Results of Demos; Hobi Outback & Revo 13 and WS Ride 135

[sasha]

Thats a very nice review.. I also liked how you compared all three kayaks. I would like to see how you like the cuda.

[Sdspeed]

Thanks for taking the time to give some feedback on 3 popular kayaks. Looking forward to hearing your take on the Torque.

[ftufc]

Thanks; I will add my thoughts on the Cuda (meeting up with Jarrod later today) and the Torque (can't stinkin wait to get it!)

[Jim Sammons LJKF]

Just curious how big a guy you are?
I had a torque for some time, just sold it, and in my opinion unless you are a smaller guy or very agile you will not be doing much standing and fishing in it. Standing on flat water is one thing, standing and fishing is another and this boat was not really made for that.
IF that is your real desire a great addition to the kayak would be the Scotty Stabilizers.

[Rabac3898]

Sorry I don't agree with your opinion on the Revo. I love mine and don't experience the cons that you mentioned. I am 5'10 and 180 lbs and 53 years old. Hobie's have PEDALS not Peddles. Peddle means to sell something. While pedaling its best to have reclined position totally different from paddle position on the seat.
I guess I am used to it after owning one for 4 years. Yeah, I know there is no perfect kayak.

[ftufc]

Thanks Jim for your feedback, very much appreciated; I'm 6'2", 190#, age 58. Yours is the first comment I've read about the Torque not supporting a standing fisherman. Standing for me is not a necessity but a wish. I'm getting it today, and because I won't be able to make a beach/harbor until next Sat. I'm going to drop it in my pool and play on it (80F v 68F, lol). I would really like to know why you changed from a Torque after several years, and what you changed to???? And, have you tried the Scotty outrigger? When I first saw it my interest was really piqued by it, but it looked like it might be a bit bulky/cumbersome; what do you think of it?

Yeah Rabac, everyone's got an opinion right, lol. My review must've sounded much more harsh than I intended; I actually loved the feel of the Revo; just hated the seat and rudder control. And you're absolutely right, "peddling" v "pedaling", I was right in the middle of some Arthur Miller novel when I wrote that.

As an add-on; I demo'd Jarrod's Cuda 14 last night in OSide; I was so pleasantly surprised at his willingness to load up and meet me with two kayaks at 7pm on a Friday night; he's just a genuinely good guy. And it's a very cool boat; very manageable, sleek, great tracking, tons of room inside, very easily "standable", great weight, extremely comfortable adjustable seat, very easy to paddle (in both seat positions), and I don't know the technical details but the hull material appeared to be a composite which provided it with a bit more rigidity which felt good (it almost had a semi-fiberglass feel to it). The only complaint I expressed to Jarrod was, the boat is pretty wet; the scupper holes are large and many, so you wind up with a bit more water in the cockpit than the others I've tried. And, not a complaint but a wish,,, the seat adjustment is spectacular, but very difficult to make with just one hand (for an old guy anyway); but I loved being able to sit "in" the cockpit while paddling hard, then raising it about 5" to cruise and fish.

Hey, also, I really hope I don't embarrass Jarrod (I will feel badly if I do), but I'm a firm believer that when you see something wonderful you need to share it! When we were done loading the kayaks back onto his truck, I saw this incredible kayak bait tank in the back seat; it is portable, probably about 7-gal, self-contained, beautifully designed, sort of the perfect bait tank. Turns out Jarrod makes them. If I hadn't just earlier that day bought one, I would've bought his on the spot. You should contact him if you're interested.

As soon as I get the Torque on "real" water I'll follow up.

[Jim Sammons LJKF]

Originally Posted by ftufc

Thanks Jim for your feedback, very much appreciated; I'm 6'2", 190#, age 58. Yours is the first comment I've read about the Torque not supporting a standing fisherman. Standing for me is not a necessity but a wish. I'm getting it today, and because I won't be able to make a beach/harbor until next Sat. I'm going to drop it in my pool and play on it (80F v 68F, lol). I would really like to know why you changed from a Torque after several years, and what you changed to???? And, have you tried the Scotty outrigger? When I first saw it my interest was really piqued by it, but it looked like it might be a bit bulky/cumbersome; what do you think of it?

Well I guess I should ask where you plan on fishing, though if you gave Jarrod's kayak a try I assume it is local. I have done stand up fishing in the Torque on the flats in Georgia but would not consider it in any kind of offshore conditions. The Torque was just not made to be a stand up kayak, the motor works well and it is a good paddler when you pull the motor out and insert the plug.

The reason for my getting rid of my torque are two fold, I rarely used it, I am a paddler and really prefer that to any alternative method of propulsion. It was mainly used by my videographer, as it really is an awesome shooting platform. The main reason though is that after over twenty years working with Ocean Kayak, I now work with Jackson, so I got rid of all my OK's.

As to the Scotty Outriggers yes I have used them on many occasions while stand up sight casting on lakes up in northern Canada. They really make stand up fishing much easier. Standing is one thing, standing and casting or landing fish is another issue and the stabilizers really help. And if set correctly they also have little influence on the paddle-ability of the kayak, particularly if you have a rudder.

Again I was not in kayaks that were made for standing these were better paddling kayaks, that with the stabilizers, could be used for stand up fishing. Fast boats that I could add these to so that I could stand when I wanted was pretty cool.
I don't generally find a need to stand while fishing locally so I rarely used them here.
I know smaller more agile guys that stand and fish on these same boats, on flat waters, but I am not small or agile.



The Jackson Kayaks though were made for standing up in so the stabilizers are not needed on flat water. I am still not going to stand up in mine while offshore. The last thing I want to do is go for a swim or send my gear to the bottom.

[Jim Sammons LJKF]

Originally Posted by ftufc

I don't know the technical details but the hull material appeared to be a composite which provided it with a bit more rigidity which felt good (it almost had a semi-fiberglass feel to it). The only complaint .

The kayak is just the same as the rest when it comes to material, rotomolded linear polyethylene.
They kept the mold very smooth so it has the fiberglass feel and rigidity simply comes from the angles placed in the mold and several foam blocks inside the hull.
I am really enjoying the Jackson Cuda 14 and I certainly have not been this comfortable after many hours in the kayak as I am in this boat.