At Boating Sphere, while we’re passionate about kayaks, we acknowledge that sometimes it’s necessary to explore other options. Kayaks offer numerous benefits as small boats, but there are other choices for water enthusiasts. The world of personal watercraft is vast, offering various options to suit different needs without always requiring a paddle. We focus on alternatives to kayaks that match their size and function, leaving out larger boats like bass boats and yachts, primarily made of fiberglass.
Kayaks are a favored option for fishing due to their well-rounded attributes. They generally provide a good mix of mobility, portability, and stability, among other qualities. However, the alternatives we’re discussing tend to excel in one area, whether that’s stability, portability, or another trait, offering specialized advantages over the more balanced kayak. It’s crucial to remember that no single boat is perfect for every situation. The key is finding a vessel that aligns with your preferences and the specific conditions of the waters you plan to navigate.
UltraSkiff 360
The UltraSkiff might catch your eye for looking a bit unusual at first. It’s common to see boats with a clear front (bow) or back (stern) on the water. But upon closer examination, you’ll discover that this modern version of a coracle is ingeniously designed as a one-person fishing vessel. Its donut shape combines the ease of transport with a kayak and the enhanced stability you’d get from a Jon boat. This results in a compact, circular boat that weighs about 123 lbs—just slightly heavier than many 12-foot fishing kayaks.
We’re confident that the UltraSkiff is likely the most stable personal watercraft available. It’s nearly impossible to capsize with just the shift of your body weight. Its design, featuring inverted sloped gunwales, works to self-stabilize the craft and offers an exceptionally stable platform for standing. It’s equipped with a transom mount at the stern for a trolling motor, and its deck includes hatches, cleats, and ram mounts for added functionality. The central seat mount is versatile, supporting various seat types. However, we recommend the pedestal-mounted chair for its enhanced visibility for sight fishing and ease of movement from sitting to standing.
Transporting the UltraSkiff 360 is remarkably straightforward—no wheels are required. Tip it on its side and roll it to the water’s edge. Its compact size makes it an ideal choice for those with limited storage space. It can be easily secured to nearly any roof rack with a few straps, and attaching it to the back of an RV won’t add to your stress when navigating under low bridges. Made in the USA, the UltraSkiff 360 is available in several packages priced under $2,000, offering great value for an incredibly stable and versatile personal fishing craft.
Float Tube
A float tube could be the perfect choice if you aim to enjoy the water without spending a lot. It ranks among the smallest, lightest, and most affordable watercraft still suitable for fishing. Interestingly, this ” boat ” type might not even be considered a paddle craft because it doesn’t use paddles. Instead, float tubes are moved along by the river’s current or the user’s feet, equipped with flippers, earning them the nickname “kickboats.”
Fishing float tubes are significantly more advanced than the simple plastic tubes on a lazy river. For example, the Classic Accessories Cumberland Float Tube has a reinforced PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) bottom to withstand scraping against river rocks. It includes a padded seat for comfortable sitting. It also features side pockets, velcro rod holders, and a cup holder to carry a small amount of gear and perhaps some beverages for a relaxing time on the water. The Cumberland is designed for easy transport, capable of being carried like a backpack, and at only 17 lbs, it’s easy on your back. Available in a few different models and colors, these float tubes usually cost around $200, making them an accessible option for getting out on the water.
Blue Sky Boatworks
Launched by Jackson Kayaks in 2018, Blue Sky Boatworks quickly emerged as a frontrunner in the Twin Hull market. The 360 Angler model, boasting a width of 48 inches, incorporates the Jackson Flex Drive system, an integrated wheel system, and a throne-like pedestal-mounted seat. It offers four storage hatches for accessing the interiors of the pontoons, providing ample storage space.
Additionally, raised t-track handles facilitate the attachment of kayak accessories. At the same time, a robust rudder system is maneuvered via hand throttles positioned beside the seat. The boat is lauded for its comprehensive and well-considered features, making the 360 Angler remarkable. Priced at an MSRP of $3,999, it represents a top-tier option for anglers. For those looking to accommodate more passengers, including family outings, the 2020 Blue Sky Boatworks Tricat is available for $5,999, offering expanded capacity and comfort.
Pontoon Float
The term “Pontoon Boat” often brings to mind lively gatherings on lakes. Still, inflatable pontoon boats provide a compact and affordable fishing experience. These vessels offer a middle ground: more comfort and features than pack rafts but at a lower cost than fishing kayaks.
The Colorado XT by Classic Accessories delivers a ready-to-go fishing experience with features that kayaks often sell as add-ons. It has an anchoring system, a transport wheel, a motor mount, and detachable gear bags. The swivel seat allows for casting in any direction, and footrests keep your feet dry. The included 7-foot oars, complemented by two oarlocks, are the primary means of propulsion, though adding a trolling motor is recommended.
The Colorado XT is popular for its comprehensive features and is favored by fly fishermen and anglers who prefer calm waters. Despite being inflatable, many owners choose to keep these boats assembled due to their somewhat complex breakdown process. However, their lightweight (68 lbs) makes them easy to transport. The fabric pontoons can be safely tied to any car, avoiding damage. The Colorado XT offers great value to fishermen seeking a capable and affordable fishing setup.
Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP)
Stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) were popular during the early 2010s due to their exceptional stability, lightweight, and ease of transport, making them more accessible to recreational paddlers than bulkier canoes and kayaks. Additionally, SUPs are relatively easy to master, allowing beginners to advance their skills quickly.
Fishing SUPs offer several unique benefits. They provide a stable platform for sight fishing, facilitate easy movement across the board, and enable casting in any direction without obstacles. Their simplicity outmatches the complexity of fully-equipped kayaks and canoes—often, a cooler, paddle, and fishing rod are all you need to start your adventure.
The market for SUPs is diverse, with options varying in size, shape, and material to emphasize speed, maneuverability, or stability. The Kaku Kayak Kahuna, for instance, is an excellent choice for fishing, equipped with six tie-downs for securing gear, a small hatch in the front, and threaded inserts for mounting equipment like a power pole. Side gear tracks allow for easy addition of rod holders or other accessories. Weighing 60 lbs, it’s convenient for car topping and beach access. The Kaku Kayak Fishing SUP is priced at an MSRP of $899.
Native
The Native Biyak caters to paddlers looking for a twin-hull platform with a smaller, more versatile design. Measuring 12’7″ in length and 30″ in width and weighing 129 lbs when fully equipped, it resembles a traditional kayak in its dimensions. However, its unique feature is the ability to expand to 50 inches in width, transforming it into an incredibly stable platform for standing. This adjustment is made possible through a sliding rail system, allowing width changes on the fly—paddle out narrow, then widen the setup for stability upon arrival.
Beyond its innovative expandability, the Biyak includes features beloved by Native enthusiasts: a Hi-Lo lawn chair-style seat for supreme comfort, ample storage via four pontoon hatches and a central platform hatch, and a gear track for easy placement of rod holders and other accessories. The marine mat on the deck provides additional grip for standing. Unlike the Blue Sky model, the Native Biyak does not offer a pedal system, making it the go-to choice for those prioritizing simplicity and affordability in a twin hull design, with a price point of $1,999.
Expandacraft
Ever since discovering buoyancy, humans have experimented with boat designs, and for many, customizing their vessels is half the fun. Suppose you’re into modifying your boat or building one from scratch. Expandacraft’s selection of pontoons and brackets might be exactly what you need.
Originating from St. Petersburg, Florida, Expandacraft has specialized in creating parts for custom watercraft since 2002. Their extensive range allows for numerous creative applications, from adding stability to your kayak with an outrigger to converting an old canoe into a sailing catamaran.
Visiting the Expandacraft website is a must for those serious about boat modification. They offer a vast selection of pontoons, brackets, sails, and decking suitable for various projects. The site also features inspiring builds from other enthusiasts. Besides individual parts, Expandacraft sells complete boat kits. One is the PaddleCat—a twin-hull vessel that disassembles into three parts for each pontoon. Their 21-foot tri-hull expedition raft is an ideal highlight for adventurous camping trips.
Pack Raft
Packrafts are compact, inflatable boats designed for a single person and can navigate various types of water. They gained popularity post-WW2 when adventurers began repurposing surplus emergency survival rafts from aircraft. Pack rafts can be folded into a very small size, typically weighing between 5 and 10 pounds for whitewater models. This portability allows paddlers to hike to water bodies, navigate rapids or streams, and float back down, thanks to their lightweight and compact design.
Like kayaks, packrafts are tailored for specific activities. Whitewater versions prioritize light weight and maneuverability, while recreational models offer more comfort features. The Sea Eagle PackFish 7, geared towards fishing, is a standout model. Although it’s a bit heavier at 22 lbs, this weight supports additional fishing amenities. It includes built-in rod holders, gear stow pouches, comfortable seats, and cupholders. Remarkably, its reinforced floor allows standing in calm waters, a rare feature in boats of its size. Starting at $379, the Sea Eagle PackFish 7 is an ideal vessel for spontaneous fishing trips, easily stored in a car trunk.
Kaboats
In watercraft, the trend of creating hybrids or crossovers to combine the best features of different types is quite popular. The Saturn Kaboat is a prime example of this innovation, blending elements from kayaks and dinghies to create an affordable and versatile inflatable craft.
The Kaboat features a soft floor, an elongated pontoon design with a transom insert, and aluminum seats, optimizing it for speed and ease of use with minimal power. It’s designed to plane easily with a small motor, such as a 6 hp Tohatsu or Mercury, making it perfect for solo outings with light gear. The transom can accommodate up to a 10 hp motor for those seeking more thrust. Optional floor inserts add rigidity, making it suitable for standing in calm waters. With multiple d-rings, tie-downs, and grommets, customizing the Kaboat for personal use is straightforward for DIY enthusiasts.
Available in various lengths, colors, and configurations, the Kaboat is an excellent choice for those wanting an economical option for water activities. The 18-foot model comfortably seats 4-5 people and typically retails around $1,200, making it a highly affordable option for group outings. Suitable for nearly any marine environment, from river cruising to open-ocean spearfishing, the Kaboat is a testament to the versatility of hybrid watercraft.
FishSkiff 16
For those seeking a compact boat without the hassles of storage and transport, the Sea Eagle FishSkiff 16 emerges as a formidable choice.
As the longest model in the Sea Eagle lineup, this 16-foot inflatable skiff boasts a weight capacity of 1,765 lbs, comfortably accommodating up to three passengers. Constructed with three inflatable sections enhanced by drop-stitch reinforcement and 1,000 denier fabric, it offers exceptional rigidity and durability, ensuring a stable, sea-ready vessel. The reinforced transom supports a 5 hp motor, enabling remarkable fuel efficiency given its mere 99 lbs base weight. As the sole inflatable fishing boat on the market, the FishSkiff 16 begins at an accessible price of $1,999, offering unparalleled convenience and performance.
Twin Hull Kayaks/Biyaks
The concept behind twin hull kayaks, or Biyaks, is simple yet effective: why settle for one kayak when you can have the stability of two? This design philosophy results in a watercraft that combines two streamlined pontoons with a connecting deck, offering an exceptionally stable fishing platform. The expansive deck space allows for a roomy cockpit, facilitating easy casting in any direction. The standout feature of a twin-hull kayak is its unparalleled stability, enabling users to move around the deck with the confidence typically reserved for larger bass boats.
Twin hull kayaks provide additional storage, comfort, and capacity compared to traditional kayaks while maintaining a shallow draft and relatively easy portability. However, these benefits come with a significant increase in weight, with fully equipped breaks often exceeding 170 lbs. Most models are designed to collapse or disassemble to some degree, aiding in transportation.
Jackson and Native are the main manufacturers of double-hull kayaks in the United States. As the popularity of these “monstrous yaks” grows, more manufacturers are expected to begin offering their versions of this innovative design.
Micro Skiff
A common limitation of paddlecraft, including motorized kayaks, is their range, generally confined to trips between 5 and 10 miles. The displacement hulls common to kayaks set a maximum speed that could be more efficient and easier to surpass. A microskiff is an unparalleled choice for greater range and convenience without sacrificing the ability to navigate shallow waters.
Micro skiffs are small, flat-bottomed boats less than 18 feet long, designed to carry 2-3 people and accommodate a 30 hp outboard motor. They excel in flat or mildly open waters, trading the luxury features of larger boats for simplicity and the thrill of piloting an elegant, personal fishing vessel.
Among the array of microboats available, some standout models are particularly appealing due to their compact size.
Solo Skiff
The Solo Skiff by Crescent Kayaks is a rotomolded microskiff that resembles an elongated kayak. Its 41-inch width and 14-foot-5-inch length, it easily fits into a pickup truck bed. At 150 pounds, it’s manageable for solo adventurers. Equipped with a recess for a 6 hp motor, the Solo Skiff reaches speeds of approximately 17 mph, combining durability with performance.
Its HDPE construction is robust against impacts with oyster beds or rocky shores, unlike fiberglass. The front hatch, which can serve as a livewell for bait or catch, along with additional hatches and rod holders, provides ample storage. The spacious deck also allows for customization with kayak and marine accessories. Priced at $1,915, the Solo Skiff offers a blend of convenience, speed, and adaptability for fishing enthusiasts.
WaveWalk S4
Originating from the rugged coastline of Rhode Island, the WaveWalk S4 is a robust and lightweight twin-hull microskiff engineered for both speed and stability. Its unique design features twin pontoons connected by an integral saddle seat, all within a single rotomolded hull that weighs just 98 lbs. Measuring 13 feet in length and 38 inches in width, it stands out as the only micro boat that can be transported atop a car, though it requires some effort.
The S4’s design allows it to carry two additional passengers and a substantial amount of gear, with a total capacity of 600 lbs. While sleek enough to be paddled, the S4 excels when powered by a small outboard motor; a 9.9 hp engine can easily navigate through choppy waters and rough conditions.
Ideal for inshore and offshore adventures, the WaveWalk S4 offers a compromise between deck space and stability, courtesy of its saddle seat design. Priced at $2,780 plus shipping, this American-made microskiff is a testament to innovative design and functionality, providing an exceptional option for anglers and adventure-seekers.
Overview of Kayak Alternatives
Our passion for kayaking is profound, and discussing vessels that aren’t kayaks does bring a slight twinge of sadness to our enthusiastic, kayak-loving hearts. However, as practical paddlers, we acknowledge the significance and utility of kayak alternatives on the water. Small boats of various designs and functionalities shine in ways that kayaks might only achieve to a lesser extent. Whether it’s enhanced stability, increased speed, superior portability, or the ability to venture into shallower waters, a boat is tailored to meet your needs and preferences.
We’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences with these kayak alternatives. Please share your insights in the comments below, and watch for more discussions on alternative watercraft in our upcoming features.
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