Buying my first kayak and want to carry it in my rv. I can handle a 12 ft but shorter will make it much easier to transport. I have a 32ft 5th wheel Cardinal trailer.

I am considering a mini-x, ride 11 and the Percador 12 and 10. I may be overlooking better yaks that I don't know about. I looked around at Austin Kayak yesterday. They mainly answered what questions I could think of and directed me to their website.

I am avg height but weigh in about 260. I plan to fish Texas lakes and would enjoy becoming active on this forum and greets. I am retired and could use the yak a bunch. I have thought about just getting the mini-x and give it to the wife if I don't like it.

Your opinions would be appreciated.

Welcome aboard billmac!

Call austin kayak back up and talk to them about demoing a mini x before you buy one. I think that would work great for you considering your needs but you never know if you will like a kayak or not until you get it in the water.

I would start with the Jackson Coosa, Malibu Mini-X, Native Watercraft Manta Ray 11 or Wilderness Systems 11.5.

The Wildy will probably suit your needs the best, but it's quite heavy and the most expensive of the three. It's not out yet (I think) so I can't comment on how it paddles.

You have a toy hauler? I have 33' travel trailer. I have mine rack mounted on top Toyota SUV. 13' Ocean and 10' pelican.

I have seen rack mount on 4 door F150 with 2 Ocean Yaks on top.

I have room to haul a 12ft kayak inside my 5th wheel rv. My rv is not a toy hauler. However my trailer has 3 slide outs. I can easily open the slides and load the 12 ft kayak inside. Then close the slides. Kayak would be last item in and first item out.

My truck is a F350 dually but to haul the kayak on the roof would require a rack and carrier. It would seem easier to just carry the yak inside the rv.

The issue for me is which kayak would be best for a guy at 260 lbs, but remain 12 ft or less. It seems the mini x gets a bunch of positive reviews. And at 9.3 inches it would be easier to load inside the rv. But would a 11 ft wilderness ride, or a 12 ft Pescadora be worth the extra effort loading?

I believe it would be Good to get the pescador. It's worth getting for the easier paddling and roomier kayak. The pescador is an awesome kayak for the price. Best deal out there right now.

At 260lbs, the only real option for you is the Coosa. Any other of the yaks mentioned will have water in the boat. I know because I'm 255lbs and have paddled them all. If you want a yak that will truly handle your weight, under 12' long, the Coosa is it.

The new Ride 115 has a performance capacity of 333lbs, but I can't vouch for that one way or the other until I get my hands on one. It seems to be a bit over estimated, but again, I need to get my hands on one to be sure.

I would recommend the Coosa. It will fit inside you RV and hold your weight.

260lbs in a kayak <= 12' will be very hard to paddle, and it will track even worse. If you plan to paddle significant distances, then this could be an issue.

I really like my wifes 12' native ultimate. I weigh 225, and it rides pretty good with me in it. Not sure I woudl feel reazl comfrotable with another 40 pounds + gear in it though.

I really appreciate all the comments.

I did not know about the Coosa and I have begun to research it. It really looks small on YouTube.com and I realize the mini x is even smaller.

I may see if I can come up with more room in the rv. If I can find another foot or so, it really opens up the possibilities on Kayaks.

I am determined to get a kayak and my rv together before cooler weather arrives. Thanks again guys.

Here's the link to my Commander I pm'd you about.

If you can, I'd go with one of the longer yaks.

At your size a 12 footer or shorter kayak is just too small, and on the Coosa you will be sitting higher and that will be pretty top heavy no matter how stable it's said to be.

Thanks Jimbo. I am feeling the need to go longer. I have figured a way to carry a 13 or 14 foot Kayak in the RV, if the wife will go along with some mods to the rv.

I reccomend if you havn't allready, trying to load a few kayaks before commiting to this plan. My question is will it make the turn through the door,(I am presuming a side door here), and will you be able to manouver it and yourself without tearing up the inside of the rig? A 14 footer is going to weigh around 50+ lbs. Not much but this is a big bulky squirrely object to be threading a needle with. I've been RV shopping this year and noticed that the insides can be rather fragile. One gook whack with a big chunk of roto molded plastic could do a lot of expensive damage.

I have no idea where I could obtain some Kayaks to try loading in my rv. My wife and I took an extension ladder and pretended it to be a kayak. We loaded it and guessed how it would compare to a Kayak.

I appreciate all the help and comments. I think I will buy the best Kayak for this fat boy and if it won't work in the rv, the wife can haul it with our flat bed trailer.