CTFishTalk.com: KAYAK HELP PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!! - Connecticut Lake Reports ( CT Lake Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

CatDaddy · Joined: 06 Sep 2011 Posts: 62 Location: New Britain

hello, i noticed there are alot of kayak fishermen here. i have never fished a kayak but i am strongly considering getting one so i can really get out on the water. i know nothing about kayaks so i would appreciate it of i can a little bit of info from some of you guys. also im a big guy 6ft and 275 lbs so i need something that i can sit in comfortably. the sit on kayaks kind of scare me so i would prefer a sit in. anybody know what make/model would be good for my size? im hoping to stay in the $300-500 range. but will consider spending more if i must. also is it comon for kayaks to flip and ifso how hard is it so slide out and then get back in? please help me!
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CatDaddy

SeaDog1 · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 2629

Hi CatDaddy !

Phil (aka PeCo) is the man to talk to.

Highly suggest thought you try before you buy. (on the water!)

I'm 5' 11" and 257 and personally find a kayak to be very difficult to get in and out of + my legs get cramped.

SeaDog1

jbrown815 · Joined: 06 Sep 2011 Posts: 30

A lot of kayak outlets that are on the water offer a trial time on the water...usually about 30 minutes to test a kayak out. I would suggest going and trying out a few different ones. Of course once you find the brand/model you like you can then go out and buy it wherever if the price is better elsewhere.

CatDaddy · Joined: 06 Sep 2011 Posts: 62 Location: New Britain

are there any kayak ratailers that will let me test a few out that you would recomend? im in new britain so the closer the beter. thanks
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CatDaddy

jbrown815 · Joined: 06 Sep 2011 Posts: 30

I know Collinsville Canoe and Kayak does. They're right on the farmington river and let you test them out.

bdiggy · Joined: 15 Aug 2011 Posts: 245 Location: Thomaston, CT

^Yeah, and they've actually been selling off some of their used ones at a discounted rate.

SeaDog1 · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 2629

Hi CatDaddy!

Again -> Talk to Phil.

2 things you have to take into serious consideration -> #1 Stability (most important) and Comfort.

It makes no difference what type vessel your in on the water -> If it isn't relatively or inherently stable -> Do not buy it Exclamation

Again try before you buy!

You must (must !) have confidence in your vessel and your own seamanship abilities.

There are a lot of cheap plastic boats (or what I call tupperware of different types) out there that aren't worth a tinkers dam Exclamation

Some I wouldn't trust a trained monkey to operate or paddle!

Good Luck with your search!

SeaDog1

skatefishct · Joined: 19 Aug 2011 Posts: 7

hey catdaddy,
For me i have a feelfree moken10 kayak that i got at Collinsville. i got it for a little under 700. I bout the standard edition but they have an angler one. it is a sit on top. I was kind of scared of sit on tops bc i have always used a sit in but not i love the sit on tops. The thing i like about sit on vs sit ins is that on a sit on top if you need to move your position you can move your feet in the water and sit sideways. in a sit in you are pretty much stuck in one position. with a sit on if you swamp you can just turn your yak right side up and jump back in. With a sit in if you swamp you are going to get water in your yak and it will be very hard to get into and most likely have to swim back to shore(going with friends help out a lot). With the moken it is very stable. it is 35in wide. I can stand up in it and cast without a problem. Another thing about the moken 10 is that it can hold up to 440 pounds. The kayak weighs about 65 pounds. Another nice feature is that it has a wheel on the back of the yak so you can just roll the boat to the water without scratching up the bottom. The only down side to having a kayak being that wide is it takes more work to paddle. The feelfree moken also comes in 12 and 13 feet. Another good brand would be the ocean kayak prowler. So for now id say is try to figure out if a sit in or sit on is best for you and then go from there, there will be a lot of good deals around now so shop around. I hope this helps you out a little bit.
skatefishct

CatDaddy · Joined: 06 Sep 2011 Posts: 62 Location: New Britain

thanks alot! im gonna take a ride out to collinsville this week and talk to them and hopefully test a few out. its on the farmington river, will the current be moving to fast for a rookie like me? again, thanks you all for your input. keep it coming and im gonna start doing my research.
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CatDaddy

bdiggy · Joined: 15 Aug 2011 Posts: 245 Location: Thomaston, CT

No. They have a good stretch of calm water right behind their building that goes upstream quite a ways. You'll be fine, but you may want to call ahead and see if they're still putting boats in the water. Haven't see any out there since the end of September.

Megaman · Joined: 08 Nov 2010 Posts: 85 Location: Central CT

I agree with SEADOG...Phil aka PECO is the man to talk to regarding Kayak advice. If you are a bigger guy (im also a bigger guy 6ft 250lbs) expect to pay between 500-950 bucks for a bigger/more stable kayak....id also go for known, reliable brand names

ie. OLD TOWN/Wilderness/Ocean/Nativewatercraft rather than some unknown brand....also i would NOT get anything less than 12 feet long...

my 2 Cents...

AD
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Success Favors the Brave..........

CatDaddy · Joined: 06 Sep 2011 Posts: 62 Location: New Britain

why nothing under 12 feet? what are the pros / cons of a loger yak?
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CatDaddy

PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

In general, longer kayaks have more capacity and paddle more easily (read: they're faster). However, they also tend to be heavier, less maneuverable and more expensive. I find myself throwing my Hurricane Santee 116 Sport onto the roof of my Saab more often than my Future Beach Trophy 126, partly because the Santee weighs 36 pounds and the Trophy weighs 53 pounds. That said, if the shoe doesn't fit, you shouldn't wear it. Wink

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CatDaddy · Joined: 06 Sep 2011 Posts: 62 Location: New Britain

so im really looking into the feelfree moken 10 that SKATEFISHCT recomended. i really like the 36 in width that i cant find on many other yaks. also it is rated for like 440 lbs i think, so i should have no problem with me and my gear. at first i was a little skeptical about the sit on top kayak but after reading reviews and watching youtube videos i think that might be my preference. i was also told to look into the trophy 126 and that it was the best yak for the money($299.99 on sale). and although the price tag is much more atractive then that of the moken 10, i dont feel comfortable with the 250 lb weight capacity. does anyone know any other yaks that are made in 36 in width? sit in or sit on top.
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CatDaddy

SeaDog1 · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 2629

Hi CatDaddy!

Uh...... FYI -> One thing you may have forgotten to take into consideration.

Fact -> With a sit in kayak you can stay relatively dry in all open water seasons.
Note: And your gear will stay dry.
You can even get a spray-shield that you fit thru to stay drier.

Fact -> With a sit on top kayak -> your exposed to a lot of water spray and you will get wet no matter what.
Or as they say on the kayak sites -> You will be sitting in a puddle of water almost all the time.
Note: Your gear will also get wet from spray.

Sit on Tops are great in the summer when the water is warm but miserable when the water and weather turns colder.
You'll need to invest in a wet suit to fish the spring and fall seasons in a sit on top.

There are other light-weight portable boat options (non-kayak types) you may want to consider that have very good room and weight capacity.

As Phil said -> "If the shoe doesn't fit........Don't buy it!"
Keep doing your research and you'll will find the right vessel!

Best regards,
SeaDog1