On the verge

Took up fishing this past year, and have become sort of obsessed with the idea of a kayak both as a fishing platform or transport to otherwise inaccessible bank space, and just getting out on calm water and exploring.

I'm signed up for an upcoming class at Aldercreek. Planning to go with my breathable waders and rubber soled scuba booties. Have a semi-dry top on order that should be here before the class. I despair of finding a drysuit off the shelf and can't justify the expense of a custom job until I know the new hobby will take.

My current thinking is wide and slow, just like me. If/when I become an experienced kayaker I can worry about trading stability for speed later. For now I want the most stable platform possible. Of particular interest is a Lure 10, which would only stick out the back of my truck by a modest amount, and hoping the wheel in the keel would prevent me needing a separate kayak cart for launch.

I have no intention of going salt water, but it is possible I may, with experience, become brave enough to....uhm...brave...a bay. Way too many hang-ups and phobias to venture all the way out into the food chain beyond the surf.

Well, if you like the Yankees and kayak fishing I guess you can't be all that bad! LOL Using the kayak to places is a great plan. I do it all the time. If have found some great fishing spots by going places where boats can't. If your looking for a stable platform, I would suggest at least a 12' yak. My Oldtown Predator hangs out the back of my Ford Ranger just fine. Lot's of Models to look at.  Paddle them if you can though.

I don't know how that wheel works but you may not always be on some nice paved boat ramp. A cart with bigger wheels is not a bad investment if you find some sweet launch down a dirt trail.

I'm retired in no hurry. So I went wide 34'' for fishing and pulling crab traps. Ocean Big  Game Prowler  2.  12' 9''  70lb. with seat.

I have a Jackson big tuna 36 wide and can be tandem or solo, definitely stable smilingkayaker was standing on by how in the Pacific Ocean with me seated.

Thanks, folks. My big reservation about a kayak cart (and the appeal of it being built-in) is - what in blazes do you do with the thing while on the water ?

Also, I am nosing around the NuCanoes.

On the cheap side, Lifetime makes a fishing version of their 10'x36" that has three seating positions molded in (I guess you clip in actual seat backs and padded bottom if desired) for use in solo or tandem modes. 500# capacity and about that many dollars - the only thing "fishing" about it is 2 flush mount rod holders. Lite on features but a price point that can't be ignored.

Nucanoe. Very Stable!  I have the Frontier. Solid fishing platform and one of the 4 yaks that I own.

On the tuna I can take my cart apart and stow it in my back hatch.

On the tuna I can take my cart apart and stow it in my back hatch.

I guess I'd have to see it to get my head around it. So many carts look so big to me, and the hatches look so small.

The tuna hatch is pretty big next time I have my bout out of its hole I will take a few pictures for ya and pm them

As you can see big hatch and the cart comes apart.

OK that's pretty doable. Thanks !

Now I gotta figure out just what to get. Hooboy.

The Feel Free's still look pretty attractive even after discounting the utility of the wheel - Lures or Mokens at right around a grand. I do lust for the Coosa HD - very tricked out, but hard to jump right in at $1700.

There's always dipping the toes in with the Emotion Renegade XL what I found for under $400 on Amazon. I could walk away from that if the hobby doesn't take, or when I decide to make the plunge on the Outback...

...head spinning....pathetic...

It may be that what I need to do is get the best combination of low price point and novice-forgiving boat, get out on the water and get some experience/time paddling and surviving, then come back later with a big purchase for the fishing machine.

 Pinstriper,

 An idea to consider while your breaking your cherry with kayaking is to rent several different models. I'm sure some of the kayak shops near PDX rent for the day or weekends.  I don't know their prices but a few calls should help you.
 After some time on the water with different boats -- then decide if you want to continue this passion. And take the plunge with a little more knowledge and expirence

 Pinstriper,

 An idea to consider while your breaking your cherry with kayaking is to rent several different models. I'm sure some of the kayak shops near PDX rent for the day or weekends.  I don't know their prices but a few calls should help you.
 After some time on the water with different boats -- then decide if you want to continue this passion. And take the plunge with a little more knowledge and expirence

I'm actually - we're actually (Mrs. Pin and I) taking a beginner's class in a few weeks at Aldercreek with the following goals:

1. See what I'm getting myself into and actually have someone tell me how to do this and supervise my first attempts instead of trying to get it from a book or youtube.
2. I want Mrs. P to get the basic overview so she doesn't badger me to death with questions and worrying.
3. Mrs. P started making noise about "I wanna go along in your kayak, too" so I need to see if this scares either of us off. This also informs the decision whether I will want to consider a tandem, some of which can go as a single or tandem.
4. It qualifies you to rent from them, so it opens up just what you are suggesting.

That said, I don't really know if what they have in the rental fleet will have any relation with something I'd consider purchasing.

But at like $50 a day it doesn't take too many rentals before I may as well have popped for the $400 cheapie first kayak.

I thought I heard that Next Adventure is having a kayak demo day on May 30th at Sellwood.  We went last year and had a lot of fun, you can demo dozens of kayaks and really get a good comparison of the models and brands.