i picked up a kayak yesterday

Picked up a 13 prowler yesterday. Got this wooden paddle that looks nice along with some gore tex type top n bottom thats literally brand new. Had a couple newbie question. No kayak experience but used to own a boat.

1. Suggestion on type of PFD. Need something thin but wont break the fishing fund. like to get those inflatable but they r expensive.

2. Need advice on launching n retrieving without getting wet from sandy beach. If possible.

3. Advice on How to remove n put kayak on roof rack by oneself.

4. Got to pick up a cart but wonder what u do with the cart when u get to your destination. Do u store it somewhere?

5. Any other advice for new guy?

Picked up a 13 prowler yesterday. Got this wooden paddle that looks nice along with some gore tex type top n bottom thats literally brand new. Had a couple newbie question. No kayak experience but used to own a boat.

1. Suggestion on type of PFD. Need something thin but wont break the fishing fund. like to get those inflatable but they r expensive.
You'll want to get a kayak specific PFD that is Coast Guard approved. 
There are many brands, like Kokatat, Stohlquist, MTI, Extrasport, etc that can be had from $50-$150+.  Pick your flavor.

2. Need advice on launching n retrieving without getting wet from sandy beach. If possible.
Not gunna happen, unless it is lake smooth along the shoreline.  Besides, you're gunna get wet just pulling fish into your lap, and paddling. 
If you have dry gear on, it won't matter unless you don't like your hair messed up, either.

3. Advice on How to remove n put kayak on roof rack by oneself.
How tall are ya, what vehicle do you have?

4. Got to pick up a cart but wonder what u do with the cart when u get to your destination. Do u store it somewhere?
1.) Lock to tree, or dock.  (I'll never do this myself)
2.) Walk it back to the car.  (I do this on occasion, but not often)
3.) Strap it on deck of the kayak.  (This is my secondary method)
4.) Stow it below deck.   (This is my primary method)


5. Any other advice for new guy?
Visit Next Adventure Paddle Sports Center on Monday, August 22nd from 7pm to ~8pm for "Kayak Fishing 101" brought to you by our own Rawkfish.
Bring your rig and lots of questions, someone will be able to get you going safely.

Welcome to the forum,

If you have never kayaked before, taking at least one kayak lesson is a good idea. Also, if possible, head to a calm body of water and practice self-rescue with someone who is an experienced kayaker.

Be safe and enjoy your Prowler!

Congrats on your purchase Mr. Maggot.

The short answer to #2 if you don't want to get wet only go out when it's FAC. The shorter answer is practice. Find a 3 or 4 foot day and leave your fishing gear at home. Take a buddy, put on a wetsuit (and helmets) and go take your lumps.

Other advice, if you plan on frequenting the salt, get a submersible handheld VHF.

See ya out there.

Picked up a 13 prowler yesterday. Got this wooden paddle that looks nice along with some gore tex type top n bottom thats literally brand new. Had a couple newbie question. No kayak experience but used to own a boat.

1. Suggestion on type of PFD. Need something thin but wont break the fishing fund. like to get those inflatable but they r expensive.

2. Need advice on launching n retrieving without getting wet from sandy beach. If possible.

3. Advice on How to remove n put kayak on roof rack by oneself.

4. Got to pick up a cart but wonder what u do with the cart when u get to your destination. Do u store it somewhere?

5. Any other advice for new guy?

Welcome to the boards!

RE: 1.
Your PFD should be one of the most important, if not THE most important thing you spend money after you buy a kayak.  I would suggest spending a little less on your fishing gear and a little more on a good PFD if it comes to that since your fishing gear won't be what you need to depend on to save your life when the shit hits the fan. 

Get a really comfortable PFD so you will be able to wear it all day and not feel like you need to take it off to be comfortable.  Do not get an inflatable PFD.  Those are great for when you're on a power boat but a disaster waiting to happen while on a kayak.

INSAYN pretty much covered everything else.

Tight lines!!

As far as lifting it yourself, briefly.....
 
I do mine to a truck rack, that means you lift the yak from the mid area , both hands. DO NOT YANK, your back or a yak part could go, lift steadily and bring it up to chest level, and eventually lift head height.... dont hit your car ....dont hit mine... dont hit other cars.

Better plan, I got a Glide and set (thule), Hully rollers(yakima) work too. With the kayak on your cart, lift the bow up to and onto the rear rack....less weight. Push kayak onto vehicle and fwd to the front rack. now safely remove cart and strap yak down.

keeping dry beach launching. cut a 3' plastic pipe in half, glue ends until 24', beach end about 5' high, other end in the water, have a buddy push you down the halfpipe. Or just buy waders.

Other advice, Sunblock , Pee before you go out, you tend to stay out for 4-6 hours. Breathable splash top to go with those bottoms. In Oregon get the invasive species permit(required),Leash everything that is gonna make you mad if it goes for a dive. Get the mod pod if you have the rod pod hatch.

I am like you as I am just now pulling the store stickers off and looking forward to getting on some calm water just to get a feel for paddling and the essential emergency maneuvers. I live up by Lake Tapps so am planning on going out early this Sunday morning.   May even  bring  some gear to do a bit of trolling while I practice my paddling.   Your welcome to come down if you like.

I was surprised at how easy it was to toss the Kayaks up on my work van which is pretty tall and I am no spring chicken.    I purchased a couple of those foam "swimming noodles" that go between the kayaks and roof to prevent damage to ether. 

I have used three different pdfs this summer.

My first was the Stohlquist. It had a decent fit. I am big guy though, 6' 270lbs. The pockets have a hard shell so you can use them as a flat surface for rigging gear. I found since i have a 13' trident with a rod pod i didn't really need that flat surface. The hard shell also does not allow you to sore large items in the pockets. I usually take a camera and a radio with me.

http://www.austinkayak.com/products/814/Stohlquist-Fisherman-High-Back-Life-Vest.html

The chinook i bought when i returned the stohlquist. This jacket had a very good fit, but really lacked pocket storage. It has many pockets but they were all really small and didn't allow much storage. I use my yak for flyfishing and wasn't albe to store small fly boxes in the pockets.

http://www.austinkayak.com/products/1686/NRS-Chinook-Fishing-PFD-Life-Vest.html

Third jacket was the charm. The sturgeon had a wonderful free feeling fit. The large pockets are are great. I was able to get this jacket at outdoorplay.com With joining their club i was able to get the jacket for like around $100. Both Austinkayak and Outdoorplay were awesome to work with.

 http://www.outdoorplay.com/Extrasport-Sturgeon-Angler-PFD?sc=7&category=226

The Sturgeon looks good.  How are the pockets on the Sturgeon for re-entry onto your yak?  Would be nice if it came in a brighter color.

I have the Stohlquist and in the pockets carry a point-n-shoot camera, pliers, leader on a spool, and some personal items like food bars and vitamin-I.  On one of the straps I have zipped-tied a water knife/sheath, a strobe, and on the other strap a whistle and a VHF radio.  I have to remove the radio for re-entry. 

when looking at PFD's, don't forget that many are not designed for sitting in a seat with a high back like a kayak.

at first i was using a PFD that i used for rafting, but hated how it seemed to ride up when kayaking.  been happy with my purchase of this lifejacket:

http://www.astralbuoyancy.com/products/men/V8/index.html

chris

Regarding a selection of cart.  Lots of choices out there.  I selected this one, called the C-tug.  I chose it because it breaks down quickly into small pieces that store easily in my T-13's bow compt.  However, it's tires are not as wide as they could be, and the cart will sink into softer beaches and bog down.  Compare it to the cart called the Wheeleez....that thing has big balloon tires that shouldn't bog down ANYWHERE.....but how far it breaks down I have no idea.  Someone else can chime in on that.

Regarding a selection of cart.  Lots of choices out there.  I selected this one, called the C-tug.  I chose it because it breaks down quickly into small pieces that store easily in my T-13's bow compt.  However, it's tires are not as wide as they could be, and the cart will sink into softer beaches and bog down.  Compare it to the cart called the Wheeleez....that thing has big balloon tires that shouldn't bog down ANYWHERE.....but how far it breaks down I have no idea.  Someone else can chime in on that.

Get the Wheeleez ... hands down the best! wheels pop off the frame

C-Tug has it's place, it's cheap, easy to see, easy to store, but it's frustrating to assemble then breakdown the first few times. Think i described it in an older post as a frustrating origami project Machiavelli would be proud of... 

Don't over think this. The darn thing is a tool. if it's inadequate, save up and get the right tool. I've been lucky so far, the few launches i've done in the last year, were all hard surface areas. Faced with soft sand, i'd resort to the Idylwood Park Retrieval Method that yarjammer and i used at lake Sammamish two years ago.

I have a wheeleez and a T-13 as well, and this is how well it stuffs in the front hatch. 
Hold on to your britches for this one!

Start with the big Wheeleez cart and the monster 11.8" balloons.


Remove the balloons, and slide one set of black sponges inward to allow the cart to fold flatter.


Start by slipping it into the kayak like this, kickstand facing you.



Then slide it up towards the front on the one side. At this point both inflated balloons will easily fit in the hatch with the remainder of the room available. However, if you plan to tuck more in there like camping gear and such, it is doable. YMMV



I do this by removing the air from the balloons and stuffing them onto either side below the sonar shield area.
Take the valve stem out.


I made a simple tool for quick removal of the stem.


Put a knee into it to press the air out.


With your weight still on holding the air out, reinstall the valve stem.


Shove that sucker right up along the side there, you can see it tucked way back there.



You can toss the second wheel in fully inflated and still stuff a big dry bag in there with it.


But, if you wanna put even more stuff up there, ya need to remove the air in the second wheel as well.


I installed a recessed rod holder on the port side, so I can't push the second wheel back as far as you would be able to, but still get it back far enough to allow for more gear.



To reinflate the balloons, I just remove the valve stem again and massage the balloon back into shape.  Then just a few pumps with a bike pump and the balloons are good to go.



Oh, and these balloons allow me to pull the fully loaded kayak through sand that is so soft that it is hard to walk through, but the kayak rolls very easily.

C-Tug has it's place, it's cheap, easy to see, easy to store, but it's frustrating to assemble then breakdown the first few times. Think i described it in an older post as a frustrating origami project Machiavelli would be proud of... 

LOL WR......funny you brought that up.  The very first time I took the T-13 out on the canal I could not for the life of me remember how to break the C-tug down and wound up carrying it back to the rig.  I wound up reviewing their video on how to do it and had to laugh.  It takes all of about 20 seconds or less to take it to parade rest.  I like it and am sticking with it.  As demonick recommends, just won't put in on mushy shores....