We're heading to crooked lake via Mudro in June. It will be my dad,brother,cousin, and I. My dad and I have made the loop multiple times but not in the past 4 years. The two kids we're bringing with us are 18 and 21 and my dad wants to rent a 3 man canoe so he can basically control it while they fish since they don't get out as much. I was thinking of bringing my kayak and was wondering if it was possible for the loop. I have a FeelFree Moken 12.5. I have loaded it with enough camping equipment for 2 people for 5 days. Everything stays in the hull so would be nice for space but the kayak empty weighs 66 lbs. I'm basically wondering if it would be a plausible idea to bring this. I imagine two of us would pick my boat up and portage it, one of the kids would carry the one extra pack and dad would carry the canoe. Any feedback would be appreciated!

http://feelfreeus.com/kayaks/fishing-kayaks/moken-12-5/
This is the kayak I'd bring. It also has rod storage for 4-5 rods.

I pulled this kayak up. With just the standard equipment that came with the kayak this is a 75 lb boat. . .one of the heaviest out there.

We have brought kayaks a few times. If you want to carry gear, a touring kayak is better suited for that. I have a 17 1/2 foot fiberglass tourer with front and rear water tight storage. It will carr a LOT of gear and weighs in around 50lbs. Best of all, it can be easily carried on one shoulder using "noodle".

Personally, I'm not a fan of fishing kayaks if gear is involved. I also don't like to get and stay wet. The last two times we used kayaks we had spray skirts and used sit in side 14-17 footers.

In total disclosure. . .after portaging my prior kayak one year I went out and bought two solo canoes.

I also looked at the boat on the website and no way would I try to portage it in the BWCA, even with two carrying it could be a hassle. The rough terrain makes the person in the back unable to see where their feet will go and lots of lurching and stumbling is likely.
And after buying a 32# thermoplastic kayak that carries very well I also got a solo canoe. The kayak sits a lot now. I use a poly model for cold water winter paddling as it takes the occasional ice, etc. but not for tripping.

Still early on in this thread so I will excuse the others for having missed it but that boat is a nono in the BWCAW...it has a wheel at the back...FYI.

Hawkeye,

I agree with the others if you are going to portage, however, I am a Yaker - wife and I took ours last Fall but stayed on the numbered lakes and that was no biggy, but as much as I love yakking, I would rent a canoe for any more intensive portaging. We tripped with a Jackson Kilroy and Jackson Cruise and it was great, but know the limitations.

I know this is a bit late . .but I think if you're strong and agile, you could do it . .but I advise strongly against the 2 man carry. I had to 2 man carry a (lightly) loaded OK Drifter a mile once on relatively smooth terrain and I will NEVER do that again.

What I would consider is the overhead carry. If you can hoist your kayak up over your head and carry it a good distance then I think you could pull it off. I can carry my OK trident (67lbs) overhead about 1/3 to 1/2 mile, depending on terrain, before I need to set it down.

It would definitely be harder than a canoe. I'm making this loop in early June and my initial plan was to take my kayak but . .upon further research and consideration I decided it was more than I wanted to take on. But it *could* be done!

Hawkeye01, I have a similar kayak in size and weight and would NEVER 2 man carry it loaded with gear. Believe me the first 10 feet would seem like it's working, after that you will be cursing the Fourtown portages. As some have stated it would be illegal to use the built in wheel on it. If you are serious about taking it, I would look to add something like this http://store.springcreek.com/Yokes/Yokes/Kayak-Yoke-by-Spring-Creek-p1597.html

I would still think about unloading your gear from the hull into a pack for the portages. The weight of your yak unloaded is still pretty heavy.