Great way to demo...

There is a person in Stayton, OR who rents kayaks at $40.00 per day.

Since I'm kayakless (new word) until I get my Predator back from warranty work, and since the 2015 Hobies aren't in yet, I've decided now is a great time to paddle a few other boats.

One of the possible "other" kayaks on my list is the Pungo 120. I've booked a rental of one and will take it on the same Willamette river run I did with the Predator to see how much better it is; if at all. I think a full day test will tell me loads more than a 10 minute test paddle of a new boat. They also have a Pungo 140 and other boats I may try.

What I'm looking for is a reasonably stable, 27-29" wide, 10-12' long, under 50 pound, flat water boat that has a bit of whitewater (class I-II) capability. In addition to the Pungos I'd like to try the Jackson Rogue 10 All Water, and the Wilderness Aspire 105 but haven't found those yet to paddle for the day.

Note that the Rogue and the Aspire have a spring loaded skeg to assist in flat water tracking; looks great we'll see how it works.

I realize most of you kayakers are salt and big water fishing people but a short review may be a bit of fun to explore other possibilities.

I agree.  I just discovered that my local sporting goods store rents hobies.  I've never been on one and had the same thought, $30/day to try out a kayak that is the cost of a descent used car, great way to demo.

This past Friday was the paddle test of the Wilderness Systems Pungo 120 http://www.wildernesssystems.com/kayaks/pungo/pungo-120. The well-used rental boat I tried was 7 years old; before the Orbix hatch system and the newest seat design. I thought it would wreak havoc on my back; but even the older Air Pro seat in the low position was very comfortable. The seats back in the high position just not enough lower back support (for me).

My first Willamette river trip in the Predator 13 felt like I was paddling in molasses; I don’t mean that as a negative, the boat is stable enough to stand while fishing through the riffles. What I mean is when you go from one design to another you get something and you inevitably give something up.

Every advertisement and review I found states the Pungo 120 may be the best flat water paddle boat you can buy in its size. What that doesn’t say is the tracking is so wonderful it is difficult to turn in current; not impossible, just difficult. Fortunately the secondary stability facilitates a decent lean so as to pull the pronounced keel partially out of the water’s drag. Learning this is waist deep slack water was a bit wet but once the bracing technique was mastered without capsizing, the boat was a dream to paddle on the flats and in the current.

The main reason for the Pungo demo was to see firsthand how the wind affected the Pungo 120 vs. the Predator 13. I am happy to say the Pungo was great. The upstream wind was worse on Friday but the Pungo was not pushed off course at all. Tracking is excellent and the boat glides very well, it is little wonder why so many people own the Pungo 120 and why it is difficult to find a used one.

A few places I like to fish in lakes require a long paddle or a portage over boulders intentionally placed to discourage people from using well-worn trails of years past. The Pungo 120 at 49 pounds is easy to shoulder carry and could be launched in those areas. Or, because of the Pungo’s speed and tracking it could be paddled to destinations in half the time and effort compared to the P13; especially if the wind picked up. With that in mind, the Predator with its width and tall seat is certainly easier to fish out of.

Did I decide to buy a new Pungo 120? There are some great deals (under $700.00) right now on 2014 closeouts which make the purchase enticing, however the Pungo would be a still waters boat and the eventual purchase of a 2015 Hobie will fill that niche.

Next I’ll venture to Portland where I’ve found a couple of crossover boats. A kayak designed for whitewater up to class three rapids with a drop down skeg said to make flat water paddling doable in the same boat (we’ll see). They are being billed as expedition boats as they have dry storage for a few days of Yak-packing and can tackle many different types of waters. I’m hoping the Jackson Rogue, Liquid Logic XP10 or another similar boat (under 50 pound) will do as advertised.
To have a dedicated flatwater/ocean boat (2015 Revo 13 or Outback) and a dedicated whitewater/expedition boat (McKenzie River summer run Steelhead) would be a plan I believe would keep me very interested in kayaking for many years to come.

Check put the Dagger Katana as well if you are looking at crossovers. Little less stable than the xp10, but quicker and more playful.