New drier Yaks for 2007 ...

[Volusian]

Hope the manufacturers decide to make us all some drier ride designed Yaks for 2007 ..... We need the seat areas higher than most designs currently. Also more paddler friendly cupboard / stoarge space close by so the paddler gets easy access to it .. I own and have access to a Caper - A Drifter - A Tarpon 120 and have tried the Prowler 13 and think all these design are on the poor side when it comes to a dry ride.

 

... your thoughts please ..

 

oh ... and a Happy New Year to you all when it arrives ...

[SpeciMan]

Raise the seat to get a drier ride and stability is compromised so the yak is designed wider (and most probably slower and less suited to rougher conditions).

 

I prefer kayaks with a lower seat - maybe more of a wet ride although we dress for immersion and lets face it when the wind & waves pick up it doesn't matter which kayak you're paddling you will get wet.

[SpeciMan]

Happy New Year to all AN Members

[GB]

Give me a wet ride anyday. It's a watersport afterall and we all dress for the occasion (or we should do). I was part of a troop out yesterday and no matter how dry a ride you had you were getting wet.

Show me a kayak that stays dry on anchor in a 2ft rolling overfall current combined with a wind driven chop hitting broadside and torrential rain and I will call it a cabin cruiser.

[Volusian]

Give me a wet ride anyday. It's a watersport afterall and we all dress for the occasion (or we should do). I was part of a troop out yesterday and no matter how dry a ride you had you were getting wet.

Show me a kayak that stays dry on anchor in a 2ft rolling overfall current combined with a wind driven chop hitting broadside and torrential rain and I will call it a cabin cruiser.

 

 

I agree that we will get wet most of the time.... but i wouldnt mind me ass being a bit drier or not sat in a puddle all the day as is. From what ive seen of the Big Game model from ocean the seat area looks to be a fair bit higher which may help give the paddler a drier ass at least ...

 

... or am i just being picky while under the slight influence of the wee scotch stuff ..... tis new year after all ... !

[darnsarf]

Sorry but you are in the wrong sport if you want to stay dry. Higher seating equals less stability, Higher freeboards equal more windage. Besides a small boat wouldn't stay dry in some of the conditions we have safely paddled in.

 

Agree, some storage improvements can be made but these requirements are very individual and difficult to cater for generically. We need to recognise that angling, whilst growing, is still a relelatively small sector in the SOT market and a specifically designed boat would be quite specialist and designed for who, the fly boys, calm water boys, the all weather boys, the only in a blue moon boys, normaly used for the kids boys etc. All would ask for something different. I am sure you can see the problem. Designing several boats to the requirements of such a minority market is not a valid option.

 

The nearest we have seen to date is the Elite. It is a good yak for many but does not suit my needs.

 

I am afraid that the needs of the tackle tarts will always require basic well designed hulls that can take all the nuclear reactors, torpedo tubes and Radar Richi and co can throw at them.

 

I personally feel that there are enough well designed hulls out there that allow all paddlers to find something to suit them and can be modified to meet their own fishing needs. Sometimes I do wish people would look beyond the usual models. Buying a kayak should be as individual as buying a bike. When I go to meets I love seeing the different rig outs and models that turn up but all to often its my Scupper versus the P13s, both great yaks but it would be nice to see some Perceptions, Malibu and Tampons plus a few other perfectly good yaks that are out there.

 

There's my wish for 2007.

 

Now Im off in to get P....d

 

Oh and "Happy New Year!" Hic, Hic

Edited December 31, 2006 by darnsarf

[richi]

I agree that we will get wet most of the time.... but i wouldnt mind me ass being a bit drier or not sat in a puddle all the day as is. From what ive seen of the Big Game model from ocean the seat area looks to be a fair bit higher which may help give the paddler a drier ass at least ...

 

... or am i just being picky while under the slight influence of the wee scotch stuff ..... tis new year after all ... !

 

A drysuit would keep your ass dry

[paintfly]

A drysuit would keep your ass dry

And stick a sponge behind your seat and squeeze it out every so often - makes a huge difference

[boomphat]

It's all about the scupper stoppers, I've had some perfectly dry paddles.

[The Yak Fisher]

There is a new kayak on the market in the US by Native Water Craft. This yak may interest you. I do not know if it is available in the UK.

 

http://www.nativewatercraft.net/