Mini-X, but I'm only 165 lbs. and 5'8".  That thing felt tiny.

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I stood in a Malibu Mini-X, but I'm only 165 lbs. and 5'8".  That thing felt tiny.

At 6'1" and 200, I wouldn't want to try to stand in that one.

 

BTW John, you are tiny.

[Choporoz]

I think your budget, age, frame, gracefulness....are all important factors that need to be considered.   I have a 34" wide, 12' kayak, but I don't stand in it....then again, I am old and the opposite of nimble.

 

Please go to a shop and put your hands on some different yaks.  Put them on the floor and sit....stand...get a sense for the differences.  Better yet, shops may restart demo days this year.

[Deephaven]

Small and standing are more up to you than the boat.  I recently sold a Eugene Jensen racing canoe.  I took it flyfishing and stood and cast while some of my friends tip it over paddling it sitting down.  For reference I am 6'7".

 

The other parameter of course is you state boat/kayak.  Wide boats will by far be the most stable, but harder to transport.  Should probably narrow that down too.

[Allen Der]

Native Ultimate 12 is around 50lbs

[Jeffrey Walker]

i was looking for something like 8ft or smaller, anything life that exist? i saw a 5 foot disc boat forget the name, but it needs a trolling motor.  i want something super quick to use and light and portable. just need to get off the shore a little bit it’s all ponds. 

 

no trolling motor no trailers, quick and small 

[AmmoGuy]

7 minutes ago, Jeffrey Walker said:

i was looking for something like 8ft or smaller, anything life that exist? i saw a 5 foot disc boat forget the name, but it needs a trolling motor.  i want something super quick to use and light and portable. just need to get off the shore a little bit it’s all ponds. 

 

no trolling motor no trailers, quick and small 

 

It sounds like this is what you are looking for. It's easy to toss in a pickup, and standing is no issue. 

Although it really needs a rudder ant trolling motor as well, but that's easy. 

 

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-pond-prowler-8-fishing-boat

[Jeffrey Walker]

that looks good expect it’s probably heavy and looks like you need a motor. 

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, Jeffrey Walker said:

that looks good expect it’s probably heavy and looks like you need a motor. 

The Prowler 8 weighs about 100lbs.

 

Ya, a trolling motor is pretty much a necessity on most pond boats. You can mount the TM either on the aft end or on the bow - it's pre-wired so you don't have to run wires along the deck if you bow mount the TM.

 

 

[AmmoGuy]

18 minutes ago, Jeffrey Walker said:

that looks good expect it’s probably heavy and looks like you need a motor. 

It weighs less than most modern fishing kayaks.  IMO it’s easier to transport than a kayak. 
 

Yes, to get the most enjoyment out of it, you’ll want a motor. 

[Jeffrey Walker]

Hmm, i don’t want a motor. 

 

i just found the pelican catch.  looks like it’s 10 ft, i think that’s about as small as i’m gonna find.  anyone have one thoughts?  any other smaller kayaks that you can stand up in?

[AmmoGuy]

1 hour ago, Jeffrey Walker said:

Hmm, i don’t want a motor. 

 

i just found the pelican catch.  looks like it’s 10 ft, i think that’s about as small as i’m gonna find.  anyone have one thoughts?  any other smaller kayaks that you can stand up in?

If you are young, light, and agile, you MAY enjoy standing in the 10’ Catch. If you’re not, good luck. 
 

Also, standing in a yak and dealing with a paddle is.... a learning experience. 

[J Francho]

11 hours ago, AmmoGuy said:

It weighs less than most modern fishing kayaks.  IMO it’s easier to transport than a kayak. 
 

Yes, to get the most enjoyment out of it, you’ll want a motor. 

My Commander 140 weighs 65 lbs., goes in the back of my pickup in five minutes held with two cam straps, has two seating positions as well is one of the most stable hulls to stand in, holds a ton of gear, doesn't require a motor but has a transom and is pre-rigged for mounting a foot steerable motor, is rigged with gear tracks stern to bow for accessories, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.  It comes in a 12 foot version as well.  I much prefer it to any floating bathtub I've fished in.

 

Plus there's room to take a kid with you:

[AmmoGuy]

3 hours ago, J Francho said:

My Commander 140 weighs 65 lbs., goes in the back of my pickup in five minutes held with two cam straps, has two seating positions as well is one of the most stable hulls to stand in, holds a ton of gear, doesn't require a motor but has a transom and is pre-rigged for mounting a foot steerable motor, is rigged with gear tracks stern to bow for accessories, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.  It comes in a 12 foot version as well.  I much prefer it to any floating bathtub I've fished in.

 

 

I've owned and transported various yaks. I fish with friends that run a Pescador Pilot and a Bonafide SS several times a month. I like Kayaks. I've spent my fair share of time in them. I've also had a couple different plastic fantastics. 

 

From a fishability standpoint, throwing in the truck, and chunking in local ponds and small lakes I wouldn't trade the plastic fantastic currently. And I only need ONE ratchet strap, ha.  

 

If distance, the opportunity of tournaments, and "cool" factor is important.... Sure Kayaks are great. 

[Bankc]

20 hours ago, Jeffrey Walker said:

i was looking for something like 8ft or smaller, anything life that exist? i saw a 5 foot disc boat forget the name, but it needs a trolling motor.  i want something super quick to use and light and portable. just need to get off the shore a little bit it’s all ponds. 

 

no trolling motor no trailers, quick and small 

You might check out a stand up paddleboard, or SUP.  

 

The thing to keep in mind with standing in any of these, is how well do you balance?  A pro skateboarder at the peak of their career can probably stand up and fish on a floating cooler box.  Later in life, my grandfather couldn't even stand up in a pontoon boat on a calm day.  

[YoTone]

slayer 10

ive been car topping it for years.

[Jeffrey Walker]

The SUP maybe a good fit, i don’t want to be bothered with blowing it up, i’m sure i can keep it inflated, no?

 

do they make them smaller like 8-10ft? 

[J Francho]

Most SUPs are not inflatable.

[WRB]

Agility plays a major roll deciding if you can stand in any car top boat, kayak, canoe and fish effectively?

It’s also about center of gravity, higher off the water surface the less stable a boat is. 

I was very agile* until age 70 and spine surgery. Now standing in a bass boat can be tricky without a pedestal to lean against in waves. Can’t even get into or out of a kayak today. I would consider a sit down pontoon portable boat. The ultra light Hobie ITrek 9 looks interesting.

Be careful!

Tom

* earned a college scholarship for gymnastics

[Bass Junke]

My first kayak was a Vibe Skipjack. This is a 9 foot kayak, about 47lbs. I used that for a little over a year and bought a Vibe Sea Ghost 110. 11 foot kayak about 62lbs. 

I am 5'10" about 165lbs. I have exceptional balance, have no fear of water or falling (those last two points are often not taken into consideration but I think are important) 

I stood up in the Skipjack. I could do it but not fish, the bow went below the waterline and became unstable. I stand in my Sea Ghost all the time. Cast, pitch, work the rod and set hooks while standing. Is the Sea Ghost a kayak known for its stability, not really. Would I say that anyone could stand and fish from this kayak? Definitely not. Is it stable enough for me, you bet. 

Now fishing out of a 9' kayak was great. Very maneuverable, 2 paddle strokes and you have spun your kayak 180 degrees. The Sea Ghost has a rudder, before I bought Sea Ghost I questioned the need for a rudder. I was amazed at how difficult it was to maneuver and turn my boat. The rudder helps a lot. 

One of the reasons I bought both of my kayaks was because of weight. I can lift my Sea Ghost onto my roof ( at 55YOA I need a bit of a rest afterwards) but I don't. I tilt it onto my roof and the only piece of equipment I use is a rubber backed shower mat. After realizing how easy it is to tilt your kayak onto your car weight is no longer factored into my future purchases.