Is a 8.5' sit-on-top kayak good enough for near shore ocean?

Dont do it.  When you have a regret on the water, shit probably already hit the fan.  Too small, too slow, too unstable, not enough room, etc etc.  Dont do it, please.

8.5 ft is too short for the ocean.  Besides safety, the shortness means it'll be slow, which will make getting around a pain.

FWIW, I'm on a 14' tandem Hobie with my 13 yo.  It's been great.  The tandem also lets me take friends with minimal fishing experience.  You could get any 11'+ single SoT for your 16yo.

I also have an inflatable Advanced Elements (12') from when I had a car too small to carry a kayak.  It was very portable and great on calm days, but it's also slow and gets blown around because it has no keel.

If you're in the HMB area, Pillar Point is perfect.  It has the easiest entry/exit, support from other yakers if you need it, and reefs with fish.  Rockaway is good too, but more remote.   Bean Hollow is a different story.  When I first started fishing from a kayak, I watched some video of a guy getting sideswipped over and over by his runaway kayak in the surf at bean hollow.

Okay…, IM A REAL…. Insert your favorite insult……. But I have but one question for ya……….. what is you or your kids life REALLY worth??? Not to be a complete “Donkey” but I have a 12 foot (I think it is) Cobra Fish-N-Dive I picked up for my 12 year old grandson because I thought the cheap arse kayak we previously had (8ft) wasn’t safe for his 89lb carcass, so realistically it’s a matter of life‘ actual value, to budget!! And I’m on SSDI so my budget is substandard to most that shop at Walmart….. I don’t shop at Walmart btw 😝… please go with 12 ft or better because I REALLY don’t want to hear about it on the news this summer !!!!!

The 8.5 would be perfect for bean hollow.
Rig it with a couple of 8/0000 treble hooks on 1000# wire, then a penn international, for the rod I'm not sure, probably some xxxxh shorty

The surface strike will be amazing

Do you think this is a scam?

https://www.growerb.us/product/lifetime-teton-100-angler-kayak-tactic-fusion/

Do you think this is a scam?

https://www.growerb.us/product/lifetime-teton-100-angler-kayak-tactic-fusion/

Wow! Maybe shipping is $400?

Do you think this is a scam?

https://www.growerb.us/product/lifetime-teton-100-angler-kayak-tactic-fusion/

Bluestar,

I have 3 kayaks, an 13' outback, and two Crescent ultralite kayaks (11' and 13'), and a 14' portabote.  If you're having issues deciding on what to buy, then I highly suggest you try demo/renting kayaks.   It may cost you $100-200 to rent three kayaks from CCK, MBK, or the kayak spot down in Moss, but its highly worth it. 

If you and your family are available to come over to the Easy Bay (Richmond area), then we can setup a time for you and your kids to try out my kayaks.   Stability in the open ocean is huge in the open, especially once you're loaded with gear.  Your kids sound like proper water dogs but they're have a easier time fishing with rod/reel on top of the kayak rather than in the water. 

Monterey Breakwater is an easy launch.  I kayaked and dove there many times with no issue.  Del Monte beach is also an easy area to launch.

Pigeon Point launch is easy EXCEPT during a high tide, south west swell, and the stairs are horrible after a long day.

Bean Hollow can be very technical.  Some days its calm flat, but because that beach is steep, I've seen large waves break into barrels.  Conditions here change from morning to afternoon quickly.

HMB is easy to launch inside the harbor, however, the Jaws getting out can be very intimidating.  Its a narrow pass with boats going in and out.  Need to keep your head on a swivel and judge when to go in and out.

I'd practice inside the Bay with your kids until you get the system down.  Loading, unloading, rigging, paddling, peddling, entry/reentry, etc.  There's plenty of good launches nearby you (Coyote, Oyster, Seal Park, etc)

Here’s a similar post, from 2008, if you want to see how opinions have changed in the last 15yrs.
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=13595

Here’s a similar post, from 2008, if you want to see how opinions have changed in the last 15yrs.
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=13595

Oh good heavens I have procrastinated for 15 years!!!!  But hey it is finally happening.  This time for real --  I struck a deal to buy an used kayak just yesterday, an older 14' Perception kayak.  Will be looking for at least another kayak (tandem) or two (single).

Do you think this is a scam?

https://www.growerb.us/product/lifetime-teton-100-angler-kayak-tactic-fusion/

Wow! Maybe shipping is $400?

I see another ad with unbelievably low price, plus free-shipping....  this must be some kind of scam; I just don't know what it is. 

https://www.storageboxon.shop/LIFETIME-TAMARACK-ANGLER-100FISHING-KAYAK-2PACK-INCLUDED-PADDLES-p14526593.html?fbclid=IwAR1minGeQH4cBKiNHcH7OQsjZkgtpmNPXgWLxHxjv6-Qy_zCT53XkBANxhY

Something also very puzzling.....

Home Depot sells kayaks?!?!

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Costway-10-2-ft-Orange-Single-Sit-On-Top-Kayak-1-Person-Kayak-Boat-with-Detachable-Aluminum-Paddle-SP37770YE/321090433?cm_mmc=PSOC-FB-6316004455950-6316004472550-6316004465750&fbclid=IwAR2ZO2tuldssI_tFK_uY7e7GIyQ6EKlMydiZmBHTLMMJIQdNREHsWQSLqXE

Despite all the obsession and the rewards, you should remember that this sport is a very risky sport.  There should be a minimum 12' length on the hull imho. 

Oh yeah, if all the speed/slowness, storage, stability, sea worthiness, etc arguments do not matter, think about how an 8.5' hull would performed when a boat runs over it (and I wish this would never happens to anybody, ever).

WTH is going on? You went from a hundred dollar kayak to a 1200 dollar kayak?

You talked about not investing a lot of money on kayaks so you pull up some scam 100 dollar kayak then switch gears to a 1200 dollar kayak from home Depot?

Sorry Bro, you are just all over the place. It really seems like you are just pulling everyone's leg know.

WTH is going on. You went from a hundred dollar kayak to a 1200 dollar kayak?

Sorry Bro, you are just all over the place. It really seems like you are just pulling everyone's leg know.

I should've emphasized, that it's an OLD version Perception kayak; and just a shell, no seat, no paddle, no nothing.  $150.  I think I can find those other missing parts. 

Since it is so cheap, I just bought it without really checking whether it is sea worthy or not.  I figure I can always use this in the Oakland Alameda estuary.

What it looks like.  Since we have this kayak in front of us, does anyone have an opinion about the seaworthiness of this old kayak?

Something also very puzzling.....

Home Depot sells kayaks?!?!

And not just any kayak, but a "Kayak Boat with Detachable Aluminum Paddle"!