Kaskazi kayaks

Any of you guys seen this boat? These bad boyz are developing a cult following down here and should appeal to one or one of you guys up there (you know who I'm talking about my favorite paddling curmudgeon)

They really are some slick boats, but they come at a premium compared to most SOT's (although they are commensurate with conventional glass sea kayaks).



But if you fit that puppy with a mirage drive slot....... Now we're talking!

http://www.kaskazikayaks.co.nz/kaskazi-dorado-11-xidc59510.html

Nice!  15.9 ft x 25in.  Like the hatches - solid looking - like the fish it's named after 

I think I just drooled on my keyboard....

That would be one heck of an ocean fishing boat!

huli in the surf and that work of art got tossed on the rocks I would sob uncontrollably for days

Sean "SBD" White from NCKA had a Dodo for awhile.  I test paddled it once and it was very nice.    The fish hatch you see open in the photo is a nice touch.

huli in the surf and that work of art got tossed on the rocks I would sob uncontrollably for days

yes but the FG won't warp in the sun and when you crack it you can fix it easily. I call FG boats "lifetime" boats for that reason. It's also the reason most HP sea kayaks are FG as apposed to poly or kevlar or carbon.

Poly degrades in UV and has a 15 year life expectancy. FG will go forever.

I looked at kaskazi boats for a while but decided might as well be in a closed deck sea kayak at that point.

J

Poly kayaks can take a beating repeatedly in a single day.  Try that in FG kayak and your day or even week on the water has just been abruptly cancelled.  FG degrades over time too, maybe not as fast but I've got a FG dinghy in my yard that looks like hell.

Guy's in poly SOT's have no illusions of being speedstars, save for the Hobies, and we're fine with that.  Oil-canning is a small price to pay for having a durable and reliable boat that can go places guys FG yaks would cringe over the mere thought of.

Having said all that FG kayaks are definitely sexy looking and have their place, just not in my fleet.

Looking into my crystal ball ... I believe fiberglass (or other hardshell forms) will become more a part of SOT's and kayak fishing.  I've paddle a Kaskavi and other hardshell SOT's.  The feel is like nothing you've ever experienced in a plastic SOT.

We don't have to beat up kayaks any more than our SIK sea kayaker cousins do.  So why is this even an issue?

-Allen

"Tomas" here at NWKA has a Dodo.  Waiting for him to chime in with good first hand experience.

-Allen

We don't have to beat up kayaks any more than our SIK sea kayaker cousins do.  So why is this even an issue?

-Allen

I beat mine up bass fishing and during launch/landing. 

FG kayaks cost a small fortune to purchase and then a decent chunk to repair.  Sure they're quick and pretty, but as we say in the 4x4 community- turbos are for shows and chrome don't get you home.  I sincerely hope that our utilitarian poly SOTs don't go away in favor of FG ones.

We don't have to beat up kayaks any more than our SIK sea kayaker cousins do.  So why is this even an issue?

-Allen

I beat mine up bass fishing and during launch/landing. 

You're missing my point.  All kayaks have to launch and land.  If you had a FG kayak, you'd treat it differently.  Yes, wear and tear is always an issue, but it's not that big of an issue if you take care of your gear.  Many owners of FG kayaks deal with the exact same issue and it hardly ever comes up as a point of debate.

-Allen

 I sincerely hope that our utilitarian poly SOTs don't go away in favor of FG ones.

No doubt!  I'm getting used to beating the hell out my plastic SOT for a year only to switch to another I've won the next. 

Poly kayaks can take a beating repeatedly in a single day.  Try that in FG kayak and your day or even week on the water has just been abruptly cancelled.  FG degrades over time too, maybe not as fast but I've got a FG dinghy in my yard that looks like hell.

Guy's in poly SOT's have no illusions of being speedstars, save for the Hobies, and we're fine with that.  Oil-canning is a small price to pay for having a durable and reliable boat that can go places guys FG yaks would cringe over the mere thought of.

Having said all that FG kayaks are definitely sexy looking and have their place, just not in my fleet.

I'm pretty sure I pound my carbon sea kayak more than you guys pound the poly. I got sucked out of the boat at seaside and the boat saled into the sea wall at about 15mph, hull first. hopped back in and surfed for another hour.

the real issue, is that if you care about any performance aspect other than stability, a stiffer material is preffered. once your hull warps in poly, you've lost the lines that make it perform. glass doesn't do that.

also- you can get FG cloth and epoxy at any hardware store for less than $50 and do the work in your garage.

jason, did they break that boat in two in a rock race, or is that two boats getting the snot beat out of them?

i like the idea of a harder shelled sot. looked at a hurricane phoenix 120 at the flagship r e i a few months back, decided it wouldnt carry my fat azz. been looking online for a new old stock or good used Current Designs Altura. still, given choices, i usually vote my pocket. kazkazi is way out of my range

The Altura is a barge.  And I didn't care too much for the Phoenix's either.  Still looking ...

-Allen