My wife knows the truth and it's A LOT!!!

Do I count the kayaks that I have already used and sold? The combos I've lost, old fish finders I had, and lures lost?

Never thought of that. Good point.

That's why I know how much I have invested in this sport. I carry insurance for each of my kayaks, trailer and estimated replacement cost for gear and what not.

600.00 for my yak in 2000
68.00 for the eagle fish finder (ebay)
60.00 for paddle #3 not counting the 7 I've made.
0.00 for accessories (got none)

A MILLION dollars worth of memories for just a little over a 700.00 investment.. best ROI yet..

This is an interesting point that's gets you thinking about the ratio of $$$:QTOW (quality time on water!).

Starting out my first kayak was $499, plus a cheap paddle, PFD, and some foam pads for the roof cross bars. I was on the water for <$600, catching fish, meeting fellow kayakers, and accessing areas otherwise impossible without a boat at a fraction of the cost and headache.

Nowadays things have changed with the entire kayaking experience being elevated. With a Hobie Adventure, Tandem Island, and trailer most of my garage is being utilized for kayaking gear. Overall there's probably around $8k invested in gear that's used on a regular basis. These kayaks offer access to lakes, bays, and offshore state waters and I'm not least bit worried about maintenance, storage, depreciation, fuel prices, etc.

Looking into the near future I really don't forsee a need for a boat, and actually fishing out of a kayak is more enjoyable. Maybe the best option is to have a your kayaks and a friend with a boat!

agreed..lol

initial investment of $300 for the 1st boat. $20 for the paddle, 2 old all star rods. A few bucks worth of jigs...Thanks to Kayak Bass Fishing.com: a Ride 11.5 $800
(free), a Commander 12 $999(free), A $400 gopro(free), a custom XX heavy Rod(free), and my favorite a $300 bending branches paddle(free). Not bad for a $320 investment 2 years ago. Trust me when I say this I am extremely thankful for my winnings thus far. Thanks to a few jig companies I did not spend anything on baits this year other than on trailers and a MS Slammer swimbait...call it a shameless plug but I owe everything I have yak/fishing wise to Christ by guiding my cast, KBF providing the tournament series, and my wife allowing me to fish 5 days a week. I am truely blessed!

you are truely blessed.