re: The Official Kayak Thread

So here's my deal. I want a kayak for just puttering around rivers/lakes in Louisiana. I don't need it for fishing, as I'll only be fishing very casually. Mostly just because I'll be out on the water, so maybe I can save some money not going with an angler specific yak?

I'm going to go with a SOT and don't really want to go over $500. The other thing is length. I'm pretty sure I'm going to get told here that anything under 12 is a pain, but is a 10 really going to suck for someone like me who just wants to float around and maybe do an overnight trip once in a while?

It seems like 12 would probably be my safe bet, but would a ten be a lot easier to grab and go, or is a 12 or 14 not going to make that big of a difference as far as loading/unloading goes?

I'm not in a hurry so I've been looking everyday on FB marketplace and CL. A few have jumped out at me, but I'd like to screw down which length I really want first.

I'm looking at the usual suspects. Wilderness, Perception, Native. Saw a good priced Hurricane Phoenix 14 and also the Native Manta Ray 14 for $400, but the native seems to be about 75 pounds and I don't know if I'm going to want to deal with that just for going out for a few hours. Also, some tarpon 100's, that's why I'm trying to figure out the length first.

Appreciate any advice.

A Native Ultimate would be good too being that you want a river/lake boat and weight is a concern.

That new JK Bite looks amazing. Years ago when I was in that sub $1k price range and got the Ascend 128T it’s amazing how much better the options are now. You can get a high quality kayak in that range nowadays

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10 really going to suck for someone like me who just wants to float around

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I’d really say that has to do with the conditions on a perfect day low wind probably fine but the wind kicks up you’re not gonna like that 10 footer
You have to consider that the length contributes to how the boat tracks in the water I would stick with a minimum of 12’
The benefits out weigh the negatives
That 10 will be going side to side not straight
A lot of wasted motion IMO

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12 or 14 not going to make that big of a difference as far as loading/unloading goes?

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Of course the weight will go up with a longer boat but not that much, say keep it under 80# ya good
My boat is 13.5 @ 90# I load it by myself while not fun sometimes it’s manageable

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Wilderness, Perception, Native

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Don’t see a lot of perceptions on the water, well not in the marsh but the other 2 make solid rigs would also add Vibe Sea Ghost 130 (75#) to your list
buddy had 1 of those and was really impressed with it, comes with a rudder also nice plus
Ohh add Ascend also, great boats GL

Yes sir and she properly slimed it the 1st trip

I didn’t take it for a spin yet
But prop is small AF, it does have a pitch adjustment to help I’m sure it’s probably great in lakes for pond fishing but the heavy current that drive gonna make ya work

Went to the kayak meeting last week at P&P and saw the Big Rig with that drive. That thing is enormous and is pushing 150 lbs.

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naming your kayak?

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I never heard of anyone doing this.

What did you name yours?

I have a coworker looking for a kayak in the $400-$500 range, do any of you ballers have anything you are looking to get rid of?

Im in NWLA but he can travel

How many doll hairs?

Long story, but let's just say I got the kayak due to a weird circumstance and it deserves a name related to said circumstance