need to buy a yak!!

Cookinman · Post by **Cookinman** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:26 pm

Hi Nature Boy.

Got your PM Last week, things have been a little hectic to respond quickly - I Apologize.

Personally I think OK makes a GREAT product for East Coast Ocean Fishing, though there are many other suitable models out there. I am a Scupper Pro man myself.

I kinda feel the P-13 has better cockpit area, and is just as fast as the P-15, but thats JMHO. What is GREAT for me may be totally wrong for you, so listen a little to friends and other paddlers, but paddle alot.

First Piece oif Advice - Paddle as many different types as you can before buying. Go to to every Demo you can ( just call around to kayak shops to find out when they have demo days ) I like my Scupper but if I was 3 inches taller or my ass was 20# Heavier I would not fit well, so I would use it less....get the idea. Redfish, Tarpon, Hobie, O.K. are all GREAT qualioty Kayak makers and all are superb fishing platforms based on what you want to do. If no demo days are around go to a kayak rental outfit and rent a different one every week for a month or 2.

Alright, let's say you did that - where to buy. This is tough - as most folks with good kayaks do not sell em often, so I would check with different outfitters and Rental shops that will periodically change out their inventory. That is a best bet. Also try to hit some of the more Kayak intensive board on the net and look in the "Sell" Section. Some like FS Prohibit any online selling so "Ads" Will not be seen, but if you put feelers out you may get responses. Also maybe the rental place you are demoing the kayaks will give you a good deal since you have rented there before.....

I got a GREAT Deal getting my yak, vest and paddle for $500.00 considering it's perfect condition, it is NOT the norm.....but you should do well for maybe $650.00 or so depending on how it is rigged. Oh ya, a note on that. Try to buy a "Clean" yak if possible. ie - little to no rigging so you can put things well within YOUR reach as opposed to the guy 's reach that you bought it from.

Yak-Attack · Post by **Yak-Attack** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:39 pm

I have a friend who might have some used kayaks, he has used Prowlers some times. I'll send him an email & see if I can get him in touch with you.

I have an Ocean Kayak Drifter, A bit slow (just ask Cookinman

) but very stable & I have not been tipped over yet.

Cookinman · Post by **Cookinman** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:41 pm

Yak-Attack wrote:
I have an Ocean Kayak Drifter, A bit slow (just ask Cookinman ) but very stable & I have not been tipped over yet.

It is not THAT slow Yak Attack - and all you gain in stability is worth it in all but the longest paddling situations. Besides, you could breakdance on that thing man.....

Cookinman · Post by **Cookinman** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 5:49 pm

Nature Boy wrote:you know guys i have been reading yak fishing a lot and when it comes to ocean fishing many veterans prefer sped over stability and the reason being that u cover a lot of area, but more important given the east coast conditions of sudden weahter changes a fast kayak can get you out of trouble against the winds and current. it may well be a life saver!!

First ley me say that though a vet of the armed forces, I am no vet of Kayaking. Been doin it little over a year only.

You have alot of wind/ current, swell to contend with here in the East coast as well as a 1-2 mile paddle out to the fishing grounds IF it is a straight lne which it never is. Tjhe the dreaded paddle back against all the conditions that got you where you were. ( unless you set a car or truck down current before the drift )

I also fish Fresh Water WMA's so a 3-5 mile paddle in to the flats is common.

So anything that eases the load helps....It took a little getting used to and a few tip overs ( I was out of the cockpit, sitting on the gunnell, turned around and reaching off the stern once and Tried to land in 6' waves Bow first the other) to gain confidence in my Scupper pro, but now, knowing where the "edge " is, I cannot think of a better yak to be in in foul conditions - Others may feel differently, but with a 20 something inch max width, it slices through swells and waves pretty cleanly. My primary stability is not the best but my secondary stability is excellent allowing the yak to roll woth the swells instead of fighting to keep a side either up or down - kinda the best of both worlds
IMHO - again others may feel a bit different.

I am a strong and confident swimmer, so If I capsize, no big deal, just tread water untill I right the yak and climb in. Others that are less confident in the water will opt for better Primary Stability in their yak as it will give them a good sense of security. After my 1st dumping incident in Pompano with Yak Attack ( Totally my fault for doing something off balance without timing the big swells over the edge of the sandbar) , I now leash EVERYTHING down. I lost nothing that day, but could have easily lost it all.

Just try em ALL and see which you like best.

Fuzzy(as in not clear) · Wed Mar 28, 2007 7:03 pm

All good info!

This Saturday is the Paddle Fest Broward 2007 at West Lake Park, all day!
There should be plenty of yaks to try out. For the cost of admission to the park, you'll be able to do some demo's, meet some yak folks (some even fish) and hear all kinds of stories about all kinds of yakking.

Variable · Post by **Variable** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 8:07 pm

The only negative I have read about the Scrambler is that might be a little harder to rig for fishing. But hey, where there is a will, there is way. Creativity goes a long way in rigging kayaks. I am sure there are plenty of Scrambler fishing people willing to help you rig one.

need to buy a yak!!

first yak