Haha… that might be putting the cart before the horse, so to speak… Heck, I still have to figure out how I’m going to haul and store them. Too many irons in the fire. But, the pencil is getting sharper.
Thanks for the tips!
@Supermike72 said:
Speaking of Necky, I’ve also looked closely at the Manitou 14 and the Looksha 14, but still find myself going back to the Tsunamis. The Manitou looks like it’s about to bend in half, and the Looksha has ‘okay’ reviews, but I found a lot of folks telling more about what they don’t like than what they do. The Tsunamis, on the other hand, seem to be all “love it” stuff.
Though my personal experience is limited here, I suspect that Wilderness Systems builds their plastic boats more rigidly and robustly than any Necky I’ve witnessed. Now WS’s crazy 100-way adjustable lounger seats… jury’s still out on that one. Maybe I’m just jealous because I have to sit in a hard fiberglass bowl.
Based on the 2 Neckys I’ve owned, their seats suck. Butt, I’m heavy with bony hips.
The WS Phase 3 seat is far more comfortable.
Do you have a trailer hitch on your truck? You can get a T-rack that slips into the hitch ball reciever that will support the stern of a boat while the bow can be mounted over the cab using foam blocks or a hollow foam pool noodle strapped around the cab roof with long nylon straps. Be sure to guy the bow and stern to the front and rear bumpers as well as to whatever cross bar rigs you use.
Thanks! That’s actually exactly what I’m looking into… Considered using an extender but even if it goes 4’ that still only covers 9 of the 14, so have to go overhead or get a trailer. I’ll figure something out! 
I carry my 16’ kayak flat in the bed of my p/u with an extender. I use two straps to hold it and it is very secure. One strap on the extender and one to the truck.
Our state requires that it have a flag attached.
.
Other hauling options: I used to be a construction project manager before I retired and several times had company pickups with the open type ladder rack frames on them, rather than a cap. If I owned a pickup myself that is what I would have. Completely leaves your bed free for loading whatever you want but gives you a frame to haul long stuff on. It also is great for when you haul something that you don’t want to get wet in transit or need to enclose in some way since you can use the frame to support plywood or tarps. I have even gone camping using a pickup with a ladder rack and slept in the bed with an army surplus mosquito net draped and tied over it and a tarp on the top. I realize some people don’t like the way they look, but they sure are functional.
Also, used pickup truck caps are very cheap in most areas on Craigslist. My ex had two pickup trucks (a nice one for the road and a beater for use on his farm and wood lot) and he got caps for both for under $50 each.
I have a couple boats today that match your budget and description. See: http://www.nighthawkcanoes.com/sale-canoes-details/
@Nighthawk Canoes said:
I have a couple boats today that match your budget and description. See: http://www.nighthawkcanoes.com/sale-canoes-details/
Did you even read the thread before posting your ad? None of the boats I saw after clicking the link even remotely match what has been discussed. Or maybe someone can set me straight and tell me what I missed…
@Nighthawk Canoes
Buy a proper ad and post there. Don’t sneak marketing into a valid question.
And Sparky961 is right, what you are trying to sell isn’t even close.
Hey folks… I know often times people probably stumble through here, ask for advice or opinions, then disappear. I’ve experienced that on other forums for various things and then later wonder how it turned out. So I thought I’d at least come back (well, I’m still lurking) and just give you an update, as I really appreciated the advice I received. Turns out, some of you were very right, and some maybe not.
So, perhaps against the better advice, and after EXTENSIVE time spent researching, I ended up just jumping in with both feet! I had saved some cash, and came into a little cash unexpectedly, so I decided to make a ‘lifestyle’ purchase. Unfortunately, there are not really any decent vendors in my vicinity, so I had to go mostly online. Here’s the breakdown on what I selected:
Boats: I bought a Wilderness Systems Tsunami 140 (from Kayakcity.com) for my wife, and for myself I bought a Wilderness Systems Tsunami 145 (from LLBean). I got a great price on the 140… not so much on the 145. But man there was a MAJOR difference in the service, warranty, etc. Kayakcity was great to work with up until the point of receiving the boat. It had a few gouges in it. Followed all their warranty processes, but kept the boat (didn’t affect floatability). Very well documented. Now, 2 months later, I’m still waiting on them to resolve with the shipping company. I would not recommend them. However, LLBean was great and boat arrived in great condition. I know a lot of folks recommend buying used, but no decent options ever appeared. I also like knowing where my stuff has been and how it has been treated. The 140 is a 2016, I believe, while the 145 was a 2017 model. Both are ‘Mango’ colored, which I liked for visibility purposes on the water. Both are rudder-less.
Paddles: for my wife, an Aquabound Sting Ray Hybrid Posi-lok paddle (230cm), and for myself an Aquabound Sting Ray Carbon Posi-Lok paddle (also 230cm). Got these from campmor and got 20% off both plus free shipping & no tax, so got a solid deal. These are both really nice paddles - very lightweight.
PFDs: selected a Kokohat “Bahia Tour” for myself, and a Stohlquist “Women’s Flo” for my wife. Both of these fit well and are comfortable.
Other stuff: picked up a couple of Seals Sprayskirts neoprene cockpit covers, which work really well for travelling and storage. It enables us to store our PFDs in the cockpits &, keep spiders out, rain while travelling, etc. Also got a couple of paddle leashes, a towing tether, pump and sponge, whistles, etc.
Storage: To store my boats, I built a hoist in my garage ceiling! This took some really extensive planning and implementation. I use a worm-gear winch and heavy-duty drill to raise and lower. It hangs perfectly just above my door. The poly rope stretches a lot more than I thought, despite the total weight of boats/paddles/pfds/hoist/etc. not being more than probably 175lbs. To counter this, I mounted some eye-bolts and chain and carabiners to support the weight, when raised. I used pool noodles slid over PVC pipe to support the kayaks. This will hopefully prevent any denting during periods of long storage.
Hauling: For our van (2015 Honda Odyssey), I bought 2 sets of Malone Sea Wings. These worked perfectly with the factory rack, and handled well while travelling. However, they are a bit of a pain for a quick jaunt to the lake or river. I would be more apt to use them for longer trips, vacation, etc. My wife was able to help me, but my daughter was not going to be of much help. So I bought an extension for my truck and did some more ‘engineering’ with pvc pipe and pool noodles. There is one across the back (you can see in pictures), one across the tailgate area, and one further back in the bed. This was a MUCH better solution for quick trips!
Pics and more details to follow…
Okay… so now for the question of “so how do you like them!?”
This is where I was right, and wrong. Make no mistake -both of these are GREAT boats. Very stable & very easy to paddle. Even on windy, choppy water they held a pretty straight line… no complaints there! They both have ample (maybe too much!) storage. I wish it was a little easier to get into the hatches, but that’s not a huge issue. We also like the paddles and PFDs that we (mostly I) selected.
The killer was this… my wife did NOT like the 140! :s In fact, she felt VERY ‘claustrophobic’ in it and, due to her shape, was simply NOT comfortable getting in/out. Our first trip out was almost a nightmare for me, as the 140 is definitely NOT returnable (whereas the 145 from LLBean is!). As a last ditch, I offered to use the 140 and let her use the 145. She was still not thrilled, but had an easier time getting in and ‘adjusted’ to the idea that you “wear” a kayak. For me, using the 140 was not too big of a deal. I’m a big guy, but I’m also a swimmer. At @250lbs, I’m overweight but I seem to carry it all in my face and stomach. I have skinny legs and not much butt, so the 140 worked for me. In fact, after having used them both, I almost felt like I like the 140 a little better… I felt more ‘connected’ to it vs. the 145 (which was recommended to me by several people). I felt I had ample leg room in both, though a little more ‘wiggle room’ in the 145. I was able to get in/out of the 145 better, but it IS a big boat.
For my wife, I should’ve considered this. She says she told me she wasn’t fond of the idea of squeezing into a kayak. I don’t recall this, but I guess in retrospect I should’ve looked at something like the Pungo 140 for her and the kids to use. The cockpit entry probably would’ve been better received vs. the ‘keyhole’ style, and I’m sure they would’ve liked the ‘dashboard’.
My daughter and I have also been out. She used the 140, I used the 145. She is more petite (around 5’6") and athletic (she is a swimmer and runs track). She really enjoyed it.
Overall, I’ve now been out twice. I took my wife on a very calm lake that does not allow motor boats. My daughter and I went on a much larger lake, but it was no issue. With 3 very active kids, we don’t get a lot of time. But I’m hopeful that my wife will continue to give it a shot. I’ve tossed around returning the 145 to LLBean and exchanging for a Pungo 140, and using the Tsunami 140 for myself, but I need to get in it again. Now the weather is getting cold, so I don’t know how much I’ll be able to get out… maybe we’ll get some warmer days in November. 
Thanks to everyone for your help and advice!!
Mike
Here are some pics from our adventures… sorry, can’t figure out how to make them appear as thumbnails!
1 Like
Great feedback. I think you are off to a great start!
Excellent analysis.
If I had one thing to offer, it’s that I applaud your efforts to make the entire family happy. BUT if kayaking is your dream, then make it happen your way, regardless of how other family members may or may not enjoy it.
Figuring out the details is up to you though.