Fishing Kayak Setup for Beginners - Step 1 - Buying a Used Fishing Kayak

The first step in fishing kayak setup for beginners is buying a used fishing kayak. In this first episode of fishing kayak setup, I create a quick used kayak buying guide and provide kayak buying tips. I also address the tandem kayak vs single issue. Bottom line is you can't do fishing kayak mods unless you have a good platform to install them! Important! Always buy a used kayak as your first kayak - you will learn what you really want from the first purchase!
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The Kayak Hacks Fishing channel covers kayak, hacks and mods, wading, shoreline, spin, and fly fishing. It features gear mods to make kayak fishing more comfortable, efficient, and enjoyable. I share many tips, tricks, and "how to's" for both spin and fly fishing. These are useful regardless of whether you are fishing from a boat or on your feet. Please subscribe! Thanks!
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[@KayakhacksFishing]

Check out all the steps: kzbin.info/aero/PL8egn41J7Go-Kc9zK6FXIaX5tluZmeHRN

[@2reelyakrz481]

Something else I've done (mostly on other people's yaks) is fill the yak with water through a hatch and check for leaks. We found several that way that were not obvious from visual inspections. It also cleaned out the inside of the boat and sometimes found lost tackle 😋

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Great tip!

[@rayrutherford1691]

Seems you’ve got everybody excited. Definitely looking forward to this.

[@stewartmainville303]

Can’t wait to see this series! Been hoping to find a Tarpon 100 myself to use as a small water/creek boat.

[@Beyondthebackyard-au]

Really great idea for a video series. Looking forward to going through them all

[@KayakhacksFishing]

More to come!

[@catdaddy6665]

Nice.....can't wait to see what you do what you do with it. I think that's the most fun is customizing it Cant wait to see future videos.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

You and me both!

[@jimamccracken5783]

😁 Yeah you did very well this going to be a great series.

[@benlamm1493]

Rock of the Marne 👍👍. Love your videos

[@KayakhacksFishing]

lol! No fancy pants Marine here!

[@dr.froghopper6711]

Good overview! Thanks! I’m looking forward to watching this!

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@jimwhite1557]

It is always nice to get a new toy and a project that will help your fishing! Also, if you keep adding stuff to your main kayak, you can drag this along behind as a “trailer” for the rest of your toys.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

That's the plan!

[@2reelyakrz481]

Ours is a PA17T (which was discontinued - probably due to Hobie's tens of sales over the years) and we love itI. I wholeheartedly agree that it is critical to get a tandem which can also be used as a single person kayak or it will mostly collect dust.

[@charlieboutin3341]

I think it’s a great deal. 👍👍 Can’t wait to see the follow ups. Thanks Steve! (Keep that brother supervised..I think he’s going through your tackle box now.) 😂

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Right on

[@roy-nk4vq]

You did good!

[@2reelyakrz481]

😂🤣😂 ROFL on the "needing supervision" 🤣😂🤣

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I need to respool 5 reels now!

[@bigdawg-cl2db]

My kayak is a Widerness System with the 3rd seat. I love having space for my gear and the way it handles. Those short ones are like paddling a bathtub😁 also like the width, as I am full figured. Very stable, I can sit sideways in my seat if needed, like when needing something in back.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Right on!

[@MetalRush666]

The Tarpon 120 was my first kayak. I took it on rivers, lakes, and the Gulf of Mexico. It's a solid boat for the price.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Thanks for the confirmation!

[@PeterRanieriII]

def looking forward to how you figure out what to do about the seat. Are you trying to put a new center hatch in front of the new seat too? looks tricky with all the contours of the hull. Good luck to ya!

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I am not going to cut a new hatch... for now. I do have some work to do on the seat.

[@2reelyakrz481]

I've made several comments on this one!! Really looking forward to what hacks you are going to use. My wishlist (😁) includes: rod holders, fish/depth finder, and trolling motor 😎. Also love another commenter's idea of a swivel seat in the center - don't know if that's possible, but would make it a bass boat yak 🚤

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I've been looking at the seat issue. The challenge is not to put in a swivel seat. Rather, putting in a seat that does not make the kayak unstable.

[@2reelyakrz481]

@@KayakhacksFishing interesting challenge. The higher the seat, the higher the center of gravity. How high that can go before becoming unstable will depend a lot on the width of the kayak, its buoyancy, and the shape of the bottom. It would also require some way to fasten the seat to the hull or the seat itself would be unstable. I predict much experimenting (hopefully not too many dunkings). Outriggers would definitely increase the stability by effectively increasing the kayak's width, but would also introduce drag and obstacles for paddling. Again, interesting challenge - looking forward to seeing your solution 🤔

[@KayakhacksFishing]

@@2reelyakrz481 Mounting is not an issue. Plywood or something similar resting on the gunnels and locked down by a T bolt would provide a good base. I just got back from doing "sea trials" on this kayak and it would flip if it had a raised seat.

[@tribalncgaming1091]

my #1 priority for a kayak is stability.. i dont like to roll like a log ... so wide and stable kayak.

[@BCKA]

Brother, Thank you for your service. We get pro deals on chacos. Also NRS and Gerber finally started acknowledging us. Bret

[@KayakhacksFishing]

lol! You are doing better than I am!

[@BCKA]

@@KayakhacksFishing we get pro deals with bunch of companies. Now the pro staff is a whole different ball game.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

@@BCKA Good for you!

[@BCKA]

@@KayakhacksFishing and you and your brother. Companies usually give pro deals for cops, firefighters, and military. Just a thank you for our service.

[@josemirles4595]

Interesting topic! It will be fun to see which of your hacks you wind up using. It would be nice if you minimize the use of commercial products and use your hacks. I am curious to see how you mount a fish finder.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I am going to go for max hacks!

[@p3purr]

Wish this had come out last month. 🤣😜. Great video with tons of helpful information. Than you! Just bought an older used kayak that had been discontinued so I had no idea the value. How does one figure out a fair price in that case? Learned about the HIN number afterwards. Kayak is in great shape especially for age. Sure I paid too much for it.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

lol... we all have that buyer's remorse on price! I was going to offer 400 and settle at 450. When the seller offered 450, I automatically accepted instead of negotiating a bit.

[@p3purr]

@@KayakhacksFishing yeah, this was a 2000 Dagger Blackwater 11.5 in excellent shape. The guy wanted $450, got him down to $400 on initial contact and $380 when I met him. Was focused on how much he came down in price 🤣 and the fact I wanted it.

[@hardrockminer-50]

We bave a tandem 13' inflatable. IMHO, 13 is a couple feet short for a tandem. We fill it up with just us and a bag for lunch and laddling has to be coordinated just right.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Good point!

[@rbiel100]

Good tips! So - I was admiring your watch and hoping you can give me the make/model. I am in the market and don’t want a digital or smart watch. Thanks much for any help

[@KayakhacksFishing]

It's just a cheap Timex Expedition. They have many different colors and models. amzn.to/3yPBrub

[@rbiel100]

@@KayakhacksFishing Thanks so much (and I love the price of those watches!)

[@jtepsr]

are you not recommending a kayak for one person less than 12' also.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Yes, longer kayaks track better and move a bit faster.

[@bigbranch1]

Great but the weight of the boat is important to me.....

[@Larry77777]

Hey Steve: You gonna slap a rotating frame seat on that baby?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I need to look at that. Thanks for the idea

[@ronn6471]

10 ft kayaks are fine, just learn correct paddle strokes.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

If they are made properly, I agree