When you aren't wading or standing on the bank of a pond, do you have a watercraft of choice?

[TimMurphy]

Dear Board,

I have too much stuff that barely gets used. I do use my float tubes, and I do use my SOT hard shell kayaks. I have them for both myself and my wife. But they don't go out often enough. I have 16-foot Grumman Semi-V with an outboard and bow mounted motor that is nice but rarely sees the water.

I have 2 inflatable kayaks too. I'll probably keep them forever, simply because they are light, stable and fit in bags that can be kept in the basement. One is registered and motorized when I don't want to paddle it.

I'm tired of keeping track of registrations for both boats and the trailers I own to haul them. My wife really doesn't fish as much with me as she did when I bought all this stuff.

With all that said, I am considering moving on to something else that will do as a one boat solution for me. I am looking at the 2 boats I will list below and am wondering if anyone on the board has experience with either of them? I've chosen them because both can be soloed and used tandem. I'm looking for something to be used on lakes, mostly electric only, and larger rivers or creeks like the Susky, Juniata, Swatara, Conodoguinet, etc.

Native Ultimate FX15

Nucanoe Frontier 12

Feel free to add anything you want about your experiences with either of those boats, or any other possible one-boat solutions you have experience with as I'd really like to trim things down.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[poopdeck]

I have a pair of waders and I had two boats, a 16’ similar to your Grumman, and an 18’ flat bottom river jet. I got rid of the 16’ and have regretted it ever since. I regularly use my 18’ but miss the smooth ride of the semi vee on choppy days. The 16’ was way easier to launch by myself which is a big deal now that I am older, retired and have more fishing days then fishing partners. I’m not a fan of kayak fishing so I can’t help there other than to suggest variety is probably better with kayaks as well. Wish I kept both boats.

 

[hooker-of-men]

This doesn't speak to your question so much as just piling on to the perpetual dissatisfaction of boat ownership...

I have a handful of kayaks, a 17' Lincoln canoe that's twice as old as me, and a little 10 ft jonboat. I don't love any of them. The kayaks are not made for fishing, and the canoe is extremely heavy to move by myself. I fish the tin boat most often, but I paddle it like a kayak because I don't have the paperwork to throw an electric on. It's fun, but I can't stand and it's about an inch above water at all times with a large man and gear on board. 😂

My current dream is to upgrade - in the direction that you're moving away from, Tim - to a 14-16' jonboat or v hull aluminum boat. I'd like something small enough to be manageable solo that I could deck out and steer from the front with a trolling motor but that is also big enough to putt around with a kid or two for other adventures.

Will this happen? Likely not in the near future. Hell, neither of my vehicles even has a hitch at the moment. A boy can dream...

 

[Forestfishin]

Haven’t tried either of those kayaks but do own 2 other Native kayaks and they’re great. Are you intending to use an electric motor with them? If so the Nucanoe looks like a good option but if paddling only the Ultimate would be my choice. That Nucanoe looks like a bear to paddle with its width.

 

[HookedOnFlies]

I have been very pleased by my Nucanoe U10. It is super stable. I can stand on the bow with no issues. The clean deck is also nice for minimizing fly line snag. The raised swivel seat is also a huge plus.

At 41 inches wide the Frontier 12 and the Nucanoe U10/Unlimited look like barges, and you do need a 270-280 cm paddle for them. The Frontier 12 is a little more streamlined and easier to paddle than the U10. Super easy to slap a motor on the back, which is what I did.

I paddled to the Frontier 12 and liked it, but ended up getting the U10 due to it being slightly shorter and lighter.

 

[Andrwhite610]

A crescent shoalie with foot steering and a Newport nk180 on the back is hard to beat as an ultimate Susky kayak. If you plan to maneuver the boat while casting fly line this would be what I would do.

My boat is a Hobie compass pedal drive. I use conventional gear when I kayak fish(for now) so I don’t have to worry about fly line getting tangled up in the pedal drive. I beat the snot out of it on the Susky and had it out in a lake a few days ago. I always single launch on the river and work upstream no problem.I consider this a throw and go kayak and time is of the essence for me when fishing (2 toddlers at home) so I’m not yet ready for the involvement of a fully rigged powered kayak.

If I were to build a rig that wasn’t an actual boat I’d be building a crescent shoalie or similar kayak with foot steering and a Newport nk180 (with rock guard). It’s a stern mount motor that will kick up when you hit rocks. A bow mount motor is a no go for the Susky if you want to be effective. Motorized kayaks are advancing quickly and eventually I’ll probably get a rig together once I feel the time is right.

 

[TimMurphy]

Dear HookedonFlies,

I'm not considering the Frontier 12 to paddle. Having paddled a 38" wide 12 ft Native Slayer before everything went to pedal drive, I know it will never be a speedy boat. I have a Bixpy motor with tiller steering and the paddle will only be for smaller lakes and as insurance on a river.

I'd like to find a way to dispense with a kayak trailer, and the Frontier 12 and Native Ultimate 15 are about the only boats with enough weight capacity for my fat butt that are under 100 pounds. Half the fishing kayaks today weigh almost as much as a 12-foot jon boat. 125 pounds isn't easily cartoppable, especially when it would be loaded on the rack on a 4WD pickup with a cap.

I'll probably do nothing though. By the time I decide things will be icing over! 😉

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[HookedOnFlies]

Modern rigged out kayaks do get heavy quick. I have a mid size truck and went with a truck bed extender over a roof rack or trailer. So far working out well.

 

[TimMurphy]

Modern rigged out kayaks do get heavy quick. I have a mid size truck and went with a truck bed extender over a roof rack or trailer. So far working out well.

I have a bed extender and have used it a time or two. My problem is I tend to carry way more stuff than I could ever use in the back of my truck covered with the cap. Maybe I should try the extender again? It would definitely be easier than cartopping! Now I just have to clean out my truck! 😉

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[Andrwhite610]

Modern rigged out kayaks do get heavy quick. I have a mid size truck and went with a truck bed extender over a roof rack or trailer. So far working out well.

I put my 12’ Hobie in my 5’ Tacoma bed with the tailgate down and no extender. It dosnt budge with cam lock straps. It’s 65 lbs. if I had a heavier rig perhaps I would use one but right now that’s one less thing to worry about.

 

[ROVERT]

I have a canoe and a kaboat. I have a rowing frame for the kaboat. I also have a mud motor for it. It can motor with two people or float with three. Detachable launch wheels which mount to the transom make it pretty easy for two people to put it in the water just about anywhere when completely rigged. One person can do it piece by piece. It weighs about 75 lbs without the rowing frame.

It is essentially a Flycraft with a transom for a lot less money. I'm sure it is harder to back row because of that transom but I've recycled some water on the WB without too much trouble. I wouldn't run anything too serious in it but it has worked well for me so far.

I trailer it on a landscape trailer for the river but that is only because the mud motor is so long. I just deflate it and put it in the back of the van to float.

 

[poopdeck]

I put my 12’ Hobie in my 5’ Tacoma bed with the tailgate down and no extender. It dosnt budge with cam lock straps. It’s 65 lbs. if I had a heavier rig perhaps I would use one but right now that’s one less thing to worry about.

This is an oversized load in Pa and subjects you to a $300.00 ticket, plus added fees of course that would boost the ticket closer to $400.00. It also puts you at fault if you’re rear ended. This is a highly dangerous practice that should be avoided. You can get a truck bed rack for just a little more then the fine and far less then replacing your kayak, repairing your truck and repairing the car that hit you. There is no way I would ever have something hanging over my bed by 7 feet. Not a chance.

§ 4924. Limitations on length of projecting loads.

(a) General rule.--Subject to the provisions of this subchapter limiting the length of vehicles and loads, the load upon any vehicle or the load upon the front vehicle of a combination of vehicles shall not extend more than three feet beyond the foremost part of the vehicle, and the load upon any vehicle operated alone or the load, other than a nondivisible load, upon the rear vehicle of a combination shall not extend more than six feet beyond the rear of the bed or body of such vehicle.

The rear of the truck is determined with the tailgate up. Dropping the tailgate does not extend where the load length is measured. Having an extender also does not extend where the load length is measured. A red flag or red light is needed for loads over 4’ up to 6’ but a flag or light does not allow you to extend past the legal limit of 6 feet.

 

[jrcll]

i have a nucanoe frontier 12 ' with the casting bar , super stable , casting bar and seat are all adjustable
'

 

[Andrwhite610]

This is an oversized load in Pa and subjects you to a $300.00 ticket, plus added fees of course that would boost the ticket closer to $400.00. It also puts you at fault if you’re rear ended. This is a highly dangerous practice that should be avoided. You can get a truck bed rack for just a little more then the fine and far less then replacing your kayak, repairing your truck and repairing the car that hit you. There is no way I would ever have something hanging over my bed by 7 feet. Not a chance.

§ 4924. Limitations on length of projecting loads.

(a) General rule.--Subject to the provisions of this subchapter limiting the length of vehicles and loads, the load upon any vehicle or the load upon the front vehicle of a combination of vehicles shall not extend more than three feet beyond the foremost part of the vehicle, and the load upon any vehicle operated alone or the load, other than a nondivisible load, upon the rear vehicle of a combination shall not extend more than six feet beyond the rear of the bed or body of such vehicle.

The rear of the truck is determined with the tailgate up. Dropping the tailgate does not extend where the load length is measured. Having an extender also does not extend where the load length is measured. A red flag or red light is needed for loads over 4’ up to 6’ but a flag or light does not allow you to extend past the legal limit of 6 feet.

This is an oversized load in Pa and subjects you to a $300.00 ticket, plus added fees of course that would boost the ticket closer to $400.00. It also puts you at fault if you’re rear ended. This is a highly dangerous practice that should be avoided. You can get a truck bed rack for just a little more then the fine and far less then replacing your kayak, repairing your truck and repairing the car that hit you. There is no way I would ever have something hanging over my bed by 7 feet. Not a chance.

§ 4924. Limitations on length of projecting loads.

(a) General rule.--Subject to the provisions of this subchapter limiting the length of vehicles and loads, the load upon any vehicle or the load upon the front vehicle of a combination of vehicles shall not extend more than three feet beyond the foremost part of the vehicle, and the load upon any vehicle operated alone or the load, other than a nondivisible load, upon the rear vehicle of a combination shall not extend more than six feet beyond the rear of the bed or body of such vehicle.

The rear of the truck is determined with the tailgate up. Dropping the tailgate does not extend where the load length is measured. Having an extender also does not extend where the load length is measured. A red flag or red light is needed for loads over 4’ up to 6’ but a flag or light does not allow you to extend past the legal limit of 6 feet.

I load trucks daily at work and know not to load past 6’ from the back of the flatbed. I never took that into consideration on my own doings. Even with a bed extender that means any Tacoma carrying a Hobie, or most fishing kayaks (there’s a lot!) is breaking the rule…this is something I’ll have to consider.

 

[Andrwhite610]

I load trucks daily at work and know not to load past 6’ from the back of the flatbed. I never took that into consideration on my own doings. Even with a bed extender that means any Tacoma carrying a Hobie, or most fishing kayaks (there’s a lot!) is breaking the rule…this is something I’ll have to consider.

Chat gpt says it’s completely legal. That dosnt mean it’s correct. I’ll have to look more into it.

 

[TimMurphy]

I load trucks daily at work and know not to load past 6’ from the back of the flatbed. I never took that into consideration on my own doings. Even with a bed extender that means any Tacoma carrying a Hobie, or most fishing kayaks (there’s a lot!) is breaking the rule…this is something I’ll have to consider.

Dear Andrwhite,

If you can, put the tailgate up and measure how far beyond the tailgate your kayak extends with the bow down on the cab floor at the front. If you have a 12' kayak you should have no more than 6 feet extending past the tailgate and you will be legal with an orange or red flag. You should be able to put a pool noodle over the tailgate and cinch a cam strap down across the kayak at the rear of the bed that will secure it. If you add another strap to the handles and anchor at another tiedown in the bed you will be golden.

Most kayak and canoe retailers sell the flags, and if I had a dollar for every kayak I've seen strapped down to a shut tailgate, I'd just hire a guide for every trip and I'd still have a ton of money left over, for I see thousands of them every year.

That's not always the easiest thing to do though, especially if your kayak is outfitted with rod holders, a depth finder, and anchor set-up, etc. Removing all that gear and stowing it so that there is no chance of it possibly working loose from the gear track is a pain in the butt.

If I didn't have a cap on my truck and have to worry about the rear window bouncing around I would have never bought a trailer.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[Andrwhite610]

I certainly flag my kayak. I’ll likely continue to run it as is knowing I’m taking a risk.

 

[JG63]

Pair of 10’ rotomolded no name ****s Sporting Goods boats have served me well these past 8 years - easy to one hand carry at the balance point “vaccum” bottom makes them reasonably stable - lower center of gravity makes them not as tippy and custom made (by me) PVC rod holders top them off - I’ve had them in the St.Lawrence, Lake Ontario, the Yough, local streams/rivers, and numerous State Park lakes are they the best? - no but they work for light duty trips and good enough gear/provisions for a good day on the water - I can fit 4 similar craft in the bed (+ up to 3 on the Thule roof rack) of the Silverado for day float operations too

 

[poopdeck]

Chat gpt says it’s completely legal. That dosnt mean it’s correct. I’ll have to look more into it.

The law is quoted in my post. Not for nothing but the risk isn’t worth it especially when it’s not much more trouble to transport it legally. I’ve seen overhanging loads kill people. No risk is worth that for the sake of transporting a kayak. Life is far easier if you follow the rules.

 

[NRD]

I have a Nucanoe Pursuit with the 24V Newport drive that I take out on the Susquehanna. It's 13'6" long and I wouldn't want anything shorter. I have no complaints whatsoever with either Nucanoe or the drive.

The only mistake I made was buying a Battleborn battery instead of the right cheap Chinese battery from Amazon. There is a guy on YouTube focusing on storage systems for solar generated electricity. He tests, then tears down all manner of batteries. He has nothing good to say about Battleborn.

It didn't take long at all to realize I wasn't carrying this thing around in the bed of a pickup. After assembling drive and steering, I went looking for a trailer. Pulling the drive and battery for transport would add a lot of setup and tear down time at the boat ramp. With a trailer, I only move my fishing gear at the boat ramp and my battery at home.