tried 4 different kayaks in creeks trying to decide which one i want to buy.note:no mention of store or who let me try them.dont want to offend anybody.they were all good yaks,so please dont blast me on this.first i tried the ocean kayaks prowler 13 and the drifter models.the prowler was fast,easy to paddle,but i was wet before i got 20 feet from the dock(plenty of water in front of seating area).the drifter was better,but sluggish to paddle,was very stable,more so than the prowler 13.next i tried a wilderness tarpon 140.once again,wet,although it took a little longer to happen.it did paddle like a dream though.i would say equal to the prowler or better.last but not least i tried the heritage marquesa 14.thing was up to speed pretty quick.dry ride,and i mean high and dry.yes it is a little slower than the prowler or tarpon,but it more than makes up for it in so many other ways.by the way,with the prowler,i couldnt even come close to standing up.the drifter,i got right up,but once up the stability was shaky.also got right up in the tarpon,but it was borderline.i dont know if i could cast comfortably.the marquesa was a cinch to stand in.both types of stability are great with this yak.i know i can pole this yak,stand in it,cast,etc.the other yaks were also better storage wise,but i think i will sacrifice storage and a little speed for the fishability the marquesa has.if the prowler was a little wider,and the first 2 or 3 rows of foot rests were eliminated it might have worked with scupper plugs.the tarpon is a great yak,i just think maybe im too big for it or something(weight)i forgot to mention the marquesa has something(foam?) under the seating area where you would stand so it does not give when you stand.the storage does suck,but i fish with a small box of lures,minnows,or mullet,menhaden.i only need a tankwell,really dont need front storage.the consoles in the tarpon and marquesa were neck and neck,pretty even.tarpon would definately be my second choice,but ive decided on the marquesa.hope i made the right choic
I also tried some yaks. When I do get one it will definetily be a 16’. The Tarpon 14’ is great but nothing paddles faster than the 16’ and the 14’ is not as stable as a 16’
I like the Tarpon 16’ Actually that is the yak my wife is in love with. I am in love with the Hobie Adventure 16’. It is the peddle drive but also can be paddled.
If I were you I would look into the Tarpon 16’ Though they are just a little bit more difficult to handle by yourself if loading it on top of a SUV or van. If you have a truck then no worries.
Good luck and take pictures and post of you yak of choice for us to see. Especially those of us who don’t actually have one yet. Let the drooloing beging!!
21’ Sea Pro Bay, Yellow
225 Mercury Verado
Named: Faith & Grace after my wife and daughter
hobie is out of my price range,but never even considered the tarpon 16.thanks for the info,and good luck with your purchase when you get to it. surf
Congrats Surf…now lets do some fishin…you can collect the additional needed funds from your couch cracks or your wifes cookie jar and hurry the process…You made a good…no, great choice - When you get it let me know, I’ll help lead you to the “other side” grasshopper, when those red schools just ain’t where they are supposed to be.
I don’t necessarily agree with everything I say.
thanks man.ill be gettin with you soon.wish i could hit filbin with you tomorrow,but i fished north folly today,and im trying to be a good husband right now,so no hassles when i get the yak.you guys tear em up tomorrow.good luck dog.
surfman did you use the same paddle with the different yaks? It looks like your doing the right thing as far as picking out the right yak. The type of paddle plus the type of stroke you have has a lot to do in the way the yak traks and how fast it is. Do yourself a favor, investigate the paddle as much as you have the yaks. Plus check out the hatches, can you put what you want in them or are they to small? Rigging,… what do you want on the boat…gps, depth finder, anchor trolley, rod holders, etc, can it be done? Hope to see ya on the water soon.
Mud
Tarpon 140
thanks mudroc,i couldnt use the same paddle on every test unfortunately.i think the paddles i used were all good quality,but to be honest,i really dont know for sure.as i said,all those kayaks were goodins no doubt about it.i was asked by a friend to test one more heritage kayak that i hadnt even considered,the featherlite angler.it was a great kayak also for what it was made for.but,as it was pointed out to me,it can be had much cheaper than any of the others,and would fish the creeks equally well.its awful short for a long haul though.seems the more i test the more confused i get.and now with the featherlite test,that brought the sit inside type into question,when all the others were sit on tops.you brought up some things i need to consider and thanks for that,as i know you are a knowledgeble guy.thanks…surfman
SC,
I would stay away from the cockpit yaks. I use to white water yak in a Dagger RPM cockpit and I never could see myself fishing out of a sit in type. First of all it is almost to get in and out of if you are fishing. I hated not being able to move or strech my legs. You legs get tired and restless in the cockpit and almost feel trapped.
I wouldn’t care how light it was.
21’ Sea Pro Bay, Yellow
225 Mercury Verado
Named: Faith & Grace after my wife and daughter
that was a concern i had.good lookin out though.im still leanin towards the marquesa or redfish.
Surfman,
Don’t totally rule out a cockpit boat. Boats like the Pungo from Wilderness and many other recreational style of boats from Perception and liquid Logic make great fishing boats. Much bigger cockpit than whitwater boats, so there is PLENTY of room to move around and put stuff. The benefit is these boats are dry, comfortable, and usually a little faster than an equal sized SOT. Draw back is standing up, surf paddling, and the fact that you just can’t get quite as much stuff (bait buckets, milk crates, etc.) in the boat.
DD
“Paddle Solo, Sleep Tandem!!”
thanks dolphin,the more i look the more confused i get.im glad im not quite ready to buy yet.redfish/marquesa is frontrunner right now.i did like the t-140 though.just got pretty wet.i have not checked out your sit insides yet.maybe this week.anyway,thanks.
dolphin,how much does the pungo 120 angler run?i might try that one.i know you have knowledge of these because you sell them.thanks.
SC,
If you get a 12’ you will be paddling your a$$ off and not be covering much water. Go LONGER!!!
All I do is study these thing every day and listen to people testify about theirs. Though I am still saving for mine I feel that I am knowlegable about this stuff.
Dolphin is more knowlegable though.
Still go with a SOT 14-16’. Don’t worry about the winter and convience of the sit in for that season. Dress warm and wear waterproof gear. INMO sit ins are miserable and paddling your a$$ of is just as miserable.
21’ Sea Pro Bay, Yellow
225 Mercury Verado
Named: Faith & Grace after my wife and daughter
i keep coming back around to the redfish14/marquesa.the only thing its lacking is storage.and it will carry what i need.i think its settled.it was really between that and the t140 all along to tell the truth.refish was drier atleast for me,238 lbs.i also found out that they are putting a bigger front hatch on the 2007,or reportedly anyway.and i have already seen redfish that have been converted.
Surfman check out www.kayakfishingstuff.com on info on the yaks you are looking at and on getting a bigger hatch on the marquesa.
yeah,they put me on to that site already,but thanks.i saw that a hatch on there somewhere,i think that will make the redfish/marquesa perfect.
hey surf since you have been testing the yaksihave acouple of questions.i’m 6-2 and 200#.i also have a bad back.i’ve been wanting a yak for a while and reading everyones threads has motivated me a little more.i’ll probably be fishing a little deeper water.which one would you suggest.all suggestions will be taken into great consideration.thanks
This is the way I test my kayaks
http://www.break.com/index/whaleandkayak.html
You can run, but you’ll only die tired.
OMG!!!
21’ Sea Pro Bay, Yellow
225 Mercury Verado
Named: Faith & Grace after my wife and daughter
surf have you talked to Capt. Jimbo at FLYC yet? He doesn’t like WS Tarpons very much but he’s got a lot of good info to take in consideration.
Mud
Tarpon 140