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16 Posts
Hi guys, Was wondering if anyone can give me a heads up on a Ocean River " Freedom" yak, it looks like a fair lump of a boat for sure.
Worth a look or is it a dunger?
Worth a look or is it a dunger?
Ocean River "Freedom"
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2,010 Posts
Mate, I had never heard of them before you posted this. I just had a look at their stats. Quite wide and very heavy for the length. The website only shows a view looking downwards to the deck so you can't get an idea of the hull shape such as how flared the bow is , how it is chimed ect which would tell us how it is going to perform.
In my opinion they would want to be very cheap as at present, the Ocean Kayak Scupper Pro are under a thousand dollars and are a fast fishing kayak offering more than sufficient stability. The Scuppers are an absolute classic. If the Freedom is priced competitively take one for a test paddle but make sure you also paddle the other popular fishing kayaks. Do not put too much emphasis initially on primary stability as every sit on top fishing kayak has more than sufficient secondary stability and if you buy a barge you will soon be looking to replace it.
How tall are you and how much do you weigh? Where do you mainly see yourself using it? A lot of people do not initially plan on fishing offshore but they soon get confidence in their boat and want to get offshore. Since kayak fishing has gotten so popular, a lot of kayak builders have added rod holders to their existing range. It takes more than a pair of flush mount rod holders to make a good fishing yak.
Catch ya Scott
In my opinion they would want to be very cheap as at present, the Ocean Kayak Scupper Pro are under a thousand dollars and are a fast fishing kayak offering more than sufficient stability. The Scuppers are an absolute classic. If the Freedom is priced competitively take one for a test paddle but make sure you also paddle the other popular fishing kayaks. Do not put too much emphasis initially on primary stability as every sit on top fishing kayak has more than sufficient secondary stability and if you buy a barge you will soon be looking to replace it.
How tall are you and how much do you weigh? Where do you mainly see yourself using it? A lot of people do not initially plan on fishing offshore but they soon get confidence in their boat and want to get offshore. Since kayak fishing has gotten so popular, a lot of kayak builders have added rod holders to their existing range. It takes more than a pair of flush mount rod holders to make a good fishing yak.
Catch ya Scott
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Thanks for the reply Scott, I have never heard of them before either but being a newbie that didn't surprise me! Having found this forum and had a good look around the boards here, it has been a very steep learning curve, You guys should never under appreciate the value of your advice. this site has been a wealth of information for me and I'm sure, many others.
about me, well I am a fair lump of a guy too, 110kgs and 6'3" tall, I have seen the Scupper pro's and also had a look at the Esprii, do you think the Esprii would take a guy like myself around the Pumicestone Passage and maybe off around Scarborough etc?
Thanks again
Jack
about me, well I am a fair lump of a guy too, 110kgs and 6'3" tall, I have seen the Scupper pro's and also had a look at the Esprii, do you think the Esprii would take a guy like myself around the Pumicestone Passage and maybe off around Scarborough etc?
Thanks again
Jack
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11,115 Posts
A fella having a look at various yaks tried both of mine, as a trial run, and the espri surprised at how well it was carrying him, he's same weight as you Jack, and a tall man but not sure of an actual height.Yak n Jack said:
The espri would be capable of doing the jobs above, but if the pocket permits perhaps a larger boat is better.
You are welcome to try either of mine if in the area
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Thanks for the reply Scott, I have never heard of them before either but being a newbie that didn't surprise me! Having found this forum and had a good look around the boards here, it has been a very steep learning curve, You guys should never under appreciate the value of your advice. this site has been a wealth of information for me and I'm sure, many others.
about me, well I am a fair lump of a guy too, 110kgs and 6'3" tall, I have seen the Scupper pro's and also had a look at the Esprii, do you think the Esprii would take a guy like myself around the Pumicestone Passage and maybe off around Scarborough etc?
Thanks again
Jack
about me, well I am a fair lump of a guy too, 110kgs and 6'3" tall, I have seen the Scupper pro's and also had a look at the Esprii, do you think the Esprii would take a guy like myself around the Pumicestone Passage and maybe off around Scarborough etc?
Thanks again
Jack
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16 Posts
Sorry for the double post, still getting used to the way these things work
Thanks for the reply Dodge, I am still looking, I think thats half the fun!
Problem is, I want one of everything!!
Thanks again,
Jack
Thanks for the reply Dodge, I am still looking, I think thats half the fun!
Problem is, I want one of everything!!
Thanks again,
Jack
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51 Posts
hi jack,
Glad you like the forum as there is heaps of info here. I fish and paddle the pumicestone passage and brissy river regularly and reckon you can't go past the swing. but I am pretty biased
Anyway its a personal thing which way you go so try as many as you can before you decide. if you want to try mine just P.M and I will let you know where i will be.
Glad you like the forum as there is heaps of info here. I fish and paddle the pumicestone passage and brissy river regularly and reckon you can't go past the swing. but I am pretty biased
Anyway its a personal thing which way you go so try as many as you can before you decide. if you want to try mine just P.M and I will let you know where i will be.
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16 Posts
Thanks again wearebeingwatched, friendly mob on here! It's great to see!
Hope to catch up with you all one day
Jack
Hope to catch up with you all one day
Jack
Hi there,
I just saw the Freedom for the first time at Brisbane retailer where they had it on special for $750. I asked the staff and they said it was made in NZ and was the last stock available hence the clearance price. I am sure they would do some sort of deal too if you asked.
To me it looked like it had a lot of potential to spec up into a fishing yak. Nice length (4m) with lots of space. On the down side it weighs in at 30kg which I reckon would make it pretty tough to load up on a roof rack by yourself after several hours paddling.
I just saw the Freedom for the first time at Brisbane retailer where they had it on special for $750. I asked the staff and they said it was made in NZ and was the last stock available hence the clearance price. I am sure they would do some sort of deal too if you asked.
To me it looked like it had a lot of potential to spec up into a fishing yak. Nice length (4m) with lots of space. On the down side it weighs in at 30kg which I reckon would make it pretty tough to load up on a roof rack by yourself after several hours paddling.
G
Guest
·Heya Arachorn
$750 is a good price, but it I were you mate I'd go see Karl's mate at Anaconda and pick up a Scupper Pro.
Karl got a great deal, a little over $900 with a glass paddle.
There are other kayaks in higher price brackets I'd reccomend as well but if your sticking to your budget its hard to look past the Scupper Pro.
The Scupper has a great rep as a fishing platform, its longer and narrower than the Freedom so would be noticeably faster and more seaworthy. The deck/hatch layout on the Scupper is very similar to the Freedom but does have a flat section between your legs for mounting accessories, so the Scupper would be my pick in that regard as well.
The Scupper weighs only 27kg but is 4.5m, and will take a rudder if you ever want to add one as well which is another plus.
Thinking ahead as well, if you went with the Scupper Pro, your going to get much better resale if you ever want to upgrade.
Just my $0.02 mate
Good luck with the decision making.
$750 is a good price, but it I were you mate I'd go see Karl's mate at Anaconda and pick up a Scupper Pro.
Karl got a great deal, a little over $900 with a glass paddle.
There are other kayaks in higher price brackets I'd reccomend as well but if your sticking to your budget its hard to look past the Scupper Pro.
The Scupper has a great rep as a fishing platform, its longer and narrower than the Freedom so would be noticeably faster and more seaworthy. The deck/hatch layout on the Scupper is very similar to the Freedom but does have a flat section between your legs for mounting accessories, so the Scupper would be my pick in that regard as well.
The Scupper weighs only 27kg but is 4.5m, and will take a rudder if you ever want to add one as well which is another plus.
Thinking ahead as well, if you went with the Scupper Pro, your going to get much better resale if you ever want to upgrade.
Just my $0.02 mate
Good luck with the decision making.
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16 Posts
Thanks guys, I had pretty much discounted the Freedom idea, due to the weight factor and overall size, I have a couple of kids that will also be using it at times( although they already have their own "ozzies") so I am leaning towards an Espri by Viking, We have had the ozzies also by Viking, for a few years and the finish was pretty good and almost indestructable.
I can hear some of you groan......Not another Espri owner!
Do you think I could go too far wrong with an Espri?
Jack
I can hear some of you groan......Not another Espri owner!
Do you think I could go too far wrong with an Espri?
Jack
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190 Posts
I am close to 100 kgs (perhaps more now, after too much French cheese!) and am 6'3". As you can see from this pic, I am not low in the water - and sit perfectly comfortably in it. Being a realtively short kayak, I was expecting it to be a bit sluggish to paddle. Not at all - slips through the water remarkably well. If your budget does not stretch to some of the top of the range kayaks - the Espri is excelent value for money. I certainly had a lot of fun messing around Scarborough (mainly) with it.
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Thanks Guys, I have decided on the Espri, in fact I pick it up Tuesday!!
sooo.... if i pick up the Espri on Tuesday, is there some unwritten rule that "thou must have Wednesday off to play in it !!!"
really dont want to upset the fishing gods at this early stage!
in the words of Big Kev ( god bless him) " I'm Excited!"
Jack
sooo.... if i pick up the Espri on Tuesday, is there some unwritten rule that "thou must have Wednesday off to play in it !!!"
really dont want to upset the fishing gods at this early stage!
in the words of Big Kev ( god bless him) " I'm Excited!"
Jack
Joined
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16 Posts
Thanks Guys, I have decided on the Espri, in fact I pick it up Tuesday!!
sooo.... if i pick up the Espri on Tuesday, is there some unwritten rule that "thou must have Wednesday off to play in it !!!"
really dont want to upset the fishing gods at this early stage!
in the words of Big Kev ( god bless him) " I'm Excited!"
Jack
sooo.... if i pick up the Espri on Tuesday, is there some unwritten rule that "thou must have Wednesday off to play in it !!!"
really dont want to upset the fishing gods at this early stage!
in the words of Big Kev ( god bless him) " I'm Excited!"
Jack
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2,010 Posts
Onya Jack, what colour did you end up getting? I sure you will be happy with it mate, I have never heard a negative comment about them from their owners. I haven't yet paddled one but Sam's arrived yesterday so I hope to shortly rectify this.
Catch ya Scott
Catch ya Scott
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16 Posts
Today is the day!
I ended up getting a green one. Mango I think they call it!
and yes Wednesday is gazzetted as a FDO.
(fishing day off)
Jack
Check the reports section for future developments
I ended up getting a green one. Mango I think they call it!
and yes Wednesday is gazzetted as a FDO.
(fishing day off)
Jack
Check the reports section for future developments
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12,396 Posts
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.
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Jack well done you will enjot the yak.
Maybe click the appropriate button here mate http://tinyurl.com/g6nn9
Maybe click the appropriate button here mate http://tinyurl.com/g6nn9
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