Kayak for BC / WA Coast?

So, I'm almost ready to pull the trigger. And looking for any guidance , experience, direction, etc.

Leaning heavily towards the OC Trident Ultra 4.7.

But also considering WS Thresher or Jackson Kracken.

Waters: Howe Sound, Georgia Straight, Vancouver Island... Hope;illy more

Me: 6'2 185 athletic. Experience in paddling in freshwater, both canoes and kayaks. Some saltwater experience but nothing crazy open water.

I like the simplicity of the OC. Not looking for too many add ons, or gear attachments. Also like the console, the hatch and the roomy trunk.

At this point the only thing that's making me think WS is the better price. I don't like that the front hatch doesn't access the inner hull.

And the Kraken seems like overkill for my needs. And although the seat looks cozy, I worry it will grab the wind like crazy in my neck of the woods. And the whole thing looks like there's too much that can go wrong.

Anyway, paddling all three to compare isn't likely, so anyone gone through the same decision? What did you go with and why?

Anyone paddled a couple to compare?

Thanks for the feedback.

Consider the OK Trident 13 or if you can find a used Trident 15. Two of my favorite paddle boats and I think OK makes one of the best ocean hulls.
I have been out in the nastiest conditions in my prowler 13 and pulled live 85 pound halibut on the deck of a Trident 15.

^ What he said... I loved my T13... if I could have kept it and got my outback, i would have.

Thanks for the feedback. I've been told that 15 feet would be a good size for the waters out here. I do also plan to do some multi-day camping missions as well.

Are there any down sides to a vessel this long? The I am used to 12-13 foot ranges, and 15.5 feet seems very long. Is it overkill?

What am I sacrificing with a yak this long, and vice versa? I suppose the shorter boat will handle better, the longer one will be faster once it gets going. Is the longer boat going to be more stable?

The Sound up this way can get mental windy and choppy in the blink of an eye, so wondering if the longer boat would be better, or potential worse in these conditions?

I am really looking for a good paddler's sit on top, efficient and something I can spend long hours in and cover long distances, rather than a rigged out fishing platform (I"m not really a gear head and want to keep it clean and simple.) But obviously stability in the open water is key as well.

Anyone have any leads on someone in the Lower Mainland down to Seattle area that would have the ultras in stock?

Again, any feedback or experience s greatly appreciated.

b

I can't speak towards the Jackson Kraken, but I've paddled most of the Ocean Kayak line.   I currently have an Ultra 4.3 and love it.  Previously, I've owned an Ultra 4.7 (too big), a Trident 15 (also too big), a Trident 13 (nice), a Malibu Two XL (nice simple tandem) and a Caper (a bit short, good for rivers).

The best "paddler's sit on top" from Ocean Kayak, remains the old scupper pro model. They're almost a collectors item now among kayak anglers who like to paddle.

I feel the Trident 13 is the best all around kayak in the Ocean Kayak line, but the Ultra 4.3 has some advantages in open water.   The Ultra is slightly longer than the Trident 13  (4.3 m vs 4.1 m), a bit narrower (by about a cm), it has a bit more rocker, and it's more water tight (better hatches, molded in screw points).  I feel the Ultra handles surfing in a bit better than my Trident 13 did (or maybe I've just gotten better at it).  The downside to the Ultra 4.3 is that it retails for about $400 more than the Trident 13.   

The Prowler 13 is another option to consider. It's a "classic" that they still make.  It lacks the nice center hatch and other angler refinements, but it's narrower than the Trident 13 and paddles a bit better.

Let me know if you have any other questions about the Ocean Kayak line.  I actually have a 2012 Trident Ultra 4.3 that I need to turn over soon, but I'm in Portland.

Brian

My main boat for several years was the Prowler 13 and I took it out of Neah Bay in some bad conditions it is very capable. I've only paddled the ultra 4.7 a couple times and frankly didn't like it as much as the Trident 15.  You can find used tridents for about half the cost of an ultra.

OK Prowlers/Tridents have to be the sexiest hulls for big water.

The best "paddler's sit on top" from Ocean Kayak, remains the old scupper pro model. They're almost a collectors item now among kayak anglers who like to paddle.

I'll let you know next week. I'm moving from the Scupper Pro to the Thresher. I love the Scupper Pro, but it gets a little squirrely when the waves kick up. I plan on keeping the SP for guests and history.
dk

The down sides of a longer kayak are:
Take up more storage space at home
Harder to get on the roof rack solo
Depending on your rod length getting your around the bow can be tough
Turning radius is longer
Upsides:
More speed
Straighter tracking
More payload without increased width

Call CJ at Next Adventure before you buy.

I've often wondered about the longer kayaks, I opted for the Thresher 140 and not the 155 (15.5') due to the weight and maneuverability, although I have read that the 155 has been tested to be faster. My experience the open salt says that speed is important. It's hard to hit 5 mph for coho trolling and travel time from and offshore location limits our reach as kayakers. All that said, once a fish is hooked, I can understand that long bow getting in the way. I use a shorter rod for jigging, 7', so 14' is about the limit for reaching around. My trolling rod is longer. The salmon I have met don't swim in a straight line. Interesting discussion.

You don't need to troll at 5mph for coho.

Wow, great info. Thanks everyone. Very helpful.

So I've decided to go with an Ultra... But still not sure on the 14 foot versus 15.5 foot.

Does the 1.5 feet make that much of a difference?

-I plan to use 9 foot rods, for the most part.
-Storage space is not a huge issue.
-I am physically able to load the yak solo (Figure if I I can put the cap on my truck solo...)
-The extra space for camping is a plus.

-Not as worreid about overall speed, but if that means more efficiency = less tired = more hours on the water = more fishing... well, that sounds pretty good to me.

Just wonder if it's overkill in these waters. It can get really choppy, and windy out here. That said, there's also a high probabilty of road trips to Baja, Alaska, etc... so maybe it's best to have the boat that can handle all that as well.

And since the 4.7 comes with the rudder, the price difference isn't all that much.

Argh, so many options...

unfortunately, there is no "perfect boat" that meets all conditions and needs

I'd definitely go big. Gotta love the glide and float.

Does the 1.5 feet make that much of a difference?

Good question. I'd like to know too. I've never tried yaks in-between 12' and 16'.