I'm going to look at a 13' Predator kayak tomorrow. The owner is asking $650, but I'm going to offer $500 if it looks okay. If she accepts, is that a good price? I asked my pal if I could leave it permanently at his pond. Being plastic, it would be way sturdier than my Kevlar canoe and more stable too. 

How old is it?

Was it stored outside in the sun?

Check around the scupper holes for cracks.

They are pretty heavy, but have a tri hull and 33" wide so it should be pretty stable.

9 minutes ago, herder said:

How old is it?

Was it stored outside in the sun?

Check around the scupper holes for cracks.

They are pretty heavy, but have a tri hull and 33" wide so it should be pretty stable.

 

I don't know the age. I assume it was stored outside. I plan to leave it outside year-round. Thanks for the tip about the cracks. Stable is good. It can be heavy, as I'll keep it by the water and drag it to launch it. 

If you look at the serial # at the stern, the last 2 digits are the year it was made. I have a 14 year old Old Town Vapor 12XT and it's really solid despite being rode hard and put away wet by the previous owner.

 

I bought the Predator 13-footer and paid the asking price of $650. It lists for $1700 new and looks good. So, I'll be kayak angler and a canoe angler and a hybrid angler next year. The Predator is going on my pal's pond, which is the biggest water I fish, and I watched a YouTube video where the guy showed how stable it is. 

 

FWIW, I now own four boats: a tandem canoe, a solo, Kevlar canoe, a fishing kayak, and a canoe/kayak hybrid (Old Town NEXT). The Kevlar canoe will be my bog boat and the other three will be based at my pond and my pal's pond. 

44 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

I bought the Predator 13-footer and paid the asking price of $650. It lists for $1700 new and looks good. So, I'll be kayak angler and a canoe angler and a hybrid angler next year. The Predator is going on my pal's pond, which is the biggest water I fish, and I watched a YouTube video where the guy showed how stable it is. 

 

FWIW, I now own four boats: a tandem canoe, a solo, Kevlar canoe, a fishing kayak, and a canoe/kayak hybrid (Old Town NEXT). The Kevlar canoe will be my bog boat and the other three will be based at my pond and my pal's pond. 

Congrats! I think you'll love it!

51 minutes ago, Crow Horse said:

Congrats! I think you'll love it!

 

She's a big, heavy boat and so I expect her to be stable. My balance isn't what it once was, so I need a stable boat!

Sounds like you got a good deal. You are now set for any type of fishing you do. So, when are you going to get your hundred thousand dollar Bass boat? <G>

19 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

She's a big, heavy boat and so I expect her to be stable. My balance isn't what it once was, so I need a stable boat!

You might want to consider getting a cart depending on how far the drag to launch is.

 

2 hours ago, Crow Horse said:

You might want to consider getting a cart depending on how far the drag to launch is.

 

 

It'll be about 15'. Even weak, old me can do that. 

 

2 hours ago, Kirtley Howe said:

So, when are you going to get your hundred thousand dollar Bass boat?

 

Ha!

Welcome to the (kayak) Club!

 

I expect that a few of your canoes will be on Craigslist by next summer 😀

Good luck with it @Swamp Girl

One can't have too many boats.  I'll be more stable than your canoe and safer.  The only drawback I can see is you'll be lower and can't see as much if you can't stand in it.

4 minutes ago, Alex from GA said:

The only drawback I can see is you'll be lower and can't see as much

 

I didn't think about that, Alex. I think the seat has two positions: lower and higher.

 

7 hours ago, Kayak Koz said:

I expect that a few of your canoes will be on Craigslist by next summer 😀

 

If there was a 32-pound kayak that was 15' 6" long like my Kevlar canoe, you might be right. 

1 hour ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

I didn't think about that, Alex. I think the seat has two positions: lower and higher.

 

 

You'll be standing in no time. It's daunting at first, especially for older folks like us as balance can be more of a challenge. I brace my feet against the gunnels on the deck and in calmer waters I have no problem standing while the motor is running slow. But if there are a lot of waves and wakes I tend to stay seated.

37 minutes ago, Kayak Koz said:

 

You'll be standing in no time. It's daunting at first, especially for older folks like us as balance can be more of a challenge. I brace my feet against the gunnels on the deck and in calmer waters I have no problem standing while the motor is running slow. But if there are a lot of waves and wakes I tend to stay seated.

 

I am excited to stand on it, but not till mid-Mayish when a mistake won't hurt so much. Standing will help build back my balance!

7 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

I am excited to stand on it, but not till mid-Mayish when a mistake won't hurt so much. Standing will help build back my balance!

A "stand assist" strap helps tremendously. I use mine when I beach. 

13 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

I am excited to stand on it, but not till mid-Mayish when a mistake won't hurt so much. Standing will help build back my balance!

If you've seen Kristine Fischer videos, she stands on her kayak seat and fishes. Of course, I've also seen her set the hook and fall in once or twice!

1 hour ago, Crow Horse said:

A "stand assist" strap helps tremendously. I use mine when I beach. 

 

It already has one and I plan to use it.

 

1 hour ago, Kayak Koz said:

Of course, I've also seen her set the hook and fall in once or twice!

 

This is why I'm waiting until mid-May to stand! 😉

 

Congratulations kayak will broaden your casting techniques when standing, you are already an expert sitting.

Tom

14 minutes ago, WRB-2.0 said:

you are already an expert sitting.

 

Thanks, Tom!

Congratulations getting the kayak, sounds like it will be perfect for where you fish.

What paddle came with it, I know I don't have to tell you how important the paddle is.

My kayak is 29" wide, there is no standing in it for me. I knew a guy who was consulting with Eddyline when they were getting into the sot market and was asked what I would want in a sot, my main suggestion was no wider than 28", shows how much pull I had  

5 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

It already has one and I plan to use it.

 

 

This is why I'm waiting until mid-May to stand! 😉

 

You might consider a stand assist bar.  Old Town offers what i believe they call a ‘Steady Stand’ bar.  It is easy to mount and folds for storage.  As much as we may not like admitting it, having that 3rd point of contact at our age is a game changer.  I added one to my 11.5’ Lure, and love it.   Just being able to lean into it while standing provides a level of confidence that for me would be absent without it.   It has on occasion even allowed me to remain standing and ‘ride’ the wakes of a disrespectful boater.