River Kayak - Kinda

I'm a little embarrassed asking more questions.  I tried the search but could find what I was looking for... or I don't know the right keywords to use. 

Anyway, what would be your suggestions for this... I would like a second kayak for this usage... I want to be able to drift the rivers in my area... satsop, wynochee, etc... that is the first usage... second, I would like to have a kayak that I could put a friend or my son in to go to the ocean, I understand that they don't track as well, etc... I just want to have that option for them... third, I want something my wife can enjoy should she want to paddle with me - she has no interest in fish, but enjoys the water.

I've taken a Cobra Navigator out on a couple of "River Trips" <are those banjoes I hear?> I currently have a Mini-X that I use to nearby rivers or let my daughter or wife run around on. I'm currently looking for a Cobra Tandem for my wife and daughter to both paddle. Of course, I'd HAVE to get it set up as a fishing kayak, just in case.

True

Hobie outback...it's light (kinda), it's short and maneuverable, it can be paddled and peddled, and safe in the big water too.  I don't know anything about your rivers, but this is my river/ocean boat

ah yes - more parameter would be helpful

Think inexpensive yak... not hobie...

I like the mini-x.. cabela's has an emotion renegade xt that looked like it meet the bill... and OK makes an 11 footer, right?  That is the kind of yak I was thinking of... around 10 ft.  Is that too long... too short?  When the season comes on I want to fish for salmon and metal heads in places I couldn't easily walk to.

Check out the Jackson Coosa, specifically designed as a river fishing platform. I've drifted it on the Sandy and trolled in the Columbia (OK, so I haven't caught any fish but that's not the yak's fault). There's some neat video on their website of Drew Gregory, the designer, doing some cool bass fishing in some fast moving water. He's doing a couple of clinics in Hood River and Vancouver later this month.

Malibu Mini-x should be something to look at.  Seems like you are a bargain hunter and I picked mine up from REI outlet for super cheap (335 I think) with a 20% off coupon in the fall under the guise of it being the wife's boat.  Sadly I haven't put it to good use yet, but planned on it being more a warmer weather boat anyways when the whole famdamily is out on the water.  Before buying I read up on Kardinal_84's exploits on his mini-x and was sold on it's ability to get the job done.

The Coosa is nice but pricey.  For cheap I think the emotion stealth angler/temptation would be a bit better than the renegade.  Emotion redesigned a bunch of their kayaks for 2012 so I bet you could find a cheap 2011 somewhere. 

Trust Me ,Try before you buy if at all possable,and See how they float with you and gear in the boat.If you are going to fish with it..Hit up all the Kayak shops and see if they have any Demo boats to sell also they can save you some money..Nice lig just goes to show you don't need that deep water to catch nice fish.

I liked my 9ft malibu mini-x for floating the rivers.  Until I bought my outback, I used it in the ocean as well.  Paddles like a barge though when you paddling next to say a Ocean Kayak T-13.

I bought a Perception Pescadore 12 for a friend for something like $600 at sports authority here in Alaska so you can probably pick it up cheaper. She seemed to handle it well. 

Here's a video (tad long) of the mini-x and perception pescadore 12 in action on the saltwater.  My friend lands a nice King from her Pescadore 12.


Mini-x on the river...no fish this day so more paddling videos to see what it handled:


I have other vids on my channel.
http://www.youtube.com/guidesak

I'll also join in for recommending the Mini-X for what you're looking for.  It'd be easier for you though if Malibu cared about the PNW. 

I use a Mini-X for floating rivers and it's great.  You need to make sure you get a good feel for it though since it can be kind of squirly at times.  Since it has some pretty hard edges on the bottom, it likes to catch on current seams.  You'll need to learn to lean the right ways to overcome this.  My wife really likes paddling around the Mini-X too.  Well, she did until I started giving her the Hobie when we go out kayaking! 

So it looks like the mini-x is the big recommendation.  Know anyone who wants to get rid of one?