Kayaks
- Thread starter brybenn
- Start date
Kayaks and Canoes are that stable.
Anyone, regardless of how strong of a swimmer, needs to wear a PFD?
Anyone that doesn't is an @$$hole....
I always wear one in ANY boat, even my full sized Lund, only time I take it off is when I am anchored or trolling/fishing.
But what if he fell in while anchored,trolling or fishing ......
I only take off pfd when in a large boat....always wear one in kayak or canoe.
I ended up buying the feelfree lure 10.
I cant swim. Also apparently ive gotten fat. I tried on my life jacket its an adult large 94-104cm chest and its well lets say tight. I have a triangle shaped torso headon but im getting a gut. I guess im going shopping for a new life jacket
I cant swim. Also apparently ive gotten fat. I tried on my life jacket its an adult large 94-104cm chest and its well lets say tight. I have a triangle shaped torso headon but im getting a gut. I guess im going shopping for a new life jacket
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
It's referred to as a Paunch. Can be hard to get rid of.
I've always been a canoe guy. Spent my first 20 years of moose hunting in a canoe, and I have on occasion used one to hunt deer. I started out with a 17'Grumman, and added a Swift Dumoine when that got too heavy on the longer portages. Back then, trucks had 8' beds, so hanging a canoe out the back was no big deal at least for a short trip to the duck blind. . When we moved here, i had to move the two of them and I built a rack I could swet in the back of the truck for that.
My wife was pragnant and i took parental leave. It was a long and uneventful winter and spring and ive been enjoying my break from work. I can loose the weight quickly once i get up and moving again. For now i enjoying chilling with my 5 month old girl
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
If you do decide to go with a bigger boat, the rack I made is an option. It looks like a farm truck with stake pocket racks, but as I have a Tonneau cover and bed rails, I just made a wooden box that sits on the bed, not on the sides, and I ratchet strap a couple of 4X4's across the top when I want to put one, or both canoes on top. It's high enough to allow the canoes to clear the cab. to hold it down I screwed a couple of lag bolts through the legs so they come out under the edge of the truck.
I'll be re-designing it sometime soon, as it was quickly slapped together when i needed to move the furniture, and the canoes. It's a lot heavier than it needs to be.
I'll be re-designing it sometime soon, as it was quickly slapped together when i needed to move the furniture, and the canoes. It's a lot heavier than it needs to be.
For hunting I would strongly recommend a canoe. A 16 foot Royalex (or one of the new materials that have replaced it) carried hundreds of pounds and is nearly indestructible. If you need to portage frequently it won't be the best option as they weight 75 - 90 lbs. If you are a solo hunter you can buy a shorter (14 foot) composite canoe that will probably weigh less than 40 lbs. Paddling solo boat design is not that hard and a bit of practice will make any reasonable canoeist adept quickly.
If you are simply looking to access a hunting area for the day and the largest load you would be bringing out would be a field dressed whitetail deer a kayak can work.
An important safety consideration that is often missed is that sit on top designs are inherently safer for the solo paddler. It's a simply matter of flipping the boat upright and climbing back in. A swamped kayak will be full of water and impossible to paddle. Solo self-rescue in a kayak is tricky, involving paddle floats, pumps, etc. It's hard enough practiced in calm waters at the beach in July - freezing water and howling winds in November will make it impossible for most.
I'm considering a sit on top fishing kayak, but the 85 lb weight is causing me to question it. These boats are awkward and I fish solo 95% of the time. A canoe is easier to handle for one person, but doesn't allow standing up to fish, etc.
If you are simply looking to access a hunting area for the day and the largest load you would be bringing out would be a field dressed whitetail deer a kayak can work.
An important safety consideration that is often missed is that sit on top designs are inherently safer for the solo paddler. It's a simply matter of flipping the boat upright and climbing back in. A swamped kayak will be full of water and impossible to paddle. Solo self-rescue in a kayak is tricky, involving paddle floats, pumps, etc. It's hard enough practiced in calm waters at the beach in July - freezing water and howling winds in November will make it impossible for most.
I'm considering a sit on top fishing kayak, but the 85 lb weight is causing me to question it. These boats are awkward and I fish solo 95% of the time. A canoe is easier to handle for one person, but doesn't allow standing up to fish, etc.
cdn1canhunt
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- southwestern ontario
If your not gonna portage why not just buy a real boat? 12' aluminum will last a lifetime, small motor or oars will get you anywhere and light enough to launch yourself. A had a topper 12 Jon boat, added a seat with a back rest trolling motor and a battery IMHO much better platform for hunting or fishing. About the same price less the engine.
TheCoachZed
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Lots of thoughts here, and I definitely agree with the recommendation to buy royalex if you can find it (not available on the new market anymore, I've been told?). However, one thing worth remembering is that despite all the cool materials and designs available today, Old Time Boys killed a pile of animals and fish out of clunky old wooden boats (or birchbark, or worse!). You might be better off spending less money on a boat you can use because you have to work less hours to pay for it, hours that then can be spent hunting/fishing ....
But if money isn't a consideration, having a more capable boat is the way to go.
Personally I prefer canoes over kayaks for many reasons, but kayaks are certainly preferable under many conditions. But a canoe is the pickup truck of the boat world--can do or haul anything. Attach a motor, and you're good for lake work. Get a paddle, you can do lakes/ponds/streams/marshes/whatever.
But if money isn't a consideration, having a more capable boat is the way to go.
Personally I prefer canoes over kayaks for many reasons, but kayaks are certainly preferable under many conditions. But a canoe is the pickup truck of the boat world--can do or haul anything. Attach a motor, and you're good for lake work. Get a paddle, you can do lakes/ponds/streams/marshes/whatever.
The problem with canoes for me is the higher paddling angle. A kayak lets me use a lower paddling angle so that my shoulder injury doesnt matter. I will be portaging and going up small shallow creeks and rivers.
The model i just ordered has a wheel in the keel to offset carrying its 69lb weight which i can can still manage.
I wanted a short stabile boat that i can stand in.
It will be used mostly for fishing and duck hunting. When used for bear hunting itll be used for positioning not for hauling out the bear. Another important aspesct is im told it will help strengthen my shoulder.
There have been alot of great suggestions and info in this thread
Ill post an update when my craft comes in. Its being shipped across the country
I cant wait to use it for blue bills and ruddies
The model i just ordered has a wheel in the keel to offset carrying its 69lb weight which i can can still manage.
I wanted a short stabile boat that i can stand in.
It will be used mostly for fishing and duck hunting. When used for bear hunting itll be used for positioning not for hauling out the bear. Another important aspesct is im told it will help strengthen my shoulder.
There have been alot of great suggestions and info in this thread
Ill post an update when my craft comes in. Its being shipped across the country
I cant wait to use it for blue bills and ruddies
Amazing. I odered thursday afternoon from a calgary warehouse and it was waiting saturday morning in London for me to pick up. The seat is stellar and the hull is solid and well built. Ill get it out on the water today. The wheel in the keel is great on cement and asphalt. Loading it into my truck box was a breeze. I think im going to enjoy this purchase
No. They are pretty durable. Maybe a piece of foam to protect from metal ratchet straps or metal parts.
it came with plastic blocks tbru the front scrupper holes. They keep the hull just off the ground and the wheel in the keel gives about 1/8" clearance. I use ratchet straps thru the front and back moulded in handles and shes solid. I just lay the tail gate down thru it in 2 ratches and it was fine. Onky sticks out maybe a foot passed the tail gate edge. The feelfrees have what seems like thick hulls.
I had the kayak out for 2 hours tonight. Ive never in my life seen the river so busy so i got to test it in some good sized wake. It is super stabile. I can easily stand cast and walk around on it. At slow to moderate speed it tracks very well and yet turns on a dime. Trying for speed with hard strokes the tracking gets kinda ####y. Curse of a 10' long 3' wide boat. But i could easily keep up double walking speed headed into the wind and she rode straight.
Legs got a little wet from water dripping off the paddle. I guess i need better splash gaurds. Ill be upgrading the paddle eventually to a bending branches angler 260. For now i have the pelican angler 250. There isnt much flex in the blades and the hook retriver in the blade should work perfect for duck decoy lines. The kayak cuts thru large wake with ease. Never took on any water other than off the paddle even when i was standing in the cargo hold area in the back. Im 170lbs. The boat is rated for 375lbs. Taking wake from the sides its a gentle roll. Logs that were only 2" under the water just gently bumped the keels so it doesnt draw much water. The camo pattern blends in extremely well in dead falls and reeds. Seems to disappear in the shadows of the willows i was told by a girl watching from across the river. All in all im very happy with it and i think its perfect for what i intend to use it for
Legs got a little wet from water dripping off the paddle. I guess i need better splash gaurds. Ill be upgrading the paddle eventually to a bending branches angler 260. For now i have the pelican angler 250. There isnt much flex in the blades and the hook retriver in the blade should work perfect for duck decoy lines. The kayak cuts thru large wake with ease. Never took on any water other than off the paddle even when i was standing in the cargo hold area in the back. Im 170lbs. The boat is rated for 375lbs. Taking wake from the sides its a gentle roll. Logs that were only 2" under the water just gently bumped the keels so it doesnt draw much water. The camo pattern blends in extremely well in dead falls and reeds. Seems to disappear in the shadows of the willows i was told by a girl watching from across the river. All in all im very happy with it and i think its perfect for what i intend to use it for
