Popularity Of Kayaks 2024
hoosierbass07 reply :
I was at the hardware store Menards last night and checked to see if they still had a few kayaks that I saw from last year. The last time I checked they had about seven or eight sitting outside covered in plastic. So I start walking to the outside section and see a couple of big stacks of something in the distance. Sure enough, they had to big stacks of kayaks plus another section of kayaks. They had some Coleman canoes too but had far more kayaks. These kayaks looked all the same except color.
Every so often I will read online how kayaks have been outselling canoes by a wide margin. I think this is some evidence of that. I did not see a price tag on those kayaks but - after spending $700 on my Ride 115 I have realized I'm going to need another kayak so I can take friends/family with me. I just might pick up one of those lower cost kayaks at Menards.
Darren. reply :
Probably true. Kayaks have a certain appeal and popularity today whereas in days past, canoes probably held the greatest adventurous spirit.
I still have my canoe, but we never use it. Kayaks all the way in my family. Just more fun, individual, kids can work them far easier than a canoe...
flyfisher reply :
I also fish out of a kayak and never thought of getting a canoe. I fished out of them as a kid and there were fun but with the recent advent of more stable kayaks designed for more recreational activities i just don't see the need for a canoe anymore.
There will always be people who love their canoes but they just aren't for me. I am hoping to get another one to have for friends and family but i will get something that i would fish out of because i don't want to put them in something that wouldn't be good to fish out of and potentially sour their experience. There always seem to be used tarpons out there for the price of a cheap new kayak that wouldn't do the job as well in my opinion.
camovan reply :
The death of Royalex is going to cripple an already weak canoe industry and most likely the trend of kayak popularity will continue to grow. For camping I prefer a canoe but fishing a kayak all the way.
Marty reply :
Quote
I also fish out of a kayak and never thought of getting a canoe.
I'm just the opposite, I bought a canoe and never considered a kayak. But like was mentioned above, I've read in a couple of places that kayaks outsell canoes by up to a 20:1 ratio.
flyfisher reply :
On 3/9/2014 at 7:04 AM, camovan said:The death of Royalex is going to cripple an already weak canoe industry and most likely the trend of kayak popularity will continue to grow. For camping I prefer a canoe but fishing a kayak all the way.
I actually prefer camping out of my kayak more than when i had a canoe. Yeah it is easier to load up a canoe with gear but then you have to tie everything down. In my kayak, I can open the hatches, put everything in there i need and not have to worry about losing any camping gear should i capsize. Canoes will have a higher load capacity for the most part though.
tntitans21399 reply :
I bought my kayak back in 2005 and most were just plan and simple with a couple high end. But now they all have a bunch that are $700+ with most having a rod holder (flush or mount for one). The kayaking world has exploded in popularity. I think the ocean guys helped it with adding milking crates and showing how you can get alot of gear in it. I still remember back in the early 2000s when someone mentioned a kayak everyone thought about the whitewater kayaks and now hardly anyone gets a whitewater but dominated by ocean sit on top types and lake/river sit inside.
If you were going to buy a second kayak I would check out craigslist for something cheap. I think Dick's has some cheap kayaks.
RipSomeLips reply :
I have been reading lots of this subject lately as I have always been a canoe man myself...but bought a kayak this last week because of the EASE OF TRANSPORTING AND LAUNCHING A KAYAK is so much better than my canoe. I can easily load and unload my kayak, but before with my canoe is was such a chore.
My conclusion after research was that for fishing a sit on top kayak at least 10 feet was the way to go! I happen to get a great deal thru Craigslist, and now I am already thinking down the road that my next purchase will maybe be a NuCanoe. It is a canoe/kayak hybrid, it give you all the advantages of a canoe: Load capacity, stability, easy to stand up, but retains all of the attractiveness of a kayak: Easy to paddle, rides high in the water, less vulnerable to wind gusts etc. Here is a pic of how you can sit on the edge of the Nucanoe it is so stable:
http://www.google.com/imgres?start=85&sa=X&rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS471US471&espv=210&es_sm=122&biw=1600&bih=933&tbm=isch&tbnid=DJdijj8YeeUp5M%3A&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwest-coast-kayaks.com%2F&docid=5bVlfhTxs0kmcM&imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwest-coast-kayaks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F08%2Fnucanoe_fishing_edited-1-1003x480.jpg&w=1003&h=480&ei=LvUbU6GXPMqlrQHI3oDQBw&zoom=1&ved=0CC0QhBwwDDhk&iact=rc&dur=3472&page=4&ndsp=30
And no, I have no affiliation with the Nucanoe, only discovered it a week ago but am loving the idea of it. Price is around $1000 on up though, but still cheaper than a Hobie ($2300 on up).
bartdude186 reply :
Love my kayaks, actually sold my boat because i didn't use it anymore. For a cheaper kayak as an extra look at pelicans, the newer models track well and make for an easy paddle. i wouldn't go under 12' though.
Grizzn N Bassin reply :
Love,fiahing yak and you can bring then anywhere. Love it for places deep in the woods where i can wheel it to a honey hole.
Little hassle. Pkus like you said lots of stores sell them
B@ssCrzy reply :
I think the issues come from what RipSomeLips touched on which is portability/transport. When I bought my kayak I never even thought about a canoe because I knew I would be fishing solo most of the time and so loading and unloading would not be very easy with a canoe. Car topping anything close to 15 ft (minimum) and around 80 lbs was not an option. I know there are kayaks out there that weigh that much, but something that big is just not something I was looking for. Plus, I like the security of knowing that if I am out in the middle of the lake and I flip my SOT yak I can immediately flip it over and get back on. Not so with a canoe. Good luck with a self rescue if you flip one of those.
OperationEagle reply :
Many coming from canoes I agree but I have always wondered if most were coming from people that have always coveted a bass boat or had a boat and realized the expense, time for upkeep, storage space, gas, insurance, time to prep for the day, time to get it in the water and get it out.
I think the recession also was a huge catalyst with resources being constrained, people were looking for an affordable alternative to the traditional bass boat.
If you love to fish, I cant recommend this mode of getting on the water enough. Can't wait for that ice to melt!!
sully99 reply :
Fished from a canoe as a kid with my dad and have lots of great memories. I bought my 1st sit in kayak in 1998 (Old Town Loon) to fish out of and have never turned back. I sold it and bought a sit on top and fished out of it for 2 years and loved it until I went to Florida and fished with a guide out of a Native Ultimate and was hooked. Sold my SOT and picked up one. The Hybrid is where it's at. Chad Hover fishes out of a Commander most of the time. Best of both worlds.
gallowaypt reply :
A huge reason that kayaks are so popular now, at least down south, is our extreme lack of rain these past few years. Some lakes around me are only accessible by kayaks now that the boat ramps are far from usable.
Wbeadlescomb reply :
This makes me want a kayak even more. Just need to figure out how to haul it on top of my jeeps soft top and I can go anywhere
TorqueConverter reply :
Menards has kayaks? The hardware store? This is new to me. Sams has them so this shouldn't be a surprise I guess.
Kayaks are great. I love fishing out a small personal watercraft. A much as I love fishing out of my inflatable pontoon, it's impossible to row against even a slight breeze.
flyfisher reply :
On 3/11/2014 at 12:43 PM, Wbeadlescomb said:This makes me want a kayak even more. Just need to figure out how to haul it on top of my jeeps soft top and I can go anywhere
What year Jeep?
I had a 95 with a wilderness systems expedition rack with the basket and now i have a 2012 wrangler unlimited that i have the wilderness sytems adventure rack. Both are great racks and can easily hold the kayaks. They are a little pricey but i had the one on my 95 for over 10 years without an issue and sold it before i sold the jeep for about 2/3 what i paid for it. It can be a pain to get a kayak up there at times but it is definitely manageable. I am going to get a trailer eventually though...hopefully this summer.
Wbeadlescomb reply :
03 tj on 32's
Wbeadlescomb reply :
I fished out of a float tube for years.some of the lakes I went to were really swampy and full of snakes so I think the kayak would be better. I fish 6-7 days a week. Big boat on the river in the weekends and in the ponds around town during the week so i think I'd get some use out of it.
Do you prefer sit on top or the sit inside kind
Bill Poch reply :
On 3/11/2014 at 12:43 PM, Wbeadlescomb said:This makes me want a kayak even more. Just need to figure out how to haul it on top of my jeeps soft top and I can go anywhere
This was my solution. Bestop HighRock http://www.quadratec.com/products/12034_0302_07.htm
I like the fact it doesn't require any drilling and is easy to take off so I don't have to have it on all the time.
gr8outdoorz reply :
On 3/12/2014 at 12:57 AM, Wbeadlescomb said:I fished out of a float tube for years.some of the lakes I went to were really swampy and full of snakes so I think the kayak would be better. I fish 6-7 days a week. Big boat on the river in the weekends and in the ponds around town during the week so i think I'd get some use out of it.
Do you prefer sit on top or the sit inside kind
For fishing you definitely want a SOT!
hoosierbass07 reply :
I'm visiting Tennessee and I saw a kayak at Walmart for around $275. It looked nice.
Jim Mac reply :
On 3/9/2014 at 2:02 AM, hoosierbass07 said:I was at the hardware store Menards last night and checked to see if they still had a few kayaks that I saw from last year. The last time I checked they had about seven or eight sitting outside covered in plastic. So I start walking to the outside section and see a couple of big stacks of something in the distance. Sure enough, they had to big stacks of kayaks plus another section of kayaks. They had some Coleman canoes too but had far more kayaks. These kayaks looked all the same except color.
Every so often I will read online how kayaks have been outselling canoes by a wide margin. I think this is some evidence of that. I did not see a price tag on those kayaks but - after spending $700 on my Ride 115 I have realized I'm going to need another kayak so I can take friends/family with me. I just might pick up one of those lower cost kayaks at Menards.
Was it the Viper 10 footer? We bought one for a 3rd kayak last spring and my wife loves it. Since she used it, she has yet to use her Old Town Otter again. We paid $149 for it, and that included a paddle and foot pegs. Great deal on a very stable, comfortable kayak.
hoosierbass07 reply :
On 3/23/2014 at 1:25 PM, Jim Mac said:Was it the Viper 10 footer? We bought one for a 3rd kayak last spring and my wife loves it. Since she used it, she has yet to use her Old Town Otter again. We paid $149 for it, and that included a paddle and foot pegs. Great deal on a very stable, comfortable kayak.
I'm not sure what it was called.
basshole8190 reply :
I got an ascend 128t about a month ago after going down to the river an unable to launch my buddy's boat. due to low water levels we casted around the launnch when two guys pull up with yaks and put in and preceeded to paddle up river to a rocky shoal and catch fish.
i tricked mine out with a trolling motor bassyak style. Redid the anchor trolly and added a lowrance 5x dsi with chartplotter. i must say I've been pretty impressed with my first two outing in it. like it so much i have been slacking on my new bass boat search.
Western-Mass-Bass reply :
Ive got to say that I absolutely love fishing from my yak.. I just got a wilderness systems ride 115X. Being able to stand and fish from this is amazing. Plus I can launch it anywhere. These new kayaks are so stable as well. You will fall out of my new kayak before you flip it.. If you havent seen this kayak yet. Its worth checking out..
FrogFreak reply :
I own a wavewalk (wavewalk.com). It's the best Kayak I've owned. I have a bass boat and a kayak and I'm not sure which I like better. If I had to choose just one, Id keep the Kayak though. I love how I can put it in the water anywere, it goes on top of my wifes subaru easily and I can sneak up on the bass.
flyfisher reply :
On 3/12/2014 at 3:23 AM, Bill Poch said:This was my solution. Bestop HighRock http://www.quadratec.com/products/12034_0302_07.htm
I like the fact it doesn't require any drilling and is easy to take off so I don't have to have it on all the time.
I saw those racks but the installation involved cutting the plastic retainer around windows i believe and it just didn't seem water tight to me, not that any jeep really is but i try and not encourage it at least 
I also am not 100% sure it would work with a hard top either but i my memory could be fading me, as it tends to do lol
the rack i currently have also did not require any drilling but the one on my 95 did require 4 holes i believe for the rear mounting brackets.
keninaz reply :
It has been a long time since I had a canoe but if I remember correctly although they will handle more weight they do blow around a bit on the water on a windy day. I am hoping that my new kayak does not do that.
I just got this Wilderness Ride 115X and it's set up with a Lowrance Elite 4X HDI fish finder/sonar and an air core elevated seat for fishing.
As I am getting older and just had back surgery (something I don't want again) I decided to put my kayak on this small trailer for transporting to and from the lakes. It's low to the ground and much easier than stripping the boat to get it down to 72# and then putting in on top of my SUV.
I have not been able to fish in almost 2 1/2 years due to my back being so bad and inability to walk well. And I am now ready to get back to fishing!
keninaz reply :
On 3/25/2014 at 1:58 AM, Western-Mass-Bass said:Ive got to say that I absolutely love fishing from my yak.. I just got a wilderness systems ride 115X. Being able to stand and fish from this is amazing. Plus I can launch it anywhere. These new kayaks are so stable as well. You will fall out of my new kayak before you flip it.. If you havent seen this kayak yet. Its worth checking out..
I heard that the 115 was very stable, and saw some videos on You Tube of it demonstrating that. I am looking forward to using mine shown above very shortly now.
Hanover_Yakker reply :
If you want to top it, you can do it! I load my Pro Angler 14 on top of a minivan. It can be done!
keninaz reply :
The problem is that someone put 20' tires and rims on my Yukon before I bought it used. It barely fits through the garage door header as is without anything additional like racks or a kayak on top.
I think it sits a bit taller than your minivan.
Couple that with my recent surgery on my back (fusion) and I will pass trying to put 100# on the roof rack.
Master Bait'r reply :
Honestly I don't like fishing hammered-out lakes with boat ramps next to five guys in $50k boats wrestling wakes and I know I can't be alone. To me, that really sucks and really isn't enjoyable. I want to be alone and I like hoofing it to remote lakes that normally don't see any traffic at all- can't do that with a glass boat or even most canoes solo. Once I'm there I'm the only guy out, its completely silent except for maybe a little whisper of Bob Marley and a few birds. For the relatively low entry cost of a cheap kayak ( I think I paid about $350 for mine) this seems like the biggest single thing you can do for your fishing so it's easy to see why they're so popular and still gaining momentum. Heck, my gf isn't even THAT into fishing but she loves to paddle around and catch some sun. A play boat like that just appeals to so many different kinds of people. I just hope this means I'll be able to find a Ride 115x used for cheap soon haha
Scott-2 reply :
I have a nice canoe, but it gets cumbersome loading and unloading it on & off my car. I think a kayak would be much easier and most of the time I'm by myself anyway. The big question for me is whether to get a sit-on-top or sit in.
keninaz reply :
I got the sit on top with an elevated seat too. But I would think that you would only want that combination with a very stable kayak like the one I bought.
The combination of the sit on top and elevated seat (sits about 4 inches higher ) make it easier to stand up for fishing.
Master Bait'r reply :
On 4/2/2014 at 2:27 AM, Scott-2 said:I have a nice canoe, but it gets cumbersome loading and unloading it on & off my car. I think a kayak would be much easier and most of the time I'm by myself anyway. The big question for me is whether to get a sit-on-top or sit in.
Definitely go sit on top for fishing. I bought a sit in and totally regret it. You can't stand and you can't see down into the water very well either. Also good luck packin your gear, most sit ins only really have sealed storage whereas with a sit on top you can have crates, coolers and all kinds of other gear.
Unless you paddle some serious rivers I don't see the need for a sit in.
0119 reply :
My kayak is the older generation sit on top, a OK Drifter. It made sense not trying to carry a 16ft canoe in a 6ft truck bed. But every fishing trip I regret not having a canoe. To be able to enter it dry from the bow. Wear jeans when its cold. Not get wet from paddle drip. Attach a trolling motor. But most importantly sit in a semi normal position. Knees bent, feet not going to sleep. Being able to take my wife or daughter or a friend. Newer generation yaks sort of conquer this with a much high center of gravity seat position. But they have really turned the yak into a short plastic canoe with a weight penalty over both the older yaks and standard canoes.
keninaz reply :
I agree with many things you said.
And one you did not mention is the stability of some of these new kayaks is just amazing.
Master Bait'r reply :
On 4/2/2014 at 6:17 AM, 119 said:My kayak is the older generation sit on top, a OK Drifter. It made sense not trying to carry a 16ft canoe in a 6ft truck bed. But every fishing trip I regret not having a canoe. To be able to enter it dry from the bow. Wear jeans when its cold. Not get wet from paddle drip. Attach a trolling motor. But most importantly sit in a semi normal position. Knees bent, feet not going to sleep. Being able to take my wife or daughter or a friend. Newer generation yaks sort of conquer this with a much high center of gravity seat position. But they have really turned the yak into a short plastic canoe with a weight penalty over both the older yaks and standard canoes.
Lightweight options still abound, but of course once you church it up with all the bells and whistles we all love it can get heavy quick. I guess it's all about just deciding what you really require out of a ride and finding that perfect boat for you.
keninaz reply :
Yes they can get heavy in a hurry.
My new Ride 115X weighs in at nearly 100# ready to go.
I can easily remove the Air Core seat that weighs 15# on it's own and the console that contains the battery and FF that comes in at almost 10# but the boat still weighs in at just over 70#.
But I will put up with the weight in favor of stability on the water almost any day.
BrianSnat reply :
On 4/2/2014 at 6:17 AM, 119 said:My kayak is the older generation sit on top, a OK Drifter. It made sense not trying to carry a 16ft canoe in a 6ft truck bed. But every fishing trip I regret not having a canoe. To be able to enter it dry from the bow. Wear jeans when its cold. Not get wet from paddle drip. Attach a trolling motor. But most importantly sit in a semi normal position. Knees bent, feet not going to sleep. Being able to take my wife or daughter or a friend. Newer generation yaks sort of conquer this with a much high center of gravity seat position. But they have really turned the yak into a short plastic canoe with a weight penalty over both the older yaks and standard canoes.
I'm with you on this, all reasons I much prefer fishing from a canoe. Much drier and easier to get in and out of. And what I don't like about the kayak is being basically stuck in the same position all day and when you are trying to cover a wide area with your casts you need to move the whole boat, or turn your body at an odd and uncomfortable angle.
I find a canoe far more comfortable and versatile.
As far as transporting I have a heck of an easier time with my canoe than my friend who has a heavy and very hard to handle SOT. He stopped bringing it along when we fish together and just hops in my canoe with me. I think his yak is almost 30 lbs heavier than my canoe.
keninaz reply :
Just my thoughts but when I started looking at buying a kayak I found that the newer sit on tops for the most part are not a true canoe nor a kayak but a hybrid featuring the best of both worlds for many of us.
Jim Mac reply :
On 4/5/2014 at 11:55 PM, keninaz said:Just my thoughts but when I started looking at buying a kayak I found that the newer sit on tops for the most part are not a true canoe nor a kayak but a hybrid featuring the best of both worlds for many of us.
Which models are you talking about?
RipSomeLips reply :
To me there is no question that a sit on top is way better for fishing.
keninaz reply :
On 4/7/2014 at 4:29 AM, Jim Mac said:Which models are you talking about?
It would appear that many manufacturers make what I am referring to.
I bought the Wilderness Ride 115X myself and here is a link to it. http://www.wildernesssystems.com/pages/index/angling/angling_kayaks/ride_angler_2012/ride_x
They also have the Commander which certainly does not look like a typical kayak to me http://www.wildernesssystems.com/product_subcategory/index/angling/angling_kayaks/Commander_angler
Also within the Wilderness lines I see that the Tarpon is an open style.
http://www.wildernesssystems.com/product_subcategory/index/angling/angling_kayaks/angler_tarpon
It would appear just taking a glance at kayaks designed for angling that this types of boats are more popular than the enclosed cockpit style.
And many manufacturers make this type of kayak.
roadwarrior reply :
Well, I'm the party-pooper...
Before buying one, try one out. For big guys, fat guys and big fat guys, you might
feel a little crowded. If you are stiff, like RA, this isn't for you. On top of that, what
I really hated was wind effect. It seemed like I was always fighting the kayak instead
of concentrating on fishing.
A-Jay reply :
Before I purchased my canoe I looked at as many options as possible. I sat in and paddled several different vessels including both types of kayaks. For me it boiled down to space and comfort. I do have some lower back concerns and though I am not a huge human ( 5-9 180lb) being stuffed in that seat for hours wasn't going to work for me.
The canoe I chose allows me to fish standing, bring a second angler and carry too much tackle ( a serious personality flaw of mine). I use a small trailer so transporting the boat could not be any easier. And to help me get into remote waters, I use a small two wheel collapsible cart that straps on one end. I can haul that thing anywhere and do. I'm only limited by my own ambition.
It's a matter of preference and need as well as the areas / type of water one fishes.
A-Jay
Hanover_Yakker reply :
On 3/27/2014 at 11:41 PM, keninaz said:The problem is that someone put 20' tires and rims on my Yukon before I bought it used. It barely fits through the garage door header as is without anything additional like racks or a kayak on top.
I think it sits a bit taller than your minivan.
Couple that with my recent surgery on my back (fusion) and I will pass trying to put 100# on the roof rack.
I hear you on the back issues. Been seeing a chiropractor for over 12 years now. I have no issues what so ever loading my PA14 on top of my van. The height to the rack from the ground is a shade over 6', and the dry weight of the PA14 is 118lbs. They key is to use leverage and physics to your advantage. Just watch the first 1:45 seconds or so of this video and you will see how easy it is....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWGJyvyD6_c
I realize not everyone can shell out the funds for the Hobie Pro Angler models, but the key point here is that if you have limited funds, there is a kayak model that you can find within your budget, and there are racks and methods to transport your new kayak if you look around hard enough.
flipin4bass reply :
On 4/8/2014 at 12:09 AM, roadwarrior said:Well, I'm the party-pooper...
Before buying one, try one out. For big guys, fat guys and big fat guys, you might
feel a little crowded. If you are stiff, like RA, this isn't for you. On top of that, what
I really hated was wind effect. It seemed like I was always fighting the kayak instead
of concentrating on fishing.
Wilderness Systems was thinking about us fat guys when they came out with the Ride and commander series yaks. Ocean Kayak also has the Big Game II that could probably handle a sumo wrestler with no problem. Yeah, we yakers have to contend with the wind sometimes, but there are just as many days when the water is smooth as glass and that makes for an excellent day on the water, fish or no fish. I've fished out of "bass boats" my entire life, but nothing can compare to the experiences I've had since sitting in my first kayak. Sold my boat this past fall, it had been sitting in the garage the past five years since getting my first kayak...I don't think I'll miss it.
basshead1 reply :
Kayak fishing is addicting but my kayak does not get much use since I got my Bass Raider.
My biggest bass and biggest snook were both in a sneaky little kayak. I have been in my share of canoes and was never a big fan, always prefered john boats. Kayaking is really popular in my area because we have lots of no motor zones and flats which usually have the best fishing inshore.
Most of my friends have ditched the Pro Anglers lately and moved on to the Cudas Predators and Slayers. They mostly complain about the weight when I asked them why they got rid of their Hobie. Plus they don't paddle well in the wind or current and the fins can be useless on the flats in a low tide. I can paddle my 12' Pescador faster than a 14' Pro Angler with turbo fins also. My buddy has a 16 foot Tarpon and he leaves us all in his wake while barely putting in any effort.
I plan on upgrading soon and like the Old Town Predators myself. I will have to test drive a couple first but I want one I can paddle and stand in.
keninaz reply :
Well I am 6' 1' and hit the scales at 235#.
I have the Ride 115X with the elevated optional aircore seat and I am quite comfortable in the boat for extended periods of time.
I also had fusion surgery on my low back December 2013 so I have a bit of stiffness left from that.
I don't find the wind a particular problem with the Wilderness Ride hull.
The triple hull seems to track well and with my weight and the outfitted 100# of kayak weight it sits in the water deep enough to stay in place.
Bluegiller reply :
Since I am an apartment dweller, kayak fishing is the only way for me to get out on the water. I keep my kayak in my apartment. (needless to say, I am not married)
GADawgs reply :
Jackson also makes the Big Rig and Big Tuna for people looking for maximum stability. They also have the most comfortable seat on the market IMO. The seats also comes with an inflatable lumber support for additional back support. I have a cuda and I really like it.
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