Need advice: Kayak on a cruiser

L

Lakesponge

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We just spent the last 48 hrs on the hook, aboard our 30' express cruiser on Lake George NY. An early warm front enhanced the experience. We are looking for a kayak or inflatable kayak that we can take with us on the boat, and when anchored, use the kayak to visit neighbors and the surroundings.

Many cruisers have kayak (solid poly) and many others use inflatables.

If we were to go with a solid kayak, we would have to tie it lengthwise along the rails one the bow and it will be unsightly, but convenient. If we go with an inflatable, we can store it in the engine room and deal with inflating and deflating it when we need it.

It will also be used by numerous nieces and nephews throughout the season.

Any pros or cons for either system or where to purchase it?

Thanks,

Jim
 
we absolutely love our kayak. We started carrying it back when we had our 33' express cruiser- kept it on the swim platform without problem as it is 10' long, maybe 11? I would really look into getting a small 9' solid plastic kayak so it is already to use. If you get an inflatable one you can't really put them away without letting it dry anyway so to me I don't see much benefit. Plus, with a solid one strapped to the swim platform you always have it at the ready for getting a stern anchor set quickly, etc. We paddle around the coves in the early morning with the kids, use it to shuttle sand toys to the shore for the kids, carrying stern anchor to shore, etc. Plus the kids love playing on it and paddling around the boat on it. If you are ok with a traditional kayak (instead of a sit-atop model like we personally carry) you can get those very, very small. You can get the sit-atop models as small as 8' long though which is pretty small...definitely small enough to cover on the platform of a 30' express.
 
I'd go for a traditional kayak because it extends the season. The sit on top is OK when the temps are warm. We have a poly 2.5 model that is about 15 feet long. It will hold 2 adults plus both dogs or two adults and my daughter. The seats move forward and backward so that when one person is on board, they can sit in the middle for better control. It's nice when you have young kids and want to have them with you.

The inflatable's are an inbetween solution. They don't paddle as efficiently as a hard kayak, but you can fold them up and store them away. We store ours across the back rail and as soon as we slow down to dock or throw the anchors out, we shove the kayak out and tow it. The leaves us free to do our docking or anchoring manuevers.

It also fits between the boat and the trailer just forward of the wheels. We load the boat and put the kayak in its spot and it takes very little time at the launch. Probably more to unload it because the boat is facing the wrong way when we back out and turn around until we get the kayak situated.
 
I bought an Innova inflatable. Very good quality. Much more efficient than I thought an inflatable could be. Stores nicely.

Nothing beats a traditional kayak though for efficiency.
 
We bring along two of the Hobie kayaks with the peddle system. We have a 26' center console. I've thought about building a rack on top of the center console but we are in the process of changing boats now. The kayaks are fantastic to take off in to explore the barrier islands down here in the Gulf.
 
I have a couple of the little 9-1/2' sit-ins, Not fast but they're LIGHT, stable, and easy to handle on and off the boat. Large cockpit with room for the dog too.
 
Interesting topic...

I have a Formula 31PC (which is an express cruiser). Bought two 9 ft kayaks (not inflatables) for my wife and I, and the idea was to mount on the swim platform on top of each other with high density foam between the swim platform, transom and second kayak.

I set it all up and it worked great...only problem was the wife did not like have to step around them as she is the primary line handler, etc. We often stern into slips and she felt it was too dangerous.

So we tried the bow and bow rails...fit, but looked like hell and we were worried about rough weather and if one dislodged, etc.

So we thought, heck lets try the cabin. Kayaks are always clean...so we took some of the high density foam, turned the kayaks on there sides and no kidding...two of them fit perfectly in the cabin tucked half way in the aft cabin. They really are not in the way...they are very secure and take about 2 minutes to fit inside and remove.

Just thought I would share my story...good luck!
 
SeaEagle has a great line of inflatable boats. Everything from dinghy, canoe and kayaks. seaeagle.com
 
Just had a real bad experince with 2 kayaks tied to the bow of my express cruiser. 30 ft boat with 2 8 ft wilderness kayaks. (very happy with them). Windy day and the kayaks were strapped on the bow 1 on top of the other on the port side. Going about 28mph and I guess the wind loosened a strap and 1 blew over the bimini and the other came through the cockpit and almost hit my 9 month old. Luckily my neice ducked with the baby and it hit grandpa in the face. Never again will anything go on the bow. i used my 1 free pass. This could have been real ugly the kayak weighs around 40 lbs.
Al
Now its swimplatform or nothing
 
I don't know why you all want to store them on the bow. An 8' kayak will easily strap down to a swim platform on a 30' express. I had my 10' on my 33' express before getting my silverton and it fit fine:

dingy.jpg


kayak.jpg


Beyond the safety issue of keeping it on the bow, I would think it would be a big pain to launch it and would worry about it bouncing around and messing up the gelcoat.
 
I kept mine on the bow only because I keep my big cooler on my swim platform.
Mine was a little longer becuase it is a tandem, so it is about 13' long.
My beam is 11'8", so it would stick out.

On the bow, it lash it down pretty tight and it does not move. Had it out in the ocean and it was fine.
Launching is easy, just shoot it over or under the rail with a rope tied to it.
Getting it back on, it can be either carried on or two people can hoist it up like a window washer platform.
It is plastic and does not doo anything to gelcoat.

I am going to try it on the platform to see if I like it.

I have a Pelican sit on top tandem, it is great!
 
Thanks for all the input. We’re getting close to buying a tandem, short, kayak for tooling around our anchorage and for the kids. I remember seeing on this site, but can’t find the reference someone made about buying the scupper plugs at Home Depot or Lowes..

Does anyone remember seeing a post about about that. I have a feeling the scupper plugs will get lost and I know when you purchase them from the boat box stores they are expensive.

Thanks

Jim
 
I carry mine on the roof, they're light enough that heaving them up there isn't a problem. The dink has claim to the platform.

Re the "scupper plugs", you should be able to find "corks" at the hardware store.
 
Those yellow foam practice golf balls work well and cost less.
 
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