So I've found a few local deals. Looking for 2 Kayaks for myself and my Boy. I'm 5'10 190lbs and my boy is 13yr 5'5 120. but of course he will grow.

 

1st deal: FS128 w/ Yak Power and a Bali 10 SS. I'd have $550 invested in this deal. Of course the FS128T would be mine and the boy would get the Bali 10 SS. It's bright Orange. 

 

2nd deal: Local Kayak shop has two used FS12T's for $329 each

 

3rd Deal: Really isn't a deal, but buying two Lifetime Tamarack 100's and Modifying them a little at a time.

 

I'm not sure which would suit us better.

 

 

The Bali does not look comfortable at all.  Spend a little extra now and get the two used FS's.  

In a year or two you'd be spending the money anyway to upgrade that one. 

Believe me when I say you'll use them more if they are comfortable. 

I bought my daughter a kayak like the Bali, but she was petite and about 10 at the time. She ignored it after a while and we handed it down to her younger cousins. One thing I remembered about it is the scuppers always allowed water in and she would be soaking wet when we got in the truck. That's fine when it's 90 degrees, but when the water is in the 60s, not so good. You can put the scuppers that came with it in, but water will drip off the paddle and you'll still end up wet. If you think your boy will get a lot of use out of it, go for deal 2. I still own my first kayak with the molded-in seat and still use it sometimes. It's only good for a few hours before my butt and feet start falling asleep. But it's good for swampy places with stumps. I use a stadium cushion in the seat.

 

The upgraded seat makes all the difference between getting tired of it after 3 hours and fishing all day. 

Scratch option 3 off the list.

 

I see so many people buy cheap and crappy kayaks thinking they’re going to modify it into this awesome fishing machine. What happens is that they spend more money than they would’ve on a decent kayak, and their creation is barely if at all better than when they started out. 

the used FS12T. Maybe you can offer $600 for the pair and get them. If in nice shape, they are a stable and nice fishing Kayak.

I own a 2017 Ascend FS12T and love it!

 

altered the seat base (added aluminum seat base) for seat to sit a little higher.