I'm kind-of in a market for a canoe.  I want to take my kids out when we go camping and kayaks don't work well for riders.  Other than that I would go kayak over a canoe.

Mako 284 w/ twin 250 verados:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpmWGjaEjkw

Good luck!

Timman

SeaHunt Escape 200/Yamaha 150 ~ "Time On The Water"

Hobie Mirage Sport ~ Hobie Mirage Outfitter

>))))))*>      >)))))))))))*>       >))))))))))*>         >))))*>       >))))*>        >))))))))*>     >)))*>                

~12' Hobie Outback Yak - Eagle 245DS FF ~ Wicked Pam Flint... Blackwater  Pirates - www.blackwaterliving.com       ~PRFA Member~                                                           

I was a wilderness guide in the Quetico up in So. Ontario for 7 summers and canoed over 4000 miles in some of the most pristine wilderness in lower North America! I would not have taken a kayak on any of those trips if they were free and I got paid to paddle them!!! They just wouldn't do the job needed to haul all your gear and clothing needed for a 2 or 3 week's trip into the wilderness. Just the freeze dried food alone would be more than your average kayak would have room to carry. Alot can happen on a 21 day wilderness trip and the weather can change on you, wind can make lakes as dangerous as the Gulf when they blow up 6 or 7' rollers on a 100' deep lake, and you may hit a "dry" period for fishing so you usually always have to carry enough food to last for the entire trip. Plus a kayak, particularly a SOT kayak, isn't the most fun to carry across a long rocky portage through heavy woods and brush.

For traveling or day tripping, you cannot beat a kayak for speed and maneuverability. And they far out work a canoe for most types of fishing although, if you have to portage to or from one lake into another or from stream to stream, a canoe will be much more adaptable to carrying than a SOT kayak. I have carried SIK kayaks with little or no trouble but a canoe is easily portaged and can carry so much more gear and supplies.

For general handling, speed, versatility, and overall enjoyment though, I have to give a two thumbs up to both types of kayaks. We got to the point in our fishing group up North where we wouldn't even fish with anyone in a canoe because, if we had to paddle very far to our honey holes, we had to stop and wait for the canoes every 15 minutes or so!!! They were just too slow to run with the kayaks. We could out distance them by over a quarter mile in just about 15 minutes of paddling, they were that fast compared to most aluminum canoes.

 

 

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www.cavittscustoms.com

If you haven't practiced the J-stroke or draw strokes yet, you might want to get used to using them. They take much of the work out of paddling a canoe in anything stronger than flat water. They both will help you maintain a straight course and can be used from either seat.

And those Native watercraft are well worth checking out in my opinion. They are a hybrid of a kayak and a canoe as was mentioned, and are really unique in their design and speed. If my sights weren't so set on a Hobie as my next kayak purchase, I would definitely consider one of the Native models. My prime use for a kayak is fishing so the Hobie is more suited to my use. If I were doing trips and more touring with a kayak, I probably would go for the Native over the Hobie. I don't think they are as fast as a Hobie but they have more cargo space which is important if I am going out for a week or so.

 

www.cavittscustoms.com

www.cavittscustoms.com

But, I HATE having to really go "light" when Kayak fishing. I hate having to re-rig my lures in the kayak and twisting around to reach stuff behind me is less than desirable.

I have also thought of a canoe, but like everyone has said - they are not stable and they can not handle sloppy conditions very well.   But, it would be nice to have "something" that was the best of both worlds.

I'm currently thinking about building one of these: http://www.unclejohns.com/boat/ .  The cajuns have used them for duck hunting and fishing in the shallow swamps for years.  I've been thinking of one of these for just launching and hitting docks or paddling VERY near shore (in the sound or bay).  These might be a viable option.  Plus, I'd enjoy building one just for the sake of doing it.

If it is sloppy or windy then I'd rather be in the boat anyway.

Key West 1720 PRO, 90hp Yamahammer

http://www.nativewatercraft.com/ult_14_propel.cfm

www.GulfCoastKayakFishing.com

Positives: Very good primary stability (I stand in it more than I sit); outstanding seating system; hauls all your gear; can fit smaller children both fore and aft; good maneuverability even though it's more of a canoe/kayak hybrid; it comes with a retractable skeg that allows for better tracking; the seating system can be set up on the gunwales giving you a higher perspective of the surrounding water; tons of great accessories available.

Negaitves: My skeg only worked for a few times out.  The guy at P-cola Kayak and Sail said that that is a common problem.  I haven't motivated myslef enough yet to tinker with it.  I can still mannually deploy the skeg before getting in the water...so it's not a big deal; Sit on top kayaks typically have sculper holes that allow for watter drainage, the Ultimate does not.  If water comes in over the sides, or drips in from your paddle,  the water stays in the watercraft until you sponge it out or bail it out with a cup;  obviously, it's not as fast as other kayks, but it's certainly not a lug in the water.

Before I finally decided on the Ultimate, I test paddled the Tarpon 120, Tarpon 140, Redfish 14 and a few Ocean Kayaks.  I almost purchased the Redfish but the Ultimate really impressed me.

Tight lines.

Jb