Boat Builder Central - Builder Forums

I've been wanting a kayak to fish out of but I look at the plastic kayaks and while they are durable and functional, they lack soul and they are not something I built. I tie my own flies and want to eventually throw a fly using a pole I made, from a kayak that I built and powered by a paddle I made. Since I am a fly fisherman, I would really like to be able to stand so I could sight fish. I know that not everyone can stand in a small craft but I am still young enough to be that crazy.

My ideal kayak would be wider (between 30 - 34") and longer (~15') than the waverunner and plyak to accommodate not only the standing issue but also the speed for the distance that some of the fisherman paddle. It also must minimize any hull slap since some will use this in the flats. I would also like it designed to utilize the hi/lo seats that are so comfortable. That's not that hard to add into a design that does not have it so the loss of that is not a huge issue.

Some other ideas that I think would be nice to have as options is a way to mount a kayak sail and a rudder to ease the paddle time. I don't want to have it in my cockpit but others will most likely desire a pedal drive option. A lot of kayakers like the Hobie system but there are others out there. Some are going to want their kayak as minimal as possible but there are some, to include me, that will want a depth finder on their kayak so a way to keep a battery dry would be a nice to have option. I am sure we could option this thing to death but flexibility is what I think would be the key to making this fishing yak work.

Feel free to add some other ideas if anyone has them!

A longer and wider kayak design is possible.
I hesitate about the sail or pedal drive.
Pedal drives are very expensive plus, they are difficult to use in shallow water. I'm not crazy about including them.
Same for sail and rudder: it almost double the complication plus they are impossible to stow with all kind of fishing gear already on board. However, there are some kayak sails that can be used with a paddle and are very simple to rig:
http://www.windpaddle.com/
I can include fittings for that one.

I've been thinking about the same thing. A plywood version based loosely on the Nucanoe '12....comfortable to stand in. Just sold 2 14' plastic boats. They were great but heavy and tough to move around. Looking for something a little lighter and shorter, but still "standable".

That Nucanoe is wide but I like it.

Note that we have some conflicting requirements here: a wide boat that is also easily driven for long distance paddling.
We will have to compromise.

I can understand about the sail and pedal drive. I was including them only because others seem to enjoy them. For throwing a fly, I need to keep the cockpit rather sparse. Nothing like casting to a nice fish only to get the line tangled on a gadget that you really don't need. If builders want to add the rudders and sails, they are easy options to add in and will most of the time still work well.

I think the big deal here is the ability to stand safely and to be light but still durable that runs straight. That's a hard combination to design! If you get those wrapped up into a yak, people will build it.

I went to look at the nucanoe specs and was terrified by the width and weight. That's one wide beast! Next time I'm down in Tampa I'll have to go find one to look at. 41" wide for the 12' model is a little wider than I was hoping for. Looking forward to what may come. Thanks for taking a look at the feasibility of this idea.

Pardon the faux pas for bringing up another design, but the Nucanoe does have a small transom. If you feel the need to travel great distances, slap a trolling mother and a 12 volt on it.

I wouldn't, but I figure if it is light enough, I'll never need to put in more than a few hundred yards of where I plan to fish.

In Florida, motor = registration. I would hate to have to register a kayak! I would suggest building a SC16 if someone needed a motor.

I am debating on the Plyak12, but would really like to have something that would allow standing to cast and fish. Utilizing a raised seat, like the Larry Chair, and the convertible paddles that are available (Kayak, SUP and stake-out stick). Cruising long distances would not be a priority, but light weight would be, since I would want to ferry it on OD18 type boat to locations.
Look forward to what comes of this request.

Randy wrote:I am debating on the Plyak12, but would really like to have something that would allow standing to cast and fish. Utilizing a raised seat, like the Larry Chair, and the convertible paddles that are available (Kayak, SUP and stake-out stick). Cruising long distances would not be a priority, but light weight would be, since I would want to ferry it on OD18 type boat to locations.
Look forward to what comes of this request.

Standing means stability, stabilit will come from size: larger, wider and that conflicts with carrying it on the OD18.
The Plyak with a flat sole looks like a good compromise. It is relatively wide.

Any time put in on this line yet? I know you have been busy. Just an inquiry.

This one is sort of a Sit On Top: it is self bailing. That should fit the definition.
There are a few under construction.