Kayak for Swim Support

I have three kayaks.   All have a specific purpose.   I have a RTM Disco which is my speed demon.  14 feet of thin and fast.  It is a sit on.    It's a bit tippy but it is a race horse after all.   I have a play boat, a sit in, and that is exactly what it is for.  White water playing.  

The kayak that I have that I would recommend for life saving duty is my Hobie Maui.  It's an 11 foot very stable platform and is a sit on.  It is a truck.  A lot of people who have them use them as a fish and/or dive platform. 

In any case, I would recommend a sit on kayak that is designed for fishing. 

As far as rec kayaks go, there are just a few things to look for when buying one.  The biggest question to ask yourself is what is the kayak primarily going to be used for?  If whitewater is off the table, then a sit-on-top would work great.  The wider the boat, the more stable it will be, but wider boats go slower.   Longer and narrower boats go faster and are easier to go straight.  If you want to do longer trips, look from something with a storage hatch.  Try to demo as many boats as you can and see what feels comfortable for you and your wife.

Just be careful, kayaking is as addictive, if not more so, than triathlons =)

I agree

Don't pay the Hobie tax.  You can get a perfectly good boat for a fraction of what they want, and it will last just as long and retain value through a few seasons in case you decide to move on.  

Have had excellent experience with the Native boats, but they are proud of those too.  Wilderness Systems, Ocean Kayak, all have excellent followings in the kayak fishing community, and there are a few "entry level" brands that are perfectly acceptable for lake paddling and banging around the beaches, such as Feel Free or Emotion.

I bought mine used and for a steal.  I only paid $150 for it.    That was a most happy eBay score, back when there were deals to be had on eBay.

I would suggest googling "southern california kayak fishing."  There are several websites that have classifieds with SOT kayaks.  Like bikes, kayakers are always moving up to the newest models.  Out of the 5 kayaks I have owned, I only purchased one new.