Long Time Listner-First time Caller:P(A couple of Questions)

2982 Views 15 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Blaen, Aug 23, 2006

milan72

Discussion Starter · Aug 22, 2006

Hi Everyone,

I have just registered as a user of this forum after watching it for a while. I have finally decided that is about time that I joined in on the fun that you guys are having.

I have been researching for my first kayak to buy and have put one up at the top of the list. The Viking Predator.

These are the reasons. After having sat in just about all of the decent entry level (serious) fishing kayaks I have found the Predator to fit me the best. I am 200cms tall and 95kgs. For the price of the basic set up - it has two rod holders, a retractable rudder (also can be used as a skeg), a well at the back with optional hatch and an optional front hatch. For my ambitions of paddling throughout rivers and Moreton bay the length and peoples opinions of the yaks ability indicate that it is perfect.

I also want to put in a fish finder. Where to put the transducer. The prowler 4.5 has a provision for 'an in the water' tranducer set up under the drink holder between the ankles. Has anyone seen the that the predator also has a hole high between the ankles? Obviously not a drain for the cockpit (too high). Maybe it is a provision for a sail in the future of the Predators accessories??? Even so a perfect place for an 'in the water' transducer set up (providing there is not too much water turbulence) in my opinon. Did I mention the price? Much cheaper than any other Kayak with the same options and similar dimensions! So I would like some feedback from anyone on the performance of this yak or maybe someones comments on why I should choose another.

I have another issue I want to raise about yakers' safety re: sharks in the water but I feel that I have already written too much. So maybe I will post this up as another thread later.

By the way, my name is Milan and I am pleased to finally introduce myself for some constructive yaking about yaks and fishing!

I am looking forward to meeting some of you on the water.

Milan.

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1 - 16 of 16 Posts

Mallard Duck

· #2 · Aug 22, 2006

Hi Milan,

Glad to see someone else who is 6'6" looking to get a yak. Fortuantely you are doing much better than me @ 95kg so that should give you some more options once you know the leg room is ok. I currently tossing up between the Hobie Outback and Adventure but thats another post.

Anyway glad to have you onboard.

Cheers

Chris

simond11

· #3 · Aug 22, 2006

Hi Milan
Welcome aboard. Would be good if you can include your location under your name.
I am sure some of our more erudite kayakers on this forum will be able to give you some constructive information about your kayak. I have a Prowler 15 so...I am out of it!!

Great you have joined us.
Cheers

Simon
prowler 15

RedPhoenix

· #4 · Aug 22, 2006

Unfortunately, due to the change in ownership of this web site and the lack of response by the owners to my requests to remove my email address from all administrative-level notifications and functionality, I have decided to remove my posts on AKFF. Thank you for the great times, the fantastic learning experiences and the many many fish. If you are desperate for the old content of this particular post, it is available below base64 encoded and bzip2 compressed.

Red.

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milan72

Discussion Starter · #5 · Aug 22, 2006

Hi guys,

Thanks very much for your quick welcome.

Chris; I have heard good thins about the hobie's but I find thier price range a little more than the predator. Of course this is because they have thier whiz bang pedal power technology which I think is a great idea but I would be cheating on my fitness to do that. It would be great as a secondary in case one was to get too tired but for the money I still like the Predator and I do fit in the predator quite comfortably (on dry land - haven't paddled it yet). The predator from memory has a capacity of about 190kgs, so it should be fine a bigger person plus cargo. Have a look at it when you are in a kayak shop next and let me know what you think.

simond11; if the shark pictured under you name lives in Clovelly (I love that area of Syd) I am glad I am in Bris and hope it doesn't have any relatives in Moreton Bay!

Thx redpheonix and all for your welcome. I am not sure how to include my location under my name but I am sure I will work it out shortly. For now I have included it in my signature.

Cheers,

Milan

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milansek

· #6 · Aug 22, 2006

HI MILAN
FIRST THE PREDATOR IS A GREAT YAK . 2ND TWO MILANS WHO LIKE YAK FISHING . ITS A SMALL WORLD
BEST OF LUCK FROM MILAN

RedPhoenix

· #7 · Aug 22, 2006

Unfortunately, due to the change in ownership of this web site and the lack of response by the owners to my requests to remove my email address from all administrative-level notifications and functionality, I have decided to remove my posts on AKFF. Thank you for the great times, the fantastic learning experiences and the many many fish. If you are desperate for the old content of this particular post, it is available below base64 encoded and bzip2 compressed.

Red.

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Guy

· #8 · Aug 22, 2006

Welcome Milan
I feel a runt at 6ft 2" but I have a few kilos on you

I paddle a Viking Tempo Fisherman and find the leg room fine but you may be a bit longer .
I have paddled with a bloke who had a Hobie and he left me for dead, those things are fast compared to the poor old Viking, I won't use the excuse that mine was carrying more cargo

I have only been a member a couple of weeks but everyone is really helpful

The Mariner

· #9 · Aug 22, 2006

Hi Milan,

The Predator is one of the largest, if not THE largest when it comes to the amount of legroom. The Tempo has quite a bit less & at 6'2" I reckon you may only just make it. If you have a rudder or electric motor fitted to a Tempo you certainly will run out of legroom as the pedals take-up a lot of space.

The Predator's performance is better that all the others in the Viking range & on-par I'd suggest with Prowlers etc. Value-for-money they cannot be beaten & the adjustable skeg-cum-rudder is a real bonus.

The downside is the deck has not been designed to be really fishing-friendly as there are limited spaces to mount accessories & what spaces there are often aren't flat. The rear tankwell also has a rounded bottom & doesn't fit a milk crate. A bit of work to the mould to add a recessed area would be a major improvement.

The other thing I would change is the way the rudder cables are located towards the centre of the boat & run right under the cockpit hatch. The cables are prone to be caught by a flailing fishing line & make it a real pain to fit anything of size in through the hatch. One of the things on my 'to do' list is to swap the rudder pedals over & re-route the cables down the cockpit sides.

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simond11

· #10 · Aug 22, 2006

Hi Milan
I can't vouch for that particular shark but there is a GWS that is patrolling the Maroubra area and a couple of days ago took a bag of fish off a spearfisherman. He might as well have put a sign on his head saying: "Eat me". :roll:
Cheers

Simon
Prowler 15

milan72

Discussion Starter · #11 · Aug 22, 2006

Hi again everyone,

Thanks for all the responses. They have been really helpful.

Mariner, maybe it was your post I read re the rudder cables being in the way of the centre hatch on the predator. It does make sense to re-route them down the sides. I imagine it would be a bit of an effort to do it. If/when you get around to doing it post up a thread and let us know how it went.

As for the sharks issue, I must say that it doesn't worry me enough to put me off getting a kayak however lets just say that I am taking a cautious approach in learning some common sense re kayaking on thier home turf. There seems to be alot of chatter in this and other forums about shark shields but I haven't seen much in the way of anecdotal evidence of someone being attacked by a shark without enticing such an attack by doing something risky like pulling in a long line with live hooked fish etc.

Thanks red for you technical help and shark advice.

I am planning to take a predator for a test paddle this weekend. Although my experience is limited and I dont have much to compare it to I am sure I will get a resonable idea of the predators attributes.

Cheers.

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ScottLovig

· #12 · Aug 23, 2006

Hi Milan

I'm in the business so "dealer speak with forked tounge" but consider this. I'm 6'5 and 100kg and fit the Hobie Outback, Adventure and Quest no problem.

The Quest is a slick paddle fishing kayak with plenty of storage, wide gunnels for mounting extras, rudder controls strung down the sides and less $$$$.

If you like to troll lures as most of us do then a peddle kayak allows you to have forward mounted rod holders so you can see when fish strike.

Cheers

Scott

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Magicrik

· #13 · Aug 23, 2006

Buy one, BUY one, BUT ONE GOD DAMN IT :lol:
I love mine.
And ive got a FF in it too.
and it handles sweet, i found the ridder needed braking in a bit.
Was stiff to pull in and out at first.

milan72

Discussion Starter · #14 · Aug 23, 2006

Hey magicrik, I am glad that as an owner you can vouch for the predator being a top yak. It gives me confidence that I am leaning in the right direction.

But before i take the plunge I am still keeping my ears and mind open for another week. In fact I can hear hobie vic very clearly over the murmur of the room. Tell me hobie vic what price for the quest. I will do a search for it on google to get the specs and see a picture of the yak.

It just maybe a new contender that I have not really investigated yet, although I have heard owners in this and other forums praising its glories.

Cheers.

Magicrik

· #15 · Aug 23, 2006

If you read my trip report you will know i also think that India saved my life with her being so big and stable.

One thing thou........i Find at the end of a trip shes taken on a little water.
Only 1 or 2 tablespoons......and it come in from the back rudder hatch.
Ive also found it depends on how ruff the water is, ruffer the water more water you take on.
Normaly i take about 1 tablespoon of water, but being stoke in the waves i still only took on about 5 tablespoons.
But then i dont know if this is normal myself as ive only had my yak about 4 weeks now.

Thanks Rik

Blaen

· #16 · Aug 23, 2006

Welcome to the forums Milan,

I hope your search is swift, do any of the dealers in your area offer you the chance to test out the Yak you want first? If so take that option.

As for me I was looking at the Viking, I am 185 cm and was at the time 127 kg, it would have suited me easily, but I went for the Hobie Outback which I find a very comfortable ride.

Good luck in you research.

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