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Using a kayak for access...

Madgrad02

Madgrad02

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2019
Messages
586
Location
South Central Wisconsin
I have been pondering a kayak for some time now... dual purpose fishing, but mostly hunting. Was looking at an Ascend H10 for ability to haul a little more gear. Being a large American, i'm pushing weight limits on most (bargain) kayaks minus gear. Let's just say the CFO would not approve a Hobie unfortunately. Most of the public tracts around me are mainly moving water with substantial currents in certain sections. Having never been in a kayak before, and understanding endurance plays an obvious factor (i'm not out of shape, but i'm no marathon runner), what kind of currents can make upstream travel possible? I've taken said rivers in a canoe (2 people) and definitely glad we parked another vehicle downstream! Ultimately, is kayak travel easier or comparable to canoe travel? Thanks.
 
Madgrad02 said:
I have been pondering a kayak for some time now... dual purpose fishing, but mostly hunting. Was looking at an Ascend H10 for ability to haul a little more gear. Being a large American, i'm pushing weight limits on most (bargain) kayaks minus gear. Let's just say the CFO would not approve a Hobie unfortunately. Most of the public tracts around me are mainly moving water with substantial currents in certain sections. Having never been in a kayak before, and understanding endurance plays an obvious factor (i'm not out of shape, but i'm no marathon runner), what kind of currents can make upstream travel possible? I've taken said rivers in a canoe (2 people) and definitely glad we parked another vehicle downstream! Ultimately, is kayak travel easier or comparable to canoe travel? Thanks.
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There are a lot of variables to your question. I haven’t paddled the h10. It looks like a nice stable setup that would probably not paddle that well. Kayaks beat canoes in wind resistance. Some kayaks and canoes paddle better than others so it is tough to say. I will say if two of you struggled to paddle a good canoe up river you will likely not enjoy taking the kayak up river either.
 
I'll be watching this. I've been looking at the H10 to. Looks like the best kayak hybrid if your not going to be spending well over a thousand.
 
As already mentioned, lots of variables but based on your comment about two guys in a canoe, I would say you will likely want some form of electric power (trolling motor?) or at least a kayak with foot pedal paddles. All that said, kayak is an awesome way to access hunting areas! I have a Native FX12 and love the thing. Great all purpose yak.
 
I sometimes use a canoe to access hunting areas. I chose canoe over kayak because of weight limitations. Me+gear+big buck=sinking average kayak. I most often use mine on lakes and sometimes I use a trolling motor because I don’t want to get sweaty. You’re talking moving water... You don’t want to get sweaty going in, so you’ll be going downstream getting in and upstream getting out. After dragging out a deer, and loading that extra weight into the kayak, you’ll be tired. And paddling upstream. I think a trolling motor might be your best friend (but battery and motor = more weight). Or, you could set your gear and canoe out, drive and park downstream, walk back up to canoe. Or, take a friend with you (with a 2nd kayak) and leave one vehicle downstream. Or, load deer & gear in kayak, float downstream, get out, walk upstream to truck, drive to canoe. I do tend to overthink things.
 
Lots of variables. I personally find going upstream a little easier in a kayak, because there's almost always a blade in the water. Short, quick strokes keep you going.

But a bigger, stable boat has more resistance, and you'll feel that in a current. Also, there's a big difference between me in the cockpit, my wife, my dad, or my 6'3" bodybuilder buddy. Basically, engine sizes vary! If you don't have the strength and technique, you're dead in the water.

As far as trolling motors, I have WAY more torque than a 35-55lb electric motor will ever dream of having. I can usually out-paddle a trolling motor, but I don't even have to work at it if you get a decent current involved. There's a lot more surface area on a kayak or canoe paddle than there is on those little 2 blade props. And you can put your whole body behind that stroke.
 
I'm new to the kayak world, but I have done a lot of research on entry to mid-range kayaks.I was strongly considering the Ascend 10 but alot of reviews say it is nowhere as stable as the 12'. For me, hunting and fishing out of it, stability is a major factor. The other advantage a 12' has over a 10' is weight capacity. I have both a 10' Tamarack and a 12' Eagle Talon, both are sit-on. 10'=275 lbs limit and 12'=425 lbs limit. Also the 12' tracks much better. There are a lot more experienced guys on here, that might disagree with me, but my 12' carries what I need, is easy to transport and plenty of stable. And best of all they didn't break the bank.
 
PastorKen said:
I . Or, take a friend with you (with a 2nd kayak) and leave one vehicle downstream. Or, load deer & gear in kayak, float downstream, get out, walk upstream to truck, drive to canoe. I do tend to overthink things.
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I've wondered about using an inflatable for carrying the deer...
 
I keep seeing you all recommend 12 ft. How easy are they to transport in a pickup with a short bed?
 
Arrowsquirrel said:
I keep seeing you all recommend 12 ft. How easy are they to transport in a pickup with a short bed?
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Easy. Sell the short bed, buy a real truck, and you're good to go!

Seriously, if you don't have a toolbox, just lay the tailgate down and strap it. If you have a toolbox, I'd vote for buying/fabbing a ladder rack.
 
I hauled my 14’ with a bed extender that slid in the hitch. I made a ladder rack also but if you are top loading alone you really don’t want a yak that weighs anywhere near a hundred pounds. I also had one blow off the top of my truck and take my mirror off while unloading it. Who would have thought a hundred pounds of plastic would take flight while parked. I much prefer carrying with the bed extender as long as I’m not running errands around town with 8’ sticking out the back all day.
 
I have a short bed on my Ram. I haul both mine and my wife’s with one strap holding them forward. Not had any issues
 
Arrowsquirrel said:
I keep seeing you all recommend 12 ft. How easy are they to transport in a pickup with a short bed?
Click to expand...

Just walked outside to take this. My 12 footer in the older Tundra
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I have a Hobie Revolution that is a fishing machine - but I am not comfortable leaving it (even chained) to a tree in a Florida WMA. I also have a 10' Pelican Pursuit (Walmart special sit-in) that I used to tether to my Hobie and pull my son in it as we trolled for Blues and Spanish Mackerel when I lived in NC.

I am thinking of cutting off a huge portion of the top of this kayak and basically turning it into a canoe of sorts. My goal is to: 1) increase internal storage and 2) maintain some way to keep fairly dry while paddling. I am fully aware of the fact that kayaks are watersport vehicles and getting wet is a definite possibility, if only from the paddle drip, but I would like to abate the amount of water I will receive if using this to gain hunting access.

What I am thinking about doing is cutting the cockpit hole larger - much larger in the aft portion of the kayak. I think I can rip a 3" or 4" diameter piece of PVC lengthwise and heat gun-shape it to size. The slit would clamp over the internal edge of the hole I cut and it would get some silicone caulk along the length to keep water from seeping/splashing inside the boat. The larger diameter pipe would be necessary to build an edge to keep water out since it is a sit-in kayak. If I do this I intend to put some 3/4" PVC stiffening beams across the larger cockpit hole, similar to a canoe since I will be destroying the structural integrity of the already cheap kayak.

I'm playing Mr. Mom this weekend and will be driving to about a zillion baseball games this weekend but I may get around to it anyhow. If it works I'll post a picture or two, if it fails I will never post in this thread again and will probably deny ever doing so in the first place...

Anybody want to offer any advice on turning a cheap sit-in kayak into a short and soon-to-be unstable canoe?!
 
I had thought about making a cordura lap tarp for the drips. Saw a hack that putting some duck tape on the paddle where it meets the pole, helps.
 
Kayaks are the way to go but the ascent hybrids might have too much drag and be a little tougher to paddle upstream compared to a regular one. If you already have a canoe what about investing that money you're going to be putting into a new kayak into a good trolling motor so you dont have to paddle at all?
I have a 10 ft sit in that I'm starting to modify with a bunch of d rings so I can run bungees all over the place. Only reason I wish I had a canoe is for when you got an animal down you can plop it in instead of toeing it.
 
Personally I’ve never understood the kayak craze. They track well but the layout and carrying capacity surely leaves a good bit to be desired for me. When considering a vessel of that size I’d rather take a pirogue, they are more versatile. In the original post you mentioned being a larger fella, knowing that I’d look for something with higher sides than a kayak.
 
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