I have missed fishing creeks and flats since I moved up in boat size. I’m thinking about buying a small kayak or one-man sneak boat to fish these areas. I need it to be very small and fairly light and stable because I want it to ride in my boat (may also duck hunt with it) I figured, this way I could get from spot to spot quicker and also fish some remote spots miles from boat landings without paddling all day. Where could I find a boat that would meet this need…cheap, maybe even used? Thanks.
When I saw small, I mean <=10’. I’ve never paddled a sit on top. Seems to me like they would be a little less stable, but I don’t know for sure. Thanks for the links, I’ll look them over.
Under ten feet. Hmmm, Try Makai Exp at www.islanderkayaks.com in Easley, also Featherlite or Dolphin at www.heritagekayaks.com
Frenzy, Venus, Pro SI 109 from www.oceankayak.com , Riot from http://www.wildernesssystems.com/kayaks/sitontop.html
Personally, I recommend a Sit on top for what you are talking about, easier to get in and out of for wading the flats, etc. Can hang your feet over the side for stability and brakes when you hook that big one. But I am biased. Try them all and then decide.
“Fishing and catching are two different things. Fishing is what I love; catching is a bonus.”–Papa, 1979
I found that most sit-on-tops are actually much more stable than conventional yaks. The tend to be a bit wider across the base. Check out this site, suppose to be the hottest thing on the market today…http://www.oceankayak.com/products/ambush.html.
I have never paddled in one but have used similar boats.
I’ll have to agree w/ Papa and Short doggy dogg when they recommend SOTs for their stability. My brother fishes out of a Perception Acadia (sit inside) and the stability is not bad but neither is it very good. He fishes lakes and rivers and doesnt have to deal with surf/waves–and on that note, a SOT boat has ‘scupper holes’ which allow water to drain from the boat, while bro’ has to ‘manually drain’ the water he might pick up from leaky coolers, fish, etc.
Give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day–Teach a man to fish, he might go hungry for a while.
My wife has a Makai from Islander Kayaks you’re welcome to test ride and you can test my Perception Swing if you’d like. We have a dock in the back yard on a creek that runs into Folly River so access is not a problem (and beach across the street if you really want to test ride one).
Personally, i have a hard time in the Makai. It’s made for folks of a smaller build and me being well over 6 feet tall and a couple a hundred+ pounds, I usually just flip right over when I get on it. Also the bottom of the seat is high (almost flush with the sides which makes it a little tipsy even for those who are smaller in size. I beleive it’s 9’ long.
Give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day–Teach a man to fish, he might go hungry for a while.