Stand up kayak options

[SkinnyWaterBasser]

I'm looking to upgrade my kayak this year and I'd like something I can stand on, currently I have a pelican sit on top with a chair in it. It sits very low and isn't exactly comfortable for long trips, upgradeable to pedals is a plus, light weight and car toppable is a plus, not breaking the bank is the biggest plus, I realize that to get comfort and stand-ability I'm gonna have to drop around a thousand bottom end. Open to all brands

[flyfisher]

Tons of kayaks you can stand in and fish from.  I used to stand in my redfish 12 back in the day so really it will depend on you and your balance as well.

Some oif the more stable kayaks for standing i have personally been in are:

Hobie compass

Hobie PA

 

Jackson Coosa

 

Wilderness systems Atak 140

WS ATAK 120

WS Recon

 

your best bet is to find a palce that sells them all and lets you try them or hit up a demo days somewhere to see which ones you are comfortale with in standing.

[Jmilburn76]

As flyfisher stated try to demo as many as you can that you are interested in. Also if you have FB  there is generally an owners group for most brands/models out there. You can see if someone is close to you that is willing to let you take theirs for a spin.  If you have FB keep an eye on Marketplace for used, I see some crazy deals on there from time to time. 

 

Also you can also look into the yaks that give you options to add a pedal system later on that way you aren't out the whole amount at once.  I got my Native Slayer Propel 10,in my pic, brand new for a little over $1000 from Cabelas so good deals can be had. The most important thing with kayaks is a PFD and wear it every time you are on the water!

[Josh Schiller]

I just purchased the Pelican Catch Power 100. You can paddle or even use a trolly motor. Also you can stand up, sit down, 360 swivel seat. 

[DogBone_384]

I bought my first FeelFree Lure 11.5 in '15, and my second one in '18.  My '18 accepts their Overdrive (pedal) and MotorDrive systems as drop in accessories. It's a nice way to build a kayak if you're on a budget. The two things I like best about them is the seat, which is ALL DAY comfortable, and the wheel they put in the keel.  The 11.5 is stand up stable and weighs about 75 pounds stripped, which I can lift onto my Tundra's ladder rack for transport.

 

Buying accessories is easy.  They have a good dealer base, and if there isn't one near you, their website is easy to navigate.  

 

As a company, FeelFree is top notch.  I've had a few little problems over the years, but they were taken care of quickly.  The staff is very attentive.  They answer phone calls and emails.

 

One thing, regardless of brand, is that you should try to pedal/paddle as many different models as possible before you buy.

 

Good luck with your search.

[Boomstick]

I have a Bonafide SS127 which rigs out nicely and so a good option if you aren't looking for a pedal drive (they did release a new pedal drive model).

 

The Old Town Sportsman 120 (available with a pedal drive as well) is a great option without breaking the bank as well.

 

If you have the money, stop looking and buy the Hobie Pro Angler 14 now.

[casts_by_fly]

The OT sportsman series was designed for stability with a wide bottom and almost a catamaran style hull.  I've got the autopilot 120 but the PDL and paddle versions are the same bottom.  I stand all day in mine and even will motor at full speed while standing.  I'll step all the way to the front (straddling the motor) if I'm pitching and its still stable.

[michaelb]

Car topping and stable don’t go together. Many of these kayaks can be a beast to get up on roof alone; but not impossible. How far are you paddling and how skinny is the water you want to paddle? How big and strong are you?

 

jackson bite or crescent lite??

[VolFan]

Nucanoe Frontier or the replacement that just came out (I don’t remember the name ). I’ve had a Frontier for almost 7 years, it’s a really great boat solo or tandem.

[Bluebasser86]

I've got an Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL and can stand in it no problem. I would not want to car top it often though. It's easy to load into my truck bed but that's a big difference than car topping. 

[Dens228]

I've had several, the top three stability wise were..........

 

3.  Wilderness Systems Atak 120

2.  Wilderness Systems Radar 115

1.  Bonfide SS127.  Just this past Wednesday I got stuck on a submerged stump in 18 feet of 42 degree water.  I had a heck of a time getting unstuck.  After about 10 minutes I strapped everything down, grabbed my paddle and walked up to the front just behind the hatch and lightly bounced while I paddled to get unstuck.   I'm 5-09 240 pounds.  

[schplurg]

I mini-van top my OT Sportsman 106 easily. I put it on from the side of the van. Lift one end up so it's perpendicular to the van, then slide it up and rotate it 90 degrees to face forward. Not a problem on ramps either.

 

I'd rather have a trailer though.

[Bird]

As mentioned, roof racking these heavily built, stable kayaks May end up the bigger issue unless you're built like the Rock.

I see many fisherman trailering these types of Yaks.

[RichF]

I've only owned one kayak, the Big Fish 105 that I currently have.  Doesn't paddle great but it's super stable and standing is really easy.  I thought it was a great deal at $700 when I bought it 2 yrs ago.  I wouldn't pay the $900+ they're asking now.

[GTN-NY]

I have a Jackson Big Rig and I stand in it all day. I just step on to it from the dock  

[dgkasper58]

After way too much research- I just bought a sportsman 120

[schplurg]

You will love it.

[SkinnyWaterBasser]

15 hours ago, Dens228 said:

I've had several, the top three stability wise were..........

 

3.  Wilderness Systems Atak 120

2.  Wilderness Systems Radar 115

1.  Bonfide SS127.  Just this past Wednesday I got stuck on a submerged stump in 18 feet of 42 degree water.  I had a heck of a time getting unstuck.  After about 10 minutes I strapped everything down, grabbed my paddle and walked up to the front just behind the hatch and lightly bounced while I paddled to get unstuck.   I'm 5-09 240 pounds.  

That sounds sketchy but speaks to the stability. Lol thank you

 

14 hours ago, Bird said:

As mentioned, roof racking these heavily built, stable kayaks May end up the bigger issue unless you're built like the Rock.

I see many fisherman trailering these types of Yaks.

I am coming to the realization that I may be putting a trailer behind my Suzuki adventure wagon. Lol

[Bankc]

26 minutes ago, SkinnyWaterBasser said:

That sounds sketchy but speaks to the stability. Lol thank you

 

I am coming to the realization that I may be putting a trailer behind my Suzuki adventure wagon. Lol

Not necessarily.  Look into a truck bed extender.  The middle section can be hooked up in reverse, so instead of pointing out back, like you'd want for a truck bed, it can point up, level with your roof rack.  Then you can lift up the bow of the kayak onto the extender, walk around to the stern, and lift it up and push it on top of your kayak.  That way you're never lifting more than half of the weight of the kayak at a time.  It's still some work, but it's much easier to go that route.   Of course you'll need a trailer hitch to attach it to.  That's what I do with my 85lb yak, and while it still wears me out, I can get it up and down with my bad back and skinny arms.  

 

A word of caution though, the bed extender will likely be pretty floppy.  So you might look into a way to stabilize it, both at the joint in the middle, and at the hitch connection.  I just used some shims I made to keep it relatively stable.  It's not a perfect solution, but it's a lot cheaper than a trailer, and you won't have to store a trailer.  

[Darth-Baiter]

The best way for me to get familiar with standing up in my kayak was to stand up and to use the long paddle like a SUP style to move myself around.  It built up my balance and my core strength.  It gave me something to do to get my mind off of balancing myself. Now I just pop up.  I can almost turn completely to the side to pee overboard.   

[GTN-NY]

2 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I can almost turn completely to the side to pee overboard.   

Nope can’t do that. I pee sitting down in the kayak lol

[the reel ess]

I'd question if you need to stand in a kayak. I had one that was supposedly stable enough to stand in. I still didn't feel comfy doing so. It weighed nearly 90lbs. I sold it and bought one that was easier to load and unload and weighed about 35 lbs. less. No regret.

[flyfisher]

6 hours ago, the reel ess said:

I'd question if you need to stand in a kayak. I had one that was supposedly stable enough to stand in. I still didn't feel comfy doing so. It weighed nearly 90lbs. I sold it and bought one that was easier to load and unload and weighed about 35 lbs. less. No regret.

It is totally a preference thing but I will say some techniques are much easier to do while standing.  For me I am standing anytime I am throwing a frog or pitching/flipping a jig and 99% of the time when I am fly fishing.  Helps to create a little better leverage on a hookset I have found and makes it easier to get fish out of heavy cover.  If I am fishing moving baits or flies, sitting works and also prevents you from being blown around as easily

[CrashVector]

I stand up in my pelican Catch 110 all the time.

[schplurg]

I rarely stood in my WS Ride 115, didn't find it as stable as others do. At all. Almost gave up kayaking altogether, but mainly due to paddling. Did not feel stable enough sitting either. Not like my new one.

 

The Sportsman 106 I don't even have to think about it. Stand up, turn around and kneel on the seat to grab something. Step into it off the dock. Lean to one side or the other. Climbing inside from shallow water.

 

I'm 5' 10', 190#. Standing is great for pitching into reeds, or targets that are hard to spot when sitting. Sometimes I just stand up to stretch out for awhile, or maybe do some sight fishing, look at the bottom see what's going on down there.

 

My favorite thing to do standing is face shore and let the current or wind blow me along. I just cast after cast without needing to pedal or steer for long stretches.

 

One more thing - I really don't stand that much, but the stability also comes into play when you're sitting. Reaching behind you, setting the hook. Stability isn't just for standing. I felt like I was gonna tip my Ride 115 once just reaching into my crate.

 

Edit:

Here is a video I made last summer of my first trips in the Sportsman. I do everything I mentioned above and comment on how crazy stable it is.