Kayaks - Inflatable, Rigid, Folding. . . whaddya have and how do ya like it?

[BlackDog1]

I was strictly a fly fisherman, who waded streams for several years. Last year, a buddy I fish with quite a lot, convinced me to buy a kayak so we could cover more river on our fishing trips. I bought a Jackson Big Rig FD. It's 13.25 feet long, 40 inches wide and weighs 145 pounds, with the pedal drive. I tried putting it on my Xterra, at first. That lasted two trips to a river near my house before I broke down and bought a trailer. It's big, heavy and not the easiest thing to maneuver, but once I get it in the water, it's a dream. It slices through the water effortlessly and it displaces such a huge volume, I can float it in less than 2 inches of water without scraping. At 40 inches wide, I can stand an throw a skagit line with a single-hand fly rod or grab a baitcaster and pitch a frog. I rarely fish lakes, but when I do, I never worry about the wakes from other boats. If you like to fish, but have never done so from a kayak, I highly encourage you to try it. It is so much more of an intimate experience than any other method of fishing I have ever experienced.


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How do you like that Yakima Trailer? I too fly fish from a Kayak. I have a Nucanue Frontier, 12 long and 42 wide and can double haul standing in aggressive rollers on the lake. Fishing form it down the river is even better. I can load it up for a couple of nights camping on the rivers edge. Love it. But, ts heavy and a pain when out of the water, getting it in/out of the truck is tough I am not getting stronger these days.

 

[Itacal]

How do you like that Yakima Trailer? I too fly fish from a Kayak. I have a Nucanue Frontier, 12 long and 42 wide and can double haul standing in aggressive rollers on the lake. Fishing form it down the river is even better. I can load it up for a couple of nights camping on the rivers edge. Love it. But, ts heavy and a pain when out of the water, getting it in/out of the truck is tough I am not getting stronger these days.

Dude, get a trailer when/if you can. It requires little effort to get my kayak on and off the trailer. Makes the entire experience so much more enjoyable. I cannot imagine ever putting my kayak on the roof of a vehicle ever again. I will tell you this, I look forward to getting up and going fishing with the kayak, and I don’t dread getting off the water because I’m gonna have to load a kayak onto my roof. I did buy the 72” bars (it came with 66”) because my buddy has a Jackson Mayfly, which is 36“ wide. I am able to fit my Big Rig FD, which is 40” wide, and his Mayfly without any problems whatsoever.

As for the Yakima, it’s awesome. I’ve had it on the highway several times at 70mph with no problems whatsoever. It is incredibly light, but solid. It stays tucked behind my vehicle, turns well, and I haven’t found it to wobble, shake or anything like that, even at 70mph. I would definitely buy it again.

Hope this helps. If you have any more questions, let me know and I will do my best to answer them. Tight lines!

 

[BlackDog1]

Dude, get a trailer when/if you can. It requires little effort to get my kayak on and off the trailer. Makes the entire experience so much more enjoyable. I cannot imagine ever putting my kayak on the roof of a vehicle ever again. I will tell you this, I look forward to getting up and going fishing with the kayak, and I don’t dread getting off the water because I’m gonna have to load a kayak onto my roof. I did buy the 72” bars (it came with 66”) because my buddy has a Jackson Mayfly, which is 36“ wide. I am able to fit my Big Rig FD, which is 40” wide, and his Mayfly without any problems whatsoever.

As for the Yakima, it’s awesome. I’ve had it on the highway several times at 70mph with no problems whatsoever. It is incredibly light, but solid. It stays tucked behind my vehicle, turns well, and I haven’t found it to wobble, shake or anything like that, even at 70mph. I would definitely buy it again.

Hope this helps. If you have any more questions, let me know and I will do my best to answer them. Tight lines!

that helps a lot. thanks

 

[Padams7]

I had an inflatable kayak, and it was terrible. It would not track well because your butt sits lower and causes you to track off center, unlike a plastic kayak with the molded in rudder.

I’ve seen the foldable ones, now that looks compact enough to store without causing a storage issue, but I am unsure of the durability/comfort/ease of use.

 

[PeterPaul]

Well, the title of this thread says it all, pretty much. I've been pondering the purchase of a kayak to take along on my wanderings.

Mostly for getting out there alone for fishing and photography, though I may have a dog at some point and would like to be able to accommodate another person from time to time, so a tandem is more appealing.

Wondering what you have and how you like it and, as this would be my first kayak--done lots of canoeing over the years--any tips you might have for what to look for.

I'm presently leaning towards an inflatable kayak for a couple reasons. Packing, mostly, in that I won't have to keep moving it out of the way on a rack or on top of my RTT, but also so it is not as likely to go missing. I'm not one to hang overland bling all over my van or trailer, and keep my tools, jacks, shovels etc as inside as I can other than when actually on a trail.

I don't really need a sleek expert-level kayak, either, but one I can get out on lakes and slow moving streams and perhaps along the occasional ocean shoreline.

I looked at an interesting folding kayak, but in the end decided against it as being not as stable and likely more of a hassle to put together, and not as long-lived.

So, having an inflatable kayak seems to fit the bill, so far. I'm looking mostly at the Aire Tributary Tomcat Tandem Inflatable Whitewater Kayak, though with a long-assed name like that I'll probably call it Fred. Maybe Shirley.

Has a more rigid floor than others, has stong and movable thwart seats, and can be used solo with gear or tandem with another person. Packs up to around 25 x 21 x 16 and weighs between 42-50 lbs, depending on which site you look. That's plenty doable for an 82yr old like me and with my mongo van, I'll be able to secure it inside on day jaunts away from camp, or in my trailer for longer rides.

It's $799 most places and at REI I'll get $79 back in dividends.

Anyone have personal experience with one of these, or have experienced advice on another I should consider?

Suggestions/advice on paddles, other gear for the applications mentioned above? I don't see myself doing whitewater rapids, so won't need specific gear for that.

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Is your trailer an xventure? We are about to buy one. How do you like it?

 

[RonaldHoward1313]

I have only started kayaking this past summer and only got out a few times. So far I really enjoy it, the freedom of it and am hoping to do some weekend wheeling/kayaking trips this coming summer.

 

[BlackDog1]

I have only started kayaking this past summer and only got out a few times. So far I really enjoy it, the freedom of it and am hoping to do some weekend wheeling/kayaking trips this coming summer.

Nice sun shade.

 

[Road]

Is your trailer an xventure? We are about to buy one. How do you like it?

Hi there @PeterPaul - no idea why I was never notified of this, and just noticed it tonight.

I LOVE my XV-2 and have had it all over the country for well over 600 nights out. I depend on it to be the solid foundation of all the back country base camping I do.
There aren't many people who have used one as much as I have, according to the folks at XVenture. I've been up to their plant in Clintonville WI a couple times.

Feel free to contact me through private message here, or through my site, instead of adding to this canoe thread, if you there's some other way I can be of help in regard to XVenture trailers.

 

[Road]

Poking around old threads and found this one I started long time ago on kayaks, inflatables, and canoes, so am updating it with how extremely thrilled I've been with my Hornbeck 14' Nomad Solo-Tandem.

I've been out on the water more since I've had this canoe in a couple years than all the rest of my many years combined.

Here are a few favorite image made possible by having this canoe.


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Roaddude - On the Road In North America - ROADDUDE

Roaddude - Traveling Photographer/Writer/Artist On the Road In North America. Gear, reviews, people, places, and culture.

roaddude.com

 

[PCO6]

Road - Seeing your last picture above reminded me of this one of mine ... minus the boots.

 

[Road]

Road - Seeing your last picture above reminded me of this one of mine ... minus the boots.

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Nothing quite like having watercraft that allows you to go ashore pretty much wherever you want. I love getting out there at dawn and dusk for the steam fog that happens. Great way to start and end one's daylight.

 

[PCO6]

Nothing quite like having watercraft that allows you to go ashore pretty much wherever you want. I love getting out there at dawn and dusk for the steam fog that happens. Great way to start and end one's daylight.

Totally agree. With a travel mug of coffee in the morning and a shot of whisky at night ... when I get back to shore.

 

[Autism Family Travels]

We picked up two new to us Kayaks. I have a current designs tandem for Colin and I to ride in and I picked up a pelican 12 ft for da wife to cruise in. Can't wait to get out. Just need to get the extension on the draw bar of the sylvansport so we can haul them around.

 

[FishinCrzy]

Here is a site I found with some interesting inflatables. They have figured out how to put a zipper on the tube so you can store items inside the pontoon. Some actually are able to strap an E-bike onto it. Interesting company history too. The Ranger is on my wish list!

Alpackaraft - Passionate about Packrafting in all its Forms

Passionate about Packrafting in all its Forms

www.alpackaraft.com

 

[grubworm]

Here is a site I found with some interesting inflatables. They have figured out how to put a zipper on the tube so you can store items inside the pontoon. Some actually are able to strap an E-bike onto it. Interesting company history too. The Ranger is on my wish list!

Alpackaraft - Passionate about Packrafting in all its Forms

Passionate about Packrafting in all its Forms

www.alpackaraft.com

nice. we have a vibe tandem kayak that is close to 80# and getting to be a pain to transport on long trips. the inflatables are making a lot of sense to me now....

 

[CJ Aggy]

I don’t know the names but we have two single kayaks, two tandem kayaks (one with a flat top and other one regular) and one canoe

 

[Sparksalot]

I built this one in 2018. A Millcreek 16.5 open cockpit tandem from plans by CLC. She weighs 65#.

Right after I finished her, my daughter and I took her to Wyoming.

 

[Trail_pilot]

I used to have inflatable kayaks for packing into the back of the Jeep, but they are a pain to paddle any distance because they don't track all that well and they drag in the water. I switched to some cheap second hand pelican kayaks and they work great I'm adding a few fishing gizmos to mine and I have opened them up for a bit more storage. they have been taking us to back country lakes for a few years not with no complaints.
I never trusted fishing from the inflatable because I didn't want to get the hook caught in the side. I tried a few times but i get blown across the lake and it was awkward to fish from. the hard kayaks are not really less awkward, but i know I'm not going to sink it with a fishing hook.
I may look into an actual cheap fishing kayak in the future but for now mines working .

 

[Road]

I built this one in 2018. A Millcreek 16.5 open cockpit tandem from plans by CLC. She weighs 65#.

Right after I finished her, my daughter and I took her to Wyoming.

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Handsome watercraft!

 

[MarioT'sCJResto]

I have had my eyes set on REI's 14ft Sit on Top and Cabelas 12T Ascend Kayaks. Since I want to bring one of my pups along the inflatable option is out the door.