ISO: Used yak for a newbie on a budget

Hey guys,
I am a newbie from out on the coast. I have been lurking on this and every other kayak fishing site I can find for about a year now.  In the next couple of weeks I might finally be in a position to get my first yak. 
I am 6'2" 240lb (hopefully closer to 200 by the end of the year). I plan on mainly fishing local rivers (salmon, nestucca, siletz) to start with, but will be getting in the ocean when I can afford the necessary safety stuff.

I am pretty set on the OK trident 15 as a starting boat. From what I have been reading, it fits my needs very well. I would love to jump right into a Hobie, but cannot justify the cost right now. And besides, the exercise from paddling is a great side effect.

I have seen a couple tridents on CL lately, and might end up just jumping on one if when the funds come through. But I wanted to put my feelers out here first. And see if I might come up with a better deal.  So what I am looking for is a trident 15, possibly a 13.  Something that came with some basic accessories would be ideal.  I am looking somewhere in the $900 range, but the cheaper I can keep it the better, so I can afford to not skimp on a PFD and such.  If you have a extra yak sitting around that you have been thinking about rehoming, please let me know. Maybe we can work something out. I am in Lincoln City, but would not be against driving a decent distance for the right deal.

Thank you,
Chris

Hey Chris. I wouldn't go any longer than a t13, a T15 is going to be pretty hard to drift and turn. A T13 is a great boat all around boat and will do great in the salt. Even a T11 would do well with what you're looking for.

Good to know. I have always meant to schedule a demo to check them out, but getting to the valley without a list of things to do a mile long is tough for me.  You say a 11 might even  be enough.  Do you think that might be pushing it a little for days on the ocean that are a little more rough than the ideal glassy day? I think in my original post I did not emphasize that I really want to spend a lot of time on the ocean, but I want to make sure I am prepared for it. I grew up a surfer in pacific city hitching rides on dory boats. I LOVE bottom fishing. I just want to make sure I have enough boat.

Thanks again

At 240#, I'd avoid the T11 for general use.  I'm 220# and use it only on rivers.  For me it is a wet ride with 1" of water always in the footwells.  But I choose to use it in the rivers because I have control over this little, light yak.  I can move it the way I want it to move in river situations.

When I was paddling Tridents, I chose the T13 over the T15 as a better overall kayak.  Note that I am Ocean Kayak Pro Staff and have had, and paddle extensively, all their models.  Why did I choose it?  I felt the T15 had more windage to it, and the slight increase in speed over the T13 didn't justify it IMO.

-Allen

Sorry this is turning into a discussion here.

The 13 is really starting to sound good.  I have been scouring CL and the only ones I am seeing are 15s.  So hopefully someone here has a extra that they are thinking about letting go. Do any of the local shops carry used boats?  I wish I could afford to just go pay up for a new one, but as everyone knows, a couple kids and a mortgage make that tough in the best of situations.

I really appreciate the info you guys are sharing. I am thinking I probably should have made a post asking some questions, but I thought I had read enough to be semi informed. LOL

I have a 11ft yak and have taken it out i. The sound. Did just fine just gotta be a bit more cateful and always go with a buddy

A while back next adventure had some T13s that had factory blemishes that were right around what you want to spend. You might give them a ring. They were brand new boats just had some sort or color defect. You could also keep an eye out for a prowler 13. Very similar boat but It lacks the rod pod.

I paddle a 2013 Jackson big tuna , haven't been in the ocean yet but have been in Tillamook bay as well as been up the Miami river it's a bit of a wind drifter without a rudder , that's my real first addition , but not too bad it is tandem as well as solo so you can take TLW or the kids out , I'm 5"08 and 245lbs garbage truck drivers build and I have taken my friends out with no problems as it has a 500 lb load rating my $.02 worth