Screw it I'm buying a kayak.

[Al Agnew]

Actually, one of the things I like about solo canoes as opposed to "fishing" kayaks is the simplicity and versatility of the canoe.  You guys are talking about finding the perfect kayak, or the kayak that's perfect for you.  Well, I don't have to worry too much about that with my canoes.  The designs are pretty simple, so any decent one will work, and then you can customize it to fit your purposes.  The canoe itself is basically just a hull and a seat, and you can replace the seat if you wish.  Then you figure out what kind of storage you need, how you're going to stow your equipment, etc.  And you can do it in a myriad of ways.  Figure out what kind of seat, cushion, and seat back you like, stick it on.  Heck, if you want you can buy cup holders for your beer.  And then you can remove it all to make the thing easier to carry (and I've found it to be far easier to lift and carry a 50 pound canoe than a 50 pound kayak, for that matter).

Just keep in mind that solo canoes are as much or more fun to paddle than kayaks, which you can't say about tandem canoes.  A dedicated solo canoe is an entirely different animal, far more responsive to paddle strokes.

[Ham]

I swear to God its Groundhog Day.

[BilletHead]

    Deja vu ?

[ness]

Screw it, I'm buying a kayak.

[BilletHead]

    About time

[grizwilson]

On 7/14/2016 at 4:03 PM, Ham said:

For me, there is no one perfect boat. My Coosa has advantages. My Tarpon has advantages. Are the advantages of the Coosa worth the difference in price, IMO No. < $500 Pescador is a better value than > $1200 Coosa

I should have brought both boats with me and y'all could have paddled them both. Demo day. Next time IF you haven't bought a boat already.

 

Fortunately I had the good fortune to do that, thanks to you.  I am a canoe guy...BUT the Kayaks have their place, ie floating higher water than I likely should, where the canoe would take water over the gunwales, or open water that has potential for waves or wakes that might swamp the canoe.  After paddling both the Tarpon and the Coosa, I told Ham that I did not want to hurt his feelings but I preferred the Tarpon.  I asked if he was interested in selling it, he did.  I also caught a Pescador on sale at Academy for $399 so added one for family.  As for the seat, I have a small inflatable cushion that I slip under with just a little inflation and it works wonders.  I am 5'10" 230 and the boats preform well for me.  But again I am a canoe guy...I do have several friends who have asend and like them, all who have the SOT have broke at least one of the latches to the lids....can not buy new latch, have to get the entire lid assembly, $50 plus... they need a better latch or to sell the parts...IMO

g 

[Moswimb8slinger]

Preaches canoes, knocks down kayaks, caught fishing from an inflatable...lol

Sorry Al, it was too good not to post.

[Ham]

Nice crop of Mullen in the background. 

 

[Al Agnew]

That's the Yellowstone River in front of our house out here in Montana--actually the little channel next to the yard that is carrying about 10% of the flow of the river this year; the rest of the river is on the other side of all that mullein.  The watercraft is my Water Master personal raft, which I really love for fishing these big Western rivers, with oars to get downriver fast or maneuver in rapids, and my feet dangling in the water with swim fins to slow myself down and position the raft for fishing.  I've thought about getting one these for Missouri as well.  It would be great for fishing the larger, easily floatable streams, but on the smaller streams where you have to get out and walk frequently the canoe would still be the better choice unless I got some expensive swim fins in which the fins fold up against your ankles so you can walk without having to take them off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Haris122]

Resurrecting an old thread, but started thinking of getting a pedal style kayak eventually. Was wondering how do you steer the mirage and prop style kayaks. Do you just kick more with one leg or is there more to it. I’ve read about the difference in reversing between the two types but not sure about steering it. I’m currently leaning towards the mirage style drive since I like kayaking rivers and such, as well as lakes.