10 replies to this topic

[Mike Cavanagh]

Hi Guys. I am in the process of choosing a design for my 3rd kayak. My 1st was a Chesapeake Wood Duck and the 2nd was a Yostworks Sea Bee skinned with PVC.

My question is looking at the designs available here - Free B 12ft. Mess Abouts (12ft) and Cast away (12ft) which of these would be the lightest. I need a kayak that is really easy to lift on top of my car and be good for fishing from. Any advice please

[Hirilonde]

....... and the 2nd was a Yostworks Sea Bee skinned with PVC.

Please describe the material and show pictures?

 

 

My question is looking at the designs available here - Free B 12ft. Mess Abouts (12ft) and Cast away (12ft) which of these would be the lightest. I need a kayak that is really easy to lift on top of my car and be good for fishing from. Any advice please

My Free B 12 (well, my wife's) skinned in polyester weighs 24 pounds.  I think once you get down to the neighborhood of 30ish the boat weight is plenty light for loading and off-loading, but I guess everyone has their own weight to draw the line at.  It is very stable when not moving, which I guess is good for fishing.  It definitely is not as fast or easy to propel as longer and narrower boats.

[Kudzu]

Castaway is 15 foot, not 12. So the FreeB is going to be lighter. But if your an evenly moderately serious fisherman, Castaway is well worth the extra weight. It was designed for fishing and works really well. It is easy to customize it for rod holders, anchor trolley, ect. The longer waterline makes it much better performing boat. It is much faster for the same effort so you can cover more distance. Just a much better overall boat.

 

'I think' my castaway rigged out weighed 36 lbs? That was with the rod holders, anchor trolley, ect. That is no problem to handle by yourself.

[Mike Cavanagh]

Thanks Guys . This information is very useful. Sounds like a Free B for weight or a Castaway for fishing?. Anybody got information on the Mess Abouts?

[DURRETTD]

For info on YostWorks boats, go to http://yostwerks.com/index.html. For a photo of the Sea Bee go to http://yostwerks.com/SeaBeeSkinB.html

 

The photos of YostWerks' PVC-skinned boats show wrinkles, so I used Jeff's polyester cloth and Rustolium to build a YostWerks Sea Ranger. The PVC cloth appears to be "Naugahide". Save the Naugas; use polyester.

[Kudzu]

One of those points I can't stress enough, short boats are slow and sluggish. Slow meaning you have to paddle harder to go the same speed you would in a longer boat.

 

Most all my boats are all light enough to load on a car by yourself. So don't get hung up on the lightest boat. They are all lightweight.  The slight extra weight of a longer boat is more than offset by the gain in performance. I am not talking about speed or racing but ease of paddling. More speed for the same effort, easier paddling at the speeds you paddle now. There is a DRAMATIC difference in a 12' and a 15' or longer boat. 

 

Shad, which is 17 1/2' long weighted 31 lbs ready to hit the water. That is light by any standard.

[Mike Cavanagh]

Thanks Jeff. Looks like I have more homework to do before making a decision but the castaway may have what I am after - lightweight and good for fishing.

[Kudzu]

On my web site I have an article on the Long Boat Myth, be sure and read that. It was aimed at longer boats and doesn't address these short bathtubs but the data is still practical.

[Mike Cavanagh]

Thanks for all your advice Jeff, the article is very interesting. Have a very Merry Xmas from New Zealand.

[Kudzu]

Something just occurred to me that I didn't mention.  If you're not interested in the space for the milk crate or adding deck mounted rod holders, etc. the Mess About version would be a little lighter. There is a little less framing and no plywood reinforcements to mount things too. So you could save a couple of pounds probably.

[Mike Cavanagh]

I had been looking at the mess About version.This looks like a very good option if I wish to save on weight. It looks easy to get in and out of also with the large cockpit, and would be okay for fishing from.