An $11,000 bare bones fishing kayak

[KSanford33]

3 hours ago, J Francho said:

Wildy made a CF version of their Commander around a decade ago.  That was a thing of beauty, and was FAR LESS money.  I can speak from my C120, it is very fishable, so a light version would be pretty cool.  I can't understand where the $11k is in this Apex.  If Bill Swift can build a carbon Kevlar pack boat for under $4k, why is this thing so much?

You would know better than I would, but wouldn't you be concerned about hitting anything with a CF kayak? It doesn't really give like the plastic or whatever they're made out of ones do.

[Bankc]

1 hour ago, Motoboss said:

I like the magnet latches are nice since weight isn’t an issue.

 

 

At first I though $11,000 was kind of expensive.  But after watching that video and realizing that just sitting in one makes everything around you move in slow motion, it sounds about right.  That kind of technology cannot be cheap!  

[J Francho]

59 minutes ago, KSanford33 said:

You would know better than I would, but wouldn't you be concerned about hitting anything with a CF kayak? It doesn't really give like the plastic or whatever they're made out of ones do.

 

Seems like there's a lot of misconception about the materials.  My mother has a CF pack boat that weighs about 15 lbs.  Not a chance I'd be worried about it.  That thing is a tank.  The resins and fabric used are way stronger than any plastic or fiberglass boat.  I had a Bullet that was a Kevlar layup hull and that was pretty indestructible.  I have a full carbon paddle, and while I wouldn't use it in white water just due to the wear on the blades, no bounce off rocks is going to make it shatter.  One of the advantages of CF, Kevlar, and composite layups is in the strength.  They aren't fragile.

[Motoboss]

I’m with you @J Francho I had a race motorcycle with carbon fiber wheels and body components. I put it down (more than once) and it took a beating. With the right composition it’s pretty strong material.

[flyfisher]

Interesting high end concept just not for me.  I am surprised that thermoformed kayaks never took hold in the market though.  Higher price but way lighter and I know river kayak smallie guru Jeff Little had one and beat the crap out of it trying to break one and never did.  I love my current boat, ATAK 120 but if they came out with a thermoformed version that was reasonably priced I'd sell mine and get it for sure.  

[Bird]

At My age, prefer to sit up much higher.

It's definitely a very nice light package though and carbon fiber is very robust.

[Johnpenguin]

On 10/27/2022 at 9:54 PM, Koz said:

You read that right. No pedal drive. No trolling motor. Nothing but the kayak and the seat for a cool $11k.

 

Oh yeah - it's made of carbon fiber and at nearly 13 feet long weighs only just over 40 pounds. I've invested a decent sum in my pedal kayak with the 7" Humminbird DI SI and other goodies, but for $11K plus accessories I'd buy a boat instead. Here's the link: https://apexwatercraft.com/product/tyr-fishing-kayak/

 

 

 

 

For genuine bass fishing, this is ridiculous. I’m not super into other types of fishing, but this product is hard to understand. I have a feeling these won’t be available for long.

[CountryboyinDC]

On 10/28/2022 at 10:34 PM, flyfisher said:

I am surprised that thermoformed kayaks never took hold in the market though.

They definitely have tried - Wilderness, Jackson, and Native have all built thermoformed boats at different points.  They're not that much lighter, maybe 20% for the same model for what I remember, but are close to regular rotomolded polyethylene in durability.  They are easier to puncture holes in with sharp rocks than molded polyethylene or Royalex (or T-formex, the 'new Royalex'), but rotomolded and Royalex boats have definitely had holes punched in them too.  They still sell a fair number of recreational boats that are thermoformed - I see Hurricanes and Eddylines quite a bit when I'm fishing or messing around at Seneca Breaks.

 

I think that from the perspective of materials, carbon fiber could be fine for a fishing kayak used in reservoirs, inshore, etc.  But who uses a paddle-powered kayak in those circumstances?  Usually one thinks of carbon fiber as being used when you want the lightest material possible that will offer the stiffness required (a lack of flex for paddles or negligible 'oil-canning' for paddle craft hulls).  In most cases, because carbon fiber allows the least amount of material to be used to achieve this, it's the least impact-resistant, even less so than Kevlar or other composite materials.  It's not that carbon fiber can't be used in potential impact situations - plenty of people I paddle with have carbon fiber bladed whitewater canoe and kayak paddles.  While I see folks willing to risk the impact to race carbon fiber wildwater boats down the Cheat every May, I don't suspect that too many will plop down 11 grand for this thing. Even with it's carbon fiber layup, it will paddle just slightly better than a dock at 3 feet wide.

[FishTank]

I don't see this being practical for fishing.  Some people might think it's cool but it's not for me. I would invest in a boat first.