Buying my First Kayak - Need input on my decision

....Spend some time paddling the different yaks before making a decision. ....I would recommend taking a paddling class which includes the surf zone and self rescue. ...... before attempting Big Sur or the San Mateo coast.

+1 on that!

what's your height and weight?  I ask because kayaks are like shoes, you gotta find the right fit.....

Amen, what Mooch said. and again, like GB2 said, paddle a bunch 'o different boats before you buy unless you can afford a quiver of 6 or so for different purposes   

Ditch your girlfriend, buy a hobie and start livin the good life. 

5' 10" and 175lbs

And FYI folks, I brought up the divorce boat subject with the lady.  Her feedback "we aren't like most dysfunctional couples". Followed by "if you want separate kayaks, why not separate beds? Heck, why are we even dating?"

Gotta love it.  Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

5' 10" and 175lbs

And FYI folks, I brought up the divorce boat subject with the lady.  Her feedback "we aren't like most dysfunctional couples". Followed by "if you want separate kayaks, why not separate beds? Heck, why are we even dating?"

Gotta love it.  Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

   

With your height and weight, you have no issues finding a kayak with the right fit....demo, demo and demo. Take your time and you'll find what you need.

A few of things to consider when buying a kayak....

*look at the cockpit layout...I look at flat spots to where I can mount stuff such as rod holders, flush mounts and a fish finder.
*consider the weight of the kayak...remember that you will not always have someone to help you load and unload your kayak  (this is why I lean towards the discontinued Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 and 15 )
*comfort is key....If I were shopping for a kayak today, I'd rent one for the day, take it out in the ocean and fish from it for at least 6 hours  

Good luck and welcome to the madness  

5' 10" and 175lbs

And FYI folks, I brought up the divorce boat subject with the lady.  Her feedback "we aren't like most dysfunctional couples". Followed by "if you want separate kayaks, why not separate beds? Heck, why are we even dating?"

Gotta love it.  Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

lol... let us know how this works out in about a year.

5' 10" and 175lbs

And FYI folks, I brought up the divorce boat subject with the lady.  Her feedback "we aren't like most dysfunctional couples". Followed by "if you want separate kayaks, why not separate beds? Heck, why are we even dating?"

Gotta love it.  Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

GF and Wife are like Kayaks. Some fit and others don't.
 I like the word "dysfunctional"and knew nothing about it until I got married 25Yrs ago.


My wife and girls bought me a tandem Hobie Adventure when I first started. Got rid of the dysfunctional Kayak and still in our dysfunctional marriage.  
Have a Prowler Trident 15 and like any chair it is truly a case of sitting my ass in it and trying it out.
Not bragging but have had a lot more girlfriends then wives kind of like my Kayaks
Oh by the way, "Welcome to the Madness"

Well, my opinion is that anything that gets you out on the water fishing is worth it.

Having said that i will agree with above posts, that EVERYONE who gets a tandem to include the wife soon gets a solo yak for fishing.

If you are requesting advice here, listen to it..........seriously.

Allen

what's your height and weight?  I ask because kayaks are like shoes, you gotta find the right fit.....

According to Tim Neimier, (in the new Kayak Angler Mag) kayaks are actually more like prosthetics for us aquatically challenged humans.

I thought that was a pretty apt description.

For the ladies tandems are perfect, they can quit paddling whenever they want.  They have you right there at all times to take care of stuff for them (you won't be fishing).  If they flip, they can blame you.  They can use that couple hours of undivided attention to trap you in conversations you've been avoiding. The best tandem yak is two singles....seriously. 


I think you're on the right path by laying out your needs and intended use of this boat. If I were in your situation and my options are a sik, an inflatable or a skin on..........I'd choose to shorefish. 

Thanks for all the great input guys, truly appreciated.   Somebody pointed me to paddleswap and when it's time to buy I'll probably look to get 2 yaks very very slightly used.  Already found one on there that the guy hasn't even put in the water.

That being said...I still need to try them out.   I'll be getting one as soon as I move (and make sure I have room to store it).

However, a year in lakes, then another year in bays = 2 years before I can go out by big sur....seems like a pretty big commitment.   I've already done tomales bay multiple times (with no lake experience) so either i'm just a really good beginner, tomales bay is like a lake, or I'm missing something...

You can come to Santa Cruz and go out with me.  I have an extra yak or four.  One of them will fit.

Allen

phigment, Allen is one of the best Kayak Guides in Northern California. I'd take him up on it and I'd tail.

Get an OK Malibu 2 or a WS Tarpon 130. Both are tandem yaks that can be paddled solo, too.

Get an OK Malibu 2 or a WS Tarpon 130. Both are tandem yaks that can be paddled solo, too.

agreed!