Kayaking and less-than-ideal weather or water bodies

I'm mulling over purchasing a kayak to use for leisure recreation and possibly fishing. I've already been to a local kayak dealer and liked the Hobie Passport with the pedal drive, although I'm not fully decided between the 10.5 or 12 ft versions.

The thing is, my area of the country does not exactly have the sort or pictureqesue and serene bodies of water that the kayak companies often use for their commercials. I mostly have access to manmade lakes and some less than glamorous rivers.

On top of that, the weather in my part of the country is pretty harsh. It's usually very windy unless it's that rare week during spring or fall when the seasons can't quite figure out what to do next.

I know it's all about personal tolerance, but I also know that when it's very windy then kayaking is really not a fruitful activity.

Has anyone else gone through the same analysis and just bought one anyway? If so, how often do you go on outings?

 

Yeah the wife and I bought two kayaks with the idea of using them at the beach and on trips to places with water like lakes and such.

We never use them anymore and I’ve been trying to sell them on here for months with no luck. Im not saying you would have the same outcome but it’s just a lot of work to get them loaded up and strapped down and then off and back up on top of the truck, etc. I have found that I prefer spending my time riding trails and doing other things.

 

If there's not much scenic kayaking around you, maybe it'll push you to travel a bit to where there are.
Kayaking's also great exercise, even if you don't have much scenery around.
Wind does make things difficult, so you'll just have to keep an eye on the weather and forecasts (Windy is a great app for that)
I'm also considering getting a pair for my girlfriend and I...but would rather a canoe for camping purposes.

 

FYI. Longer kayaks/boats are faster (within constraints).

 

A kayak is one of those things you should never buy new. You can probably buy 4 craigslist kayaks for the cost of a new Hobie. Hell, you could probably get a gheenoe with an outboard for less than a hobie......

A 10.5 foot long kayak will handle like a marshmallow.

 

I kayak all year and have kayaked in 105 degree weather, 35 degree weather, and gone through some ugly headwinds and whitecaps. It’s all part of the fun. If you buy that heavy Hobie get the longer one and figure out how you’ll transport and store it. Budget for a comfortable PFD you’ll always wear and a good paddle as a backup.

There are nice waters to be had, earlier this month we camped 3 days and kayaked on the Current River and Eleven Point River in south-central Missouri. Those are gorgeous spring-fed rivers. Last year it was the Niobrara River in Nebraska.

 

Sounds to me like a kayak is not for you. They are awesome in small mountain lakes and some rivers. But not so great on larger bodies of water especially if they they have boat traffic. Boat waves and wakes also not fun in a kayak. Wind definitely ain’t fun in a kayak. Once on a medium size mountain lake the wind came up quickly and was too dangerous to try to make it back to my truck and launch point. The terrain was too rough to carry the kayak back to my truck and too far. I had to spend the night on the other side of the lake in the rain, wind and cold. Luckily I had warm waterproof clothing, food and other items that made for a fairly comfortable night. Wind and kayaks don’t mix well.
I live in Northern California and there are hundreds of small lakes and beautiful mountain lakes and a few good kayaking streams and rivers too. And the trout fishing is quite good also. It’s a great place for kayaking. From what you describe I don’t think I’d get a kayak. If you do buy a kayak as others have said find a used one. If you decide it’s not for you , you can sell it and not lose a ton of $$$. Good luck.