NorthWest Kayak Anglers
Kayak Fishing => The Kayak Shack => Topic started by: kaz on November 02, 2018, 04:40:34 PM
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I've been trolling the want-ads for an entry level fishing kayak. I was looking for a Prowler 13 or a Tarpon 140, but I just found this T13. It looks to be a relatively recent model. Online, it looks like a good yak. Would $550 to $600 be a decent deal? I've read the comments about the yak.
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If it's in decent shape, $600 is a steal. I've been fishing T13's for the last 10 years. I've even caught a couple of fish from them.
-Mark-
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Thanks Mark. I have probably read most of the NWKA comments about the T13. I've even read the yak fishing forums in TX, FL, CA...The consensus is pretty clear.
The seller's photos were not very clear, but the yak appears to be in good shape. I'll confirm the condition tomorrow. I was considering a Prowler 15, but I'm try to keep it simple and manageable. I can probably load the T13 into the back of my F150 (8' bed).
I was hoping to find an economical deal. As I price new gear...I'll need every penny I can save. Drysuit-on the way (still need booties), paddle coming, looking for a lifejacket/vest tomorrow. The list never ends. I hope I'll be able to ask you for advice about rigging. I've done research, but I'm sure that there will be issues.
Thank, kaz.
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I would say that $600 is a very good deal if the yak is in reasonably good shape. I have one of the first T13's to arrive in the PNW in mid 2008 and even though I have two Hobies, I have no plans of dropping my T13 from my yak stash.
It will ride just fine in the back of the F150. I hauled mine in the back of my '97 Tacoma (6ft bed), until I built a rack over the bed.
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Yeah, it's a good deal. Just suggesting you ask for some good pictures to feel confident it doesn't have UV damage.
I had a Hobie Revo and got rid of it when I finally found a good T13. Better boat - just ask Mark! >:D
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I would say that $600 is a very good deal if the yak is in reasonably good shape. I have one of the first T13's to arrive in the PNW in mid 2008 and even though I have two Hobies, I have no plans of dropping my T13 from my yak stash.
It will ride just fine in the back of the F150. I hauled mine in the back of my '97 Tacoma (6ft bed), until I built a rack over the bed.
Hey INSANE,
Just came back, and I bought the T13. This T13 is from 2012. It looks good. We filled it with water to test for leaks, and all went well. We even tested the rudder. Originally listed for for $800; the selling price was only $500. The seller threw in a cheap paddle (will be my back-up), and some yak roof mounts. It looks like I have a new hobby!
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Yeah, it's a good deal. Just suggesting you ask for some good pictures to feel confident it doesn't have UV damage.
I had a Hobie Revo and got rid of it when I finally found a good T13. Better boat - just ask Mark! >:D
Hey Tinker, instead of good pics, I went over from Kitsap County (to south Seattle) for a real inspection. The yak has seen some use, but according to the seller it's been sitting on a covered rack for 2 years (2012 model). The only major purchase left is a new FF. Since I got a great deal on a GUL drysuit ($275-1/2 price of sale price), and a yak ($500) I will only have spent about $1000 (I have ALL the fishing/camping gear). I'm trying to keep it simple and painless. Now all I have to do is some cleanup, and rigging. I'll also have to learn...how not to drown. I'm even planning on taking a paddling class.
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Do it! Though I never used mine after I got my revo.I still kick myself for selling it. Sold it the next day after posting for 750. There are some things that revo just can't do anywhere close to what the trident can. They are a way drier ride, faster, glide 10x farther, never had water in the hull, goes over waves instead of wedging through them. That said I still love my revo because I troll 99% of the time.
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Do it! Though I never used mine after I got my revo.I still kick myself for selling it. Sold it the next day after posting for 750. There are some things that revo just can't do anywhere close to what the trident can. They are a way drier ride, faster, glide 10x farther, never had water in the hull, goes over waves instead of wedging through them. That said I still love my revo because I troll 99% of the time.
Hey yaktastic, even when I fish out of my 17' outboard, I've always preferred to mooch for salmon, and I like bottom fishing best. As a kid I always fished with bait (especially live bait) and some things never change. My favorite rig for Neah Bay/bottom fishing is a drop sinker, and a hunk of bait (usually herring with a fish belly trailer). Somehow, I was never a great troller.
Anyway, I'm glad to hear another positive comment about Tridents. Next week I'm going on a trial run in a nearby pond. Can't wait!
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I would say that $600 is a very good deal if the yak is in reasonably good shape. I have one of the first T13's to arrive in the PNW in mid 2008 and even though I have two Hobies, I have no plans of dropping my T13 from my yak stash.
It will ride just fine in the back of the F150. I hauled mine in the back of my '97 Tacoma (6ft bed), until I built a rack over the bed.
Hey INSANE,
Just came back, and I bought the T13. This T13 is from 2012. It looks good. We filled it with water to test for leaks, and all went well. We even tested the rudder. Originally listed for for $800; the selling price was only $500. The seller threw in a cheap paddle (will be my back-up), and some yak roof mounts. It looks like I have a new hobby!
Very cool.
Take your time on buying your FF. If you don't need color, touch screen, down or side imaging then I would highly suggest trying to find a used Eagle Cuda 250 or 350. They are pretty much the same unit where I think the body color is the only difference between them.
The Eagle Cuda is very good on battery life, waterproof, easy to setup and use, as well as fits really good under the Sonar Shield of the T13. I found my second one on Ebay for something like $60 including shipping.
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Hey, Kaz, good idea to do a leak test. This is actually another endorsement for the Trident (albeit a weird one). The first T13 I owned had a leak where the molds didn't quite fit together properly during manufacture and I didn't test for leaks until AFTER its first journey - and after it took on a lot of water. Other than having to paddle harder to keep up, neither I nor the folks with me could tell I was hauling 80 pounds of water with me until I reached the beach and tried to pull it uphill to the parking area.
And OK arranged for a replacement.
I own two, a T11 and the T13. They're a great first kayak - and just as good for your last kayak, too.
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Hey, Kaz, good idea to do a leak test. This is actually another endorsement for the Trident (albeit a weird one). The first T13 I owned had a leak where the molds didn't quite fit together properly during manufacture and I didn't test for leaks until AFTER its first journey - and after it took on a lot of water. Other than having to paddle harder to keep up, neither I nor the folks with me could tell I was hauling 80 pounds of water with me until I reached the beach and tried to pull it uphill to the parking area.
And OK arranged for a replacement.
I own two, a T11 and the T13. They're a great first kayak - and just as good for your last kayak, too.
If I recall correctly, you mentioned your problems with a T13 on another post about Tridents. That recollection occurred to me when I was inspecting the used T13 prior to sale. That's why I insisted on a leak-test. The comments at NWKA have been a great source of info for me. This week, I'm taking the T13 to Buck Lake for an, on-the-water trial run.
The user reviews at sites like paddling.com were not helpful. Too many reviewers were not dedicated fishermen, and many of the commenters were only concerned about...Stability. The kayak fishing forums like NWKA and those from Florida, TX and CA were much more applicable.
BTW: Did you mount your transducer in the scupper, or did you opt for a thru-hull mount? I understand that the scupper-mount might allow for slightly better sonar reception, but has the downside of risking transducer damage. The thru-hull approach seems safer.
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I would say that $600 is a very good deal if the yak is in reasonably good shape. I have one of the first T13's to arrive in the PNW in mid 2008 and even though I have two Hobies, I have no plans of dropping my T13 from my yak stash.
It will ride just fine in the back of the F150. I hauled mine in the back of my '97 Tacoma (6ft bed), until I built a rack over the bed.
Hey INSANE,
Just came back, and I bought the T13. This T13 is from 2012. It looks good. We filled it with water to test for leaks, and all went well. We even tested the rudder. Originally listed for for $800; the selling price was only $500. The seller threw in a cheap paddle (will be my back-up), and some yak roof mounts. It looks like I have a new hobby!
Very cool.
Take your time on buying your FF. If you don't need color, touch screen, down or side imaging then I would highly suggest trying to find a used Eagle Cuda 250 or 350. They are pretty much the same unit where I think the body color is the only difference between them.
The Eagle Cuda is very good on battery life, waterproof, easy to setup and use, as well as fits really good under the Sonar Shield of the T13. I found my second one on Ebay for something like $60 including shipping.
I'll definitely take a look at the Eagle Cudas. When I fished with my outboard the GPS/mapping/chart plotting was useful. I took my 17' outboard from Bellingham to the San Juan Islands (20+ miles) in the dark for salmon fishing. However, I imagine that most of my kayak fishing will be more...local.
I was planning on mounting the FF under the Sonar Shield, but I'm marginally near-sighted. I must make sure that I can read the screen from the seat. A bigger question is the best location for the transducer. Did you use the designated scupper, or did you mount the transducer in the hull?
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I've always shot through the hull. Never had a problem with doing so.
One thing to note, the scupper hole that is sonar ready is actually a very vital scupper hole for quick drainage of surf zone lap water. With it plugged with a sonar, it won't drain as fast as you would like and things get tippy due to top heavyness.
The Eagle Cuda won't be found in any store shy of maybe a Goodwill, but can be found on EBay. The numbers for depth, time, speed, temp, etc can be set to your visual preference.
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Originally, having struggled with transducers on my outboard (2 were snapped-off while launching/loading in rough water) I thought the scupper mount was a great addition. However, I'm strongly leaning towards the thru-hull mount, and I see your point that blocking a scupper is not wise. This T13 came with a battery bag suspended in the front hatch. That looks like a good place for a transducer.
My brother (Pescador Pilot 12) has suggested a few inexpensive FFs. I've just started to scan the market in classifieds. I'll keep an eye out for Eagle Cudas.
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Originally, having struggled with transducers on my outboard (2 were snapped-off while launching/loading in rough water) I thought the scupper mount was a great addition. However, I'm strongly leaning towards the thru-hull mount, and I see your point that blocking a scupper is not wise. This T13 came with a battery bag suspended in the front hatch. That looks like a good place for a transducer.
My brother (Pescador Pilot 12) has suggested a few inexpensive FFs. I've just started to scan the market in classifieds. I'll keep an eye out for Eagle Cudas.
The battery bag is for the battery and works great for the battery. The transducer needs to sit on the bottom of the hull (inside), and with the T13 that place is right under the Sonar Shield area. With the foam 'ducer holder glued in place with Marine Goop right there, you can actually reach it from the rod pod opening to fill the void with water and easily "burp" it.
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I haven't yet found a deal on a FF, but I just purchased a used cheapo yak cart-thingie ($25). I'm becoming a scavenger.
Thanks for the tip on transducer location. That makes sense.
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You asked, but you got your answer already: through the hull in a water bath at the location INSAYN mentioned.
Just a note on mounting he head unit: I used a RAM Mounts universal adapter plate thingy for the fish finder head and slide it into one of the rod holder mounting holes in the Mod Pod cover. I can take the whole thing off for transport and I didn't have to drill any unsightly holes.
I stole the idea from Trident 13 before he up and moved to some weird place in the wilds of the Midwest, so it's worked well for at least two of us...
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That sounds like a great idea. I'm just a little worried that I'll have trouble reading the FF screen. I'm marginally near-sighted, and I hate to wear prescription glasses on the water. However, I might not have a choice. The 4" or 5" FF screens seem awfully small. I've been looking for used or older model, but so far I haven't found a good deal.
Tomorrow after work, I'll be shopping for a decent/comfortable PFD. Do you have any tips for a reliable marine radio? On my old Cobra, the battery is dead.
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If it's in decent shape, $600 is a steal. I've been fishing T13's for the last 10 years. I've even caught a couple of fish from them.
-Mark-
Hey Mark,
I've been out fishing in my T13 several times, but I'm struggling to locate a position for a rod holder. As a moocher, I need to see the rod tip (so the integral aft mounts don't work), and I need to have easy/quick, hands-on access to the rod. Presently, my mod pod is molded to accept Scotty rod mounts, so I'm using the most forward Scotty-mount on the pod. This mostly works, but it seems there could be a better option. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I'm extremely happy with the T13. It's fast, sleek and seaworthy.
Thanks, kaz (Glen)