I need kayak advice!

[captainbailey]

I'm starting to do my research on buying a kayak. I have decided on SOT. I am 6'4" and 265lbs. I plan on fishing the bay mostly but would like something to take on the ocean on occasion. I want to get most of my info before I start going to stores. Please provide any input in helping me make my decision.

[ped579]

Okay lets try this again, I just had a glitch that wiped out the whole post.

In my search for a kayak I had talked to many yakers and looked at a lot of boats, but till I tried to sit in them I was not really sure what to look for.  I have a slight problem and had to make sure my artificial hips would not give me any problems as I want to use the boat and not have it sit in the garage.

I tried out friends boats and I picked an expo to go to and tried out even more boats there.  I was hoping to get one of the Mirage paddle type boats from Hobie but that was not the case as the Mirage even with the peddles all the way forward put a strain on me.  I was working with a Rep from Hobie and felt confident that he would give me an honest effort and if the boats did not work oh well.  I tried the Pro Angler and the Outback but did not feel comfortable.  He suggested the Quest even though it is a paddle type the way the seat was configured it might be better.  That was it...The seat was set at an angle and that was just enough to give me tons of leg room and it felt like an old friend with no problems at all.

The boat is 13' long and 28" at the beam with some great advantages.  It pays to go and look and play around with them and not take anyone's word for a fact.  Every person is different and every model boat is different.  Start your leg work and try as many models as you can.

I hope this helps.

Happy Catching

Paul

[DAK]

Paul is absolutely right - get out and start demoing yaks. NJ Paddler (Brick?), Bel Haven Canoes (Green Bank), Paddle Shack (Mays Landing), and Barrell (Brigantine) all let you demo. You should notice drastic differences between all the various models in handling, speed, comfort, etc. Enjoy your shopping!

[SeaFlea]

captainbailey,
I am not an expert, ipso fact!! Paul is absolutely right; test drive as many as you can before you buy! At 6' 4" you ain't short and tipping the scales at 265 says you ain't flea weight... Your gonna need a 'yak that will give you the leg-room so you're comfortable and one that'll handle your weight. If I was you I'd start with a minimum length of 13' (my gut says 14' would be better though)... Try to stay away from 'yaks over 28" in width; they have a tendency to be slow. Do not buy a kayak advertised as an "angler edition" because you're paying someone to put the rod-holders on or the fish-finder on the boat based on what they have done in the past.  Buy the plain-jane, take it out with the rod holders & fishfinder and a big 'ol roll of duct tape.  In a nice quiet area start to get the feel of where you'd like the "accessories" and tape them in place, then go for a paddle to see if you positioned the gear correctly. You'll smack the hell outta the stuff it's in the wrong place! If you're not smackin' it, move in towards you a touch or two... You want the gear close enough to see or reach and at the same time out of the way of your paddle...
Some "suggestions":
Hobie's Quest - weighs 57#, 13' long, 28.5" wide
Tarpon 140 - weighs 62#, 14' long, 28" wide
Ocean Kayak Trident 13 - weighs 60#, 13' long, 29.5 wide
hope that helps...

[captainbailey]

I'll start demoing them in a week or so. I just wanted to know which models are best suited for what I'm looking to do. Great advice seaflea, once you add an "angler" package the price goes up several hundred dollars for a couple of rod holders and a FF mount

[barrell]

I agree with everyones advice to not buy until you have demoed a quite a few. However go back and demo again in rough conditions. All kayaks work in calm water very few excel in wind and chop.  Hobie Footdrives are the way to go if you can aford one. I paddled and fished for ten years and never want to go back to that again. It seemed like I was paddling more than fishing.
 I feel after selling over 10,000 kayaks, many to big guys over 250lbs, that wide and short is the way to go. This month a I sold 25 kayaks to fishemen. Twenty two were the 34 inch wide by twelve foot Outback. Half the guys were over 225 pounds. With a few over 300 pounds. The guys I take out on demos want stabilty and are willing to sacrafice speed. Here in S jersey we can launch within sight of where we want to fish. We dont need speed as we never go more then five miles total in 5 hours of fishing.
 Dont get caught in the paid demo trap. Some shops charge for each kayak you try out and tell you they will reimburse you if you buy. Demos should be free so you havent committed a bunch of money already to a purchase.
 Trasportation can be a real problem if you dont have a pickup truck. Think about how you will get the yak around.

[captainbailey]

I notice the Jersey Paddler has $30 courses that I'm assuming are not the same as paid demos

[barrell]

I dont know what that meens. Youll have to ask them. I do beleive they do demos on a shallow little pond behind the store. If thats the only place you will ever fish then thats sufficient. However if you are going to fish open water you want to demo on open water.