Newbie

Hello,

I've been interested in kayak fishing for some time and I'm looking for my first yak. I'm interested in the Feel Free 12.5, but I'm open to other brands as well. Any suggestions? I'd like to do coastal as well as river fishing. Should I stay with a boat I have to paddle, or look doe something with foot propulsion like the Hobie. Cost is definately a factor, but I want to invest in something that will do the job. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks!

The best advice I was given when starting off was to demo as many kayaks as possible of the models I was interested in. A boat might look good in a picture and get awesome reviews, but may not fit your body or your style of fishing. We have peddle and paddle guys on the forum, both types of kayak work well it's really a matter of preference and cost.
So now the fun part. Time to demo some boats!
Stop by Next Adventure in Portland or Kayak Shed in Hood River. Both shops have a great knowledgeable staff that will help you find the right kayak for you.
Keep us posted on what you choose!
Paul

Welcome. Thanks for your service.  The Feel Free Mokens are a recent arrival to the NW; you won't find many people paddling them.  They're good looking boats, though, and seem to be well made. If you want to talk to someone on their staff, PM me your email address, and I'll put you in touch with a very biased yet passionate Moken rider.

Welcome to the site! Next Adventure has their demo day on June 1st at Sellwood park in Portland. It would be the perfect chance to find the right boat for you.