T11 versus Caper

I've been following a couple of the threads below and thought I'd start a new one. For those of you familiar with the OK line, how does the Trident 11 compare to the Caper?

Trident 11:
11'6" long
30.5" wide
54 lbs
much higher weight capacity (350-400 lbs)
drier ride
adjustable foot braces
rod pod
larger tank well

Caper:
11' long
31" wide
45 lbs
much lower weight capacity (275-325 lbs)
wetter ride
molded foot braces
no rod pod
small tank well


I've paddled the Caper on and off for 5 years.  The few times I've been in a T11 I've been very impressed. If you're on a budget you can pick up a used Caper for less than half the price of a new T11.  Both are great little kayaks.  Sometimes, I just through my Caper in the back of my Ford Ranger and go rather than dealing with the rack and my T13.

Brian

Man that question couldn't have been tailored better for Bsteves! I've fished plenty w/ B and I gotta say, from my point of view he looks more comfortable in the Caper. Maybe it's just since he's been using it for such a long time but looks very comparable to the T11 he paddles. The part I'm most surprised about that yak is the speed it gets. It's a pretty under rated 'yak IMO. Cool little cheap yak.

Z

My other boat is actually a T13.  However, I have demo'd the T11 a couple times.

The part I'm most surprised about that yak is the speed it gets.

Having paddled that Caper for a few years, I have to say I think I simply learned to keep up in a slower boat.  I find the T13 much faster.

The other trick with my "speed" is that I'm able paddle over thick mats of bull kelp that Zee had to peddle around because of his mirage drive.  My short cuts helped me keep up to his speed demon of a yak on the way to and from the fishing grounds.

Brian

Brian, that's a very valid observation that I had never even thought of.   Mirage drive and kelp probably don't like each other much.   

Didnt Alder Creek say they were going to have some kayaks for people to try out before they buy.. would by chance they have a T11 and a Caper there for someone to try them both out.
just trying to throw a plug out there for the paddle fest at Vancouver Lake.

oh and my .01 cents worth.

Marilyn

I've paddled with CBY quite a few times, and have had no problem keeping up with his Outback. My Caper may be slower than the longer yaks, but it is very stable, and can turn on a dime. I went for the smaller yak because of the weight, and the fact that it fits neatly into the back of my Dakota without sticking out too far. It's also easy  to put up on the racks on top the van for extended trips with the travel trailer. I LOVE my little yak!

Didnt Alder Creek say they were going to have some kayaks for people to try out before they buy.. would by chance they have a T11 and a Caper there for someone to try them both out.
just trying to throw a plug out there for the paddle fest at Vancouver Lake.

oh and my .01 cents worth.

Marilyn

I don't know about Alder Creek, but the Ocean Kayak booth will have both the Caper and the Trident 11 for comparison.

Brian

Mirage drive and kelp probably don't like each other much. 

Yeah it can be more difficult but all you really need to do is pull the drive then paddle. Hobie has added something new this year that makes it a lot more kelp friendly. The mechanism that holds the drive in place is now two levers that allow you to pull the MD in seconds. Flip two levers, pull the drive, and paddle over the kelp.

Z

Click N' Go levers


Click N' Go for inflatables

The click and go kicks @ss!! And the new rudder up/down mechanism is pretty sweet too. Way to go Hobie!!

Where do you put the drive when it's not in actual use?   Do you leash it so it doesn't get lost?

Where do you put the drive when it's not in actual use?   Do you leash it so it doesn't get lost?

You can leash it and/or stow it in the front hatch (depending on the model).

Z

Suddenly, those Hobies with the new "click and go, pull and stow" Mirage Drive look a lot more appealing to me. I regularly paddle over shallow mud flats and eel grass in the estuaries, and also over shallow mud and gravel bars in rivers, and that has kept the Hobie off my list until now. But it looks like the problem is solved.
 I also ride bikes, mainly cruisers here on the beach, but I have a hybrid mt bike for the gated logging roads, and won't ever get rid of my old touring road bike because of all the great memories associated with it...a girlfriend and I pedaled to the top of Haleakala and all over the Big Island (entire month of April, 1981. Wa-a-ay back when I was only 30).

I had been looking at the new T-13, but now the Hobie is eating at my resolve to avoid buying any more boats.

I regularly paddle over shallow mud flats and eel grass in the estuaries, and also over shallow mud and gravel bars in rivers, and that has kept the Hobie off my list until now.

Actually you don't have to pull the drive a lot of times. When you push one pedal forward the fins go up against the hull. You can make it through about 8" of water pretty easily paddling. You can probably pedal effectively in 2.5' of water.

Z