Thinking of selling my kayak

[Koz]

46 minutes ago, optimator said:

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

 

 

I might be wrong, but I think that might be scary at times on our big, very narrow lake. Kayaks maneuver quickly and I have no fear of getting dumped. 
 

I’ll take a look at them again, but I think if I get a boat it will be a bass boat.

[optimator]

It’s extremely stable. The bottom is two molded pontoons. I also duck hunt out of it. I’ve been out in some pretty heinous weather and never once worried about it going over. Hell I stand up in it most of the time fishing. 

[flyfisher]

Then sell the kayak.  The old town AP series of boats are nice and super stable and easy to fish from. They are super heavy and even with a motor are slower than a sloth and the motor isn't super strong if you fish current often and if you have to paddle them they are a bear.  If speed isn't any concern and neither is the weight then they are a good kayak.  Me personally i'd go with a lighter weight kayak and throw a rear mounted motor like a NK180/300 or torqeedo on a good paddling boat and you will be lighter weight and faster.  

 

Another good option is a twin troller.  Kind of like the pond prowler posted above but with two protected trolling motors.  

[Koz]

1 hour ago, flyfisher said:

Then sell the kayak.  

 I'm looking at new and used Tracker Pros right now. At this minute I think that's the best option.

[snake95]

@KozI also live in GA and have an OT sportsman PDL. I am 50 and not in good shape but I'm motivated to change that.

I need and want the exercise but totally understand where you are coming from. I just bought a Bixpy to mount on back and a peddle hole cover so I can use that to replace or supplement peddling.

 

Might be a band aid solution though, in the sense that once you are in for the $$ you might as well get something more deluxe.

[airshot]

1 hour ago, Koz said:

 I'm looking at new and used Tracker Pros right now. At this minute I think that's the best option.

Depending on your interests it might be.  I downsized to a 16' Sylvan alum side console from a bigger cuddy cabin due to wifes health issues. She can no longer boat due to back issues so most of my boating is by myself.  I to sold my Kayak a few years back, enjoyed it but at 72, goung by myself probably wasn't smart. My 16' can easily be launched abdvretrieved by myself without much effort.  Gotta get the trailer set up properly!!  Being alum it can be towed by small vehicles. The Tracker line makes some nice boats, my neighbor has one, very similiar to my Sylvan...  I fish about 50-60% of my time on the water, but also enjoy a nice ride/ cruise, mabey even a fast ride as my boat does over 30 mph, it sort of brings out the kid in me, so having a fishing boat and a sports car type boat satisfies my wants and needs.  Loved my Kayak but interests and life itself changes, so gotta go with the flow...and what works...

[TnRiver46]

10 hours ago, optimator said:

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

 

 

 Beautiful spot 

[DogBone_384]

On 4/7/2023 at 9:40 AM, Darth-Baiter said:

breaking it up into smaller loads up the hill? 

I have a FeelFree Lure and have started to take the pedal drive and off and making two trips back to the truck at a couple ponds I fish.  I'm 56 and still in good shape, but find it easier.  I guess time stops for NO MAN.

[dickenscpa]

I'm 51 and been a bass boat owner since I was 16, recently sold my boat because I've become so engulfed in kayak fishing. I do put about 150 mi/week on a bicycle and do two centuries a year though, so pedaling a kayak with no hills to climb seems like a field day.

 

ORIGINALLY I got a kayak to get away from what I perceived as headaches with my boat. As time has went by I think I've actually made my kayak more labor intensive than my boat was, but I really enjoy the kayak and don't think about it as much.

 

I wanted a kayak I could throw in the bed, carry to the office and fish places on the way home. I wasn't pulling a 21' bass boat thru rush hour morning and evening. Of course as things progressed I got very involved in kayak tournaments and added more and more to the kayak. I actually carry more rods and about 5X the tackle I ever carried on my boat.

 

So I defeated my original purpose of getting small and simple and a trailer became just about mandatory. So now if I'm honest with myself I've probably made kayaking more work getting in and out of the water than the boat was. However, most of my bane with the boat was getting in and out of the garage. So, more work getting in and out of the water but in and out of the garage is cake.

 

Like a lot of my endeavors I have one thing in mind and it goes in a different direction. LOL!

[Koz]

On 4/9/2023 at 2:48 PM, flyfisher said:

Me personally i'd go with a lighter weight kayak and throw a rear mounted motor like a NK180/300 or torqeedo on a good paddling boat and you will be lighter weight and faster.  

 

I've looked at the Torqeedo's and similar options, but to me they don't make sense. In fact, neither does a standard trolling motor on a kayak.

 

What I really like about my pedal kayak is that I don't have to fight wind and current while I'm fishing. It's easy to jog the pedals and bump the rudder to maintain my position or angle AND still fish at the same time.

 

But with a standard trolling motor or a paddle your hands are otherwise occupied. You lose a lot of fishing time when you have to paddle or grab the trolling motor to correct your position. To me, that's why only a trolling motor with spot lock makes sense on a kayak. Or maybe if you rig your kayak to control the trolling motor with pedals.

[flyfisher]

My motor acts as a rudder for those same situations as I use it when I am floating downstream.  I have mine on a stick steer as well so i can adjust as I am standing.  Spot lock trolling motors are way too slow for my tastes and lack the power for moving upriver which is my primary fishing.  For a lake boat where you don't have to worry about speed they can be good, my dad likes his except when we are on the river together and he can't get to the spots I do wither because of grass or heavier current. 

[Zcoker]

Don't overlook the Old Town Sportsman 106 Powered by Minn Kota. I have one of those and can take it anywhere, anyplace with no issues whatsoever...and I'm a number of years older than you! I can launch it in some of the most makeshift launch sites imaginable down here in the Florida everglades. I can take the thing in some of the thickest cover imaginable.

I was torn between the two, 106 and the Auto Pilot. The 106 eventually won out over the Auto Pilot because the motor in the Auto sticks out below the hull almost twice the distance as the 106, has to for the autopilot feature. Plus it was much heavier and longer. That just wouldn't fly for me out in the everglades, which is where I mostly go. The 106 motor is tucked in nicely, allowing me to go very, very shallow, a great feature to have when the water levels get very low or when the hydrilla tops out.....a Florida standard! I also prefer the hand throttle feature much better than the around the neck push button remote thingy. I've had the boat for a number of years now, been in blizzard like conditions and never have needed any sort of anchor system. Hand feathering throttle control is very nice! Great boat. Happy Hunting!

 

 

 

[KP Duty]

On 4/9/2023 at 8:51 AM, optimator said:

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

 

 

Yep...I was going to suggest a bass raider or bass hunter.  I want stability.  Love my Raider 10E.  They make a bass hunter that has wheels built in to the pontoons for easy moving (called the bass baby).

¹

[dickenscpa]

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'd suggest you keep your current kayak and pick up one of those dollys. You mentioned getting a Bronco and I don't know if your current vehicle has a hitch or not but these dollys aren't meant to tow on the road and FAR from road legal anyway you could actually just jerry rig this thing to any vehicle because it's only meant to pull in the parking lot, up that bad hill, etc.

 

Forgive me I don't remember which one of Greg Blanchards videos it is but he carries his kayak in a truck and his yak has Boonedox landing gear but some ramps/parking lots are STEEP and he has a dolly. Put the dolly in the water and yak floats off. Getting out of the water the yak floats over dolly and pull the rope and pull dolly and yak out of the water. He has one video where the ramp was super steep and the dolly either went on his hitch or he hooked it to the bumper and he backed it into the water with his truck and pulled it out when he left.

 

The other perk to these dollys is you can actually stand erect and pull your kayak. I have a Hobie PA for example with the Hobie scupper cart. I've rarely used it because even though Hobie says their scuppers are reinforced I've seen them crack. Check Alex Rudds YT for example. I can't stand erect and pull it or the back end will scrape. Pulling up a hill all hunched over is even worse. With these dollys you can stand normal.

 

I don't know how much they cost but if they're $300 I'd rather buy one if I liked my current kayak than sell mine for a money loss, buy another and have to change all my crap from one kayak to another.

[Darth-Baiter]

On 4/12/2023 at 12:41 AM, Koz said:

I've looked at the Torqeedo's and similar options, but to me they don't make sense. In fact, neither does a standard trolling motor on a kayak.

 

What I really like about my pedal kayak is that I don't have to fight wind and current while I'm fishing. It's easy to jog the pedals and bump the rudder to maintain my position or angle AND still fish at the same time.

 

But with a standard trolling motor or a paddle your hands are otherwise occupied. You lose a lot of fishing time when you have to paddle or grab the trolling motor to correct your position. To me, that's why only a trolling motor with spot lock makes sense on a kayak. Or maybe if you rig your kayak to control the trolling motor with pedals.

torqueedo or Newport to get your there.  once there, you have to do some footwork to be the human spot lock.   you still need the pedal drive.   this is the most common configuration i see on kayaks.   spot lock seem iffy to me.  my friends set up has no kill switch if he swan dives out accidentally. 

[casts_by_fly]

15 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

torqueedo or Newport to get your there.  once there, you have to do some footwork to be the human spot lock.   you still need the pedal drive.   this is the most common configuration i see on kayaks.   spot lock seem iffy to me.  my friends set up has no kill switch if he swan dives out accidentally. 

 

No iffyness on spotlock- if its an option then take it.  If your friend doesn't have a kill switch then it was installed incorrectly.  The autopilot has one built in (two in fact).  Also, the remote still works if you fall out and the boat drifts away.

[Darth-Baiter]

40 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

No iffyness on spotlock- if its an option then take it.  If your friend doesn't have a kill switch then it was installed incorrectly.  The autopilot has one built in (two in fact).  Also, the remote still works if you fall out and the boat drifts away.

it has a lanyard killswitch?

 

i think he has his remote mounted on the boat.  it was last time.  i dont know.  i should look into it.  i like the guy.

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, Darth-Baiter said:

it has a lanyard killswitch?

 

i think he has his remote mounted on the boat.  it was last time.  i dont know.  i should look into it.  i like the guy.

 

The autopilot does.  There is a magnet in plastic molded into the boat next to the seat.  There is a separate clip (that doubles as a prop wrench and prop pin storage) on a 4' lanyard with a clip on the end.  

 

 

The other is under the motor housing (two options depending on year).  If the motor gets lifted out of place the kill switch disconnects so you don't have a prop flying around in the well.

[Koz]

3 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

torqueedo or Newport to get your there.  once there, you have to do some footwork to be the human spot lock.   you still need the pedal drive.   this is the most common configuration i see on kayaks.   spot lock seem iffy to me.  my friends set up has no kill switch if he swan dives out accidentally. 

I have a Newport and a Railblaza motor mount but I have not attached it yet. Because I have no internal access to my kayak I need to decide whether or not to affix it with well nuts or cut the kayak open to mount it. Either way, I am concerned about sheering forces.

 

Adding the trolling motor, 100mAh Lipo battery, mount, and battery box adds 60 pounds to my kayak. My pedal drive is another 22 pounds.

 

My plan was to utilize both, but I'm getting very close to the total weight capacity of my kayak.

 

Looking back, although I love my kayak I should have done more research an ALL possible future upgrades including a trolling motor. I would have either bought an Old Town right away or found a kayak that was specifically designed to accommodate a trolling motor and plate. 

 

I could rig the nose of my kayak to fasten a trolling motor, but not even the manufacturer knows if it would warp or buckle over time. It gets pretty hot here in GA, so I do worry about added weight to the nose and warping the bow.

 

For now I'm going to utilize my kayak into the fall or winter, then decide whether to buy an Old Town or a Tracker boat.

[KSanford33]

Hey @Koz,

 As you know, I bought the same kayak based on your review, and don't regret a minute of it. However, I sold mine over the off-season for many of the same reasons you mentioned. I agree with what a lot of other members have said about the AutoPilot being just as heavy to lug around as the SeaStream is. What I've done is bought a Lifetime Teton and added a DIY trolling motor bracket in the existing rod holders. This kept the cost down, and along with the trolling motor and battery (LiPO), the weight is manageable. Using a kayak cart makes it much easier. It's not perfect -the trolling motor torque steers on high pretty badly- but now I don't feel like I'm competing in the Tour de Mohawk from all the pedaling. 

 Also, I'm sure you know this, but I wanted to bring it to your attention. As a previous Bronco Sport owner, it's based on the same platform as the Ford Escape, so unless you absolutely have your heart set on the Bronco Sport, you can save yourself a ton of money and just get an Escape.

 Like you said, there's no easy answer to it.

[Koz]

9 hours ago, KSanford33 said:

Hey @Koz,

 As you know, I bought the same kayak based on your review, and don't regret a minute of it. However, I sold mine over the off-season for many of the same reasons you mentioned. I agree with what a lot of other members have said about the AutoPilot being just as heavy to lug around as the SeaStream is. What I've done is bought a Lifetime Teton and added a DIY trolling motor bracket in the existing rod holders. This kept the cost down, and along with the trolling motor and battery (LiPO), the weight is manageable. Using a kayak cart makes it much easier. It's not perfect -the trolling motor torque steers on high pretty badly- but now I don't feel like I'm competing in the Tour de Mohawk from all the pedaling. 

 Also, I'm sure you know this, but I wanted to bring it to your attention. As a previous Bronco Sport owner, it's based on the same platform as the Ford Escape, so unless you absolutely have your heart set on the Bronco Sport, you can save yourself a ton of money and just get an Escape.

 Like you said, there's no easy answer to it.

At this point, I'm pretty sure that I'm going to buy a boat next season.

 

There are a few reasons for this. First is simply being able to cover more water. Second, I'm enjoying being a co-angler is the MLF Phoenix Series and it looks like I'll do a co-angler event or two in the Toyota series. 

 

I want to do more events next year, but I want to be the one piloting the boat and having the final say in where to fish,

[kjfishman]

Just stay with it helps keep you young. If peddling is kicking your butt maybe take up cycling to build up your legs.  As we age the important thing is to remain active. I am 70 and still paddle and thinking about selling my bass boat that I rarely use and getting a peddle kayak.

 

[airshot]

Just the opposite here, arthritus has set in and peddling, paddling just doesnt work anymore, while I thoroughly enjoyed my kayak, my 16' tinnie is far less work and easier on the 73 yr old body.  To each his own, time can change everything !!