The Setting
I have access to 4 miles of the northern portion of the Devils River, think between Baker’s Crossing and the SNA. No real rapids or white water to speak of.
Experience
I have minimal experience kayaking but I did buy a John Boat a few years back and have done some paddling around the Devils River.
Usage
The primary uses of the kayak are for exploring, floating, swimming and beer drinking – with some fishing mixed in. Probably in that order as well. I don’t anticipate using my future kayak anywhere other than the Devils, and I primarily intend to use it on the portion of the river I currently have access to. A one or two night excursion might be a possibility in the future. I will only get about 6-7 days on the water a year, so usage will be light relative to other TKF posters.
My Size
I am 6’3” and 185 lbs
Preferences & Priorities (In order)
- Price – Max price of $900
Durability – What plastic types are the best for durability? What thickness is standard? I know the Devils River has limestone rocks that can be particularly bad, couple this with the fact that I don’t take great care of my gear and I need a very durable kayak.
Portability – Being able to load and unload the kayak from the truck is very important to me and I also assume this will help with portaging as well. As a result most of the kayaks I am considering are around 10’ in length and 55 lbs in weight. However, due to my size (6’3” & 185 lbs) a larger kayak might be a better option.
Stability & Ease of Use – Getting in and out of the kayak with relative ease is important as I will be using the kayak to travel to my deer blinds and would like to keep my rifle dry. Also, it would be nice to be able to hop off, go for a swim and hop right back on. As a result I have focused on SOT kayaks, but am not closed minded to SIK.
Performance – I would like to have the fastest kayak I can get without sacrificing too much maneuverability or adding too much length/weight. Paddling into the wind and/or upstream is going to happen from time to time. I know this is an overarching contradiction, but one can dream, right?
Comfort – A comfortable and durable seat would be a nice bonus.
Weight Capacity – Having the option of doing a one or two night excursion would be nice.
Features/Add Ons – Fishing rod holders, cup holders, center consoles, webbed pockets are nice bonuses but not essential.
So I am not asking for you guys to do all the work and thinking for me. I have done some research on kayak types, brands, prices, features, etc. In this link (http://tinyurl.com/jj2tbbs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) you will find a spreadsheet containing a list of kayaks from a variety of major manufacturers, I have listed 133 kayaks. The data in the spreadsheet is from each manufacturers’ website. The price listed is the MSRP from the manufacturers’ website, if no MSRP was provided a quick Google search was used. Please excuse any omissions or errors. I have listed several kayaks that are above or below my listed preferences to get a broader perspective on types, value, features, etc. The data is sorted by – SIK vs SOT, then Boat Length, then Price and then Boat Weight.
My Short List (based on the above research and preferences)
Please keep in mind that these are the thoughts, priorities and preferences of someone who knows nothing about kayaking. Please add any and all feedback that might be helpful.
- Wilderness Systems Tarpon 10
Perception Pescador Pro 10.5
Feel Free Moken Lite 10
Perception Pescador 10
Elie Coast 10
Feel Free Moken 10
Jackson Cruise 10