About to pull the trigger on a kayak. It’s a 12’ Perception 12.0.

I am looking to getting into fishing a little. More about seeing nature behind the scenes. Rivers, lake coves, etc.

I am a little concerned about transport and getting Kayak to water accessible points. This Kayak weighs 85ish lbs.

Any advice here?

Thank you.

Kayak dolly. You can make one with pvc but the pre-fabed options are probably the best option.

Texas Fishing Forum has a whole section on Yakkers.

I've had a couple yaks. I recommend you buy a used one the first time. They are easy to sell a year later when you want to try something else. I've been on a few perceptions too, nothing wrong with those boats. They are good boats. I have a jackson coosa now that I prefer. It has a few more features, seat options, etc. Since I fish more from mine, I like the extra options. I bought mine used for $850, it was a year old.

I debating on the 10’ Or the 12’. 10 would be easier to carry in my truck and to water.

There is a deal(used) for the 12, though.

Duty..........youre too old for a yak. get a proper boat.

I use my yak for hunting and fishing. Believe it or not a kayak properly brushed up and tied up in some cattails makes a great one man duck blind. Get the 12', especially if you're 6' or bigger. Like chickenman said a kayak dolly can help you with the trasport. I can put my 12' crossways in a short bed pickup bed with a toolbox. I've tailered 3 at once on a jon boat trailer for a hunting trip in Kansas.

You can get them from $400 all the way up to $2000, depending on what you want.

We've had a couple wilderness systems kayaks for about 15 years now. Great yaks. We carry or drag them to water. Once you use them enough and they get a few scratches you stop worrying about it. No need for any dolly.

Check the weight capacity, your body weight should be 1/3 the capacity of the yak and no more. If you weigh 250# the yaks capacity should be 750# or more. They get really tippy when you over load one. Remember ice chests are part of the math as well. When you're fat guy like me, 500# capacity yacks are the smallest I can look at.

This one?

https://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/boa/d/rowlett-new-ki-lagoon-10-fishing-kayak/6852828278.html

Or this?

https://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/boa/d/fort-worth-kayak-12/6881518045.html

Thanks.

I’m 210 5” 11”

Dragging across grass or mud you don't have to worry too much about dragging, but payment or hard gravel you will wear a hole in the hull in time.
It's plastic, and not that thick, so it can't take the abuse of rough surfaces for very long.
Also resale value goes down when there is a lot of wear and tear.
A homemade kayak cart made out of PVC is cheap, and hauling your kayak from a paved launch parking lot to the water is easy with a cart.
Also wear a PFD at all times on the water.
I'm a regular on the TFF kayak forum, and I can't stress safety enough for someone wanting to start kayaking.
There are too many stories lately about first time kayakers drowning, and the bodies not recovered for days.
Even with experience you should wear your PFD.
Why take the chance?

With your size, and I'm 1" taller, but same weight, I would prefer a 12' minimum length kayak personally, and I've owned a couple 10' in the past, but with that said, the first one in your link looks like it would be fine.
The second one you listed is an older Wilderness systems Tarpon. I had one a few years back that was the exact model and I regretted selling it to this day. It's stable, but I needed scupper plugs or I sat in water all day, (water can't drain from seat pan) but it was a good kayak.

I got a bed extender to transport my 12.5 foot kayak. My truck bed is short and kayak is heavy (not as heavy as yours), but it’s awkward and heavy to get on the roof rack by myself. This makes it much easier to transport. I think it cost me $60.

I built a kayak cart out of PVC. There are 100s of designs online, just google it and pick one you like. Or you can spend a little more and buy one at any kayak store or online.

I would also recommend looking at weight capacity, as mentioned above. I’m not sure if two thirds above your weight is necessary (but it wouldn’t hurt, especially if you’re doing big water stuff or carrying a bunch of gear with you). Mine has a weight capacity of 450 pounds. When I bought it, I was probably 210 pounds, like you. I felt comfortable in it and I’m sure I still would, even though I’m twenty pounds heavier now.

If you have access to a pool, I’d put my kayak into it and intentionally try to tip it to see where the tipping point is. Practice getting back into it while in the water, so if you do fall out, you know how to recover.

Texaskayakfisherman.com is another good source for advice and used kayaks. I forgot one of the most important items in my post, WEAR A LIFE JACKET!!!!!

I get it on the pfd, I have owned 4 boats..always wear one.

Thank you all.

Probably should not have posted the links here, 12 footer was sold,out from underneath me.

Not in a big hurry anyway. Want to be smart about this.

Do a demo, if time isn’t an issue. Mariner Sails, Panther Island (Backwoods) and Angler Pro Tackle are local and sell yaks. Go check them out and see if you can demo or if they are having a demo day soon. Backwoods rents them at Panther Island, but they probably don’t have any fishing kayaks.

You definitely need to be looking at 12 footers minimum. I have a 12' Perception Pescador I've had for several years and I'm seriously considering moving up to a 13'. Also consider that all plastic is not equal. Something you'll find in a lot of the cheap, lightweight kayaks is thin plastic that isn't nearly as durable or rigid as the better ones. Even my Perception is like night and day compared to the cheap Pelican I started out with. There are some really nice ones out there, but you can spend a ton of money if you don't watch it. I get a fresh case of sticker shock every time I look at them.

I'd really like to get a pair for my and the wife but just don't think I have the time to really enjoy it....she can't swim so there's that too.....

Would love to be able to cruse up creeks or around the bay chasing reds and trout.......maybe one day....

Post up pics of your setup once you get it......

I wanted the one cbump had posted for sale a while back....just couldn't pull the trigger for something that I most likely would use little to none....

I don’t know anything about them

A couple buddies do and I’ve heard them say get the one with the best seat

About all I got on them

You do want a kayak with a great seat, and get the sit-on instead of the sit-in.

I was at Ink’s Lake and there were two guys bass fishing from kayaks with the foot pedal drive and the dolly for dragging.

And talk to me about kayak paddles. My wife has 5 paddles. She always finds a new one that is somehow better than the one she’s presently using. I can make you a deal on a paddle.

She kayaks, while I have an 8’ plastic boat (sundowner or something like that) with a trolling motor drive. Great for fishing small lakes.

Holler at BRod, he fished out of one also lives in Arlington.

Mountain Sports in Arlington should have demo days coming up, good time to try out different kayaks. 12 footers are easy to turn but harder to paddle and track if you are going any distance. A raised seat sure helps after an hour or so of fishing

Could have used one on the West Fork of the Trinity river this am.

Mariner sails is another place of knowledge

used to C1, hard to fish out of one tho.

Been researching yak's for the past year. Finally bought a used one and got it out today. I am beyond hooked. NuCanoe Frontier 10. Reason I opted for this, was the stability. It's 39 inches wide. I tried flipping it today and couldn't. Yak weigh's 65 pounds which was another plus. As much as I despise the book of faces, FB marketplace is where I located it.

It's a 2013 model, but came with 2 rod holders. Dolly. Battery. 30 lb thrust trolling motor. Depth finder and anchor. All cost less than half for a new one. Be patient. Deal's are out there. If you can hold off til Memorial Day weekend, Academy usually has a great sale.