Multiple use kayak suggestion...

[Coon]

I’ve never kayaked or kayak fished before and I’m looking to start soon. I live on Bayou Lafourche and would like one that is stable enough to use just to paddle around with my wife or nephews behind the house. For fishing, I think my main fishing focus would be fishing for reds in the marshes of lower Lafourche and Terrebonne. In my brief research prior to finding this site, I thought the Kajun Country Kayak would work just fine being that it’s designed to be stable, has a large mid deck that can be rigged for two people, and looked like it would have plenty of room on the front and back decks for fishing gear as well. But apparently saying that I want one of those on this site is like saying I want a hole in my head.

I plan on going to The Backpacker’s demo day at LSU in a few weeks and will try several on for size including the KC Kayak, but was wondering before I go if there are any other models that I should particularly take a look at that may fit my needs/wants with a budget of $1,000 to $1,500 for everything (boat, fishing accessories, paddle, dry bag, etc...).

Thanks

[revredfish]

What you describe has you leaning towards an Native Ultimate 14.5 tandem. Readily adaptable for two and back to one. Can be fished most anywhere. Good solid platform. If you had not put the "for two" category in there I would say the Prowler Big Game is your boat. Great for chasing reds up in the marsh, can put a small child in the back, can fish it in open water. very stable. I stand all day in it.

[Hobie1Kenobie]

PM sent.

Welcome to the club.

[Mung]

It is super hard to find a kayak that can do all of the things you want to do, well. Standing to fish just don't go with speed and tracking. The KC is a really nice stable boat, but most of the folks on this site need something that can travel long distances to fish the sulphur mines, Big Lake, etc. If you are not going far, it may be the right boat for you.

You from front or back Vacherie?

[all_in]

You are likely to get some excellent advise on this thread (and from older ones like it – see below), but nothing beats experience on the water. I have had several kayaks and none of them were perfect for everything. I have decided to get the right boat for the situations I like to fish. I have a long lean Ocean Kayak prowler Trident 15 for longer trips, an Outback for about everything else, and my next purchase will be a paddleboard for sight fishing reds. Sooner or later (probably sooner) my wife is going to put the kibosh on all this, but until then my armada keeps growing.
http://www.bckfc.org/showthread.php?2162-Conundrum-buy-new-or-used-kayak

http://www.bckfc.org/showthread.php?1074-fishing-kayak-for-me-and-my-gf

[Coon]

You from front or back Vacherie?

Front. Roots in the Back, though...

Thanks for the tips, guys. And for any forthcoming. I'm sure i'll have plenty more questions that i'll post here for responses.

[pistol]

If you want to fish beyond the marsh say in the surf in grand isle or fouchon look at a malibu pro 2 tandem. I have one and I usually fish by myself, but its great for 2 big people. It is a fish and dive kayak so it is designed to fish in the marsh as well as big open waters. I have been in 3-5 ft seas and was never concerned, I was amazed how safe and stable I was.

[Redwolf]

A Coosa might also be good for him as well, as stable as they seem to be and they look to have room for a young kid to attach themselves to the boat as well. I think the Deluxe angler editions run around the $1k mark?

[Coon]

How do y'all move y'all kayaks from here to there? I have a short bed pickup with a toolbox that sits 12" from the floor of the bed. I assume this may be problematic.

[Blue in Green]

How do y'all move y'all kayaks from here to there? I have a short bed pickup with a toolbox that sits 12" from the floor of the bed. I assume this may be problematic.

bed extender will give you another four feet so a 6.5 foot bed minus 1.5 for the tool box = 4 feet plus 4 for the bed extender= 8 feet of supported area. That would likely limit you to around 12 feet. If the front of the kayak goes under the box you'd probably be good for 13.5-14. The other option would be a ladder rack or a trailer.

[Blue in Green]

Would the 14 foot wilderness that Grape Ape is selling make sense? Well within his price range with a pretty large capacity.

[Coon]

super short 5.5' bed so a bed extender probably wouldn't work if i couldn't also put it under the tool box. how "thick" or "tall" is the average kayak? Also, what about roof racks?

[Coon]

Would the 14 foot wilderness that Grape Ape is selling make sense? Well within his price range with a pretty large capacity.

i was thinking about a sit on top version.

[Blue in Green]

A sit on top would probably fit under; a hybrid like a native or wilderness commander wouldn't

[Blue in Green]

And I just looked up the bed extender and it's actually only 3 feet. So best case scenario you have 8.5 feet, although that's not too shabby. Anything past 12-13 feet might be a stretch though. That's a lot of the hull left unsupported. How beefy is your hitch? I've seen more than one person with a custom welded bed extender that is longer than 3 feet.

[pistol]

check out the sponsor page, like kayak fishing supplies that will give you an idea of whats available,

[Speckled_Tiger]

Bed extenders can also go vertical so you can roof top the bow and let the stern ride on vertical extender.

[Blue in Green]

Bed extenders can also go vertical so you can roof top the bow and let the stern ride on vertical extender.

Or you could use the canoe loader they sell at academy combined with some foam blocks on the roof. Total cost <$80 and easy to load.

[yak-aholic]

I just picked up a Native Watercraft Magic 14.5 Solo. It is perfect for paddling around and fishing with one of my kids at a time. I could probably get away with both kids in the boat if just paddling, but one extra set of hands flinging a hook around is enough for me. This boat can be purchased in a tandem model that is very easily converted to solo for when you want to fish alone.

A couple of reviews: http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/showReviews.html?prod=2176

Here's one for sale: http://www.belhavenpaddlesports.com/native_09/magic_14_5_tandem/magic_14_5_tandem.php

Do your research, but for my purposes this boat was hard to beat. I'm still setting up the rack for my Tacoma so I can transport it, but once I get it done I'd be glad to meet up with you for a personal demo.

[Coon]

Any opinions on rooftop racks for trucks?

[Blue in Green]

You might be better to just go with the foam block. It's $10 versus a pretty substantial sum for the rack. Takes < 5 minutes to install and is just as safe if installed correctly.

[Kurt_Loup]

Any opinions on rooftop racks for trucks?

I have a TracRac. I highly recommend it. I see that the Lowe's on Siegen carries a version.

[Nobody]

Any opinions on rooftop racks for trucks?

I went with this one for my Ranger.

http://www.truckspecialties.com/kargo_master_econo_ladder_rack.htm

I found mine on craigslist for $50.

[Blue in Green]

Ladder rack from harbor freight. Hold 250 pounds; only about $75 and can easily be removed when you aren't carrying your kayak.

[Nobody]

Ladder rack from harbor freight. Hold 250 pounds; only about $75 and can easily be removed when you aren't carrying your kayak.

I was actually looking at that myself. But I would be held to carrying one kayak at a time.

[Blue in Green]

I was actually looking at that myself. But I would be held to carrying one kayak at a time.

YOu could mount one on the other side too. Need to move one yak? Throw on one rack. Need to move both? Throw on the other.

[Kurt_Loup]

A T-Rac goes on and off in less than 5 minutes. I got mine used on Ebay for about the price of two HF ladder racks. Plus it has a 750 lbs. capacity.

[Coon]

Kurt, you're all over the place... Grill dome, here..... Hahaha.

[Racechaser]

How do y'all move y'all kayaks from here to there? I have a short bed pickup with a toolbox that sits 12" from the floor of the bed. I assume this may be problematic.

What kind of truck?

[Coon]

F150 crew cab.

[Kurt_Loup]

Kurt, you're all over the place... Grill dome, here..... Hahaha.

That's not all. Too many hobbies and not enough time for them.

[Racechaser]

http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt116/scotthill_1/96ddff01.jpg

Here is how I used to haul my kayak before I got a camper top and a hard tonneau cover.

It is a pair of Yakima Outfitters or whatever in the bed and a pair of Q towers on the cab. You could also use two pairs of Q towers on the roof and no Outfitter on the bed.

I am walking out door again and will post more pics of other options later.