The new issue of Kayak Angler magazine includes the 2009 buyer’s guide for fishing kayaks. Going through the different brands and models of fishing kayaks featuring in it can be a sobering experience, or an entertaining one, depending on the reader’s mood.
As usual, all kayaks are described as being ‘stable and fast’, and many are ‘designed for kayak fishing standing’, which is a misnomer if you consider their real-life capabilities. Obviously, none of this is true, but it seems that over the years we’ve all grown used to such non-truths, so we perceive them as being almost acceptable, which is too bad if you come to think of it.
What some manufacturers allow themselves to write about their fishing kayaks is sometimes unbelievable, not just only in the sense that it doesn’t inspire confidence in them or in their products, but one has to wonder how these manufacturers could have ever imagined that anyone would take their statements seriously. For example, a paddling and poling board manufacturer claims his product is no less than the world’s stablest watercraft… and a manufacturer of inflatable kayaks claims his boat is faster than any other kayak out there…
Merely quoting such nonsense makes one feel uncomfortable, but these are the pathetic facts, and they are representative of the market for fishing kayaks, where mostly over-hyped and under-performing products compete – sometimes in a contest to the next peak of ridicule.
And in case you expected to find useful innovations in kayak fishing, or new and inspired fishing kayaks designs – forget about it, as usual.
All those buyer guides are the same, and no one seems to pay attention to them. Maybe those paddling and fishing magazines publish buyer guides just to get more advertising dollars?
Graham
Buyer’s misguide?
Marco
Like Jeff said, it’s all hype, and since nobody takes it seriously no one should…
Pete
Since the guide itself is hard to find in my market here in Florida you have to wonder about it. This is one on the most active kayak fishing areas in the world and you would think a guide such as this would be everywhere, that is just not the case. Most of the fishing kayaks on the market are pretty much the same anyway with the exception of the W. Blindfold someone and put them in a boat it would be hard for them to pick out just what they were paddling. The comfort issue in something that is greatly ignored perhaps on purpose by the sit on top makers. The body can only handle a short period of time in that sittiing with the legs out “L” position. I’ve heard folks who just don’t want to admit it say they got out of their boats because they were bored and just wanted to explore the beach. I don’t think so, it’s a matter of just not wanting to admit the boat they have hurts them. I seem to remember something written about a problem called “yak back”. Another issue is how many people leave this sport after buying a boat they just can’t use. They believe the hype, spend the money, and then are just ashamed because they can’t enjoy it. More and more as I use my W folks approach me and ask about the comfort. They see me out for hours and want to know how it can be so easy.
Sometimes I wonder how all these fishing and paddling magazines manage to survive, considering there’s so little to read in them, and so much you can find on the web… even movies!
Paul
They can’t say anything bad about a kayak if their magazine contains ads from that manufacturer.
I agree, and they are likely to say good things about kayaks from brands that advertise a lot with them.