Thread: Pick my kayak ....

Nucanoe frontier 12,utilizes a variety of boat seats adaptable to different seat bases ,low and higher ridged,no sitting in the water.nucanoes are 45" at the beam,I believe they are the widest kayak on the market.While a new one is a bit higher than your allowance,good used and somewhat equipped nucanoes are out there and well into your price range.

I second the Nucanoe Frontier and would even say get you a 45# thrust trolling motor and a battery and you are set to go....

A true SOT will be wet, no way around it, some to a lesser degree. In cold water I would want a sit in. But I would want one with a large open cockpit like these
Loon 126
http://www.oldtowncanoe.com/Loon_Series/

Ascend H12 Sit-Inside Hybrid Kayak - Olive | Bass Pro Shops: The Best Hunting, Fishing, Camping & Outdoor Gear

http://www.austinkayak.com/products/...120-Kayak.html

Another option
http://www.austinkayak.com/products/...EXT-Canoe.html

And the Nucanoe
Frontier | Fishing Kayak | Hunting Kayak | NuCanoe

Actually a SOT with elevated seat is very dry. The only water your getting on you is drips from paddle strokes.

Without further details about your water type and how you fish, it would be very difficult to make a recommendation. You should try several before buying too. You'll learn what you like and don't like about certain hull types very quickly that way. I tend to like Jackson as they are domestically made (and parts are sourced locally too), but Wilderness Systems and Native and many others have quality kayaks too.

Don't forget to reserve some money for a quality paddle and pfd.

Thanks for the replies. I've been looking at Jackson pretty hard, at the Coosa HD in particular but a price tag of around 2k keeps me from being 100% serious. I also looked at the Nucanoe Frontier for the 2 person ability but again over 2k with some (in my opinion) needed accessories. I really like the Nucanoe because I want to take my Daughter out instead of her buried behind a computer desk, at least thats my goal. In all reality it would be just me 98% of the time and at the price of these two I could buy a decent one for myself and set it up to my liking and buy another simple kayak for her or whoever and still be way ahead. I personally think they are wayyyyy over priced, I mean my God it's plastic, I bet they have less than 500 bucks total in these. I think I'll go back to looking at the Pelican Strike 12 or the Pelican nxt or whatever it is. Those both have the better seat and a lot of features for around 800 bucks.

Yeah, I don't get where you say SOTs are wet. The only time I get water in the boat is when I'm boarding. Even at that, it's less than a cup full and it drains out the scuppers. Versus a sit in where every drop of water that gets in the boat, stays in the boat. That's why SIs have to carry a sponge. I've fished SOT in 30 degree weather and the only thing that got wet was my hands when I was landing fish.

The Orange one is the Tripper 12, the red/yellow one is the Tupelo 12.5.


I have had a couple of back surgeries and a knee surgery. For me, the priorities in choosing a kayak are

- comfortable seat
- stability
- ease of paddling
- tracking
''
I've tried a few kayaks, and owned an 11 ft sit inside Perception, and a Jackson Coosa (not the HD). I ended up with a Jackson Tripper 12. It is the recreation version of the Kilroy fishing kayak. I've added some yak attack track for Rod holders and accessories. It suits me perfectly and is the best balance of my needs that I've found.

My wife has a Jackson Tupelo 12.5. It's a more traditional sit inside than my Tripper, but is still a capable fishing platform. It's also faster than the Tripper and requires less effort to paddle.

We also have a small kayak for the grandkids, visitors, etc. it's a Heritage Featherlite 9.5. They are only $269 at Academy sports. We just had the kayaks out yesterday, my wife used the Heritage (I never have been in it) and said it was fine, requires a little more effort to paddle than her Tupelo, and the seat isn't as comfy, but she liked it fine otherwise

edit: I see that you want to take your daughter along. Jackson has recently announced a new tandem model, the Tripper T. At $1299 it seems like a bargain and I'm tempted to get one myself. You can look at reviews of the Kilroy DT which the Tripper T is based on.

JACKSON KAYAK INTRODUCES TRIPPER T – A TANDEM SIT-IN RECREATIONAL KAYAK |

I appreciate all the feedback but made a decision. I liked a sit on top for the storage but liked the idea of a sit in for minimal water and a bit more protection from the wind. One main reason I wanted a kayak was to be able to fish when it's cold out but not cold enough or not enough ice to fish on. I ended up buying a Perception 10.6 Hook Angler. It's a sit in kayak but the rear has an open (very large) storage area, plus the console had a Scotty rod holder and an identical space on the other side of the console for another which I'll be mounting my fish finder on. Everything is within reach and plenty of storage for me and what I'd take out. I was a bit concerned about the seat but I spent about an hour it in, sippin' some beverages (cold Molson Canadian's) and my butt wasn't phased. Mounting up some accessories tomorrow morning and searching for a Scotty fish finder mount then taking her out.