In Northern California, the $5/gallon barrier was breached this past week.
Shortly after the above bad price news hit, I took my new Freedom Hawk Bassyak/Pathfinder on its maiden voyage.
The entire Pathfinder after the stabilizers are removed, fits into the little bed of my Ridgeline with the tail gate extended. Many of the smaller Hobie Mirage yaks fit in the beds of the smaller pickups. There are many posts on this site showing how the smaller Hobies fit into pickup beds with and without a bed extender.
I probably could have taken orders for the Bassyak/Pathfinder the day I had it out.
The lake I was on has a maximum hp on gas engines of less than 10 hp. Often I see Jon boats with smaller gas engines or larger electric trolling motors on the lake. We, also, see larger boats with a large motor temporarily not running with a smaller legal motor pushing the heavy boats around. These big boats have an impact on gas mileage when towed on the road or in the water.
As I was getting my new Bassyak/Path connected with its stabilizers and in the water, a couple of fishers with cartop yaks, not Hobies, were leaving due to the wind. I asked them if their yaks and racks on the tops of their vehicles impacted their gas mileage. Both of them said yes. Of course I knew the answer. When, we put our Oasis on the top of our Ridgeline for the first trip home. My mileage went from at least 20 mph to below 16. The racks and Kayak holding gear/saddles on the racks impacted the mileage even without the Oasis. The answers I got from the leaving Yakers, who car topped their yaks, was their mileage was impacted more than they expected with the racks and yaks on top of the racks.
After buying our Oasis, we went to the Malone Sport trailer and mileage is about normal with the trailer and the Oasis on top. If there is a cross wind to and from the launch site, the mileage drops to a little better than with the racks and Oasis on top.
This past week, about every conversation my wife and I had with other people got into the price of gasoline and the impact on our life styles. Many of my boat fishing friends are looking at getting rid of their gas powered fishing boats and going to prams or yaks.
I have recommended the PA or Bassyak Pathfinder to those without a pickup, any kayak experience, and who want a stable platform to get them to and from their fishing areas in the water. I inform they will need a trailer like the Malone Sport to get them to and from the water and to maybe store their yak on the trailer.
Those with yaking experience and a pickup with a bed, I'm telling them to look into the Sport, Revo 11, Outback, PA's or one of the Freedom Hawks with their own trolling motor add on or to have Bassyak fix one for them.
Besides the fun and enjoyment we get from our Oasis, once we get it into the water, I, got into the kayaks for my fishing and water recreation for many reasons: like the closure of access and land around lakes and rivers by those who hate humans and gas prices which would go up. My Freedom Hawk 12 is good for the smaller protected waters, and my new Bass/Pathfinder should be able to handle about any local waters and most conditions I would go out in.
Later this spring, if I can find a local dealer willing to sell a hull only Revo 11 or a Sport, I will probably buy one for solo rec trips. I can throw either yak into the back of my Ridgeline, secure it in a couple of minutes and be on the water in a few minutes. Please no lectures about buying an extra $5-600's of mirage, paddles, cartridges seats. That is a non starter and an insult. I have too many politicians trying to tell me how spend what money I have left after their taxes.
The gas prices, coming inflation due to gas prices, job situations and over control of access to our waterways by those who hate humans will probably make kayaks like the Hobie Mirages, Freedom Hawks and Bassyak yaks the best investment we can make for water recreation.