Sea Kayaking?

[jh_on_the_cape]

Anyone here know anything about sea kayaking?
I live on the cape and am sick of dealing with the motor boat. I want to sea kayak. Get some excersize and be able to just put it on the roof rack rather than trailering.
I want to fish from the boat, too.
And I cannot afford to drop $1k on a new boat.

I looked around and it's like looking at mountain bikes if you are new to it: overwhelming.

Any suggestions on how to go about this?

[wannabee]

Check today's craigslist. There are a couple kayaks there. On the water, a floatation vest is lie a bike helmet....a necessity.

[jab1362]

If you want to fish out of the kayak, you might want might want to look at something wider than a sea kayak. Try EMS in Hyannis, Goose Hummock in Orleans if you are down Cape. Like bikes try as many as you can to find the one that works for you. I have 2 Necky 12ft models and they work fine for me fishing and just paddling around.
+1 on the PFD
Joe

[jh_on_the_cape]

I have been looking around and the big decision is sit on top or sit inside.
Everybody around here uses a sit inside. But lots of the fishing kayaks are sit on top.

I want simple. sit on top seems simpler.
But there must be some reason no one here uses them. A buddy said they are slow (we have lots of current) and you cannot use them when it's cold out (you get wet) and they are higher and too much windage for paddling across the wind.

Any tips? like getting a bike, if i want to go used, i do not want to go try kayaks at a shop, then buy used. That's not cool.

[Husqvarna]

What kind of paddling are you thinking of? Touring, whitewater, lakes and big rivers.

Do a guided trip. This gives you the chance to try out a boat, if you like it tell the guide you'ld be interested in purchasing it. Most guides sell off there kayaks at the end of the season or they may have 2nd year boats there looking to replace with new boats in spring and summer.

The wife and i did a tour in the summer a few years back. Then we bought the same two boats used for only a season in that fall for about 1500. The boats were completely outfitted with paddles, rudder, and vests.

The longer the boat the better it will track, and handle waves also add a rudder for stability and better control in windy conditions on lakes and bays. Sit in boats, keep your weight lower and are more stabile in the water. Plus less wind resitance.

The sit on tops are fun to play around in or float on, but not so good for touring because you have no way of bracing.

[YakFish]

jh,

I have done a lot of kayak fishing but about two years ago when I got the mountain biking bug again I pretty much stopped. I still love it though. A great website for information is www.newenglandkayakfishing.com and there are many other sites specifically on kayak fishing. You can do it as simply or as gear oriented as you want. I started in an Old Town Castine sit inside kayak outfitted with just a rod holder and had fun fishing but then I slowly got more and more into it and got a sit-on-top kayak rigged with GPS, Depthfinder, multiple rod holders etc. for serious striper fishing.

There are endless threads about the pros and cons of a traditional kayak vs a sit-on-top and you really have to decide for yourself. Then there are endless variations of each, just as in mountain bikes. For plain ocean kayaking i still prefer my sit inside with a skirt to keep water out but I only fish in the ocean with a sit-on-top. The advantages include being able to easily move your legs around and change positions, you can sit side saddle with your legs in the water. They are easier to rig with lots of gear but most importantly if you flip you can get back in pretty easily and don't have to worry about having a yak full of water. You do need some good skills to get back into and pump out a sit inside.

Advantages to a traditional sit inside include being generally lighter, more maneuverable, quicker etc. There are many who fish from these kayaks.

You may want to combine your biking with kayaking and get a Hobie pedal kayak! They are expensive but are very energy efficient but they are also expensive. Feel free to pm me with questions. My inlaws live in Falmouth in the summer so I have fished a fair amount down there.

[sea&xc]

Kayaking is very similiar to biking in the sense that you can do it at many different levels and from different perspectives.

Casually, for fitness, rough water, calm and quiet, race, whitewater, multiday, etc.

Kayaking does have it's unique risks though. If you have an issue on the water, you don't have the option to get out and walk home like you have with a bike. If you "crash" a kayak and end up in the water you better know how to get back in while in deep water. This is especially relevant when you factor our cold waters and high currents.

The good and bad is that while it's costs a fair amount to get the needed gear, there is minimal maintenance and actual cost to use it. Again very similiar to bikes.

Key aspects to consider: Kayak fit, especially relevant for sit in but it applies to SOT as well. Consider paddle clearance, comfort, seat adjustability and both foot and thigh braces for control.

Length: Longer = better in most waters. Faster, better tracking, easier paddling. You can always make a long boat turn better as your skill increases. You can't make a short manuverable one track easier.

Stability: Find a model that leaves you wishing for a touch more stability. You'll adjust to it pretty quick and will be rewarded with a more responsive design that you'll be less likely to out grow.

Demos are important as you really can't tell stability and fit until you're on the water for a bit. Luckily this is the time of year when all the shops are doing their annual spring demo days. Once you get a sense for what you DON'T like, it'll make it easier to find something you do.

Buying used is an option and deals can be found. However just like everything, you'll have less options and have questionable value. Biggest thing here is the PADDLE and a comfortable PFD are your most important pieces of gear. The paddle is your connection to the water. If it's the wrong size, too heavy, or an improper blade shape you'll hate it. Spend extra money here.

Have fun and you'll soon be addicted to this. Pretty soon you'll be complaining about losing your biking legs. You'll have the advantage of better set of abs though. I find I have to annually rotate my focus between boat and bike (sea&xc) as I don't have enough time/money to devote to both. Hell at my current rate I live vicariously through those on these forums.

Check out nspn.org they are a great group of people dedicated to getting skills to those with the desire.

[sea&xc]

@YakFish

You probably have the experience to tell jh about a Nantucket sleighride!! Nice striper there

[jh_on_the_cape]

thanks for the tips! that picture is awesome

[jh_on_the_cape]

hey what do you guys think of this?
http://capecod.craigslist.org/boa/653599856.html

I would not get the fish finder. I never had one on my boat, never found it necessary.

Also, if you guys have an extra old boat and want to trade for bike stuff, let me know.

[heckler]

Keep in mind that open kayaks, though easier to get back into once you fall out, are basically designed to be wet. A sit-in, with a skirt can keep you both dry AND warm. The waters off the cape are cold.

an open boat might not be as comfortable either, depending on the seat. etc.

If you haven't spent time in a a kayak, think about hooking up with a group that does lessons on the water. I just got into kayaking last year and took a two-day lesson at Charles River Kayak in Newton. Although that group does ocean trips I am thinking you could find one local on the cape that would be just as good. And you could try out their boats at the same time.

[Mr_Cheeze]

My girlfriend and I are going up to Portland over Memorial Day weekend where we will be trying sea kayaking for the first time. http://www.maineislandkayak.com/index.html
Looks like the sit in type. It'll be the first of any kind of kayaking for me. She's been bugging me to go for a long time. Hopefully I won't drown.

[jh_on_the_cape]

you are going to be cold in may in Maine. bring a hat.

My girlfriend and I are going up to Portland over Memorial Day weekend where we will be trying sea kayaking for the first time. http://www.maineislandkayak.com/index.html
Looks like the sit in type. It'll be the first of any kind of kayaking for me. She's been bugging me to go for a long time. Hopefully I won't drown.

[YakFish]

jh,

The yak and gear you saw on Craig's list seems like some good stuff but you do probably want to try some out on the water first before you buy anything. Before you rule out a fishfinder you need to think about the type of fishing you will be doing and how serious about it you want to be. A lot of the striper fishing that is done in New England is trolling very shallow rocky water with tube and worm set ups and eels and the fishfinder's real asset is simply to see structure and know how deep it is since you want your gear as low as you can get it without getting hung up.

Being in a sit-on-top in cold weather and cold water is not a problem with the right outer wear. Lot's of info. on this on the web but lots of kayak fishermen are out almost year round with sit-on-tops.

Sit-in kayaks with a skirt are great and warm. I have that setup and love it for general recreational kayaking. If you mostly just want to get on the water almost any vessel will do.

[jh_on_the_cape]

narrowed it down to 2 boats, want to decide today-ish

a used cape horn wilderness 15'
http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/showReviews.html?prod=351

or a new
RIOT/AZUL Argon DLX 13 Kayak, '08
http://www.ems.com/catalog/product_detail_vertical.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84 5524442597185&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302889862

the cape horn is 'more boat' but used. i like the riot argon, but can find almost no info on it on the web. i think it is discontinued or something.

they will cost about the same once you figure in accessories. the used one includes a bunch of stuff.

to be used for half day or day trips. bringing fishing stuff, but that's not the main point of going out. just exploring the elizabeth islands and going to the vineyard. most likely no overnights.

thanks

[heckler]

I haven't had the pleasure of taking my boat out in the "ocean" yet (Wellfleet Harbor with wind has been the most exciting to date) but the bigger the better in many ways in terms of cutting through the waves. 13' is going to be a bit short! I really like the Wilderness Systems boats- My wife and I have Tsunami 140's. Even those are going to be small for real open water.

Have you had a chance to try either of these boats on the water yet?

[jh_on_the_cape]

I haven't had the pleasure of taking my boat out in the "ocean" yet (Wellfleet Harbor with wind has been the most exciting to date) but the bigger the better in many ways in terms of cutting through the waves. 13' is going to be a bit short! I really like the Wilderness Systems boats- My wife and I have Tsunami 140's. Even those are going to be small for real open water.

Have you had a chance to try either of these boats on the water yet?

I have not been able to try them. I checked out EMS and they have demos, but I do not think I can afford a new boat and all the accessories, especially a 15' boat.

I am getting the 15' Cape Horn, picking it up this weekend. I also found from talking with people that a 13' boat might be a bit small for me.