[kantong]

Gday yakkers

Ive been looking around at kayaks for a little bit now. I have also looked at getting a smallish boat (tinny bout 4 metres with an outboard).

I can really see the benefits and cons in both!
Boat (pros): cover more area, more people, feel a tad safer, easier to land a fish
Boat(con): more expensive, more space, more time to clean, petrol, harder to launch, need a tow bar, need a trailer, insurance, covers, etc.
Yak (pros): fitness, closer to water, fish in accessible areas, ease of launch, quiet, launch almost anywhere, dont have to wait for boat ramp
Yak (con): tough to cover lots of area, harder to land fish (im assuming due to lack of room), more easier to go in the drink
I am really struggling for a long term solution.

Just wondering if anyone has had this decision?
I would love to get both, but that's in an ideal world.

Love to hear your inputs.

Cheers

Kantong

 

[RedPhoenix]

Unfortunately, due to the change in ownership of this web site and the lack of response by the owners to my requests to remove my email address from all administrative-level notifications and functionality, I have decided to remove my posts on AKFF. Thank you for the great times, the fantastic learning experiences and the many many fish. If you are desperate for the old content of this particular post, it is available below base64 encoded and bzip2 compressed.

Red.

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[Dodge]

Just wondering if anyone has had this decision?

Yes I made the decision and bought the yak without any regrets whatsoever.

In the pic below I owned my cruiser T111 for 17 years, and have had the yak T1V for only a year now, and know the present boat is great and a lot easier on pocket and equally enjoyable.

And you can fall in off big boats, not only yaks mate :wink: I've proven that to be the case

 

[fisher]

I'm not convinced that a kayak is any easier than a tinny in terms of getting the thing ready to hit the water - but the satisfaction rating for hooking and landing a fish is MUCH better :lol:

 

[Davey G]

I also have access to a tinny whenever I need it, however in the year before I got my yak I took it out maybe 4-5 times. I now take my yak out about 50 times a year... This equates to a hell of a lot more time on the water, and a hell of a lot more fish caught. Most of my PB's have been caught from the yak, and I'm looking forward to improving on those over summer.

Yaks can be used for sneaking into tiny creeks and also are capable when offshore catching bigguns. Yes, they are different, but for me thats what makes them attractive.

Have you had a test paddle of any as yet? If not, go to a dealer that does test paddles and have a go. You won't know if its for you until you try it.....

 

[aleg75]

Just wondering if anyone has had this decision?

Yeah it was a toss up for me, and I am glad I choose the yak in the end, so many benefits, fitness, cost, maintenance, cleaning........also this forum is a big draw card......not that I compare, but this has during the day and night more people on that fishnet does, and that's saying something about the people here! well done to AKFF!

 

[Jake]

Just wondering if anyone has had this decision?

Yes indeed that was the exact decision I had to make. And I have never ever regretted it.
Easy to go on your own yet you can still go offshore and catch decent fish.
No rego, no insurance, no fuel, no spark plugs, no noise.
Cheap, quiet, clean, more efficient, more fish-friendly, better for fishing, and best of all, so much more satisfying.

A fish from a yak is worth 10 from a tinnie. Work out those figures!

Cheers,
Jake

 

[kantong]

Gday Davey G- non tested yet. Just lacking the time too. but i should definitely hit some kayaks. Just gotta get the gf to let me go testing and assuring her i wont come home with a yak on the roof!

 

[aleg75]

Gday Davey G- non tested yet. Just lacking the time too. but i should definitely hit some kayaks. Just gotta get the gf to let me go testing and assuring her i wont come home with a yak on the roof!

Does she have a fey to the grage? mine doesent for that very reason!

 

[kantong]

she doesnt have keys to the car, but she has keys to the house, kitchen, TV and everything else!

 

[Ferret]

Hi Kantong

There is an alternative and its the way that I went (see picky below) It wasn't really expensive, it all fits on the top of my car (except the motor and battery) Its dead quite, Impossible to capsize, Only draws about 30cm of water, Will carry more than one but is easily handled solo, Runs for 3+ hours at full power (100ah deep cycle battery) can be launched from 'almost' anywhere. If you want to paddle, you can. And I catch a LOT of fish out of it.

The only 'Con' that I can think of is that it wouldn't handle really rough water well. (wouldn't capsize but it would be uncomfortable and wet) but then again the same applies to small tinnies

You can see the 'price' breakdown and other pics at:
http://www.johnluck.net/index_canoe.html

John

 

[Guest]

Heya Kantong, welcome to the forum mate

I have owned a kayak for about 18 months now, and also a 3.5m Quintrex Traveller Cartopper which now lives on top of our camper trailer.

They both have a place in my garage, each for their own reasons.

The kayak is awesome, and is my weapon of choice when fishing solo in most instances, its great for fishing impoundments, and far superior to a tinny in skinny water. Catching a fish from tha yak is certainly more of a thrill than in the tinny as well. I plan to buy a second yak again (to replace the one I sold recently) in the new year and will start looking at offshore options again. The larger yak would also be my choice when fishing offshore, seems a more seaworthy option than a 3.5m tinny.

The tinny on the other hand, allows my wife to come fishing with me, will soon be set up with a bow mount electric and casting deck, which opens up a new style of fishing, is still very easy to launch (I do it on my own every time, take a few mins longer than the yak but thats only due to the huge amounts of extra gear I take, and setting up the motor and batteries each time), its also more comfortable, and am able to travel greater distances than in the yak. Also, for those of us who like to travel, the tinny is a much better option when in Croc Country :wink: a small car topper can also be launced just about anywhere, it can be carried to the water if necessary by two people, or small wheels are available (we use them) to wheel the boat to the water without assistance.

There is no easy answer to your question mate......it really depends what you want to do and where you fish, who with etc......

If in doubt, buy BOTH!!! 8)

 

[GuruGrant]

Hi Kantong...am currently undergoing the struggle myself. Have permission from the Missus to get a Qunintrex 4.2 Dory with a 30 Horsepower. However the more I see, a Kayak is a very attractive alternative. I like the idea of being able to access areas even a small tinny would struggle to reach. Also a lot of freshwater fishing spots don't allow Boats with motors over 6hp. I'm also mad keen on fishing with soft plastics and I see being able to drift and cast and even troll while paddling slowly in a Yak would be better than tearing around all day in a tinny, anchoring...unanchoring, drifting too close to shore or structure and having to fire up the motor to move and scaring the fish.
Possibly the only concerns I have with a yak are stability and paddling against the tide, but I realise that with a bit of practice and trip planning ie launch an hour or so before high tide and make your way with the tide and then come back after the tide changes, then the tide problem can be overcome.
Also after reading posts on this forum etc, I realise that many people fish and enjoy their Kayaks immensely and I am pretty close to going out getting my own Yak.

 

[yakfly]

gday kantong
the way i look at it is both have there place and uses.youve listed the pros and cons so its your choice.im lucky ive got both and funnily enough the yak is longer at 16 ft but i wouldnt think of using it to go to places
like moreton island.i use it in the shallows and creeks near home and theres nothing funnier than watching some idiot who sees you catch something come roaring over and hit bottom.
pretty much as dallas said mate,if you can afford it buy both.

 

[Captain]

Hi Kantong
I feel that kayak fishing is a little more sporting that fishing from a tinny. Like you said you can cover more ground with a tinny which sort of diminishes the hunter element of fishing for me. I agree with Fisher there is still a lot of work getting ready for kayak fishing and after there is still a lot of cleaning up to do. Still reckon it's easier than launching a tinny and once set up there is no running costs. Probably the biggest downside of kayak fishing is that you do get wet but still can be comfortable with suitable clothing. I've never had trouble landing a fish on a kayak, but have lost a few trying to put them in my bag. When I've fished in a tinny it's in a mates boat and I'm limited to fishing where they want to go. I've also found that if you are on the wrong side of the boat you can be fishless while your mates are pulling them in, just because they have the advantage of the berley stream. I prefer kayak fishing because I'm in control but of course owning my own tinny would be different. I feel I still would favour kayak fishing. As for falling in the drink, I don't think this should happen unless you go through the surf.
Get a yak forget the tinny, if you want to go fishing in a tinny find a mate who has one and bludge off him.

Brian
Cobra PF

 

[bazzoo]

Hi kantong,big decision mate, for whatever you buy will dictate your sport and hobby for the next few years, if you buy a tinnie, you will probably feel compelled to use it because of the lager investment and the fact that the motor needs to be run , :roll: :roll: :roll: ,as you may have gathered i have been there several times, if you buy a kayak , it does not deterioate , does not require your constant attention to stay in good condition, and if you wany to use it just go , its always ready.Also there is no comparison between the two in enjoyment levels, so buy your Lady a kayak as well, if you buy right you could probably get two for the price of a GOOD tinnie

 

[PeterJ]

Hmm.

Nah occy our cost us 300 with the motor, those big tinnies arent tinnies they are pose boats. OOOHHHH don't scratch it .
A tinnie is small and can be belted to witin an inch of it's life.
I fished for 10 years out of a tinnie in fresh water and got places i wouldn't be able to go on the yak.
It was 10 ft and we totally belted it, dragged it , ran it over and into stumps and trees, punctures it, ripped it, fixed it and kept going. When the 9 hp didn't work we rowed the stupid thing.
It looked like corrugated iron after ten years , what we did to that there would be no way you could treat a yak like that and have it live.

Everyone else has said how good yaks are so there is no need for me to repeat that.

 

[bazzoo]

ahhh occy, i can see i am going to have to fish the lane cove with you and then slip up to the three hs for a wee drop of medicine :lol: :lol:

 

[PeterJ]

And bigbazoo how dare you use daffy. :roll:

 

[bazzoo]

i justh had to pete, suffering succertath, daffy ith my alther ego pete :lol: :lol: