kayak for a big guy

Hey everyone...awsome website!  Trying to get into kayak fishing, and finally found a website for the NW.
With my research so far, I think I really like the OK Prowler13 Angler.  I love the lay out, seems stable, easy paddle, and doesn't break the bank (too much).  Now here is my issue...I weigh in around 270# (and dropping!!), and I want to make sure the kayak I get will suit me.  I've always had boats in my life but never a kayak, so I won't have anything to compare.  I also don't believe there is any place around here (Bellingham) to demo.  I will be doing almost exclusive lake fishing, but would probably try and break into some river fishing and possibly some pleasure kayaking in the bay (as well as the lake).

Will the P13 work for me?  Should I be looking for something different?  I know a few of you have these 'yaks, but seem to be smaller guys, and any input would be awsome.

Thanks in advance, I hope to be contributing to this board very soon!

JER

Welcome aboard jman!
I paddle the P-13 and love it! I am quite a bit smaller at 148#.
The P-13 would be fine for the areas you mention Lakes, slower rivers and estuarys. It also does nicely on the Big Pond for me.
With your larger size maybe the OK Big Game is more suitable?
The demo paddle is the best way to decide for yerself. Hang in here and maybe some one in the Bellingham area will offer up a chance for you to paddle a few boats before purchasing the best fit for you.
The new OK Trident may also fit the bill for ya. 
take some time and look around the site here, much to learn and contribute!
This is a GREAT bunch of folks here and willing to help all who choose to venture within the Yak side of the Force

I'm about 230, and have paddled a P13 for the last couple years. I love it. I've been paddling the Trident 15 this summer, which is nice, but I think that 13' length is perfect for all-around use. At 270, you're probably toward the upper end of the weight limit for the P13, so I'd definitely recommend a test paddle if possible. Another Ocean Kayak boat to look at is the Big Game. It's a wider, more stable platform, with a good layout for fishing. It's a good choice for lakes and other calm water paddling, and would offer you plenty of float. Demos should be too hard to run across if you poke around here for a bit. Good luck & have fun!

Brian

Kayaks for big guys? Well I come in at 6'6" 230#'s so I think I have some good perspective. Two that come to mind as great big guy yaks are the Malibu X-Factor and the Ocean Kayak Big Game. The Malibu is insanely stable and after a little coercing can paddle well. The OK Big Game is close behind but a good bit shorter so doesn't paddle as well IMO. Another that can't be forgotten is the Hobie Outback. I like to call it the bass boat since you have your hands free to troll and steer. For lakes and ponds it's a champ! It pedals at a good speed but if you add some turbo fins you'll get going plenty fast. It's a different kayak experience but one that's really effective and the one that got me into kayak fishing.

Welcome to "the Cure" and let us know how your kayak hunt continues.

Z

Thanks for the replies!  My fighting weight is usually around 230-250#s...I got a little work to do!
But it still seems like even at 250# i'm still on the big side of kayaking...and I guess i'll move my research over to the Prowler Big Game.  From what I've read it seems to be a bit harder to paddle, a bit slower, but on the other hand more stable.  I will be using this kayak for a little bit of leisure paddling, but my main reason for buying is to get out on the lake and catch some fish!  Is this 'yak noticeably more of a hog, or is it just something performance wise when put directly in comparison with the P13/15?  Does the extra weight play into the equation a lot?  I'll be loading this thing solo probably 99% of the time.
For some reason, I've been real fixated on the Ocean Kayaks (maybe because they are located 2mins up the freeway from me?), but I guess maybe I need to check out some other companies more in depth. ie Hobie

Thanks again...this seems like a warm place to ask questions!

JER

Day Late!!!! Sportsman's Warehouse's kayak sale ended yesterday!!!! Could have saved myself like $2-300!!!!  Might have to wait a little while before I can get my kayak now!  Shoulda started seriously looking a little sooner...bummer.   Guess this gives me longer to find the perfect one

I bought an OK Drifter earlier this year and really like it so far. I'm 6'3" & overweight at about 250 right now, and really like the stability. It was a huge improvement over the Scrambler I used last year. The Drifter weighs 13 lbs. less than the Big Game, and is almost as wide at 32.5". On the other hand, I've heard that the Prowlers provide a drier ride than the Drifter.

Tom

I thought the Big Game paddled surprisingly well, given its design goals. The easiest way for me to describe it is that it is a fishing platform that paddles well, instead of a kayak that fishes well. It glides and carries its speed fairly well, turns decently, and is very stable. Compared to the P13/15, it's a bit of a drop in performance, but judged on its own, I thought it was a solid boat. My only concern was covering distance in the boat versus others, but for fishing in lakes, bay, etc, I liked it. Weightwise, it is a bit heavier, and the width can make it a bit bulky. I used a cart to haul it around, which made life much easier. There's several other Big Game owners on here, and you can search around for their thoughts on the boat, and maybe find a demo in your area as well. We all have our opinions, but nothing beats paddling a boat for yourself if possible.

And now for the shameless plug - we have most of our sit-on-tops on sale right now, including the Prowlers and Big Game. If you're interested, you can check them out here:
http://www.outdoorplay.com/store/productlist.asp?F=2&PDID=276&DID=440

Good luck in the search, and post away with any other questions.
Brian

I wonder if you can't order directly from Ocean Kayak in Bellingham. Don't the have a factory store or something?  They should.  Seems like it would give me a nice warm fuzzy feeling inside to know that the kayak I paddled never had to be shipped at all.

Brian

270? I'm 265 and I have not sunk any of my boats! (yet)  (well, there was that little heritage incident,,,,,,) I own a Hobie Adventure, Malibu Exteeme, a Cobra XL, a Heritage Pro 14, and a Victory Blast,,,a bunch of boats. Truth is ALL of my boats sit down on their lines (except the Malibu) and that just tends to make them more stable. (lower cg?)  The published weight limits tend to be a bit conservative and will give you a bit of wiggle room as long as you don't carry too much gear. That said I tend to pack like Mark Sosin (waaaay too much junk) and I like to push even those limits.




That said, I've paddled the p13 and even I don't go anywhere near its maximum capacity (400-450!). It fishes just fine and rides pretty high. Bottom line is go paddle a few boats if you can, but the p13 is not a bad choice. (That's a p13 below with the Redfish)

I thought the Big Game paddled surprisingly well, given its design goals. The easiest way for me to describe it is that it is a fishing platform that paddles well, instead of a kayak that fishes well. It glides and carries its speed fairly well, turns decently, and is very stable. Compared to the P13/15, it's a bit of a drop in performance, but judged on its own, I thought it was a solid boat. My only concern was covering distance in the boat versus others, but for fishing in lakes, bay, etc, I liked it. Weightwise, it is a bit heavier, and the width can make it a bit bulky. I used a cart to haul it around, which made life much easier. There's several other Big Game owners on here, and you can search around for their thoughts on the boat, and maybe find a demo in your area as well. We all have our opinions, but nothing beats paddling a boat for yourself if possible.

And now for the shameless plug - we have most of our sit-on-tops on sale right now, including the Prowlers and Big Game. If you're interested, you can check them out here:
http://www.outdoorplay.com/store/productlist.asp?F=2&PDID=276&DID=440

Good luck in the search, and post away with any other questions.
Brian

Funny you should plug...i've had my cart full for almost 2 weeks now at your site...I just can't seem to pull the trigger!  I just swapped out the P13 for the Big Game, but not sure if its the one yet.  I've also added a different seat, scupper plugs, life jacket, and a kayak mount for my rack.  I'm hoping I can find a kayak here locally so it doesn't have to ship, but so far I can't beat your price...even if I buy locally!  How long is your sale going?  How much longer can I get 15% off accessories?

I don't know if OK has a retail store...i really hope they do, I would love to get my hands on a factory color blemish or something.  I used to know a guy who worked there and could get a discount, so I'm also keeping my ears open for someone who might work there!

Fishes...nice pics!  Glad to hear i should have no problem staying afloat!  So I fly WAY under the suggested limits of the P13...and I can't see myself packing more then 100#s of gear EVER, so that leaves me never going more then 370# out of the allowed 4-450#s.  But the added stability and room make the Big Game seem more appealing.  The quickness and ease of paddle for the P13 make me sway towards it...this is just too confusing!  Makes me head hurt!  I'm definitely keeping my eyes open for locals with these 'yaks, I wanna paddle 'em.

Thanks again everyone, all of your insight is super helpful, I think i've read every review on the web...but its nice to be able to directly hear from the people who use 'em (or kayaks in general).  Keep it coming if you got it

JER

JER,
up to you, but personally, i wouldnt pick up the scupper plugs just yet. i went and spent the money for them for my PT15 and wish i had waited and used the money elsewhere...after my 1st day out, i pulled all of them out and havent used them since. which worked to my advantage last weekend when i took a 4 ft wake wave over the bow, and the deck and cockpit drained completely in about 5 minutes. [ hazard of being on Lk Wash. when the snot nosed kids are loose behind the wheels of the over priced PBs]

yarjammer has a p13, and i think he sleeps with it..i know he slept ON it and can crawl around on the thing like a kid on a jungle gym..but then, he's only 31 and probly weighs about $1.60 with rocks in his pockets. 

i've seen 2 big games, and one or two drifters among us, and all were paddled by guys our size. so, ya wont sink the puppy just from bein a larger guy.  then theres a certain fish nerd here who is at least 6'3 and he paddles a lil old caper, i think. but, i think the predominant O.K. model among members is the P13, followed by the BG. at least thats what it seems like.

other boat makes? well i know of a certain AOTY points leader who is paddling alternate cobras and just killin us, and there are those among us who have the peddle drive hobies and are happy with them. personally, i think the price tag is a bit steep, but then, i've been called a cheapskate more times than i can count..

also, look in the classifieds section here, i think there is still a used scupper pro up your way for sale. they have an almost cultish following among other site memberships. as pole explained it to me, it's a good boat, and one of the 1st to be designed solely as a fish yak.

fftw, wow, what a collection for a private fleet... guess that comes from being such a seasoned yak fisher, and a minor legend to boot.

later,

hah, that's funny. One question I should have asked before - how much paddling experience do you have? That may help with the decision as well. My dad paddled my P13 last year, first time in any kayak other than an inflatable. He's 6'2", about 240-250, and he felt a bit "tippy". But as FFT's pics and testimonial show, the boat itself can handle the weight if you're comfortable with it. And what feels tippy the first day feels perfect a few months down the road. I think I mentioned this before, but for me the choice comes down to whether you want a great-paddling kayak that fishes well, or a great fishing platform that paddles well. Anyway, either way you go, you're going to be on the water and happy.

Not sure on an OK retail outlet. They tell us there isn't one, but you never know what might happen if you stop by and knock on the door. As for our sale, the boat sale depends on inventory levels, so no particular end date. The 15% discount on accessories won't be going anyplace. We've done that for years. And I'll echo Richard's sentiment on scupper plugs. I've never used them, and not sure when I would. Between wind, my paddle, pulling my legs in & out of the boat, pulling fish in, etc, I always end up with water in the boat, no matter how calm the conditions. Even in winter, with my gear on I don't notice the water one way or the other, so I'd rather have it drain.

Just my .02 but If you're going to get an OK yak go w/ the boyz @ Outdoor Play. They're local, give us a great price, and support our site. Plus their customer service is awesome! Enough said.

Z

Unless I find one used or can get a cheap second from the factory I can guarantee my business to outdoorplay.  Where are they located?  I know shipping is free, but if its somewhere close, I'll save everyone hassle and $$ and just pick it up!  You guys have better prices then I can find anywhere, and everything I read about you is top notch.

And for paddling...I would rate my experience as none.  I have paddled a small sit on top once for maybe an hour or so.  I have a lot of smaller boat experience, but nothing like a kayak.  Maybe that Big Game will suite me well for a beginner, its not like its going to be the only one I can ever buy...although I don't see myself being able to afford/store multiple kayaks like some of your guys' fleets (super jealous!)...yet.

Speaking of paddles, I noticed all of the paddles on outdoorplay were pretty pricey.  For a beginner, what would be a good but more affordable paddle.  I know you get what you pay for, but I won't be able to pay for a good one after making such a purchase.

JER