new prowler big game!

So I just bought a new prowler big game from outdoor play, and the service was great! I ordered it on Tuesday and it made it here on Thursday! The price was great and they have good sales on all the time. I used the links key at the top of the page to find them.

So does anyone out there have the same yak? How about some tips on the setup. I used to have a sit in so the change will be interesting. I did not get the middle hatch yet so I need to figure out where to put all my fish! Look forward to all the tips! Zac

Uh oh...........  Here it comes........   

Uh oh...........  Here it comes........   

Oh yes it does... Hey Spot, that was your chance to use "The Cure" spiel...
 
There's quite a few people w/ the Big Game. I believe Green Butt Skunked, Charles1655, and Steelheader are recent buyers.

Z

I've got the same boat (mine is orange).  GreenButtSkunk has the same boat to, and a nice thread on the forum here somewhere on how he rigged it.  A few thoughts/suggestions from me....

One--unless you are way over 6' tall (like 6'6" plus), forget about using the forward mounting locations (the flat deck area in front of the footwells).  You just can't reach them when you are in the boat.  I mounted my rod holder/fish finder to the black cover that straps down over the tray between your legs.  It works ok, and the location is ideal, but a fish (or 6 ozs of cannonball lead attached to salmon spinner) can put a lot of torque on it, and the plastic isn't that strong.  It also makes actually accessing the tray so you can use it for tackle, lunch, etc... (what it was intended for) much more difficult.

There is a nice flat rim that runs along the edges of the boat that is also designed for mounting things... in the next few days I'm going to be adding two recessed Scotty mounts to mine about halfway up the footwells (there are conveniently located attachment eyes already there for putting rod leashes, etc... in that area).

I have also seen where a guy on another forum posted about trimming the interior plastic "floor" out of his center tray, basically creating a "rod-pod" style opening in his Big Game very similar to the one found on the OK Trident.  Since the black plastic cover already has a gasket, this seems like an interesting idea (and a way to access the center area while on the water for rods, tackle boxes, etc...)

Which raises my final observation... the OK Big Game center hatch option sucks.  You have to add it (or do the rod-pod modification) if you want to add rod holders or other accessories on that side shelf, or to install a rudder.  On the other hand, the design has a couple of big problems, including 1) it is located too close to the seat so that you can't open it while sitting in the kayak, 2) it leaks (badly).  When I installed mine, I used Marine Goop to try and seal the hatch frame against the kayak... in hindsight, I should have used some marine-grade caulking and gobbed it on extra heavy (to help with the leaking).  There isn't a good fix for the location issue (just use the hatch for installing accessories, and for storing camping gear and such if you kayak camp).

The other simple mod you will want to do is trim the straps on the hatches (they come waaay too long from the factory and end up whipping against the roof of your rig when you are driving down the road).

Seems like the scupper hole transducer mount is maybe a better idea in theory than in practice.  Plugs up one footwell so it doesn't drain, costs an extra $75 bucks or so for the transducer, and leaves the transducer face somewhat exposed (an issue if you ever kayak in rivers).  Mine has a Eagle Cuda 250 with the transducer gooped to the inside of the hull old-school style, and works great.

It may sound like I don't like this boat, but quite the contrary, I love it (and actually sold my Hobie Outback in favor of fishing from it full time).  It is super duper stable (I launch and land by sitting sidesaddle in it), roomy, comfortable to sit in, and very "fishy".  Mine has tracked very well in strong current without the need for a rudder.  The battery tray is a nice touch as well.

I have also seen where a guy on another forum posted about trimming the interior plastic "floor" out of his center tray, basically creating a "rod-pod" style opening in his Big Game very similar to the one found on the OK Trident.  Since the black plastic cover already has a gasket, this seems like an interesting idea (and a way to access the center area while on the water for rods, tackle boxes, etc...)

I was talking to Pole about that last weekend and he mentioned that Ocean Kayaks didn't even intend for it to be left that way. They intended for it to be cut out just like all the other areas that are "hatch ready." Some people like that to leave it as is but like you mentioned w/o it cut out, access to the interior for mounting stuff is almost impossible. Luckily though it's not a tough mod and you get a rod pod out of it all which is the best! Pole had some insight about how to do it, maybe he can chime in.

Z

Actually slightly different story.  Some of the guys at OK thought about the cut out early on.  Sort of left it to the user to figure out, but it didn't really catch on too quickly and just now are we hearing more and more about people attempting it.

I got a Big Game at home that we can experiment on. 

-Allen

Yeah well.. sumtin' like that..   

Z

Thank you three weight I'm going to take the yak out for a test spin tomorrow to see  where will be the best place to put stuff!

Welcome to the Big Game family! 

I totally agree with 3 wt on putting pole mounts along the side rail within reach and not use the fancy shelves up near the front.  Bring a sharpie with you on your first launch and mark a spot where you can reach it and still paddle.

Have any questions on the boat I played with mine quite a bit.  I'm pretty happy with it, but it's my only yak so not real experienced.  I can paddle it, and fish out of it and don't seem to be left behind by anyone other than those darn Hobie paddlers.

My biggest gripe with the boat is the stupid handles squash my fingers when I carry the thing.  So I always use a kayak cart, even if it's only 20'.  I got the same gripes that 3wt mentions above, but those are pretty minor.  I do consider the inside to be a "wet area" and use drybags, but that hasn't seemed to be an issue, other than if I don't clean out the water it starts to smell a little musty. 

Have fun, and upload some pictures when you get a chance.

-= SB

PS Here's some more ideas http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,1006.0.html