Need A Kayak Reccommendation

[hoglaw]

I'm sure this topic has been beat to death and I could probably get answers to my questions looking in the previous threads on the subject.

Here's what I want. I want a kayak that will spend 65% of its life on ponds and lakes, and 35% of its life on rivers. Most of my river trips these days are overnight trips, and with a girlfriend and shuttling involved, I'm rarely paddling a river solo. So the majority of my river trips will still be out of a canoe. Nevertheless, I'd like a fishing kayak that I could paddle on rivers...and (if possible) paddle it solo in quasi-whitewater conditions, like the Mulberry around 3.5' which is no joke, but certainly not class V water or anything. I'd also like the ability to carry light camping gear for 1 - basically a hammock, tarp, chair, and clothes.

More important than whitewater characteristics are fishing characteristics though. As most of its life would be spent on the lake, I want a boat that rides well in the wind. It's an absolute must that I can stand up in it easily and comfortably. Much of the coosa's marketing is directed towards this angle - maximum stability standing up. Some of my lake trips will involve a mile or two of paddling to get to the fishing spot, so efficiency across the water is a big deal too. Seems like a rudder would be a nice accessory to have as well as an easily deployable drag chain for rivers and windy lake days.

I know absolutely nothing about kayaks. I've maybe paddled two SOT's in my life, and all I took from those experiences was that the boat was unstable, my butt stayed wet, and I sat very low to the water. Seems like the Coosa resolves these issues, but I'm more interested in performance than marketing and popularity. The Wilderness Systems Commander 120 was reccommended to me as well. I just don't know where to start. Eventually I'm sure I'll run over to garfield and see if I can test-paddle some of these boats to find the one that suits me, but this board being the wealth of knowledge that it is, I thought I'd start here. I don't mind spending $1000 on a boat, but I want it to be the right one.

[Gavin]

Thinking that you need two boats...The Coosa is a good riverboat by all accounts...but its not set up for lakes..Might take a look at the Wilderness System Ride for lake use. It has a more pronouced keel so it should track alot better.

[Wayne SW/MO]

A kayak that can track well on a lake and run whitewater probably doesn't exist. The ride doesn't like rivers all that well, but would be right at home on a lake. A 14' Tarpon in a bright color would do well on flat water and get you by on an easy river.

The water in your lap will come off the paddle, no matter where you sit.

[ollie]

Closest one I can think of was the discontinued Backwater? Or Blackwater? Wayne, I think you know which one I am thinking of.

[hoglaw]

So is that the trade-off? You need a more pronounced keel for lake fishing meaning a more stable boat and straighter tracking, but the more pronounced the keel is the more "draft" and less maneuverable the boat is and therefore less desirable for river fishing? What about a boat that's suitable for the rivers but has a deployable rudder to make up for the lack of a keel? Does that exist?

[Wayne SW/MO]

So is that the trade-off? You need a more pronounced keel for lake fishing meaning a more stable boat and straighter tracking, but the more pronounced the keel is the more "draft" and less maneuverable the boat is and therefore less desirable for river fishing? What about a boat that's suitable for the rivers but has a deployable rudder to make up for the lack of a keel? Does that exist?

It's not draft, that is how deep a craft sets in the water. Basically if a craft is built to track, and get the most out of each paddle stroke, it can't be allowed to respond to the stroke on the side of the craft as it would tend too. In a fast water situation where you want it to respond, it can't ignore the paddle strokes direction.

My Solo has a bottom that is only slightly rounded and a noticeable rocker. Rocker is a term meaning the hull has lift on both ends, like a rocking chair rocker. This means less bottom in contact with the water and with a roundish bottom it will turn easily and respond to the paddle pressure on one side. When I paddle on flat water or paddle upstream it tends to wander from side to side, almost like it wants to spin on a center axis. Each time it changes direction, even though it's slight, it takes away some of the energy meant to propel it straight ahead. The other side is something like the runnels on the Tarpon and the Coosa which are similar to inverted keels and while not as good as normal keels the do help keep the craft wanting to go forward. The Coosa adds more rocker, but know matter what it will negate some of it's tracking ability and in their video it has a tendency to want to wander..

The longer the waterline the faster the craft and that is why I mentioned the 14' Tarpon. It could get you by on the War Eagle or the Kings which aren't real technical, but would make up for it's lack of maneuverability on the rivers by being faster and more efficient on flat water.

If you ever take a notion to hit the salt the 14' would be more comfortable there also.

[Stoneroller]

you might take a look at the Feel Free Moken Angler. Although I've not paddled one, it has a lot of nice features and the hull design could handle an ozark stream/river without much issue.

Ocean Kayak's tetra might be worth looking at too.

Make sure you take into consideration the weight of some of the kayaks out there. My trident 13 is all I care to handle when it comes to hefting it ontop of my car without destroying my car in the process. it has a claimed weight of 68lbs. 13 feet of 68lbs is much more difficult to lift over your head than you might imagine.

[Nolan_Whaley]

I think for lake kayak fishing, one of the Hobie kayaks with the pedal drive would be awesome. I've ridden in one once, and it would flat scoot on open water. It also had a keel. I don't know that it would be good at all for our rivers. I'd like to know that.

SOT kayaks are not a dry ride at all. Especially on the lake. Paddle is going to throw water on you. Nice in the summer, not so much in cool weather.

[Stoneroller]

Holy crap a hobie! you must think everyone is a 1%er. Instead of a hobie, I suggest buying 2 kayaks of any other brand (for the same cost of the 1 hobie at that!) AND you won't need 3 friends to help you lift your boat. They make great products if you like paying $2600 for a 125lb kayak... I like to spend my money wisely, but that's me.

you guys that are saying a SOT is not dry, need some paddling lessons. Sure you will get the occassional drip on you and if you are paddling in the wind you might get extra drips blown onto you, but it's not a 'wet' ride as some are claiming. If you are getting anymore than a few drops on you here and there, you are doing something wrong, really wrong.

Paddling technique aside, a pair of paddling pants will go along way in cooler weather towards keeping you bone dry. If you wear the proper attire, you won't be bothered by the occassional drip or splash. Proper technique, proper gear, goes a long way to making your trip more enjoyable.

[TroutRinger]

Thinking that you need two boats...The Coosa is a good riverboat by all accounts...but its not set up for lakes..Might take a look at the Wilderness System Ride for lake use. It has a more pronouced keel so it should track alot better.

That's what I was thinking lol