The New Kayak!

 After going out several times fishing in the Challenger inflatable Kayak,  I discovered a few of the "Limitations" that a small ( Focus on the small....) Inflatable kayak has.   And having had it for over a year, I felt I had enough information and experience with the "inflatable Kayak" realm to make an informed decision for an upgrade. 

I at least knew what I wanted and what I wanted to improve upon.   Since I was using my kayak mostly for small fishing ventures, I figured I would focus on that.  Walmart has a number of decent looking kayaks that were dedicated to fishing.  And they were inexpensive!  (Usually under $300!) 

But a hard shell Kayak was not what a really wanted.   Ok,  Technically I "wanted" it... But I did not like the burden of transportation... Meaning: I did not want to carry it on a trailer or the top of my Subie.  And looking at car top carriers that would give me a comfortable level of confidence, I noticed that would usually more than DOUBLE the price of the kayak....  So, No thanks!

I looked at folding kayaks.    Being an Origami guy,  you would think that the novelty of a folding Kayak would be a perfect fit for me.   It could be folded to the size that would easily fit in my car and would be expanded in a few minutes with minimal equipment!   But alas, there were things ( including price) that seemed to have additional limitations.   And I really did not like the looks of it that much...

So, I decided to go with another inflatable kayak.   A bit larger this time.  With a higher weight limit and more air chambers.  And I was not about to pay thousands of dollars for it!

The Intex Excursion 2 Fit the bill!  A kayak designed with fishing in mind.   It has two pole holders, a rack for portable mounts, and a Cell phone holder!  ( Not that I would use that... but maybe for a fish finder....)   I got the delivery on Monday and headed  to the water Tuesday morning!

Overall!  A success!   The pole holders were in an unusual location,  but at least I had them!   The kayak is designed with two passengers in mind, but I wanted the higher weight and durability of the pro one.   And when I found out that you can set up the two man kayak with a single seat, I was sold!  Best of all!  I would get in and out of the kayak without getting wet and muddy!

The only down side that had to be addressed was the seats. 

All of the revues pretty much said the same thing..  The seats are rather uncomfortable. And I know the kayak was affordable... But it did not feel "cheap"....  except for the inflatable seats.  

Now, I understand that there is possibly NO scenario where an inflatable cushion is comfortable.  You are basically sitting on a balloon.  And balloons are not known to be the best for support.   So your back and butt will hurt after a while.  But I also read that people purchased special kayak seats and replaced the inflatable ones with them.   So I looked into upgrading the seats.   Preferably with a decent back rest. 

And that is when God stepped in and provided the Perfect replacement.   A fold-able beach chair! 

I invited Dave out on Thursday for a test run of the new chair design.  I also wanted to test out my pocket sized Fish Finder!  In about an hour,  we landed a dozen fish and had a ball.   Dave used the Challenger and said he actually found it more comfortable than the Hard Kayaks he usually sits in. Unfortunately, he also found it to be nearly impossible to exit solo.   It helps to have a buddy pull you onto dry land if you don't want to get muddy.  

But best of all,  it folds up and fits inside the car! 

There are lots more features, but I do not want to turn this into an unpaid sales pitch.   Let's just say I am pleased with the purchase and look forward to making additional modifications and taking it out on some more adventures.  

I cleaned the fish last night and Dave and I enjoyed a few of them for lunch today.   Fish and Chips Friday!  A wonderful Wisconsin tradition that I have grown very fond of. 

 So maybe I can convince Dave into getting one and joining me on these little adventures.    After finally  saying goodbye to his big boat... Perhaps a smaller, simpler method of flotation would be a welcome change.  Then again,   he is a busy man and may not experience the same freedoms or space limitations that I do.  So,  that choice will be one  that may require a little more thought.  

And finally,  the finished Origami Dragon.   ( I was going to use the folding kayak as a segue. but it is late and all of my clever prose are fading....)   I did not like the head very much.   And as a result, I gave it away to a coworker who mentioned she would be thrilled if I had a dragon.  I used Wire to give this one support, but the wire was a little too heavy for my taste.   I could not hide it effectively.   So...  Best o get rid of it before I throw it away.   

And besides.  I can always fold another one. 

Tomorrow is a Warehouse event at the Haribo.   Associates and one guest or family member can pull up in a car and fill your trunk with Candy!   How cool is that?    

I originally thought Dave would be interested, but one of the Temps from Haribo wanted to go.  ( Temps are not associates..so they do not qualify.   Unless an associate brings them along as a "friend". )  So  together we shall fill our trunks with Gummy bears and twin snakes.   Maybe even smurfs! I don't really know what to expect.  It could be a couple boxes or a Full Pallet!  Or any number of combinations in-between.   We shall see how things go.  And if they are blogworthy,   I will hopefully have something to write about tomorrow. 

As for now,  I week flew by and I am ready for the weekend. I'm not sure what I will be able to accomplish this weekend , but I will do my best to make every second count.