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Canoe or kayak?

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Which one for a very calm 200 acre lake? Need to have storage and places to put rods. Also, please list some good canoe/kayaks under 800, but preferably around 5or 600. Also would help for it to fit on a Honda Odyssey minvan(don't judge)

  • Super User

You could really go for either. Me? I prefer a kayak,
or a hybrid kayak/canoe. I ended up buying a hybrid
in the Native Ultimate 12. Exceedingly stable, and 
allows plenty of storage.

For the prices you require, head to a kayak store and
look for previous year models. They're usually priced
well below full retail.

Another hybrid is the Wilderness Systems Commander.

Do you have a kayak store nearby? Is standing in a kayak
a priority?

  • Super User

OP - this question comes up often. Here is my usual response that I keep on file for these threads:

Really, only you can answer that question. Some types of small watercraft (canoes, kayaks, bass raiders, float tubes, pontoons, inflatables, etc.) are perfect for some people. No one type of small watercraft is perfect for all people. In selecting whether you want to get a canoe or a kayak, you need to make a list of your needs, and then determine which craft is the better fit for you. Some of the factors to consider:
•    Stabililty and standing capability (moving around, landing fish, another person or kids or dogs in the boat, standing to fish, etc.)
•    Cargo/gear storage (how much stuff do you want to take)
•    Inboard storage & handling (canoe) versus handling things in your lap or over the water (yak)
•    Seating position (usually, but not always more upright seating in a canoe vs. legs-out in yak - have back problems?)
•    Vessel weight (how much can you lift/transport)
•    Transportability - to the water and possible portaging (do you have a truck, trailer, going to car-top, need to portage, etc.)
•    Ease of paddling
•    Will you want the capability to motor it?
•    Manueverability
•    Type of water (lakes, streams, white water, etc.)
•    Number of people in the craft
•    Stay mostly dry or don't mind getting a bit wet
•    Length of voyage (couple hours or a couple days)
•    Etc.
Once you answer those questions based on your own capabilities and needs, you'll come closer to chosing either a canoe, a yak, or a hybrid. All are great watercraft in their own ways, you just have to find the best fit for YOU.

I faced the same decision as you are tying to make now but I was open to all types of small watercraft from float tubes up to bass boats. The best solution for ME, was a heavily accessorized canoe. I only fish my local, small (1.5 to 201 acres), no-wake lakes. Some of these lakes don't have boat ramps. I needed something car-topable without a special rack, modular, very light weight, with as much capability as possible. I wanted stability so I could stand and fish all day, lots of inboard storage, motorized, and little to no maintenance. I didn't want to have to buy a truck or other tow vehicle, I didn't want to consume a garage bay or driveway space with a boat and trailer, didn't want high expense and high maintenance, and didn't want to use gasoline power. Taking everything into account, I ended up with a canoe, trolling motor, and outriggers for stability.
 

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Another vote for canoe.

Lots of disagreements here.

Basically, when it comes down to it, I just can't stand being stuck sitting with eye level only 12" above the waterline. I have to be able to stand up and observe things. Have 360 degrees of freedom to turn myself around within the watercraft itself. I make probably 75% or more of my casts some form of underhand. I also cast and troll some huge lures that pull harder than a 1-2lb bass.

And I just plain like having a 55lb thrust motor with three 50lb deep cycle batteries on board to help me cover 20+ miles of water while fishing 24 hrs straight.  :headbang:

IMO a canoe is about as close as you get to a bass boat without having to own a truck, trailer and pay for boat launch fees, gas, etc or own your own lakefront property. The main drawback is stability and propulsion in 10+mph winds. But when you consider that kayaks fare much, much worse in those conditions, and can't be motorized as easily, it is a no brainer.

For short (<8 hours) trips on small waters restricted to calm-fair weather though a kayak would probably be fine.

Kayak......

 

Or better yet. Both!

  • Super User

I am a kayak guy after fishing for a long time out of canoes and i would never go back to a canoe.  A lot of the misconceptions about kayaks are posted a few posts up with regards to motorizing, stability and ability to stand are from old kayaks, not the current models.

I can easily stand walk and walk around on my kayak and my seat, when in the high position, is about the same off the water as my canoe used to be and i have the ability to go down closer to the water if i want to avoid some wind.  I'll also take a kayak in windy conditions any day of the week over a canoe.  As far as adding thrust, i don't think you can add 3 deep cycle batteries to a kayak but why would you want to?  I mean sure if you need that type of battery life than more power to you, i just hope nothing ever goes wrong and you have to paddle back to a launch.  And then of course there is the safety aspect...a sit on top kayak is self draining which may not come into play but when it does, you'll be happy it did.  It also allows you branch out and fish different types of waters that may not be as conducive to a canoe like rivers or saltwater.

 

bottom line though is different strokes for different folks and for me, the ease of use and flexibility of a kayak is what makes me use one instead of a canoe.

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