Theres all kinds of things to consider when getting into kayaking. Price, weight, sit on vs sit in and other things like what are you going to do with it? For example if you just want a rec kayak to paddle with family I highly suggest a sit in over a sit on. They tend to be a lot faster and easier to paddle. But if your looking to fish and arent in a hurry sit ons are nice. However I started out fishing from sit ons and now have a sit in. Its much faster and paddles better in the wind. And it weighs a lot less. Ive been kayak fishing now for a little over 5 years actually close to 6 years now. I started off with a Vibe Skipjack 90 and hated it. I sold it the first summer I had it. Then I bought a demo Jackson Cuda 14 I liked the kayak ok mainly the stadium style seat. Kept that for almost 2 summers then sold it because at 14 feet it was a pain to store and car top. After that got a Vibe Yellowfin 100. Used that for a summer and a half and never really liked it much. Then I bought a Lifetime Yukon, got it onsale for $400. I liked this kayak ok but at 75 pounds it sucked to cartop. After cartopping for a summer I ended up with a trailer. Which honestly I didnt care for having to mess with either. So this spring I sold the Yellowfin, the Yukon and the trailer. Then I went to Dicks and bought a Pelican Pioneer 100XR kayak for $470. And honestly I really really like this little kayak. Took a minute to get used to a sit in after having all sit on tops but once you get used to it its fine. And this has got to be my favorite kayak so far. Ill have it for awhile. It has the stadium style seat which is great for hours of fishing. Weighs less then 50 pounds with the seat so its really easy to cartop. Its really stable and paddles great. I went on Amazon and picked up some side handles with built in paddle keepers and put those on. And I also added and anchor trolly. I can be ready to head to the lake in about 10 minutes and once there Im ready to go in about 5 minutes. Its just a great little very comfortable grab and go kayak.
I'm considering getting into kayaking this summer. I'm sure a lot of people that are really into it would thrash me for it but I'm personally not going to consider a more expensive kayak yet. Money is somewhat of an issue but honestly it's more of a use thing. I know I'll get out on the lake whenever I can, but with my job and family plans it's hard to predict how often that is. Some years iv went camping enough to feel like a nomad. Other years it never happens. I'll probably buy a cheaper kayak and try it out at different spots. If I'm addicted and feel I need something better I'll cross that bridge when I get there. And if so I'll have a spare to lend out. At the moment I don't know any kayakers but I know a few people that would try it out and I'd have someone to paddle around with. Seems win win
I'm a fan of having a couple of blow-molded yaks around for visitors. Kids & newbies can splash about and play with forward and sweep strokes. If they enjoy it, I put 'em in a "real" boat!
Renting is not a bad idea. Paddle as many boats and paddles as you can. I went through thousands of dollars in paddles and boat's before I found my combo. Witch is a Seaward Luna and inuksuk Greenland paddle. Paddle in groups. Trade gear as you paddle. And try to buy off the friends in these groups. You can get great gear this way and save some $. Enjoy! 20 years of paddling and I'm still learning.
The first kayak I bought was a Gillies Canoes sea kayak. 17 feet long 24 in wide and 45 pounds. I bought it from John Gillies in 1986 for $650.00. It is my go to boat for fast paddling and long days on the water.
I have the Pescador Pro 10. Great seat and features for my lake fishing. Paddles very well in small or big water. I don't hesitate to take it across the lake. That's about 2 miles in open water most commonly into the wind. I will not be selling this kayak.
It would be interesting to see a video on buying a used kayak. My first kayak was a Sevylor Colorado that came with everything needed to get on the water and only set me back $100. After a year I sold it for $100. I then upgraded to an AirVolution.
You buy cheap, you buy twice... It's tempting to buy the cheapest equipment when starting out on a new hobby because you don't know if you'll get into it and you just don't know what you don't know. However, every kayaker I know upgraded from the crap rec boat they started out with pretty quickly.
Perception is a good value for the money. I've had several of them over the years that have served me well. If you're patient you can score some solid deals on preowned yaks and avoid paying retail. My two go to yaks have been a Wilderness Systems Pungo 140 and their Tarpon 140, both preowned at 1/2 the cost of retail. The seats on the WS's are comfortable and adjustable and both kayaks track well. The Pungo is quicker being a sit inside. These yaks work well for me. Your milage may vary so test paddle a few, find what works for you and get on water!
Good point on 2nd hand kayaks. There's a great 2nd hand kayak market, which also means you can easily sell a boat and upgrade with minimal financial pain.
The $600 range makes good sense to me. Comfort is very person specific, and if you shop these models, i think you will find one that’s comfortable. Most of the boats are bomber proof for when they take a hit. Going to a paddle fest or show is terrific because you can try out several boats in a single day. Even if you just do day cruises, you’ll want good storage for something (dry clothes, lunch, drinks, snacks, fishing gear, fish, etc.). It doesn’t have to be a hatch, but a heavy igloo strapped above the boat just isn’t good for performance. A deep well with a flexible cooler inside is much better.
These comments apply to ALL your reviews I seen you do: Show the bottom, hull of the boat, so you can see if v bottom, pontoon, etc Provide basic specs, length, weight, carry capacity, etc. Note if fittings are screw in or rivets, this reflects quality and ease of repair
If you just want to try a kayak, rent one for an hour or two. Plenty of people do and never want to kayak again. Money saved. Another option is to take an intro to kayaking at REI. You get a nice boat plus basic instruction. Only then would I consider owning a kayak.
Hi. Thanks for your good work. Different angle on this question. I am traveling to Pacific Islands where you can grab a wahoo in just a couple football fields away. I wonder if there is any opinion on the most sturdy / safest foldable ocean kayak because often where I go there is no boat to rent...and no one to bail you out if the boat fails :-) I have kids, so the safety issue is more important than performance. Are there options that are better than others for foldable fishing kayaks for ocean use? (I assume foldable not inflatable due to fishing hooks.) Thanks for anyone's input!
what do you think of these kayak and did or do you have a review on these - blade 159 field in stream, pelican mustang 120 , dagger axis 10.5 or 12 for beginner kayak or ?? great video!! have a good evening.
I'm a big fan of foldable or inflatable kayaks for any skill level, because in many cases, it's the only way people can have a kayak, due to the transportation and storage challenges related to hard-shell kayaks. Over the past 5-10 years, there have been MANY more options for foldable and inflatable kayaks as well, to cater to almost any paddlers need. The flip side, is that you typically lose a little comfort and performance in a portable kayak. That's the cost of portability! Happy shopping!
Oooooh, this makes me mad… I am 70 yo, on a fixed income. $300 for an entry level is outrageous. I got a sit IN, not on for $179 from Dick’s. $40 for adjustable for pads from Amazon, marine sealant, screws, & washers. My PDF gives me a little extra back padding & nature provides a little extra seat padding & I'm looking at cannibalizing an old closed cell sleeping pad for some extra cushioning (& get a little flotation device, too). Although there are no side holds on my yak, and the edge is quite rough, a $1 pool noodle cut in half and slit the long way cushions each side for me to be able to pick up my kayak & haul it short distances. All those accessories you talk about - GPS for example , is not something I can afford for a long, long time. I bought a $40 kayak compass; maybe you should emphasize some basic boatcraft & safety skills to go along with new ownership. Cup holders, rod holders... Do you have money for a fishing license & gear????? As for storage space for gear for a river trip - are you really going to take a sit on? So, this is a totally unfair comparison. I can certainly take my tricked out, cheap sit-!in that I may have spent $300 on by the time I'm done. About the only good thing on that $600 "entry level" kayak" is the skid plate.
![Дон ДОН, Алаудинов и СБЕЖАВШИЕ из под Курска ахматовцы 😁 [Пародия]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dEfCf5IK26Q/mqdefault.jpg)
Theres all kinds of things to consider when getting into kayaking. Price, weight, sit on vs sit in and other things like what are you going to do with it? For example if you just want a rec kayak to paddle with family I highly suggest a sit in over a sit on. They tend to be a lot faster and easier to paddle. But if your looking to fish and arent in a hurry sit ons are nice. However I started out fishing from sit ons and now have a sit in. Its much faster and paddles better in the wind. And it weighs a lot less.
Ive been kayak fishing now for a little over 5 years actually close to 6 years now. I started off with a Vibe Skipjack 90 and hated it. I sold it the first summer I had it. Then I bought a demo Jackson Cuda 14 I liked the kayak ok mainly the stadium style seat. Kept that for almost 2 summers then sold it because at 14 feet it was a pain to store and car top. After that got a Vibe Yellowfin 100. Used that for a summer and a half and never really liked it much. Then I bought a Lifetime Yukon, got it onsale for $400. I liked this kayak ok but at 75 pounds it sucked to cartop. After cartopping for a summer I ended up with a trailer. Which honestly I didnt care for having to mess with either. So this spring I sold the Yellowfin, the Yukon and the trailer. Then I went to Dicks and bought a Pelican Pioneer 100XR kayak for $470. And honestly I really really like this little kayak. Took a minute to get used to a sit in after having all sit on tops but once you get used to it its fine. And this has got to be my favorite kayak so far. Ill have it for awhile. It has the stadium style seat which is great for hours of fishing. Weighs less then 50 pounds with the seat so its really easy to cartop. Its really stable and paddles great. I went on Amazon and picked up some side handles with built in paddle keepers and put those on. And I also added and anchor trolly. I can be ready to head to the lake in about 10 minutes and once there Im ready to go in about 5 minutes. Its just a great little very comfortable grab and go kayak.
I'm considering getting into kayaking this summer. I'm sure a lot of people that are really into it would thrash me for it but I'm personally not going to consider a more expensive kayak yet. Money is somewhat of an issue but honestly it's more of a use thing. I know I'll get out on the lake whenever I can, but with my job and family plans it's hard to predict how often that is. Some years iv went camping enough to feel like a nomad. Other years it never happens. I'll probably buy a cheaper kayak and try it out at different spots. If I'm addicted and feel I need something better I'll cross that bridge when I get there. And if so I'll have a spare to lend out. At the moment I don't know any kayakers but I know a few people that would try it out and I'd have someone to paddle around with. Seems win win
Excellent points. The man in the video doesn’t identify his audience..
I'm a fan of having a couple of blow-molded yaks around for visitors. Kids & newbies can splash about and play with forward and sweep strokes.
If they enjoy it, I put 'em in a "real" boat!
Thank you for all these tips that I, a beginner otherwise. I am thinking of renting from REI to start and save money for the longer lasting kayak.
Renting is not a bad idea. Paddle as many boats and paddles as you can. I went through thousands of dollars in paddles and boat's before I found my combo. Witch is a Seaward Luna and inuksuk Greenland paddle. Paddle in groups. Trade gear as you paddle. And try to buy off the friends in these groups. You can get great gear this way and save some $. Enjoy! 20 years of paddling and I'm still learning.
The first kayak I bought was a Gillies Canoes sea kayak.
17 feet long 24 in wide and 45 pounds.
I bought it from John Gillies in 1986
for $650.00. It is my go to boat for
fast paddling and long days on the water.
Nice! Don't see those around very often!
I have the Pescador Pro 10. Great seat and features for my lake fishing. Paddles very well in small or big water. I don't hesitate to take it across the lake. That's about 2 miles in open water most commonly into the wind. I will not be selling this kayak.
It would be interesting to see a video on buying a used kayak. My first kayak was a Sevylor Colorado that came with everything needed to get on the water and only set me back $100. After a year I sold it for $100. I then upgraded to an AirVolution.
You buy cheap, you buy twice... It's tempting to buy the cheapest equipment when starting out on a new hobby because you don't know if you'll get into it and you just don't know what you don't know. However, every kayaker I know upgraded from the crap rec boat they started out with pretty quickly.
Perception is a good value for the money. I've had several of them over the years that have served me well.
If you're patient you can score some solid deals on preowned yaks and avoid paying retail. My two go to yaks have been a Wilderness Systems Pungo 140 and their Tarpon 140, both preowned at 1/2 the cost of retail. The seats on the WS's are comfortable and adjustable and both kayaks track well. The Pungo is quicker being a sit inside.
These yaks work well for me. Your milage may vary so test paddle a few, find what works for you and get on water!
Good point on 2nd hand kayaks. There's a great 2nd hand kayak market, which also means you can easily sell a boat and upgrade with minimal financial pain.
@@PaddleTV Yes sir! It's definitely a good way to flip yourself into that perfect yak for you.
The $600 range makes good sense to me. Comfort is very person specific, and if you shop these models, i think you will find one that’s comfortable. Most of the boats are bomber proof for when they take a hit. Going to a paddle fest or show is terrific because you can try out several boats in a single day.
Even if you just do day cruises, you’ll want good storage for something (dry clothes, lunch, drinks, snacks, fishing gear, fish, etc.). It doesn’t have to be a hatch, but a heavy igloo strapped above the boat just isn’t good for performance. A deep well with a flexible cooler inside is much better.
These comments apply to ALL your reviews I seen you do:
Show the bottom, hull of the boat, so you can see if v bottom, pontoon, etc
Provide basic specs, length, weight, carry capacity, etc.
Note if fittings are screw in or rivets, this reflects quality and ease of repair
Thanks for the notes. I do a lot of this for the 'gear review' videos, but I can see how it would be helpful for the comparison videos too. Cheers.
If you just want to try a kayak, rent one for an hour or two. Plenty of people do and never want to kayak again. Money saved. Another option is to take an intro to kayaking at REI. You get a nice boat plus basic instruction. Only then would I consider owning a kayak.
Hi. Thanks for your good work. Different angle on this question. I am traveling to Pacific Islands where you can grab a wahoo in just a couple football fields away. I wonder if there is any opinion on the most sturdy / safest foldable ocean kayak because often where I go there is no boat to rent...and no one to bail you out if the boat fails :-) I have kids, so the safety issue is more important than performance. Are there options that are better than others for foldable fishing kayaks for ocean use? (I assume foldable not inflatable due to fishing hooks.) Thanks for anyone's input!
Could u use a trash compactor bag in that hole?
what do you think of these kayak and did or do you have a review on these - blade 159 field in stream, pelican mustang 120 , dagger axis 10.5 or 12 for beginner kayak or ?? great video!! have a good evening.
Thanks! Very helpful information. What is your opinion on foldable and/or inflatable kayak for an absolute beginner?
Thank you
I'm a big fan of foldable or inflatable kayaks for any skill level, because in many cases, it's the only way people can have a kayak, due to the transportation and storage challenges related to hard-shell kayaks. Over the past 5-10 years, there have been MANY more options for foldable and inflatable kayaks as well, to cater to almost any paddlers need. The flip side, is that you typically lose a little comfort and performance in a portable kayak. That's the cost of portability! Happy shopping!
Thanks for the video. What can you recommend for tandem kayak? Thanks
P
Oooooh, this makes me mad… I am 70 yo, on a fixed income. $300 for an entry level is outrageous. I got a sit IN, not on for $179 from Dick’s. $40 for adjustable for pads from Amazon, marine sealant, screws, & washers. My PDF gives me a little extra back padding & nature provides a little extra seat padding & I'm looking at cannibalizing an old closed cell sleeping pad for some extra cushioning (& get a little flotation device, too). Although there are no side holds on my yak, and the edge is quite rough, a $1 pool noodle cut in half and slit the long way cushions each side for me to be able to pick up my kayak & haul it short distances. All those accessories you talk about - GPS for example , is not something I can afford for a long, long time. I bought a $40 kayak compass; maybe you should emphasize some basic boatcraft & safety skills to go along with new ownership. Cup holders, rod holders... Do you have money for a fishing license & gear????? As for storage space for gear for a river trip - are you really going to take a sit on? So, this is a totally unfair comparison. I can certainly take my tricked out, cheap sit-!in that I may have spent $300 on by the time I'm done. About the only good thing on that $600 "entry level" kayak" is the skid plate.