register at NCKA, buy a kayak, catch some dungeness!

hi everyone.. i'm thinking about getting a kayak for recreational and fishing purposes.. although my main reasoning would be to fish or crab.

Since i'm brand new to the game, i don't want to spend too much on my first kayak. I looked for used ones, but they're pretty expensive, i guess they're top of the line..

I was looking at Sports Authority and came across the Lifetime Tamarack (Angler) Kayak. they both look like starter kayaks, so i was thinking of getting one of those, and then rigging them as i get more experienced. and once i'm comfortable with kayaking i can buy a better one.

i would like to try out catching dungeness near HMB probably and i think my first right would be a removable outrigger or stabilizer..

soo.. any tips for a newbie?

I would demo some kayaks first. Call local shops and see if they have any used kayaks or demo kayak for sale.

If everything works out I'll be buying a new kayak in a few weeks..right after December 1 I hope.  I have a Cobra Marauder I'll be selling...I had put it up for sale a while back for 6 or 7 hundred (I can't remember right now) but I've decided that once I get the new yak I'm just going to sell it for quite a bit cheaper.

You haven't said anything about your phsyical size but the Marauder is a good boat for us larger guys.  I crab and dive off of it.


If you haven't boughten anything before then you should let me know...or if you're really impatient let me know before then.  I don't fish/dive/crab enought to be put out by not having a kayak for a few weeks.

Not too many people that I know of end up pleased after buying "cheap starter kayaks".

Just sayin'.

Some of the best deals around are right here in the classified section. Just check back often.

There's a sweet RTM kayak in the Classified Section now for $850 that's probably worth closer to $1300.

Nice part about a "better" yak to start with, is the resale value ... assuming you decide to upgrade with the sport.

thanks for the welcome and the tips.. now that i think about it, maybe buying a used good kayak sounds better than buying a cheap new one.. my only concern is not investing too much in case i decide my body isn't fit for kayaking even if my heart desires it...

i'm 6' about 210lbs give or take 10 lbs depending on season

Nice part about a "better" yak to start with, is the resale value ... assuming you decide to upgrade with the sport.

If you are patient and find one used even better.  I got my OK for $600 which I thought was a good deal for something that was only a few months old and used once.

buy used
do not buy one of those thin plastic toys at wallmart or costco.
Go to Dans shop next week, he is having a end of season sale if they are still out of reach look for used kayaks, he gets many of those on consignment for the parking lot sale, ask him about used kayaks too. Tell him that you are new NCKA member.
he can really help you gearing up with proper PFD, wetsuit, kayak, paddle and even crab gear.
call him and go.

http://www.headwaterskayak.com/headwaterskayak.com/Home.html

Cheap kayaks are like Cheap motorcycle helmets.  As I tell my friends who wear brain buckets, how much is the value of your brain right that down.  Now how much is the protection you plan on using....$39.00 for that "shell."  Now how much is an ER visit, how much is an Ambulance Ride, how much for long term care treatments...you get the picture.  Same with a cheap kayak, doesn't handle well, you overturn, chance you may drown or near drown, have to get rescued (worse case scenario), boat doesn't handle well, and you get frustrated and are not happy with it.  Boat doesn't have any storage for milk crate or fishing rods, more mony to spend to make it work.  Better to get the right boat off the bat!

Ask Derrick A2H how he liked his "Discount" kayak. Than ask him why he decided to get a quality name brand yak after only using the "Discount" brand couple times.
Do yourself a favor,
Save time and money .... Get a quality product for the big blue.

See Ya Soon,
Eric / Yakhopper

Welcome to the Madness!  Save up to buy the kayak YOU want.  Don't waste money on cheap kayaks. 

thanks for the welcome and the tips.. now that i think about it, maybe buying a used good kayak sounds better than buying a cheap new one.. my only concern is not investing too much in case i decide my body isn't fit for kayaking even if my heart desires it...

i'm 6' about 210lbs give or take 10 lbs depending on season

At least if you buy a used kayak that is better quality than the new one, you will have a chance of finding a buyer for it.  Can't tell you how many times I've seen the "cheap" ones on C.L. sit for months w/o selling because, for the most part, nobody wants a cheaper quality kayak ... used or not.

What part of the east bay are you?

Dude, do you self a huge favor and don't buy a sportmart or costco kayak.  You are better off staying home and watching t.v.

lol @kayakjack.. i don't do much tv (mostly cuz we just have OTA channels and my 5 year old hogs it to watch PBS)
Great Bass 2, i'm in Hayward.. working in mtn view and sit in traffic almost 2 hours each way and i'd rather start sitting in a 'yak'

okay, so i guess i could start with a good used kayak. how much would that set me back? I also want to get some days out with my buddies and they probably don't want to do it too often or invest in a kayak by themselves. So, now i'm thinking of a tandem kayak.. but how bad is it if noone wants to go and i'm stuck paddling by myself? I guess in that case i wonder if posting in the W4M section of CL for a kayak buddy will help.. haha

oh, by the way i have a sedan and i was thinking of trasnporting the yak on the roof rather than getting a trailer for it. i think my car is 13' long itself, is that going to be a problem?