Don't overlook the current REI coupon, exp 10/16! MINI X!!!

http://www.rei.com/promotions/fall-member-coupon.html

It's been in my in-box for about a week.  A few minutes ago I was going through my email purging junk and decided to open before trashing it.  Being the bargain shopper I am, the 30% off all clearance caught my eye.  Hmmmm...... stacking discounts...... this has possibilities. 

Clicked to check the fine print.  Normally it would say something about excluding "hard shell boats", but this is all I find...
 
"•30% discount not valid on bikes, skis, ski boots, ski bindings, snowboards, snowboard boots, snowboard bindings, shop services or rentals". 

OK that's surprising, they couldn't possibly have any boats I might be interested in.  Probably just some low end SINKs.  I link to the paddle sale page and see some boats mixed in with the other paddle gear.  Keeps getting better!  I scroll down and then I see it, blinking like a blazing neon carp outside a Japanese restaurant, A MINI X in mango!!!

I've been thinking about the X for some time.  Something easier to carry for Yak recon missions over difficult terrain than my heavier and longer Trident 13.  The length and weight can be a bitch when trying to push through the steep forested banks of the Gorge.  The Mini X would be perfect for hitting all those locations that don't get fished (from the water) because of the high degree of difficulty on approach.

So you might be wondering how good this deal works out to be.... $336 shipped to your closest REI.  I pulled the trigger. With a dividend and gift card burning a hole in my pocket, it was a quick sale.

Deal ends tonight 10/16 11pm Pacific

Nice score! That's an amazing little kayak. 45 pounds of plastic will hold a 325 pound payload. Have you ever paddled one? How do they track for a shorty?

Never been in one.  Reviews looked positive.  Figured I'd take a chance and if I hate it I should be able to sell it easily, but I doubt that will happen.

The mini-x has hardly any tracking compared to longer boats - most certainly not a long distance boat.  But it is an awesome small water boat!  That's an absolute steal of a deal!

The mini-x has hardly any tracking compared to longer boats - most certainly not a long distance boat.

I'm starting to realize Yakking is like Skiing or Snowboarding.... you need a quiver.

Long term I'll probably end up with 16', 13', and 9' yaks.  Not to say that it can't all be done with one.  The Trident 13 has been a great all around boat for me.

Love my mini x!  Have landed kings and halibut from it. Is it ideal? Heck no! Did it catch fish? Heck ya!!!

Got an outback for saltwater but the last month has been the rivers with the mini x. Check out my blogs at guidesak.blogspot.com or google up "YouTube guidesak" to see a few vids of my mini x in action. So it was only my main yak for a few months and I upgraded. But still finding great uses for it!!!

I pulled the trigger on the Mini-X tonight too.  This thread put me over the edge.  I was eyeballing the Malibu Stealth 14 on the clearance rack but didn't want to plunge money into a boat I might not end up being in love with.  The Mini seems like a sure thing for my wife and kids on lakes and calm rivers.  Of course I'll be taking it out quite a bit too.

Kardinal - have you taken yours to play in the surf ever?  I was also looking at buying NA's demo of the OK Mysto for playtime at the beach but once I saw this deal for a what looks to be surfable boat with fishing amenities for less money the sale was easy.  Cool to hear that you have caught big species with the Mini but where do you put them?

I pulled the trigger on the Mini-X tonight too.  This thread put me over the edge.  I was eyeballing the Malibu Stealth 14 on the clearance rack but didn't want to plunge money into a boat I might not end up being in love with.  The Mini seems like a sure thing for my wife and kids on lakes and calm rivers.  Of course I'll be taking it out quite a bit too.

Kardinal - have you taken yours to play in the surf ever?  I was also looking at buying NA's demo of the OK Mysto for playtime at the beach but once I saw this deal for a what looks to be surfable boat with fishing amenities for less money the sale was easy.  Cool to hear that you have caught big species with the Mini but where do you put them?

I think it'd be fun in the surf.  My problem is I am too focused on fishing.  It's like hiking.  What's the point?  Having said that with rod in hand, I seem to have no problems hiking 5 miles or more.  I've landed it a few times in decent surf and aside from the initial pucker factor due to being loaded with fishing gear when it happens, it would seem like its a blast.  Heck, I bet it'd be fun to try and stand and surf as well!  The water is pretty cold here too.  Maybe one day if I limit out early, I might give it a try...but only on the fisheries where you have to quit fishing once you limited out! 

I haven't caught anything huge.  The salmon were all mid 20 pounds and the biggest halibut was only like 15.  that's going to change next year but the big fish will likely come from the Hobie outback simply due to the distance I can travel.  But frankly, I think there is more room on the mini-x for fish.  I just put it in front of me and just dangle my legs off to the side.  Anything over 75 pounds though, I might have to tow it in!  I figure I have 100 pounds of "capacity" left on the mini-x after me and my gear.  The mirage drive really cuts down on the usable space up front.

$336 shipped to your closest REI.   Great pickup! 

I think it'd be fun in the surf.  My problem is I am too focused on fishing.  It's like hiking.  What's the point?  Having said that with rod in hand, I seem to have no problems hiking 5 miles or more.  I've landed it a few times in decent surf and aside from the initial pucker factor due to being loaded with fishing gear when it happens, it would seem like its a blast.  Heck, I bet it'd be fun to try and stand and surf as well!  The water is pretty cold here too.  Maybe one day if I limit out early, I might give it a try...but only on the fisheries where you have to quit fishing once you limited out! 

I haven't caught anything huge.  The salmon were all mid 20 pounds and the biggest halibut was only like 15.  that's going to change next year but the big fish will likely come from the Hobie outback simply due to the distance I can travel.  But frankly, I think there is more room on the mini-x for fish.  I just put it in front of me and just dangle my legs off to the side.  Anything over 75 pounds though, I might have to tow it in!  I figure I have 100 pounds of "capacity" left on the mini-x after me and my gear.  The mirage drive really cuts down on the usable space up front.

I like the analogy to hiking it's just that every visit to the in-laws we spend some time down on the sand.  This last summer I bought a cheap Lifetime Wave kid kayak and my son has had a blast bouncing in thigh high surf and I wanna get us grown ups in on the fun too.  Very excited to own a mini-x for fishing especially after perusing your posting history which is a jackpot of information.  Thanks for taking lots of pics!

Interesting that you feel like the mirage drive limits your ability to stow fish.  Been wanting a long offshore type SOT and have pretty much settled on Hobie because of the mirage drive but you do have a point in that it takes up some real estate.  That being said there does seem to be a lot of people around here who find a way to get it done.  Just have to demo everything while I save up I guess.

Love my mini x! 

Have you been using the Mini X for your Kenai floats?  I'm thinking with it's short length and piviotability it would make a fun river boat.  Does it have much rocker? 

Looking forward to the breach of Condit Dam (In WA) so I can run the Big White from Husum to the Columbia in the Mini.

Love my mini x! 

Have you been using the Mini X for your Kenai floats?  I'm thinking with it's short length and piviotability it would make a fun river boat.  Does it have much rocker? 

Looking forward to the breach of Condit Dam (In WA) so I can run the Big White from Husum to the Columbia in the Mini.

You bet!  The water is just too shallow in too many places for my outback.  With my mini-x, no fears of bouncing over a few rocks.  So far it's holding up well.  The mini-x is so light that once I put some wear and tear on it, I was thinking about coating it with something to give it more durability once I figure out where it's getting damaged.  Don't mind a few extra pounds for added protection since it is so light.  After using my outback, the mini-x almsot feels like a toy.  But a toy that has helped me catch some SUPER nice fish!  I thought the protection would be a winter project but my friends tell me the Kenai should produce through January and February as long as you can deal with the ice ledge that builds up at the put in and take out. 

I was thinking about putting the original fins on the mirage drive to give me a few more inches of clearance but there is no doubt that somewhere I would snag it up and who know what would happen. 

All the catacrafts, pontoons, and drfit boats just watch in envy when I load and unload my Yak. I love watching the reaction of people trying to get ready to launch and for me two trips to the car and about 2 minutes later I was paddling away.  Same story taking out.  Everyone is sitting around, I load my gear,  throw the yak on top, and I am out of there!  The guy that runs the shuttle service was amazed.  He said he was wondering what the heck I was using driving a 2 door civic for transportation...especially since the inside of the vehicle is loaded with gear.  I tell him it's not a car...it's a really big tackle box on wheels. 

As far as rocker goes, the bottom centerline is pretty flat.  I have no idea what is a lot of rocker or not for these kayaks. Sorry.  I just use it...never really analyzed it against other boats.  All I know is it works for getting from point A to point B on a river.  Most of my rookie season was spent on the salt.  The river dynamics and hydraulics are very different.  I should pay more attention.  I am so focused on fishing that I don't take the time to notice alot of these things.