kayak for an old fart
 

I've read the "yakking" reports for some time on this forum and it appears that the "yakkers" really enjoy their time on the water. Just wondering what would y'all recommend for a 65 yr. old 265lb fellow. Since I don't know $%#@* about "yakking", I'm looking for any advice I can get. Thinking I will use for jetty fishing along with close to the bank fishing, but I would like it to be stable enough not to flip too easily. Probably wouldn't be interested in standing to fish, just want it stable enuf to safely fish out of along with enuf room to hold some kind of tackle box along with an ice chest of some sort.

Do like me, 10' lightweight bateau and trolling motor. unless you want to fish tourneys then ya have to paddle.

Hobie Outback or Pro Angler are the way to go if money isn't an object, Native's are also very nice!

I love my wilderness ride 135 it is very stable

sent from my iPhone eating droid

There is a kayak made in Texas that is super stable.
My nephew works at Pack and Paddle in Lafayette.
He let me demo one that you could stand on at the bow
and it won't over turn.
I will email him and get the name.

That thing is bad if you can do that!!

Stop by P&P and set up a demo. Need to figure if you want to padle or peddle.

His email reply
 

It was the adios from diablo. They're made In Austin Texas. Hands down the most stable fishing kayak on the market. Not to sluggish either. One of my favorites. 12ft x 36in. 69lbs.

www.diablopaddlesports.com

I have checked those out. Those things are awesome. They have a couple of them for sale on LAsportsman right now. Too bad they cost a fortune though.

I've demoed them all and the diablo adios is the most stable, followed by the hobie pro angler. I'm 6' 260lbs and the diablo felt like standing on the sidewalk.
The tradeoff is paddling though. I wouldn't want to try to paddle the diablo on a windy day at big lake.
The hobie pro angler, or any hobie mirage, will take on 20 mph winds with ease though.

Look at the pictures on their site.

NO, that is not Pookie!!!

The demo day is oct 22nd at lake martin from 10-2

I learned to handle a pirogue at summer camp back when I was a kid.

Only rules were we could not crash the boats together or turn them over... in a shallow lake.

Did you know you can go fairly fast by standing on the back end and bouncing up and down. Jostling is also fun in a pirogue.

Tell him also to check out the ride 135 by wilderness systems. Its a big boy fishing kayak. 550lbs capacity also very stable and a little cheaper.
The Diablo is $1499 and the ride135 is about $900.
Pack and paddle has both. We're having a big demo with all of our kayaks at lake Martin next Saturday morning (the 22nd) where he can try them both out for free. But we also do private demo's every Saturday morning also free.

The new Ride 135 looks nice, but I say the Pro Angler is most stable.

I think the new ride will be my first kayak....gunna check it out at the demo.

Ride 135 was my first!

There is alot of kayaks on the market now that you can stand in....but from what I hear the ride is the fastest to paddle.

The long skinny and most unstable are usually the fastest.
If I get one, it has to be something sit on top and stable for my wife.
She yaks with her friends a lot.

I started out with a Malibu X Factor. Could stand and flyfish in it all day. 600lb capacity and could store tons of equipment. I wanted something faster. I now have Hurricane Phoenix 160. 16' 28" wide and very fast. Also only weighs 55lbs. It is now my go to boat as it eats up nasty waves with no problem and drafts less than most boats because of weight and length.

Demo days is the way to go.
See how hard it is to load and unload from a truck, get in and out of, how much room it has, and ride/stability.

good info
 

sorry it took me so long to respond, but been pretty busy lately. Thanks to all for the good info and Ray, I will take your advice and demo one from P&P before deciding. Another question, leaving the "purist" argument aside, which would be better, to paddle or to "peddle"? My first thought is to pedal since that would leave my hands free to cast and also, from the little I know about paddling a kayak (a friend has one), using a kayak paddle is a sure way to get soaking wet. Next question, for someone my age and weight, I'm thinking a sit on rather than a sit in, would be better.

From the recommendations, putting aside cost, it appears the Diablo and Hobie Outrage or PA are the leading contenders, correct?