Ascend 10' Sit Inside Yaks

[UnCivE]

Well, depends on which model you're talking about. If you are talking about the tunnel hull kayak, it's a pretty stable kayak with decent storage and a super comfy seat. If you're talking about the models with a "round" bottom, I'd suggest skipping them... they aren't real stable and they track poorly.

I suspect many of the people dogging the Ascends have never actually paddled one.. the 12 foot sit in model is a great kayak, the 10 ft sit in (with the comfy seat and tunnel hull) is a good kayak.

Try to get a paddle in one... personally, if I was deadset on a 10 footer, I'd probably look at Jackson.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Ten footers have a place. I have a Pamlico that has been a good yak for small waters.

Ollie can tell you all you need to know about 10 foot yaks and Pamlico's.

[ollie]

No, he bought the yak at BP and it didn't come with footpegs. He bought some this year from PakRat and installed them himself. I think he told me he only paid $299 for it and that was a couple years back. He also had to drill holes for bungees on the back and front. It was pretty bared bones. Wayne, you know I have had that Pam now for 10 years! Put the hole in it about 4-5 years ago, but the Hippo patch has still held!!

[jdmidwest]

No, he bought the yak at BP and it didn't come with footpegs. He bought some this year from PakRat and installed them himself. I think he told me he only paid $299 for it and that was a couple years back. He also had to drill holes for bungees on the back and front. It was pretty bared bones. Wayne, you know I have had that Pam now for 10 years! Put the hole in it about 4-5 years ago, but the Hippo patch has still held!!

What is "hippo patch"? When my Pamlico cracked, Wilderness Systems mailed me a repair kit. It looked like weedeater wire and I had to weld it in with a hot air torch.

[Stoneroller]

there is a device,similar to a hot glue gun that you can use tubes of polyethlyene in, they come with the kit. From what I've seen it works amazingly for splits and cuts.

http://www.austinkayak.com/products/5357/KC-Welder-Pro-with-Ocean-Kayak-Color-Rod-Stock.html

also available with hobie color stock,

[ollie]

I have no idea if you can still get the Hippo Patch or not. Got it off Cabelas website. It is some kind of mastic patch that holds like a SOB!!! I found the number of the company who makes it and called them out on it. The guy told me it would last as long as I had the yak and now he has proven me right. He just mailed me a sample which was actually the same as the one they sold, but I didn't know it at the time. Followed the directions on it and it truely works. Let's see, I sanded the spot to rough it up a little then cleaned it with rubbing alcohol and then applied the patch. I'm tellin you, this stuff works.

[ollie]

Here's a pic of my patch on the bottom of my Pam 100.

[Boat Newb]

How about the Ascend A10??? Kayaks are starting to interest me the more I read about them. I'm 6'4" and 250+. What would you guys recommend? I'll be mostly on calm water such as Lake Springfield/James River and/or Taneycomo. I'd like to try to fish from it, but it will be very rare. Mainly just paddling around. I'm going to go by the new Kayak place in Ozark when I get time. Who knows when that will be.

[GloryDaze]

Not telling you what you will or will not like, but at 6'4 and 250+ your'e not exactly a tiny dude. I'm 6'4 and 220 and have a little Perception Swifty I use around the creek and small lakes by my house. My legs are a little too long for the kayak and if I was any bigger there would be no way I could fit in there.

However, I'v always said, float whatever the hell you want to float- if you can fit in it and it suits your needs then go for it. The only catch to that is you may find your needs change rather quickly. For example:

My first boat was a Mad River Synergy sit on top 12'- it got me on the water but after about 2 years I realized it didn't exactly suit my needs. It was too heavy, I got too wet when paddling, difficult to turn, etc....

So I thought I would try another kayak, a Wilderness Systems Tsunami sit inside. This proved to be a better fit as I was a little faster, stayed completely dry, had plenty of storage, etc... well, I got sick and tired of trying to squeeze into the tiny little cockpit.

Finally, made the switch to a MR Legend 15' Canoe....... Let's just say, for the needs I have I will never be getting another primary boat for my Ozark trips. It has been perfect, it's light, stays dry, more than enough storage, turns on a dime, tracks decent! The only reason I have the Swifty is to paddle around the creeks by my house, I will never use it anywhere else unless a friend needs it on a trip.

[Boat Newb]

Not telling you what you will or will not like, but at 6'4 and 250+ your'e not exactly a tiny dude. I'm 6'4 and 220 and have a little Perception Swifty I use around the creek and small lakes by my house. My legs are a little too long for the kayak and if I was any bigger there would be no way I could fit in there.

However, I'v always said, float whatever the hell you want to float- if you can fit in it and it suits your needs then go for it. The only catch to that is you may find your needs change rather quickly. For example:

My first boat was a Mad River Synergy sit on top 12'- it got me on the water but after about 2 years I realized it didn't exactly suit my needs. It was too heavy, I got too wet when paddling, difficult to turn, etc....

So I thought I would try another kayak, a Wilderness Systems Tsunami sit inside. This proved to be a better fit as I was a little faster, stayed completely dry, had plenty of storage, etc... well, I got sick and tired of trying to squeeze into the tiny little cockpit.

Finally, made the switch to a MR Legend 15' Canoe....... Let's just say, for the needs I have I will never be getting another primary boat for my Ozark trips. It has been perfect, it's light, stays dry, more than enough storage, turns on a dime, tracks decent! The only reason I have the Swifty is to paddle around the creeks by my house, I will never use it anywhere else unless a friend needs it on a trip.

Thats 1 reason I was looking at canoes. The room is nice. Unless I can sell some stuff, my budget is quite small. No more than i assume I'm going to get to go, I may just stick to borrowing for now. I hate borrowing stuff from people, but it's the most feasible option at the moment. Great post by the way!!! Does anyone in the Springfield area have a kayak that I can borrow for a few weeks/months?