2015
BOAT & BOARD BUYER'S GUIDE
You walk into the kayak shop with visions of new kayaks dancing through your head. Sit-on-tops, sit-insides, SUPs, paddles, pedals, motors, sails, seats, rod holders, gear tracks and rudders tumble and swirl through your imagination like a tornado of plastic and metal. With so many boats and boards, paddle-fishing dreams can turn into a nightmare. To the rescue: Kayak Angler’s 2015 Boat and Board Buyer’s Guide. Answer these five questions to find the perfect fishing-craft in the next 13 pages.
1. Sit-on-top, sit-inside, inflatable, SUP or hybrid? Sit-on-top kayaks are easy to enter and exit. Accessories can be mounted almost anywhere on the deck. Sit-inside kayaks keep the angler’s legs protected from the elements and are generally lighter than a sit-on-top. SUPs are great for grab- and-go trips or hiking into hidden honey-holes. Storage and transportation issues? Check out inflatable kayaks that can be packed into suitcases. Hybrid boats mix sit-inside and sit-on-top or SUP qualities for the best of both worlds.
2. Long or short? The general equation is long and narrow boats are fast and seaworthy for covering long distances across open water; wide kayaks are more stable and short kayaks are more maneuverable for fishing tight places. Also consider the height of the gunwales off the water. Lower boats will resist the wind but may be less stable.
3. Rotomolded or thermoformed? Rotomolded kayaks are generally tougher and easier to repair but heavier. Thermoformed kayaks are lighter and more expensive.
4. Paddles, pedals or motor? Looking to keep it simple with no moving parts, then paddle away from the launch. Like fishing more than paddling? Pedals or a motor might be the answer.
5. Elevated seat or low-profile? Bad back? Stand and fish? Look for an elevated, lawn-chair style seat. Surf launches and open water? Choose a low-profile seat that fits like a glove.
44…KAYAK ANGLER
PHOTO: ALEJANDRO PEREZ
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84