After I bought my kayak and started adding a motor, big battery, fish finder, and other gear, I realized the total cost of a fully rigged kayak gets pretty close to a small boat setup.
I still really like kayaks for the simplicity and being able to launch almost anywhere, but it did get me thinking.
For those of you running higher-end / fully rigged kayaks — what made you choose a kayak instead of a small boat?
Posted by YakToTheFuture-1
25 Comments
It’s hard to toss one of those in my truck bed
Cant take that down a river
Also that boat is 16 grand. That’s like three times the cost of my yak setup
Ease of storage and transportation, otherwise I’d probably prefer a small boat
I echo your sentiment on ease and simplicity… My main concern is that I loathe the idea of introducing gas into our ecosystem. I don’t consider my setup as “high end” but I enjoy the luxury of carrying 8 rods at my fingertips, ability to get farther upstream in creeks and small vessel loitering the most. “Big boats” (I owned a 14′ dingy when I lived in Cali) can be a hassle and ALWAYS need a proper launch area. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve been able to launch my Yak, “roadside.”
Because my kayak was $2000 not $16000
For one loading and unloading a boat is kind of a pain in the ass.
Portability, cost and commitment.
People tend to have big ideas about how I’m going to utilize the toys they want. They get them and realize it’s inconvenient and a ton of responsibility and end up losing money once they sell it after using it 4 times in ten years.
Once you add a motor and a big battery you have more than a fully rigged kayak.
Ease of use/transport/maintenance. Lower cost up front and over time. I like kayaking too not just fishing. No towing required. Gain access to waters where boats can’t go. Exercise. Cleaner. No fuel, exhaust, or fluid leaks. No costly repairs.
Kayak never runs out of gas. Motor never breaks down but it does complain sometimes.
Ive had a Gheenoe and a kayak. Gheenoes are great for covering water and fishing a ton of places but the downsides are having to have a suitable ramp and the maintenance that comes with owning a boat and trailer.
My kayak is just a paddle, stick it pole and a fishing rod. I can throw it in my truck and go anywhere with 0 maintenance or worries.
I do miss my boat occasionally but I just dont have the time for it and the kayak gets a ton more use due to portability.
The extra zero plus some, cost of running it, having to tow it, having to park it, having to get it in and out of the ramp
Low water level access along with most of what has already been said
Because I can roof-top it and don’t need a trailer for it – or a motor, or registrations… And because I can put it on the water almost anywhere and access places even small boats can’t reach…
Ease of handling. I can roof top it by myself. I don’t have to register it and I don’t have fuel expenses. I can launch a kayak from pretty much anywhere without battling everyone at the boat ramp (people are known to threaten bodily harm if they even think they are being cut off from their position in the queue).
Some of the creeks/rivers I kayak down can’t have boats on them, or are to shallow for a boat in spots.
I am however at the point of wanting to put a trolling motor on my kayak, or get a boat so we will see lol.
One is around 4k for everything the other is around 30k.
I did the opposite. I went from kayak to boat.
I got a kayak because I didn’t really know I could have gotten a boat for cheap. I kayak fished for 1 year. I got tired of having to put my kayak up on my Highlander every trip. So I looked for a solution to make it easier.
I started researching inflatable boats, in other words, a dinghy. I got. 12.5 foot BRIS inflatable for $1600. I also bought a new truck so I can give my Highlander to my daughter who began driving. I got a shell for the truck. Now, I can keep my boat in the truck at all times. I fish for snakeheads so I float over the vegetation easily, much easier than my kayak. I can bring a friend. I can store a big cooler and all my gear easily. I even clean my catches on the boat.
Propulsion is with a 5hp propane motor by Mercury. I get about 15-20 trips on a 20 gallon tank.
Setup is 40 minutes. Breakdown is about the same.
I haven’t used my kayak in 4 years. I still need to sell it as it’s just sitting there in my backyard.
It’s pretty fuxking obvious
– I can lift a kayak.
– my kayak was $500
– I have an apartment
– I have a car. I can add a roof rack. I’m not fucking my transmission with a trailer.
Marsh fishing, can access spots boats can’t.
You just said it
I do both.
I fish offshore and a saltwater Boston whaler used is super expensive and requires constant maintenance and work, repowering etc.
No insurance, no maintenance, no registration, loading and unloading, price.
$1k vs $17k