| Author | Message | ||
     Fresnobuell |
Going to purchase a kayak (or a set) soon. Hope to get an end of season deal somewhere. Any recommendations? Looking for a sit on top coming in somewhere close to 13 feet (seems like a good compromise between sport and touring). It will mostly be used in a lake setting, with occasional river and ocean excursions. Nothing too radical though. I have been looking at the Prowler 13 from Ocean. http://www.oceankayak.com/kayaks/single_kayaks/pro wler_13.html Thanks for any help or recommendations. | ||
| Bosh |
Ocean Kayak makes good boats. They are pretty much the staple fishing kayak around here (CA coast). My brother uses his prowler in Hawaii for fishing (Ahi & Ono) and really likes it. I'd go for the trident myself just for the additional fishing features. Probably a little faster also with the extra length. Depends what you are going to do with it I suppose. You can't go wrong with either. (Message edited by bosh on September 08, 2008) | ||
| Tramp |
I like 'em cheap and small. This first craft is an Otter, a 9'er or so:  This second is a "Dagger", roughly a 12-ish(?):  Good tracking, stable, a tad front-heavy for me. I use 'em for poking about in tight swamps and marshes for biological studies. My better half has a great Swifty that that she got for $269- at a big sporting goods chain store...I camoed it nicely for her. | ||
| Tramp |
Like anything else, try a few first, and also try to think seriously about where you're going to be using it, most frequently. Kayaks, unfortunately, are one of the fashionable toys of the trendy yuppie set, and the manufacturers are adept at selling you doodads that you really don't need... (Message edited by tramp on September 09, 2008) | ||
| Tramp |
Try to figure out how much of your float time will be marine, as well, as that can change things. (Message edited by tramp on September 09, 2008) | ||
| Slaughter |
Sunny and I both have Ocean Kayak Scupper Pro. Water proof compartments forward and rear (well... water-resistant) - I can carry 2 scuba tanks and weights. Surf entries are easier than exits. If you are NOT going to be working it in the surf, get a rudder. It'll help in long, cross-wind paddles. The Ocean Kayaks with their roto-molded poly-whatever plastic are hella rugged. I've had mine pounded into rocks a number of times. You can even get rod holders for fishing, and there's a TON of stuff on the net for the do-it-yourselfer. Sit-on-top is the ONLY way to go in the surf... and NO, you can't really "surf" a long kayak - you really face along the wave and lean INTO the wave with your paddle "dragging" - and you get pushed sidways to the beach. Fun but yeah, you still get tumbled half the time. Sunny and I do volunteer work at the Wheelchair Sports Camp at UC Santa Barbara and they have a couple kayaks rigged there for people with only partial use of their hands and you ought to see the kids take to them! (a whole 'nother story) Kayaks are way cool! | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Kayaks are way cool! Yep, I rented them a couple times this year and it is a blast. Throw a cooler on 'em and just have fun with your buddies. It's is amazing how much distance you can cover. Something I can see doing for a long time and a perfect excuse to get out of the hot Valley for an afternoon. Thanks for the help. Anyone else please chime in... | ||
| Slaughter |
Mark Theobald is the guy who rigged up the kayak for the disabled (I have some pictures around somewhere) and wrote a really great book about kayaking - fishing, scuba diving - techniques and lists of "stuff." Also has a bunch of good ideas, plans, etc. http://www.kayakdiving.com/ |
