I have realized that you and the other "yakkers" are having WAY too much fun, so I've decided to join you. Turns out that yaks are clearly the way to go here in NJ as well. What do you recommend I look at for my first kayak? As you may recall from the RI Ice-Breaker, I'm neither small nor overly spry (just game as hell), so if this is a BAD idea, you are welcome to say so.
All other oipinions are welcome too. The denizens of this forum seem to know a lot more than most.
Best regards,
-Doc
P.S.: Sorry to hear about the job change. Or is this a good thing?
The job change will be a very good thing if all comes to pass - just means I might miss a few prime time months up on the cape and I had such big plans for this season - long term though, life will be a whole lot better!
In terms of Yak choice, wether your vertically, horizontally, physically, mentally, gravitationally or in almost any other way challenged it doesn't seem to matter
The sage wisdom is "Try before you Buy".
This time of year many paddlesports shops are running demo days where you can try different boats out under supervision and also pick up some great deals. You should be able to track a couple down in your neck of the woods. I just started and its a blast!
Good news, then. Hope all works out job-wise. I know what a cast-iron b$&@# it can be.
I'll start trying before I buy ASAP. So far the Loon 160 tandem strikes my fancy, as my wife and kids could then fish with me (which they very much want to do) or the Pungo as a single. Any thoughts on sit-on vs sit-in? And what is a Pungo, anyway? (I know what a Pongo is...several friends in that line of work.)
The question "which Yak" generally guarantees a thread which runs to three or more pages Our moderator the Hon. Penguin, has a selection of both types and tons of experience. Striblue paddles an outrigger design which you can stand up in.
I'll stick to the Sit inside vs Sit-ontop question. I chose SOT because:
If you sit inside, getting back in the event of capsize is trickier unless you learn to eskimo roll - not sure if you can roll a pungo - so you have to do a "wet exit and re-entry". In very cold conditions that can be time consuming.
SOTs are believed to be warm weather craft only. However, wisdom dictates that you should be dressed for immersion anyway and getting back onto a SOT is very simple and achieved in seconds - so in fact they can arguably be considered safer.
And so the debate goes. There are plusses and minuses for both types. Theres a part of me which is hankering for a very sleek kevlar Greenland style speed machine - well maybe not this season
There is a large selection of SOT designs which have been developed for fishing.
This site has a bunch of good info and articles about SOTs:
I am taking your very good advice, and with family will be on the Cape during the Memorial Day weekend, imposing on the good nature of the Penguin. In the interim, my esteemed little brother is loaning me a Pokeboat for some local, fresh water fun. Should be a start, anyway.
Adrian: Yak or no, I hope we can cross paths again sometime soon., Your advice and opinion is most welcome, both for the quality and the wit.
Juro...the ocean isn't THAT BIG...sooner or later, I hope to meet and learn.
Best regards,
-Doc
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