Change of Plans

[treadhead1952]

Hi All,

Since I am planning on doing some fishing, well, mostly fishing and have little to no experience with a Kayak, I was thinking on the secure environment of a sit in type. However, the more I have read and learned, the sit on top offers a lot more advantages over the sit in type. While I liked the idea of a cockpit to sit down inside of, more boat like, it does have the problem of requiring a pump should you wind up get into a wave set that swamps it or overturn it and have to right it. The scuppers on a sit on top version act as a self draining so that seems to be a lot better idea. The fact that at some point in time, I will no doubt take a header, intentionally or not, getting back on my ride will be vastly easier with the sit on top Kayak.

I have decided to go for the Ascend FS12T Kayak as my first Kayak. While it is a couple hundred bucks more expensive, it is two feet longer, just as wide (31 inches), sports a 350 pound capacity (more carrying ability for more gear) without being much heavier at 56 pounds and seems to be a better outfitted Kayak than my original idea of the Ascend A10 sit inside Kayak. It comes with a rod holder up front as well as a pair of upright holders behind the seat, one will be for a flag to help make me more visible on the water in daylight as well as being able to substitute a light or strobe device should I get caught out in the dark. It also features a covered storage up front and a more generous storage cockpit aft. There is a lot to be said for the more advanced feature set of this one, so that is what I will be getting. The only real gripe that I have seen in the reviews on there is that the fishing rod holder is set too far forward. A minor thing, but considering I have arms like a gorilla, it probably won't be an issue for me. If it is, I can always change it. Here is a link to the page that shows it on the Bass Pro site.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_10213830_225015000_225000000_225015000_225-15-0

I would like to hear any comments pro or con from the more experienced on the site as to my choice.

Jay
treadhead1952
Las Vegas, NV

[kacz7895]

I am not at all experienced at all on this but have done alot of research on it. There are some sit in kayaks that you can get to go fishing in. The ones i have found are build your own kits but that what i was looking for. There from clc boats but i also wanted a kayak i could do camping trips in too. just google kayak fishing and you will have alot of reading.

[treadhead1952]

Hi kacz,

Oh yeah, I have been reading and viewing a lot of stuff on line trying to get a handle on just what I want to start with.

I did find one article on the Ascend FS12T that wasn't too favorable, but it had more to do with a single unit at a store in Texas and the gentleman in question was presented with a unit that obviously had suffered some battle damage in shipping to the store. He switched over to a different Kayak altogether rather than buy the one first presented to him. It did cost him nearly $300 more not to mention the 7 hour round trip to go visit the store in question. The complaints listed were dents in the bottom of the Kayak that occurred in shipping from factory to store and what to him seemed to be too thin material in the bottom over all.

From checking out the ones in the local store, I did check out the thickness of the material, I wasn't able to push in excessively on it even in the widest and most open areas so I don't think that it was too soft or thin. As it does come set up with rod holders, a fairly comfortable looking and padded seat, paddle retaining bungees on either side as well as forward dry well and a good sized rear open area with bungee corded retaining lines, it looks to be a good start at a workable fishing Kayak. It will be my first and like most first things, a learning experience. But I like the size, 12 feet overall, 31 inches wide and I can pick up the 56 pounds and walk off with it comfortably. Putting it up on the roof of my Chevy S10 with camper that will be set up with foam blocks and lines to hold it down won't be a problem either. The overall out look for me is a good start to my Kayak Fishing adventures.

Once I do make the purchase, I will document it from the beginning with photos and let you all see what happens for better or worse.

Jay
treadhead1952
Las Vegas, NV

[kacz7895]

i will look forward to your right up. one thing to look at is how they paddle some of the fishing kayaks are for more stability than going through the water. just one thing to look for if you are going any type of distance. i am no expert. just did alot of reading. i dont even have a kayak yet that will come this winter. i have been on many kayaking tours and have takin some classes. i will be building a cheapeke 18 double form clc. so i can take my wife on trips and my son fishing.

[treadhead1952]

Hi kacz,

I have been doing lots of reading and checking out the local scene as far as Kayaks are concerned. At the moment it is 10 days and counting to my proposed June 11th purchase day and I am still looking at different models. :)

Today I am going to take a run up to the local REI store to see what they have in stock and is available. I also found a company here called Desert Adventures that has Kayak Classes starting with "Kayak 101" that is looking particularly interesting, it only has a $79 price tag and looks to be well worth the money. They go on to a second class in "Rescue and Safety" that is $89 which covers a few more interesting things. These are 3 hour workshops out on Lake Mead that would probably be well worth the time and money invested. The only problem I have with them is they are limited to days that I am supposed to be working so I would have to take a day off to accomplish them. The good thing is that they are set up so that you could take both classes in one day, Kayak 101 in the morning and Rescue and Safety in the afternoon. Nothing like learning from the Pro's. They furnish everything so that you can just show up and go from there. I am still considering if it would be worth it to hold off on buying the Kayak or going for the classes then buying the Kayak.:confused:

I still have a few days to cogitate on matters so......:)

Jay
treadhead1952
Las Vegas, NV

[treadhead1952]

Hi All,

Well, I went and did it. I purchased the Ascend FS12T that I was wanting to get. Of course, I had to wait five days before I could take it out to Lake Mead and put it on the water, talk about the longest five days of my life!

I put in at Boulder Harbor just to the south end of Saddle Island and noodled around there getting it checked out as to how it would ride my bulk around. Surprisingly, it is very stable. Part of my checking it out routine was to see just how far I could lean to one side and another before I went from Kayaker to Swimmer. Water would come in over the sides before it would dump me in the drink and when I did part company it did not immediately turn turtle. The only way I could successfully make it go upside down was if I hung on to the midships grip on the far side of my lean and literally pull it over as I went in the water. This led me to practice self rescue technique which was quite easy thanks to the videos, articles, and threads here and on other forums and the book that I found on Kayaking.

So with all of that under my belt along with some confidence in getting back on as well as how well it rode in the water, time for some paddle practice. I had read, re-read, and read yet again as much as I could about how to deal with the double ended paddle familiar to Kayaks, learned about the "Box" theory and proceeded to put it into practice. In short order I found myself clearing the little headlands surrounding the harbor area and sitting there looking at the main lake. Did I mention that Lake Mead is a pretty good sized lake?:eek:

I worked on paddling until I was able to get into a nice easy rhythm working my upper body into it so that I wasn't trying to just use my arms and tried to keep it easy, not attempting to lift half the lake with each stroke. As I worked my way along the length of Saddle Island I didn't realize just how quick it went until I spotted the large barge mounted dredge that was parked outside the Fish Hatchery Channel on the north side of the island. As I rounded another cove I realized that I was passing between the shoreline and a large rocky island to my right and that it appeared that the bottom was coming up, quick. As I coasted along I considered whether I should slow down or stop and find a way around as the Kayak slipped right through about a foot of water over the rocks below and the bottom started to drop away again. Even with my bulk weighing it down, the Kayak as I learned is quite capable of dealing with some mighty skinny water.

Soon enough I was all the way up into Las Vegas Wash and weaving around in amongst all the rocky islands that the low water level had exposed. In some of the shallow areas I could see fish, Catfish and Stripers mostly cruising along the bottom. That was when I realized that all my fishing gear was still sitting in the back of my truck back at Boulder Harbor! Ah well, at around five miles away, I guess this is going to be more about exploring the boundaries of my new Kayak than fishing this time around.

I soon became aware that I was the only one up there in this area. With all the rocks and islands sticking up, power boater and PWC folk give it a wide berth making it a natural for Canoes and Kayaks. I finally decided to head back south and sort of meandered my way back, Kayaks are capable of some serious meandering. Paddle some, coast along some, paddle a little more and I found myself at a nice deep cove. I beached the Kayak and took a swim to cool off.

When I did get back to it, I went into my rhythm thing and was scooting along when out of the corner of my eye I noticed a bright red Wilderness 16 footer coming up slowly. I slowed down a bit and angled over to say howdy. As I drew nearer, I noticed that the gent was paddling with a long slender wooden paddle with slender long blades that were squared off on the ends. He was dressed in long pants and a long sleeved shirt in some sort of dry fast material along with a broad brimmed hat. He had been at this Kayaking thing for a while, his bright red ride's finish was dull from more than a few trips out on the water. Along the bow in bright yellow lettering was the name "Boulder Buzzard". I noticed that he had a couple of Scotty rod holders and other fishing type additions and even a sail base built on.

"You were scooting right along there." He grinned at me when we got close enough for conversation.

"Paddling practice, first timer learning the ropes", I grinned back.

"Well, I'd say you had it down pretty good."

"Interesting looking paddle you have there."

We were just sitting there keeping station with an occasional swipe at the water with the paddle tips.

"Just a 2x4 that I carved out. I like the skinny blades. A lot easier to handle."

We chatted for a half hour or so until we saw a pair of new Hobie's scooting along the water, riders peddling along with a sail set on each one. He wanted to check out their sail rigs and I admitted that my Sausage McMuffin had long since given out on me so I was hungry. We parted company and that was how I met my first "on the water" Kayaking acquaintance.

Jay
treadhead1952
Las Vegas, NV

[rcurry]

Congratulations on your new boat, it sounds perfect! :DThanks for sharing your experience with all of us. It’s always nice when things turn out to be so pleasant. It sounds like you are in an area that has a good size kayaking population, to happen upon three paddlers your first day paddling. In my area paddlers are hard to find.

I love the idea your new friend had on carving out a wood paddle. I’ll have to file that one away for a winter time project. Did he mention what type of wood?

Enjoy you new freedom on the water.

[treadhead1952]

Hi RC,

Thanks, I hope to get back out there this afternoon or tomorrow morning early for some fishing fun.

As to Boulder Buzzards' wooden Kayak Paddle, he stated that he carved it out of a 2X4, it looked to be about 8 feet long so I wouldn't doubt him on that point. As to what sort of wood it was, I couldn't tell you. I do know that when he was demonstrating the tipsiness of his Wilderness Kayak, he was quite adept at dropping one blade or the other in the water quickly to counter the motion of the Kayak and it was very efficient. While the paddle ends were pretty narrow, they made up for it in being quite long, he said that it was a whole lot easier to wield in the water than my fat bladed Carlisle Day Tripper. The center shaft of the paddle looked to be about two inches round, which compared to my Day Tripper, looked pretty big. Judging by the color and finish, I would have to say that he stained it with something like Walnut Stain and then oil finished it as the water seemed to flow off of it readily. With something like a spokeshave you could probably whittle one out quite easily.

I have discovered that there are a number of other Kayak Anglers in my neck of the woods from another forum that has state by state sections. Running through the posts there, it would seem to be a popular mode of transportation on Lake Mead and Mojave. I even discovered a few new places to put in and to go to from them and their threads. As I am just starting out with my Kayak, I am even getting some pretty good ideas of things that I would like to add to it for even more versatility on the water from here and other forums.

Jay
treadhead1952
Las Vegas, NV

[treadhead1952]

Hi All,

RC, I ran into Buzzard out on the Lake last Wednesday and asked him what his paddle was made of. Redwood, he told me he had to dig through the stacks at the local Home Depot to find one piece with some really tight grain all the way across the length, but once he did and carved it out, it had served him well for more than a few years. He also said that he found the directions for it on the internet someplace.

Jay
treadhead1952
Las Vegas, NV