Thinking of selling my kayak

[Koz]

Don't get me wrong, I love my Seastream Angler 120 pedal drive but as I'm now pushing 60 (holy #$%!) it's starting to wear me out. I covered about 12 miles the other day and if that didn't kick my butt enough I have to haul it up a big, steep hill out back of my hotel to put it back in storage. I've been packing light lately and it's still 150 pounds with the kayak, pedal drive, electronics, battery, and gear.

 

I've thought about trading in my car and getting a Bronco Sport and a trailer, and while that eliminates hauling it up and down the hill pedaling all day on the water is still going to kick my butt.

 

I've thought about a boat, but that seems to be a money pit. Then again, if I get lucky enough to qualify for and win the MLF Phoenix regionals, first prize includes a new Phoenix boat. but I doubt that will happen.

 

I think the most logical option at this point is the Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 120. But it's a big chunk of change that takes money out of my new car fund. I'm in a funk because age is catching up with me and that pedal drive is kicking my butt lately. But I think this is my last season with it. I'll buy a new vehicle by this summer, Sell the Seastream by fall and buy the Old Town and a trailer.

 

Getting old is no fun.

 

[Darth-Baiter]

dang.  you're 60 and still man-powering a kayak.  kudos to you.  I vote you keep doing it.  

 

shred the body, save the mind...etc.  all that exercise is going in the "good" column.  resistance exercise has to be good as we age.  bone density, blood flow.  maybe ease up on the water miles?  12 miles is a long distance in a kayak.  I can do it, but this first trip out, I felt it.  but I get stronger as the season progresses.  that I consider a good sign

[airshot]

I sold my kayak at age 66, never cared for the pedal drive type, tried a friends but not my cup of tea...Even with my bad shoulders, the paddling was easier for me.  Hated to let it go, but going by myself at my age wasn't a smart thing to do.  Neither is going in my 16' outboard, but not ready to stop boating yet.....

[casts_by_fly]

4 hours ago, Koz said:

Don't get me wrong, I love my Seastream Angler 120 pedal drive but as I'm now pushing 60 (holy #$%!) it's starting to wear me out. I covered about 12 miles the other day and if that didn't kick my butt enough I have to haul it up a big, steep hill out back of my hotel to put it back in storage. I've been packing light lately and it's still 150 pounds with the kayak, pedal drive, electronics, battery, and gear.

 

I've thought about trading in my car and getting a Bronco Sport and a trailer, and while that eliminates hauling it up and down the hill pedaling all day on the water is still going to kick my butt.

 

I've thought about a boat, but that seems to be a money pit. Then again, if I get lucky enough to qualify for and win the MLF Phoenix regionals, first prize includes a new Phoenix boat. but I doubt that will happen.

 

I think the most logical option at this point is the Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 120. But it's a big chunk of change that takes money out of my new car fund. I'm in a funk because age is catching up with me and that pedal drive is kicking my butt lately. But I think this is my last season with it. I'll buy a new vehicle by this summer, Sell the Seastream by fall and buy the Old Town and a trailer.

 

Getting old is no fun.

 

 

An autopilot will mean either more weight or more trips going up that hill at the end. I start at 125# for the boat, batteries, and seat which is how I lift it into the bed. Another 25 for the motor, 10 more for electronics, plus rods, tackle, and bag. I bet I’m at 200# on the water before I add me.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my autopilot. Aside from loading (which I have a system for) and top end speed (which I have to plan around) it’s a fishing machine when you’re on the water. Just be aware of the limitations. 

[Koz]

8 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

An autopilot will mean either more weight or more trips going up that hill at the end. I start at 125# for the boat, batteries, and seat which is how I lift it into the bed. Another 25 for the motor, 10 more for electronics, plus rods, tackle, and bag. I bet I’m at 200# on the water before I add me.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my autopilot. Aside from loading (which I have a system for) and top end speed (which I have to plan around) it’s a fishing machine when you’re on the water. Just be aware of the limitations. 

Yeah, I've examined this in every way. The weight will essentially be the same, but I shouldn't be as worn out from pedaling all day.

 

My original plan was to add a trolling motor to my pedal kayak. First off, that adds almost another 60 pounds in weight with the motor, battery, and mounting hardware. Second, I have no interior hull access in my kayak, so mounting the motor would be a crossbar held by well nuts. I was worried the shearing forces would eventually cause damage.

 

I just don't know. That's why it will probably take the summer to sort out.

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, Koz said:

Yeah, I've examined this in every way. The weight will essentially be the same, but I shouldn't be as worn out from pedaling all day.

 

My original plan was to add a trolling motor to my pedal kayak. First off, that adds almost another 60 pounds in weight with the motor, battery, and mounting hardware. Second, I have no interior hull access in my kayak, so mounting the motor would be a crossbar held by well nuts. I was worried the shearing forces would eventually cause damage.

 

I just don't know. That's why it will probably take the summer to sort out.

 

Another option you could consider is a bixby or similar rear mounted motor.  I was out tuesday and a guy had one on the back of a jackson kayak.  I'd say he was getting a solid 5-5.5 mph as he passed me coming down the lake.  I'm not sure what the power consumption would be (thus battery size) but the motor itself is small and would add negligible weight.  You'd still use the pedals while fishing, but that's a far sight less pedaling.

[TnRiver46]

I leave my kayaks at the bottom of the hill, and lemme tell ya it’s a heck of a hill with no pavement, just red clay and river rock

[Darth-Baiter]

there isnt an electric golf cart to pull the kayak up the hill?  what about breaking it up into smaller loads up the hill?  like use a small gardening utiltiy cart to pull up all the ancillary stuff, essentially leaving the bare boat to drag up the hill.  

 

i have a few spots that i wish i was a stronger dude.  i do mulitple trips, and bring it up slow.

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, Darth-Baiter said:

there isnt an electric golf cart to pull the kayak up the hill?

Funny you’d say that, the guy we rented to forever used to have an electric golf cart with monster mud tires to get down to the dock in the pic I posted haha

[Bankc]

1 hour ago, Koz said:

Yeah, I've examined this in every way. The weight will essentially be the same, but I shouldn't be as worn out from pedaling all day.

 

My original plan was to add a trolling motor to my pedal kayak. First off, that adds almost another 60 pounds in weight with the motor, battery, and mounting hardware. Second, I have no interior hull access in my kayak, so mounting the motor would be a crossbar held by well nuts. I was worried the shearing forces would eventually cause damage.

 

I just don't know. That's why it will probably take the summer to sort out.

You could get a hole saw bit, drill an access hole, get a waterproof access port cover, and install that into the hole.  Then you'd have access to the interior to mount everything.  Or you could run a trolling motor off to the side, just behind you.  I did that for about a year and half.  

All in all, you might be happier with a jon boat in the long run.  You can probably find a used one for not too much money, compared to a new powered kayak.  That'll likely last you longer, as it'll have better balance and better seating (with an upgraded seat).  So it won't wear you out as much and you might be able to keep fishing in that thing until your mid 70's or so.  

 

Most any car should be able to pull a kayak or small jon boat.  You might have to install a trailer hitch, but they're not hard to do (or that expensive to have professionally done).  You'll want to check out your car's maximum towing capacity, though if you're not towing long distances or at high speeds, I don't see how going over that would be a big issue.  But most cars should be able to tow 1,500 lbs or so without any issue.  

[immortl]

Hey Koz, it seems to me what we have here is a situation that could maybe be helped with a slight adjustment in perspective. That glass is half full, half full of fine whiskey at that.

 

Yeah, getting older sucks, it's hard when we can no longer easily do that which we used to not even think about.  Reading through your post though, I'm hearing a post title more along the lines of, "hey, how I'm doing it now is getting challenging and tiring, time for some changes and upgrades!"   Sounds like you have a pretty solid overall idea and have the summer and all next fall and winter to scheme and plan the fine details.  Sure, a lottery win would help with all that, but you have some time.  Enjoy the scheming and planning!

 

There are a several good ideas here in this thread already.  Might not need a new Bronco to pull the kayak, but I don't think that's the main reason you want a Bronco.  They're pretty darn cool.  I've always been a Jeep guy myself, but those new Broncos have strongly piqued my interest.  Were I to venture back into the world of no roof and no doors, I'm not sure which I'd end up with.

 

If your primary reason for a motor is getting to/from your spots, my sense is a lot of folks really like and get a lot of use out of the transom mounted motors and most of that rigging seems to be neatly bundled up on top of the kayak  from what I've seen.  Myself, I liked the idea of spot lock instead of an anchor, so I went with a bow mount trolling motor with spot lock.  That said, while not exactly cheap, the Autopilot is a relatively reasonable way to get into a motorized kayak.

 

Anyways, I would say you are at an exciting point and have lots of ideas to possibilities to explore.  Get to scheming!!   

[Deleted account]

12 minutes ago, immortl said:

Hey Koz, it seems to me what we have here is a situation that could maybe be helped with a slight adjustment in perspective. That glass is half full, half full of fine whiskey at that.

 

Yeah, getting older sucks, it's hard when we can no longer easily do that which we used to not even think about.  Reading through your post though, I'm hearing a post title more along the lines of, "hey, how I'm doing it now is getting challenging and tiring, time for some changes and upgrades!"   Sounds like you have a pretty solid overall idea and have the summer and all next fall and winter to scheme and plan the fine details.  Sure, a lottery win would help with all that, but you have some time.  Enjoy the scheming and planning!

 

There are a several good ideas here in this thread already.  Might not need a new Bronco to pull the kayak, but I don't think that's the main reason you want a Bronco.  They're pretty darn cool.  I've always been a Jeep guy myself, but those new Broncos have strongly piqued my interest.  Were I to venture back into the world of no roof and no doors, I'm not sure which I'd end up with.

 

If your primary reason for a motor is getting to/from your spots, my sense is a lot of folks really like and get a lot of use out of the transom mounted motors and most of that rigging seems to be neatly bundled up on top of the kayak  from what I've seen.  Myself, I liked the idea of spot lock instead of an anchor, so I went with a bow mount trolling motor with spot lock.  That said, while not exactly cheap, the Autopilot is a relatively reasonable way to get into a motorized kayak.

 

Anyways, I would say your are at an exciting point and have lots of ideas to possibilities to explore.  Get to scheming!!   

 

60 is the new delusional...

[Koz]

6 hours ago, Bankc said:

Most any car should be able to pull a kayak or small jon boat.  

I drive a Genesis Coupe. It would take extensive and costly modifications to even attempt to pull a trailer. It's getting time for a new vehicle anyway.

[Darth-Baiter]

6 hours ago, Deleted account said:

 

60 is the new delusional...

80's are the actual delusional..maybe 90's.  

[Deleted account]

17 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

80's are the actual delusional..maybe 90's.  

 

That's reel cognitive cognitive impairment, the first sign is you want to throw tiny lures with BCs...

 

1 hour ago, Koz said:

I drive a Genesis Coupe. It would take extensive and costly modifications to even attempt to pull a trailer. 

 

 

[Motoboss]

I vote either a add on motor (Bixby, Newport, Torqeedo) to your existing kayak or go all in with the Old Town AP 120. Neither addresses the movement to storage but makes fishing a lot easier.

Either way a truck to slide it into or the Bronco with a trailer. Both modes would allow access ramp loading and unloading making it much easier to get in and out of storage.

 

I’m near 69 and have no issues loading and unloading mine from the cart. Most difficult is putting it on to the t-bone from the ground to load up at the ramp as mine is extra high with a Decked Drawer system, but that’s doable. I built a bed high roller cart to store it on and it’s real easy to put in the truck bed and back out on to the cart for storage.

 

 I know you don’t want a truck so the trailer makes the most sense, and you get your new Bronco!

A trailer and add-on motor would more cost effective but the AP120 is an awesome package.

 

Don’t give up, just make it easier .

 

 

 

[FryDog62]

On 4/6/2023 at 5:40 PM, Koz said:

Don't get me wrong, I love my Seastream Angler 120 pedal drive but as I'm now pushing 60 (holy #$%!) it's starting to wear me out. I covered about 12 miles the other day and if that didn't kick my butt enough I have to haul it up a big, steep hill out back of my hotel to put it back in storage. I've been packing light lately and it's still 150 pounds with the kayak, pedal drive, electronics, battery, and gear.

 

I've thought about trading in my car and getting a Bronco Sport and a trailer, and while that eliminates hauling it up and down the hill pedaling all day on the water is still going to kick my butt.

 

I've thought about a boat, but that seems to be a money pit. Then again, if I get lucky enough to qualify for and win the MLF Phoenix regionals, first prize includes a new Phoenix boat. but I doubt that will happen.

 

I think the most logical option at this point is the Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 120. But it's a big chunk of change that takes money out of my new car fund. I'm in a funk because age is catching up with me and that pedal drive is kicking my butt lately. But I think this is my last season with it. I'll buy a new vehicle by this summer, Sell the Seastream by fall and buy the Old Town and a trailer.

 

Getting old is no fun.

 

I’m a year older than you, just had my first stent and am on my second season with an AP 120. Boat control and motoring to your spot is the way to go. I spend so much more of my time fishing than fussing with getting into and staying in position. 
 

The Autopilots are a beast - both good and bad. It’s tough and rugged and nearly indestructible (mine survived Hurricane Ian). The down side is moving it. If you have a trailer and a good way to launch/retrieve without injuring yourself, you’ve won the battle and it’s 100% worth it. 

[TnRiver46]

Kudos to you guys, I’ll be lucky if I’m still bank fishing over 60 years old 

[Alex from GA]

I'm 82 and kayak fish every week during the summer, but, I only go downstream.  There's really no maintenance on a jon boat or small bass boat in fresh water.  I fish several times a week in my 16' bass boat in Lake Lanier but don't have to launch it.  If there's a dock @ your hotel it's a no brainer.  You can also maybe hook up a winch to get your kayak up the hill or use the lawn tractor.

[FryDog62]

40 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Kudos to you guys, I’ll be lucky if I’m still bank fishing over 60 years old 

It's not the year, but the miles...! 

[Eric 26]

@Koz I know this isn’t the vehicle you want but my coworker bought a “Smart” car and put a factory accessory hitch bar on the dang thing. He uses it not only for work but hauls a pop up camper with it. I’m not sure how much they cost used but I do know it’s cheaper than a “utility vehicle” as my neighbor told me what he paid for his and heck it’s actually around the same size and can accommodate hauling your kayak. Just food for thought ?

[Koz]

4 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

@Koz I know this isn’t the vehicle you want but my coworker bought a “Smart” car and put a factory accessory hitch bar on the dang thing. He uses it not only for work but hauls a pop up camper with it. I’m not sure how much they cost used but I do know it’s cheaper than a “utility vehicle” as my neighbor told me what he paid for his and heck it’s actually around the same size and can accommodate hauling your kayak. Just food for thought ?

Thanks for the tip, but I'm not a fan. I actually prefer sports cars and sedans, but I see the utility needs of an SUV with all of the bells and whistles. I'm also kind of stubborn because there's only so much that I'm willing to spend on a vehicle. It's not about what I can afford, but by setting a limit what I can do with the "excess" money I didn't spend on a vehicle.

 

Lastly, all my life I have been patient when it comes to buying a vehicle and have always got a great deal on new vehicles. But with things as they are right now, no one is dealing, I may just have to stop being so stubborn and bite the bullet on this one.

[Choporoz]

Funny timing...sitting here on the couch tonight absolutely spent.  Pedaled for 9 hours today in a tournament an hour and a half away.  And 5 hours in the Hobie yesterday...I think this is probably my last season.

  I turned 60 last year.  I still enjoy it, but I think I see the boat - yak fishing ratio changing dramatically next year

[Motoboss]

Incentive Koz

There are several AP120’s with trailers on FB for sale. Guy just posted a ‘21 w/trailer and accessories for $3,600.

[optimator]

What about one of these? Mine weights 100 lbs empty.