I've got a real short 9.5 perception yak and am ready to upgrade. My budget is low, about 400, so I was looking at the 11.5 lifetime because my current has terrible tracking and its too much effort and time to cover much water with it. But I can also get a jon boat for the same price.. that gives me more space, easy stand up casting, and also and motor to cover way more water than I could on a yak in way less time. But I know that yaks let you get through way shallower water and squeze through tighter corridors, into brush trickets, and flooded treetop thickets. Is there any reason people choose to buy kayaks costing 3k vs getting a fairly nice fishing boat for that price? The main reason I got kayak was so I could get in a boat and on the water with something I could actually affects. Basically I'd like to know what makes people who could afford a decent boat instead opt to drop high dollars on a kayak.
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by electricvelvet
Nice thing I think about the kayak is easy to launch about anywhere. But if you had say a 10" aluminum Jon boat pretty much the same could be said. Then on the Jon boat you put a small outboard and you get where your going quicker. I've though about a kayak a number of times but, not sure standing in one at this point in my life is a good idea. Also you sit close to the floor in them and getting up is hard for me. I have a 16' fiberglass canoe I'm finally gonna take out this year, boat ramp's at my favorite place are not working due to really low water. The canoe is really pretty heavy but I can drag it and get it on top my pickup one end at a time! Have been out when the water was really low before and have had my 15' Jon boat and 20 hp motor in about 2" of water, I don't go very fast then and am looking for a way out. If I had to choose between my Jon boat and a kayak, I'll take the Jon boar every time. If I was 20 yrs younger that might change and then I'd probably have both!
Some main advantages of a kayak over a jon boat are:
Portability - able to load and unload easier than a jon boat. Lighter.
No registration needed for an unmotorized kayak. Most jon boats require a small motor and because of that, needs registration
Kayaks fish shallower water and harder to reach places
Some advantages of a jon boat over a kayak:
You can stand easier in a jon boat
You can get more than one person in a jon boat in some cases
It gets you places quicker
It really all depends on what you are more comfortable with :-)
There aren’t too many advantages. But some could be :
Unless you are a small car, you don’t need a trailer for the yak.
Most states require a license if you motorized a Jon boat / trailer, which is really the only practical way to use a jon
Yak is better for maneuvering
You can launch a yak easier / more places
Yaks aren’t as noisy , stealthier than a Jon
....My 2cents...
There is a twin hull (W hull) boat made by Wavewalk that hast the advantages of a kayak, and the stability, and room of a Johnboat. It can be motorized to get you places more quickly. or poled/paddled in very shallow water. I purchased one, and love it. It does weigh in at around 90 lbs, but can be carried on a car top, no trailer required. Their are also inflatable boats, like those from Sea Eagle -
https://www.seaeagle.com/FoldCat/375fc?avad=265121_b22f73b95. There are other brands like these as well, and usually start around $122, and go up from there. You have options beside standard kayaks, and John boats.
Seeeeya; RJFlowers
FS Digest wrote:
I've got a real short 9.5 perception yak and am ready to upgrade. My budget is low, about 400, so I was looking at the 11.5 lifetime because my current has terrible tracking and its too much effort and time to cover much water with it. But I can also get a jon boat for the same price.. that gives me more space, easy stand up casting, and also and motor to cover way more water than I could on a yak in way less time. But I know that yaks let you get through way shallower water and squeze through tighter corridors, into brush trickets, and flooded treetop thickets. Is there any reason people choose to buy kayaks costing 3k vs getting a fairly nice fishing boat for that price? The main reason I got kayak was so I could get in a boat and on the water with something I could actually affects. Basically I'd like to know what makes people who could afford a decent boat instead opt to drop high dollars on a kayak.
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by electricvelvet
I've got a real short 9.5 perception yak and am re... (
show quote)
People have commented on the pros and cons of a kayak vs a jon boat. I would just like to know where you can get a jon boat with a motor for $400, per your posted budget.
FS Digest wrote:
I've got a real short 9.5 perception yak and am ready to upgrade. My budget is low, about 400, so I was looking at the 11.5 lifetime because my current has terrible tracking and its too much effort and time to cover much water with it. But I can also get a jon boat for the same price.. that gives me more space, easy stand up casting, and also and motor to cover way more water than I could on a yak in way less time. But I know that yaks let you get through way shallower water and squeze through tighter corridors, into brush trickets, and flooded treetop thickets. Is there any reason people choose to buy kayaks costing 3k vs getting a fairly nice fishing boat for that price? The main reason I got kayak was so I could get in a boat and on the water with something I could actually affects. Basically I'd like to know what makes people who could afford a decent boat instead opt to drop high dollars on a kayak.
--
by electricvelvet
I've got a real short 9.5 perception yak and am re... (
show quote)
I've got a Porta-Bote boat. It's basically a fold up John-boat that doesn't need a trailer. Mine is a 12'6" boat and I love it. It only needs 4" of water to float and I can go anywhere quietly. Check the out at Porta-Bote.com. That site will show and tell you alot.
Here in Ohio all watercraft is registered. Anything 12' and under doesn't need titled. I'm not sure about regulations on jetskis information. I do know that watercraft over 12' is titled and boat motors over a certain hp are the same way.
Different strokes for different folks. Pros and cons for kayaks and jon boats discussed in the above replies do matter. I have two kayaks, 17' and 18 1/2' weighing no more than 28 lbs. each. I also have two canoes, 17 1/2' and a solo 12 footer, weighing 46 lbs. and 16 lbs., respectively. All were built by me.Now that I am approaching 80, a rowboat with a motor on a trailer may be the better option. I can stretch my legs, stand, save my shoulders from paddling, and not worry about losing my balance anymore. If I sell one canoe and one kayak, I will have enough money to buy materials for the dream boat and motor I want.
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