Kayaking?

[Alleycat72]

Who goes kayaking? I'm probably going to start. I was 172 to 174 lbs when we adopted the 3 little ones. With all the court and doctors visits, I stopped exercising and got up to 226.6. I'm down to 181.4 now. I use to live on a flat bottom boat a want a kayak. I will be making a huge mistake by using it 95% of the time alone and going up river, tuning around, and coming back. I did a 4 hour run the other day on a friend's cheap kayak and it was not designed for against the current travel. 

I mainly want exercise.

I want to have fun. 

Some use to access a few hunting areas. 

I don't want to die.  LOL

I will never use it for fishing. 

I'm looking a the Hobie compass for a sit on or a Wilderness systems tsunami for a sit in. I'm going to talk to a kayak shop Wednesday and get their opinion, but want y'alls opinion. 

 

[jpx2rk]

I had a couple/3 yaks that I used for fishing, so can't be much help.  I had 2 Wilderness System yaks and they were well made, but HEAVY, so....  Also had one with a trolling motor on it, but like I said, used for fishing.  LOL

[MacGyver]

I can't recommend the Hobie enough.  Their Mirage drive is better than any system on the market.  I actually like their older Turbo GT model without reverse the best.  It's a couple hundred dollars cheaper - and gives a little more speed.

It's a great workout.  

In that same class boat - you might consider the Hobie Passport as well.  It doesn't have all the same fishing features the Compass does - Lowrance mount, rod holders, etc - but it's typically about $600 less retail.  It comes with the traditional GT fins instead of the popup 360 fins.  I think both have the same seat - which is something Hobie does well.

 

 

[MacGyver]

Also, as to sit-on-top or sit-in - you're going to have a lot more flotation with the sit-on-top.  If you're kayaking alone - wear a life jacket and all of that - it provides a little extra peace of mind knowing you've got more flotation.

Also, you can throw a cooler on the back, etc.  You can do most of that in a sit-in - but it's more of a pain to get to stuff.  And, you're almost certainly going to get wet if you're entering the boat from anywhere other than a dock.  With a sit-on-top - you can walk on and generally stay dry.

Seats are almost always going to be better on a sit-on-top.  If you're going to use it for exercise for more than an hour or so - that matters.  I don't know exactly how old you are - but it's a lot more comfortable and you're likely to stick with it longer if the seat doesn't suck.

Happy to let you try out my pro angler 14 if you like

 

[Alleycat72]

Got 5 miles in today. You feet guys don't get all weird on me. That means you Handsome Rob

 

[analog_kidd]

I've kinda gotten out of it for a while, but I used to go all the time. here's me on Bald River Falls over by the Tellico

[Sleep profit]

10 minutes ago, analog_kidd said:

I've kinda gotten out of it for a while, but I used to go all the time. here's me on Bald River Falls over by the Tellico

Wife and I go to tellico a lot take a picnic lunch and watch kayaking. If looks awesome 

[Grunt67]

I won't get in a boat I have to be melted & poured into .

[Alleycat72]

3 hours ago, analog_kidd said:

I've kinda gotten out of it for a while, but I used to go all the time. here's me on Bald River Falls over by the Tellico

Honest question....did you survive this? LOL

[MacGyver]

Which one did you end up choosing? 

[Alleycat72]

Hobie compass. My Wife already had her eye on it.

[Sleep profit]

If you went over Bald river your skills are amazing wish I could do it 

[Alleycat72]

My Wife wanted a tandem kayak so.....

 

[Alleycat72]

I 98% finished the trailer today. Just need more tie-down points and padding. It'll hold 4 kayaks and we will have a inflatable tow boat for one kids.

[Gemoose23]

I own Crescent Kayaks.. in many flavors. Light Tackle, CK1 and the Tandem.

They are a very stable sit on kayak brand.. Made In America by Americans..

If you are interested I am located in Hendersonville and can get you a test float.  I absolutely love the brand and the kayaks I own.

 

 

[NoBanStan]

On 8/4/2023 at 7:48 PM, Alleycat72 said:

My Wife wanted a tandem kayak so.....

 

Tell her she needs to be into lift kits and 37-40" tires

[Alleycat72]

15 hours ago, NoBanStan said:

Tell her she needs to be into lift kits and 37-40" tires

37s with a gear change looks good. Probably going to 35s after the tires get a little worn down. 

Edited August 12, 2023 by Alleycat72

[Alleycat72]

Tims Ford Lake. 

Edited August 12, 2023 by Alleycat72

[Moped]

Not a fan of Tandems... I took my wife out her first time in a Tandem and almost whacked her in the back of the head, a number of times. Two singles is much safer!!!

[Alleycat72]

52 minutes ago, Moped said:

Not a fan of Tandems... I took my wife out her first time in a Tandem and almost whacked her in the back of the head, a number of times. Two singles is much safer!!!

 

[Alleycat72]

Got about 12 miles on the water and a 3.4 mile woods hike in this weekend.  Picked up a drive for the Wife in Alabama. Found out about a 4 mile hiking trail not far from my home that I was told would kill me. I have 9 12 hour shifts in a row starting Monday and we will see if I die on the 23rd. LOL