Hey everyone, I just wanted to get your opinion on the question above.  I am looking to buy a kayak within the next week, and I am leaning toward buying an inflatable due to how much easier it will be to transport.  I have a small car so making sure it is portable is very important.  However, I do have some concerns with going the inflatable route, so if anyone can let me know their experience with them, that would be great.  I fear that a hook could puncture an inflatable kayak.  Although, some seem to be made very sturdy like this one, I just would like to see what everyone else thinks, as I could possibly be convinced to go the hard shell route if it is much better, in which case, I would invest in a trailer.

 

thanks in advance for your opinion!

inflatable kayaks have their place but fishing isn't one of them unless you are talking rafts and that is a different story.  A hook won't puncture them so i wouldn't worry about that.  What i would worry about is having to inflate and deflate each trip, then take it home and open it up again so it can dry out then pack it back up till the next trip. Combine that with if it doesn't have a frame, it will be flimsier and difficult to fish from, not to mention lack of storage.  

 

A conventional kayak will be better in my opinion and no need for a trailer, unless you want to or you get a heavy kayak, as most can be cartopped pretty easily.  Investing in a quality rack for your car would probably be better in that case.

Barry, I have a Tarpon 100 or ten foot kayak, 30 lbs and easy to transport. My son has an Emotion 8 foot yak, even easier to load and lighter too. Emotions make a 9 and 10 foot too. I love my 100 for reason above and for how easy it is to use on the water. I recommend a plastic boat. I've seen guys on inflatables and its not fun watching them get around. Go looking around and tests as many as possible. If budget is an issue, used is as good as new.

I have a 55# kayak that gets blown all over the place. I don't think I want one any lighter.

I have a 55# kayak that gets blown all over the place. I don't think I want one any lighter.

you bring up a good point.  There is a fine line between being blown around by the wind and being harder to paddle and load and unload.  The height of the seat and hull design also plays a large role in how the wind impacts your kayak too.

Hardshell are ready to go with attachments for fishing already set up. No time spent at launch messing around with inflation and set up. 

I had a WS Tarpon as well, it weighed just over 50# which was light when I was a little younger; however, to lift by myself overhead now with bad shoulders, I cannot do.  I sold the Tarpon last year.  If you can't lift something over your head, you will will need a trailer or a pickup truck that you can load your heavier more stable kayak on and also a cart to move it around.  If you have help every time you can put it on a rack on top of your vehicle.

Each year the kayak companies continue to evolve product lines with more stable, comfortable models that are tailored for fishing.  There are some very nice ones out there now from a variety of manufacturers.  Most of the comfortable stable models are at least over 70#s.

Best of luck in making your chooice.

length of the boat also has a lot to do with managing to load it.  My most recent kayak purchase weighs in at a portly 86lbs or so and i haven't found the best balance point yet for loading and unloading.  It is manageable, but lifting and controlling it to the top of my Jeep wrangler is somewhat challenging.