Kayak Selection help

[OSCODA]

Looking for some help in selecting a Kayak. It will be used mainly for flat open water(crusing the lake Huron shoreline). I am 6" 5" tall so looking for something that I can fit in. Can someone help me with some sugestions.

[jimmy johans]

go tto Franks and sit in and paddle a few on their pond. cayuga be good
natice boats also be good.

[Zofchak]

At your size the Malibu X-Factor or Malibu Stealth 14 would be good choices for a sit on top style fishing kayak. Other options for SOT's would be the Ocean Kayak Big Game (A bit of a barge) and the Ocean Kayak Trident series (Faster, but not nearly as stable) and the Wilderness Systems Tarpon 16. I don't have much experience with anything other than fishing yaks so I can't make any other recommendations.

[252Life]

We have 2 Old Town Dirigos and an Otter. The Dirigo is a great boat for fishing. Very stable (my 10 yo has paddled the Sturgeon in it with no problems) and the best storage out there. There is a water tight hatch at your finger tips (my on-board hummidor) and the rear hatch is likely the easiest to access, open and re-seal while seated than any other yak on the market. It has a nice open cockpit. We easily fit ourselves and our 2 year old in it. I know they make a fishing model, but the original can be easily accessorised. Im a bit shorter than you so I would go with the 12'. I do a lot of rivers, some quick and technical, so the 10' is the right length for me. The seat is easily adjustible for both lumbar support and seat angle. The deck rigging is perfect for holding rods down when not using them and other things you may need. Old Town is a great company and made in the USA!

[Freestone]

If you're mainly going to use it for big water paddling I would look at sea kayaks with rudders. Probably lengths over 16'. Any good shop usually has opportunities to try out kayaks at nearby lakes.

[JDubya]

I recently purchased my second kayak, a Fathom from Eddyline. It is a great boat.

The main difference in cost between boats depend on material (carbon, plastic, fiberglass, etc). I recommend thermoformed plastic for $$, durability, weight, and performance. I would also suggest a skeg instead of a rudder. With practice you will quickly outgrow the need for a rudder. Then it will just add extra weight and wind resistance.

[Kayak Dave]

There are 2 fishing kayaks with a trailer that I just saw on Craigslist

[Adventure484]

I'd go demo the Tsunami 16 by wilderness systems, nice stable open waterboat, you can put a rudder on it, wich i would recommend for intro big water, and the seat is very comfortable. remember the longer the kayak the faster and more efficient. I paddle a tsuname 16 or the tempest 17 which i am in most of the time. the tempest is a more advanced boat, but with practice it can be a lot of fun

[redear]

i am 6.1 or 2 and sat in the old town dirigo and the cockpit is to small to get my legs inside, once they get in there is plenty of room but its a tight squeeze and would be even tighter for you. i ended up geting the old town vapor 12 anger and am pleased with it, just wish now i would have gotten a sit on top because i only fish out of it.