Seb85 wrote:
Lighter definitely helps, narrow also good to cut through water/waves. Would it be stable though?
Those high end hobbie is wider but provide stability, wide also means some room.
Often i have too much going on between my legs.
there are 2 parts to stability -- primary stability ( hobie and other fat kayaks have lots of ) and secondary stability ( longer fishing skis and sea kayaks have )
in bigger seas secondary stability is far more important - being able to stand up is far less
so stability is relative to what you need - speed and ease of covering distance is something else that you can also look at
an example a short time back I did a trip with a fishing mate from Blind bight to Irish jacks return and against tide both ways - around 8 - 10 km total distance -- ( not far any way ) he was in a Hobie revo 13 ( not a slow boat by there stds ) Leejo struggled to maintain even a slow cruse speed into the tide and found it damm hard work - he has now upgraded to a 5.75 meter fishing ski and has probably doubled his speed and now pushes into a tide with ease
more to the point he now keeps ups up -- how do both these boats compare to you 3.6 meter cheapy both are faster and easier to cover ground
I wouldn't like to paddle your boat into the tide ether
check out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCG-b46fdqg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCG-b46fdqg
watch how Tommo just sit side saddle and can move around on the yak and yes they are stable enough to pull big fish and the water was pretty carm off shore at Coffs that day
laneends wrote:
Top end kayaks extend that range over the effort/safety required to that in a cheaper one. But it is still time and effort
Keith knows the distances we some times paddle he also would have no problem covering 30 km on a trip in Westernport tide flows and he uses a Hobie revo 16 but paddles it more than he pedals - I also know he keeps looking and a longer fishing ski
rb85 wrote:It really depends on what you are after they all have their advantages and disadvantages I would never use a 5m paddle kayak in the backwaters I fish but will get my Hobie in there anytime.
I agree and I wouldn't wont to pedal a Hobie 10 km off shore or surf launch where as I would be happy to in my stealth
it does depend on what you need from you kayak but test as many as you can
at least having fished from a kayak so you already know what you are looking for in storage and fish ability