newby here

Hello all

hope you all survived the holidays.
I am new to kayak and will be purchasing a new one very soon, in time for the rock opening.
We just moved here a year ago from kansas city and wished we had come here 20 years ago.
We bought a place about 1/2 mile from New Brighton Beach and I understand it is OK to launch from there.
I will start by test driving a few, I will be interested in the handling of a tandem, as my wife is showing some interest.
It will be unlikely that she will follow thru, as she gets sea sick easily.
I am a bit torn, as I would enjoy her company, but think a nice 140 or 160i looks like what I am wanting. I will also try a prowler 15 or 13. I am 6' tall 190 lbs. These seem like a good size for me, I will probably be disappointed in handling a tandem in the surf alone especially being a newby.... so pray for seasickness. She is cool with me doin' it alone.
That didn't sound right.....

I do have a question, is it preferable to get the angler models or just the standard and outfit it yourself?

Any tips or ideas will be welcomed. I expect the initial outlay for a good setup to be high, as I only have party boat fishing gear and will need to get it all.
But it has to be better than laying out $100 a trip to watch people puke LOL.

I have been reading a lot of chat here and you all seem to be very helpful and friendly.

Forget the tandem; period.
Get a P15 or T160i. You will not be disappointed. Rent something for your wife when you want to go out with her, If she takes a liking to it then suck it up and buy another. If she doesn't then at least you won't be stuck paddling a tandem.
It is a lot better to paddle side by side and carry on a conversation than to talk to the back of someone's head or try to get the person behind you to hear anything you have to say.
Tandems tip a lot more often too because one person will sooner or later throw the other off balance.
Go for the angler model. There is plenty of pimpin' do be done besides what the angler models come with.
Practice your @ss of in a calm lake close to shore, Practice a lof of dumping and getting back in. See how far you can lean from side to side until you do go over.
Straddle it and shimmy to the very front then to the very back.
Try to stand up in your kayak.
See how fast you can turn your kayak 180 degrees.
Practice, practice, practice EVERYTHING.
The ocean is unforgiving for those who enter unprepared.

thanks for the info Tote.

I am thimking along the same lines you are, at most she will go up elkhorn slough and that is it. I can rent a tandem for those days.

gotta tell you the 160i angler gives me wood. I also like the larger rod pod in the new OK trident 15.

As for the safety, I intend to take lessons and survival schooling, and learn all I can, even rolls in a traditional kayak before I even think about going in the surf. The last thing I want to be is a statistic or a danger to others.

Thanks for the input, once I get hooked up and thoroughly trained, I will be looking for someone to go out with, maybe we can hook up then, but that is a few months away, i am sure

Thanks again

Welcome  

When I first entered this madness, I learned everything I know from this board. Tote is right on. You will get a lot of quality information here. Especially on safety.  

The Prowler 15 gets my vote for an all around kayak. It's stable,fast, a big enough tankwell to store your fish, a very nice deck layout for electronics (Fish finder and GPS). 

Your better off to take your time and test paddle or peddle as many kayaks as you can. It's really about what kayak your most comfortable with that counts.
 
For used kayaks, keep your eye on the classifieds section in this forum. You might want to contact Kayak Connection, and Monterey Bay Kayaks (MBK) in Moss Landing. They have a good variety of kayaks to test paddle and they sell some of their used rentals every now and then. MBK charges $20.00 to test as many as you like for the day. It's fun - go for it

Before you make your purchase, wait for the seas to settle a bit, and sign up for a basic safety and paddle class: how to paddle properly and learn to self rescue. I did this with my wife at MBK in Monterey. Very glad we did. Monterey Bay Kayaks has an excellent class and it's very reasonable. MBK provides everything, you need nothing of your own. That's where we took our classes.  

One more thing, hire a kayak fishing guide before venturing out in the big blue - lot's of things to learn. Allen Bushnell is a super guide based in Santa Cruz - he goes by Scallen in this board.

Anyway, good luck and hope to see you on the water soon!

Ben

WttM

  Great advice you were just given,  sooooo, don't have anything to add other than

 Welcome to the West Coast and a increase in your fishing days 10 fold ..... Danglin

Welcome to the board!!  You have found the most information on kayak fishing available anywhere in one place.  Most of the people posting here have forgotten more about kayaking and fishing than I'll ever learn. It is truly amazing.

As far as kayaking goes, I would never get a tandem.  I've paddled tandems with my wife.  I love my wife more than anything on this earth.....except when paddling a tandem kayak with her.  Unless you both are a trained crew rowers, it won't work.  Every time you have the boat going where you want it she will "help" by paddling the front of the boat to the left/right. 

I solved this by getting a second, used, kayak for her.  It has worked out great.  She goes when she wants to.  She can paddle at her own pace and direction.  And, I'm not stuck with a huge barge of a kayak when she doesn't want to go.

We still, occasionally, paddle tandems when on vacation (Hawaii, Mexico).  But, there is usually a large quantity of beer and/or margaritas involved.

I have the perception search 15 and it is very similar to the t160. I also have the t130 tandem. The t130 works very good for solo use and I take my dog out on it. I like using the t130 as a solo because it has so much open deck space. Not only is the deck open but it is deep. The negative is that the solo seat is higher than the tandem seats so the center of gravity is raised considerably. The t130 also rides higher out of the water providing more cross wind resistance.

If you look on Craigslist, there is a yak shop in Tahoe selling a search 15 for 600. 

Depending on your size, a tandem kayak is not the worst option. That is how I got started, by going fishing in Monterey/PG/Carmel with my friend Mahito on his OK Malibu 2 tandem. It worked fine and we caught tons of fish, albiet close quarters for two big guys. I eventually started borrowing his tandem to go fishing by myself (when he was unable to go). And I caught plenty of big fish. It paddled fine. But that is all I had known; how that thing paddled. So when I finally tried a few other kayaks, I truly appreciated the subtle (and not-so-sublte) differences between the Malibu tandem and other kayaks. Although, it didn't paddle much different than the old Drifter I eventually got IMO. Alright, back to my point, Mahito loves his Malibu 2 because it gives him plenty of room (he is a big guy), and the flexibility to take someone along for the ride, like his little brother for example.

Along the lines of what you're considering...my friend Jeff bought a tandem because he thought his GF would want to go paddling with him. Unfortunately, she never went paddling with him. And he was stuck with a tandem kayak that was way too big for him; he's not a big guy. And he couldn't get that thing to paddle straight to save his life LOL! Not to mention it required 2 people to carry/handle. He eventually sold the tandem and got a single. Then got another used single, just in case his GF ever feels like going paddling...or if a friend wants to go along.

Depending on your budget, keep an eye on craigslist. Monitor all of the local regions. But if you do have the ability to buy a new yak, you should seriously consider one of the local retailers or GWKC, as opposed to REI, Sports Authority, etc.

Maybe we should have a surf session at your new pad. NB is generally a mellow surf. Then you might get a chance to try a couple different kayaks and learn from "pros" LOL!

Good luck,
PK

Hi Curtis:

           I would start with personal safety first and pick up a Marine Radio, Vest, Compass etc...

           Put you wallet away and take your time when it comes to a Kayak.
 
           Treat yourself to a Local Guide who will show you their  secret Spot. I booked a trip with Allen and shortly after hooked up with my first Butt on "Old Blue"!

           Can I get an Amen to that SCAllen?
             
                                                           Less is More

                                                           Ernie
                                                                     

WOW

I must say that this has to be the most informative group and also the most helpful. I am glad to see such a welcome.

I am sure that the wife will not be a yak'er much, she gets seasick. So my plan is to get a single, and rent one at elkhorn slough to take her if she decides to go.
I am in agreement that a tandem will be a big pain in the ass for a newby on the surf.

Just starting, so after some practice and possible some life saving skill lessons and possible some surf lessons, I will be ready by early summer, possible late spring. Living 1/2 mile from New Brighton Beach has great advantages. I would be happy, when ready, for some fun from there, maybe get a few peeps together at my house, load up, and park there to save everyone the parking fees.

Looking forward to meeting you people on the water.


Thanks a Billion!

Curtis (stoggie)

I would be happy, when ready, for some fun from there, maybe get a few peeps together at my house, load up, and park there to save everyone the parking fees.

WOOT!  I love fishing in Santa Cruz!  Count me in when your ready!  Oh, and of course if surf launching still scary to you when the time comes, you can still launch out of SC harbor! (like I do )

A few years ago my girlfriend and I went to dinner with another couple.

During the dinner the woman in the other couple said, "you guys kayak don't you, we were thinking about getting our own, would you suggest two singles or a double?

In a split second at exactly the same time, my girl friend and I both BLURTED out, TWO SINGLES, then we all laughed, no further explanation was needed

end of story, love her to death, but hopefully we'll never get in a tandem together again,  

 

   Howdy and Welcome, Curtis.

I grew up in La Selva Beach, just South of you.  What great water you have.

So enough about tandems. They're called "divorce boats" for several reasons, although PK makes an exceptional point when tandems might be okay.  Think of it this way: with a tandem, you simply won't be going out on the water as much, which defeats the whole purpose.  Enough said.

I like a boat that fits just right, depending on our various sizes.  I want to be part of the boat and the boat is part of me, so to speak.  You all know about that, of course.

So just be safe (DO take a safety class and a guided fishing class with Allen!) have fun, meet other yak folks and try out a whole bevy of boats before you buy.

   -Matt

Christ, my beach launches are scary enough without my girlfriend on board. 
I think we could manage in the harbor, briefly. She would get bored and I would be frustrated with not fishing. (like i am right now)
 
I must agree that in the ocean and all around, T160s or P15s are super choice.
These guys on this board are full of solid advice: test ride everything you can!
Good luck

What up cestockton? Welcome to the madness. I myself am pretty green to the kayak fishing and can say that I own A prowler 13 angler edition, wich I love. Plenty of room and real stable. When my better half feels like going it is so easy to rent one. 30 Bucks over at Kayak Connection in Moss Landing. Paddle up the Elkorn Slough and target some hudge rays and the occasional leapord. Look me up next time you head up and maybe we can hook up. Not far from the slough maybe 20 min. Good Luck, Andy.