New guy - Looking for opinion on 'Yak

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MTStringerS
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New guy - Looking for opinion on 'Yak

Post by MTStringerS »

New to the forum and soon (hopefully) to be new to the kayak scene.

Let me give a little background so I can get best answers:
  • 8 in the family - 6 kids from 9 to 15
    Fish in Texas bays from Corpus up to Galveston
    would fish some freshwater lakes as well
    Might use in beach surf occasionally
    My idea for the fishing is mostly to use the kayak to get there and then wade for most of my fishing time.
    Half the family (or more) would probably never use them for fishing but just for fun.
I am looking to get my family in kayaks. Thinking I want to do dual seaters so I don't need 8 kayaks. Need to be durable and fishable and not too expensive. I saw inflatables and they are cheaper so I thought that might be a good route - plus they can be deflated to a smaller size than a regular yak so I can transport 4 of them. Just wanted to know if anyone use these and what your opinions were and/or if you had opinions on which might be better. The ones I saw that I thought might be good were Sea Eagle.

Any help would be appreciated.
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saltykat
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Re: New guy - Looking for opinion on 'Yak

Post by saltykat »

I don't know much about inflatables but most of us on the coast use sot's. Oyster reefs can be sharp. You'll probably need a trailer to be able to haul at least 4 tandem kayaks and gear. Thats the best way to go imo
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EdK
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Re: New guy - Looking for opinion on 'Yak

Post by EdK »

8 is enough would have been a good handle too. Good for you! Go to hook1 and tell Chad what you need. Ask for a volume discount. He will ship direct-free. http://www.kayakfishinggear.com/product ... ndem-kayak" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Crusader
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Re: New guy - Looking for opinion on 'Yak

Post by Crusader »

Buy second hand. These 2-seaters should cost cents on a dollar -- after initial interest dies down, they just lie around in garages.

You'll need a trailer to move 4 kayaks at once, probably.
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MTStringerS
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Re: New guy - Looking for opinion on 'Yak

Post by MTStringerS »

Thanks guys I think I might try to rent first then decide. I really liked the idea of the inflatable just for storage and packing considerations. Not sure I want a trailer.
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Crusader
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Re: New guy - Looking for opinion on 'Yak

Post by Crusader »

Inflatables won't cut inshore -- first oyster will sink you.
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lurejunkee
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Re: New guy - Looking for opinion on 'Yak

Post by lurejunkee »

X3 on inflatables + oyster shell = in the drink! With 8 in the bunch I'd look at a pontoon! J/K. Find some local dealers and see what's out there. I think either way you should paddle before you buy so try and check out some that way. Good luck and welcome!
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Re: New guy - Looking for opinion on 'Yak

Post by Tombo »

Inflatables are SLOW! Who gets stuck with this will be a far behind.
Can you give us more info as to size and age of your kids?
Scour the classifieds, you will always find a cheap Pelican brand.
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MTStringerS
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Re: New guy - Looking for opinion on 'Yak

Post by MTStringerS »

Kids are 9 - 15. 2 boys 13 and 15 - both good size kids. I am also a big guy - 6'2 - 250.

Any brands I should avoid?
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MTStringerS
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Re: New guy - Looking for opinion on 'Yak

Post by MTStringerS »

What do you think of this one?

Lifetime Sport Fisher Kayak with Paddles and Backrests
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004EEM87G/ref ... GSO5CG6XL3
Tombo
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Re: New guy - Looking for opinion on 'Yak

Post by Tombo »

Tandems, heavy, tend to be longer, require more room than a single, and are in general more expensive. Biggest drawback for tandem occupants is one person want to go this way, and the second paddler wants to go that way.
Or one paddler is content with just tagging along.
In general you get what you pay for. Pay attention to our classifieds. I would rather buy a used Wilderness Tarpon 120 than a new Pelican.
But, I don't have 8 paddlers to please. FTU in Houston is having a sale of their demo kayaks.
Think about how to store, transport, and how the kayaks are going to be used. If you can wait for deals to come along, it would be money better spent.
Use the Search feature on the above tool bar for more info.
You might consider a trailer big enough to haul all the kayaks. Bigger utility trailers can be used for other projects than kayaks.
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gonefishin
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Re: New guy - Looking for opinion on 'Yak

Post by gonefishin »

Wilderness Tarpon 130s are a good option. They have been discontinued but you should be able to find some used ones at a decent price. A friend has one and uses it both Solo and Tandem and loves it. It seems to track and turn well and is not too heavy. Lots of rigging options. Plan on the bigger kids that will be doing the majority of the paddling sitting in the rear seat and younger children in the front seat will probably just play at paddling but they can learn this way.
Another good one is the Malibu II XL about the same size and weight capacity as the Tarpon, lots of rigging options and tracks really well. It may be a little more stable than the Tarpon. It has the same solo /tandem option as the Tarpon 130. You will all ssuffer the cheaper Yaks as most of them will not track as well and not be as stable as some of the other kayaks. Look for reviews on Paddling.net
You will definitely want a utility trailer of some sort to carry them on as well as some kind of box to carry all the gear in. Get at least 4 good paddles for the Primary Paddlers. A Cheaper paddle can do for the Younger ones. Also fit everyone for a good PFD that they will wear all day. I have a friend who carries 4 kayaks on top of her tent camper on racks. She has 2 of the Malibu IIs for her 4 kids, who not only fish from them, but use them in the lakes as swimming/ diving platforms. Her kids a are 9-14. Her and her husband have OK Tridents. They all have a great time paddling and camping together. Right now they are working their way through all the State Parks in Texas. I'm sure your family will enjoy the new activity as much as they do.

As for inflatables, there is the risk like others said of oyster shells, as well as they will not paddle as well as a plastic hull kayak. It is the same with the cheaper plastic kayaks. The plastic is thin and flexes so much that it affects the performance. Over time, the inflatable boats will stretch also and won't handle well at all.

Good Luck and Good Paddling. :D
WJH
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Re: New guy - Looking for opinion on 'Yak

Post by WJH »

Just purchased a Jackson Big Tuna for me and my 2 kids, 9 and 11. Great Boat, stable, lots of room, and paddles well in solo as well.
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gonefishin
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Re: New guy - Looking for opinion on 'Yak

Post by gonefishin »

Perception Sport Pescador 13 tandem should be the same as the old style Wilderness Tarpon 130 tandem that I mentioned in my previous post. Academy has them for $550. May be just what you are looking for.
Don't rush out and buy 4 of them. Maybe you can find someone who has one that will let you come try it out. If you feel compelled to buy it, I would just get one to start with and see how you like it, and let everyone in the family try it out before you decide on buying for the whole family. Some of the kids or your wife may not take to paddling and you may decide on just getting a couple of tandems to start with and let everyone take turns fishing out of them. My nephew got a kayak when he was 10 but he much preferred fishing off a pier or bank fishing at that age, if he had a choice. :wink:
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texasag07
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Re: New guy - Looking for opinion on 'Yak

Post by texasag07 »

Take a look at canoes, a 13-16 ft canoe will haul 2-3 people with gear just fine. Look at models that are at least 32" at the widest point, but the wider the better as they will be much more the stable and have a higher capacity.

The other thing is they can be picked up in the $150-500 range and you could outfit you family much cheaper. You could also get one or two kayaks and then supplement with canoes when the whole family wants to go.
wandering wader
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Re: New guy - Looking for opinion on 'Yak

Post by wandering wader »

Whichever way you go be sure and get the hat. With that many personnel and watercraft under your command I feel you should at least rank as a Commodore or Admiral. :lol:
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RedsOnRiot
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Re: New guy - Looking for opinion on 'Yak

Post by RedsOnRiot »

LOL get a boat.
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