Buying a Yak this Weekend

O.K. I sold my Malibu X-Factor to a very nice gentlemen who's a member of this site  .  I felt realy good about it... seems like a real enthusiastic guy who will get some good use out of it.

Now... the silvers are here and I'm yakless  .

I'm 5' 10'' and weigh 220 lbs

I mostly fish small creeks, lakes and protected salt water (Hood's Canal and Grays Harbor Bay) for salmon, trout and cra

I want a sot yak that's 11' or shorter.

My final 2 choices for a small fishing yak are...

1- Malibu Mini-X

2- Ocean Kayak Scrambler 11 (the 08 model can be purchased in a extra strong recycled plastic. Info posted on OK "new for 08 site)

Any preferences? Experiences with these craft?? I've done so much research I'm losing my mind! 

So who's the lucky new owner of the XFactor?

Have you taken a look at the OK Caper?  I like that yak more than the Scrambler.

-Allen

Lord Pheonix is the lucky new owner.

I have not looked at the Caper untill reading your reply. It looks like it would fit the bill, but possibly be a fairly wet ride (as would the Scrambler I'm finding out).

Which kayak would you choose Allen?  Your opinion means alot to me as I can tell you have much more experience than I.

I have to get this one right, or my wife will shoot me! 

Tammi is "GREAT" regarding a Malibu Dealership, but I've read some disheartening posts related to Malibu and their warrenties in the norcal kayak anglers site (or lack of honoring them) and there's only 1 Malibu dealership in Wa.

I know there's 2 sides to every story.

I know I should "try before I buy" but Olympia is a 4 hr. round trip to try an OK and Port Angeles is a 6hr. round trip for Malibu.

OK is a Washington kyak which I kinda like. AWWWWE! here I go again. I'm usually a very decisive guy.

Allen, HELP ME! 

Which kayak would you choose Allen?  Your opinion means alot to me as I can tell you have much more experience than I.

In this case experience may work against you.  I've paddled both yaks and can adapt to them.

You really really should try before you  buy.  But you know that.   

See if Tammi will be out towards you and meet her half way.  I think she runs some trips further out on the Peninsula.  Or if you head to Port Angles, Olympic Raft and Kayak carries Ocean Kayak's.  See if they have a Caper to demo.

OLYMPIC RAFT AND KAYAK
123 ALDWELL RD
PORT ANGELES, WA 98363
Toll Free: 888- 452-1443
info@raftandkayak.com

-Allen

-Allen

Thanks Allen. I've set it up where I'm gonna demo the caper and the Mini-X (and maybe even the Malibu adventure pro). Thanks -Richard 

What's the Malibu Adventure Pro???

-Allen

What's the Malibu Adventure Pro???

-Allen

I'm guessing he meant to say the Pro Explorer. Not a bad river yak...

Z

The Cobra Navigator might be another kayak to look at.  It's only about 12 ft long and a very dry ride.

There are even less Cobra dealers in WA than there are Malibu Dealers.  The only one is in Yakima.

Damn ... someone needs to open a kayak fishing shop in the NW.   

-Allen

Damn ... someone needs to open a kayak fishing shop in the NW.   

-Allen

I think perhaps that person would be you, Allen.  Start by selling stuff mail order through this site.

I'm the one that bought the X-Factor.  I'm bad and didn't try it first, but I know it'll be good for my size.  WW (Wetwhopper) is an extremely nice and honest guy.  I wish I could have stuck around his nice little town for a bit, or at least swung by the beach real quick.  Looks like it would be a nice getaway spot in the summer. 


WW -

Careful of the Pro Explorer.  I believe they used a pontoon style hull on that.  It's gonna be a ton slower then the X-Factor was, and not nearly as stable in rough water.  Well, if that's the case, it might be the Extreme that uses the pontoon style hull.  Ask the dealer when you test drive.   It's also longer then your preference by a bit.  I think it might be more stable then the X-Factor in flat water though. 

I guess you saw that the Mini-x doesn't have the same front hatch as the others, so can't have the front Gator Seat.  I actually thought it did until I looked at it 2 minutes ago.    Both the back and the front look big enough to fit a child though.  Perhaps when he runs out of room he'd be ready for his own Kayak.

I didn't do much research on the Scrambler or the Caper.  Besides the Prowler series, most of Ocean's Angler models are allegedly wet rides.  The new Scrambler does look nice though, and also looks like it'll easily fit a child in the front where the hatch is.  OK only has a 1 year warranty though, and I hear they are hard to get in touch with for warranty work.  I originally had my heart set on a Prowler 13, but several dealerships suggested that I might be a bit too large and tried to steer me towards the Tarpon 160i.  The 1 year warranty also got me.

You might take a peek at the Native Manta Ray 12.  They are supposed to be pretty stable, dry, and fast.  Dunno if any dealers are around, and as the original company was taken over, it may be difficult to find even if there are Native dealers.

Told ya I did a ton of research. 

Thanks Allen and Pheonix for the advice. I went forward and bought the Malibu Mini-X along with a 3mm farmer john wetsuit, booties and a woman's pfd called a Wonderjacket made by Astral. Tammie was "wonderful" and even kept the shop open for me well after closing time. I'm going to have to talk to her about this pfd however...I should of looked closer, but it's pretty girly looking (but very comfortable) 

Im already in love with the kayak. I went against my own advice and bought the grey one, but my girly pfd is yellow, along with my paddle. I think I will buy a good quality reflective tape to help make the boat more visible.

I too think Allen should start up an online kayak shop!!!!!!!!!!

I will post pics when I'm done rigging it.

Thanks again for all the advice, suggestions, etc. and thank you Allen for this great site which I was able to sell my kayak to a great guy in a minimum amount of time and hassle.

Sincerely, wetwhopper

Look out silvers. Friend caught a 5lb and a 10lb the last few days. 

I think perhaps that person would be you, Allen.  Start by selling stuff mail order through this site.

I too think Allen should start up an online kayak shop!!!!!!!!!!

Careful what you wish for guys.  It might just come true.   

Truth be told, as I'm still splitting time between San Jose and Seattle, it would be difficult for me to open a shop and guarantee a quality of service that I would need to maintain.  That being said I got some things in the works that may keep me full time up in Seattle starting early next Spring.  Fingers crossed ...

-Allen

I split off the logo talk to it's own thread ... http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/bb/index.php?topic=594.0

-Allen

That being said I got some things in the works that may keep me full time up in Seattle starting early next Spring.  Fingers crossed ...

Allen....hire me

Allen....hire me

Done!  Now get your ass up to Seattle and let's get busy.

-Allen