KAYAK ???????

JPSURF16 · 07-05-2006, 10:04 AM

I AM LOOKING TO GET A YAK FOR SALT WATER ATTACK LOL. I AM SO CONFUSED ON ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE MY DAUGHTERS FISHING (OF COURSE ONE AT A TIME) BUT I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE WEIGHT TOO FAR BACK ON THE YAK WHEN I AM ALONE. ALSO ANY PICS WITH RIGGED YAKS WOULD HELP. I AM PLANNING TO DO HOOPNETTING OFF OF IT AS WELL. ANY LINKS WITH USED KAYAKS THAT WOULD HELP? THANKS JASON

SteveO · 07-05-2006, 11:12 AM

Depending on how old your daughters are and how tall they are would be a deciding factor. If they're still young and small, you could use a cobra fish-n-dive. It has a small seat in the front that faces the paddler. I take my 7 yo son out on my fish-n-dive and he loves it. That way when I'm alone, I'm still in a single seat type kayak. Things to consider are how far you plan on paddling and how stable you want the kayak to be. Remember the longer and narrower the kayak, the faster it will be in the water but also less stable. A shorter, wider kayak will be a lot more stable, but a lot slower if paddling a long way. Alone you don't really notice the difference but when paddling with others that have fast kayaks, it's really noticable. A tandem kayak can be pretty big and heavy when you're alone, so it's something to keep in mind depending on the ratio of fishing with the girls and fishing alone. Also if you're gonna hoop off the kayak, you'll want extra stability, so keep that in mind. Hope this helps.

**Joey805** · 07-05-2006, 11:47 AM

I moved this post to our Kayaking forum. The guys should be able to help you out no problem.

IslandFox · 07-05-2006, 11:54 AM

"What yak" is also dependent on a few other factors such as height, weight, and totally different factors such as transport and storage.
That being said I started off in the same "boat" as you. It's much easier to pass on a purchase like a kayak with the wifey if you hype the fitness and kiddo spin. I first started with a few tandems.
#1 Malibu Kayaks Pro2 Tandem: By far the best when paddling solo from the rear. Tracked great with my 220lb butt in the rear. Aircraft carrier deck out in front of you...and adequate space for a child to fish from the front(too tight for 2 adults to fish comfortably.) Older models have a center seating option with extra footwells. Center seat can still be rigged on the newer models...just no footwells, and you're on the big center hatch. Excellent yak for hooping, taking the kids out, and going after big game.

#2 Cobra Tandem: The Fish and Dive uses this hull..thus the same capacity and almost equal physical weight...and close paddling characteristics when paddled. Doesnt paddle well solo in the rear...BUT again the older models have a center seating postion with built in footwells. And as with the Pro2 tandem...the newer one's can be rigged to fish from the center thus almost making it the same as fishing from a Fish and Dive....just needs a little creativity in the rigging dept. Definitely enough space for the kids to fish up front...and as with most tandems...a too tight for 2 adults to fish.

#3 Ocean Kayak Malibu 2/2xl: Doesnt track well solo in the rear, bow will ride high with adult in the back and child up front...and tracking leaves a little more to be desired when compared to the Pro2 and Cobra. BONUS!! These yaks do have center footwells for center solo seating....a little legal history Ocean Kayak "thought" Cobra and Malibu were infringing on their overlapping footwell design and thus sued Cobra and Malibu....they had to remove extra footwells from their hull molds. A few years go by and now Ocean Kayak was found to be wrong. Cobra and Malibu have not put the extra footwells back since. This is the reason why I say it's nice to find the "older" Cobra Tandems and Malibu Pro2's(aka Competition Kayak Tandem.)

#4: Cobra Fish and Dive: I currently have one of these in my "fleet". It has the "jumpseat" up front for the kids. Same hull as the Cobra Tandem. Great option if taking the kids out once in awhile. Fishing with the kids on this should only be if you plan on letting them do all the fishing. A little too tight when the kids get bigger. My 7yr old is too big, 5yr old is fine.
If the Fish and Dive sounds right, you should also take a look at the Malibu X-Factor with the Gator Bow Hatch(Jumpseat.)

Summary..some weigh a little more than the others. All are great "big man" boats. All can be fished solo. If you're going to be fishing it solo more than 50% of the time plan for a more "solo friendly" boat. They'll all do fine for the occasional outting with the kids.
2 Adults fishing?? Go with a Cobra Triple!!!

Oh and since you're in Long Beach...head over to Sunset Beach....you've got the Malibu Factory store and Cobra's at Sunset kayak right next door.
Ask them to DEMO the above yaks....go alone the first day and tell them you'll be back to try them out with the kiddo the next day. You'll know pretty much right away which one "feels right."

JPSURF16 · 07-05-2006, 02:14 PM

Thanks for the posts. I am 6'0" and 210lbs my daughters range from 15yrs old but very small frame to 10yr, 2yr and boy on the way. I am thinking they might only fish with me about 15% of the time. Thanks again for the responses.

**Joey805** · 07-05-2006, 02:49 PM

Great info MJ!

YakSailor · 07-05-2006, 07:00 PM

One word:

Hobie.

**Joey805** · 07-05-2006, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YakSailor

One word:

Hobie.

Hey, that was 3 words!

Flossin24z · 07-06-2006, 07:32 AM

Come over to the Channel Island Kayak Center we can help u out. 805-984-5995