Quote:
Originally Posted by sidified
For now though, is the 12' Stealth acceptable for inshore fishing?
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I like Malibu Yaks, but haven't really found much use for the stealth. Between the two though I'd say go with the 14.
The issue isn't sea worthiness with short yaks, it's paddling. A shorter yak is simply harder to paddle then a longer one. I actually prefer my Mini-x when the surf get's big up North. It handles great in the surf, and I can lock it up in my truck shell. You can take smaller yaks almost anywhere it's just it takes more muscle and time to get them in an out especially when it get's choppy.
Look at white water kayaks, they are tiny but can almost ride through anything. But they are very very slow on flat water, and wont glide like a long touring style yak.
So the 12 will be seaworthy, maybe even better for landing in bigger surf, but's it's going to be slower then the 14, and that's every time you use it, in all conditions.
Personally I think of short yaks as specialty yaks. I've fished my mini-x at La Jolla, but only a few times when I was working down there and did not have a place to store a full size yak.
Talk to Andy and see what he says. Personally I would not recommend fishing anything shorter then a X-13 at La Jolla, there's just too many times you have to paddle a long ways to get to the fish, and for fishing there I'd say the X-13 is a better yak (faster) as malibu yaks go then either of the Stealths.
Jim