[PoddyMullet]

Any takers to nominate a floater for 2006 Yak of the Year? Doesn't have to be a new model this year...just what you believe is the best fishing yak about in 06. After a week of nominations...a poll will run another week. Ya can even try and win a few votes with ya nomination by stating a case...or just a name will do. One nomination per member. What'll take home the biscuits :?: :wink:

 

[RedPhoenix]

Great idea Poddy!

Tough choice though...

The Espri is cheap and cheerful, but suffers from equipment mounting challenges.
The prowler Elite holds a lot of promise, but seems to have a few niggling first-run issues. The venerable P15 is sadly out of production, so I'll tentatively drop it off my list of possibilities.
The new predator is a mean machine, particularly for the price.
The swing continues to be a spectacularly versatile platform..
I don't know enough about the WS boats (like the tarpons) to really consider them..
And HairyMick's and Flump's beasties would be in the running I reckon, if they weren't single-run secret fish-seeking weapons.

Hmm.. no matter what other options I come up with, I keep coming back to the Adventure. It's hideously expensive in comparison to some yaks, a little unwieldy on land, but with the hull redesign to better suit paddlers as well as peddlers, coupled with the storage options and accessories, it makes a pretty versatile yak. The only significant complaints I've heard from owners so far was about the hobie water bottle!

For me, I reckon the swing comes in a close second, with the predator hitting the budget sweetspot. I'm tempted to swap the adventure top-spot for the Revolution, but need a bit more info on that beastie.

So for me: Hobie Adventure.

Red.

 

[JB]

I'd liked to noimate the elite, only 1 reason steming from the weekend

short verison of story
- caught offshore (say 1.5ks)
- westerly wind (and fishing east coast NZ)
- 1.5 metre Northeast swell
- 10knot - gustin 15knot (no real issues here)
- westerly (off shore) chop - not really a biggy but wind generated
- squall hits - kicks up to 25knot- white caps hitting foredeck, drouge out and paddling to keep station while battering down hatches (figeratively), punch into head wind (20 gusting 25) and large chop with opposite swell.

she gets me home safe and sound (was with 3 other paddlers- 1 very top end of experience and a couple others reasonably experienced).

lession for the day, off shore requires off shore yak - maybe we should call for best off shore yak, best lake/river yak and best inshore one as my experiences show that I have not found a yak that meets all 3 ideal.

 

[PoddyMullet]

Yeah I hear what ya saying JB about the categories...no one size fits all. This thread is also tough on the yaks that are just coming out, 07 maybe the year for them. But I'm thinking if you only bought (or built) one yak this year...what'd it be? Whats the cream of the available crop? :?:

 

[hairymick]

Hi Guys,

Great Post.

My humble thoughts.

All things kayaking, in partiucular kayak fishing are a compromise. There is no one best ever, all purpose kayak, like Gatesey has said - apples and oranges.

I think what we might be looking for here is a boat that might best suit most of the needs of most of the paddlers - most of the time and at the same time, be available at realistic prices. Not everyone can afford the top echelon boats like the lovely adventures & dorados etc. Both of these would fit into a superyak category of their own, I think

So here are a couple of suggestions.

Boat for Buck - Viking Espri & Predator

Versatility - Espre, predator & Swing

Popularity - By owner numbers alone would have to be swing.

So here is my suggestion - Swing

 

[Phoenix]

The swing does it for me every time.

 

[dooyor]

the espri for me at the moment been out with guys in swings and p13 did keep up with them and have the price.

 

[Fishing Man]

go the swing, for allround use, quality and fitout options
great boat

 

[aleg75]

For what it's worth, Q-Kayak Escapade :lol: seems we are all voting for our own.....I also seem to be the only one with a q-kayak?

 

[Magicrik]

Got to be the predator fo me.

 

[knot-too-fast]

There all good as long as they get you out on the water and back safely.

 

[Davey G]

There all good as long as they get you out on the water and back safely.

too right....

 

[knot-too-fast]

Gee I can be so deep and meaningless at times........ :lol:

 

[bazzoo]

for me at the moment has to be the espri , stable , tracks well ,reasonable speed and comfortable , aswell as being happy on the pocket, other than that would buy a swing and may do so one day

 

[evarn]

I've only ever had one yak, but i gotta say the Hobie Revolution.... 2 months ago I woulda said the Adventure, but the Revolution is a bit more convenient size-wise (4.08 instead of 4.8 metres), and the front hatch is so much easier to operate, which is a consideration on the water..

It also handles really well and inspires confidence for the pilot! (Pilot coz it's so quick... quicker if i had turbo fins) Go test one out.. you can absolutely hammer and flick the rudder hard and do circle work all day and night...

Anyway... that's what i think...

Ivan

 

[yaksta]

Pedal a Hobie and everything is a distant second...

Don't knock it until you've tried it!!!

Wayne

 

[spooled1]

My vote goes to the Scupper Pro.

Today I rode a 3 foot wave over 150 metres all the way back into shore. Up until the wave broke in the last 30 metres I was going straight as a pin without a rudder.

This is now the 5th trip in a row where I haven't blown a surf re-entry.
Downside is a bit of water thru the hatch in a spill - who cares!

Scupper rocks!!!

 

[YakAtak]

the one I get to paddle on the day, I just love yakking, would be just as happy on the espri as on the scupper or any yak, what a great sport, bring on the next 40 years of paddle fishing.

 

[Sunhobie]

Occy,
Pardon the pl*g but "H*bie" doesn't necessarily mean death to paddling. Sure the "M*rage system is great for fishing but we cater for dedicated paddling enthusiasts with the Qu*st too.
Some H*bies are good for piddling AND puddling.(not at the one time)

 

[Scott]

Sunhobie, maybe you can explain to me how you can paddle one of the larger hobie models when you need to use your hands to control the rudder?

Catch ya Scott