MikeinFresno

Well WayneP tells me Im wrong and need more time to figure out the unit cuz it should show arches well...conflicting info from two guys who seem to know...its on me now to figure it out...I do appreciate the help and info given on the various forums

cant really add to the advice, get a used quality yak is the way to go. I had 3 before I finally figured out what I wanted and then bought new.

standing, paddling longer distances and the seat are the issues I see that most yaks cant do all at once. Standing means wide and stable which usually counters fast...the newer lawn chair type seats make sooo much difference in the all day comfort and helping to eliminate sore low back issues.... since you also want to do rivers extra long is not so good either...I would look at the Jackson yaks for the seat, standing and paddling ease...I have a T13 also, and it is a great yak, but it has the old seat pad design and it isn't nearly as comfortable as my new Hobie Outback with the new seat... I could never go back from the seat, but I could paddle again and do without the Hobie drive.

well I just learned that the CHIRP eliminates the traditional shadow/arch that we are used to seeing and that fish are represented as dots instead. I found this to be true on Saturday while ocean fishing. I saw bait balls of sardines and up to 10" mackerel. The balls appeared as a large cluster of dots. I had seen the dots before in fresh water and didn't know this may have been fish.....I will look into this more the next time I get out, heck who knows, it may even be in the instruction manual.

My first new yak was the T13, still have it, its great....the older Tarpons are tippy, but lite and fast

I would say the same

the"glue" to hold down the foam doesn't matter to the TD and the TD does not shoot thru it. The TD is inserted in the pocket which should be cut out on the bottom so the TD has no interference, like thru the foam as mentioned above. The foam "pocket" is filled with water before each use and the TD pushed into the pocket to form a seal which traps the water under it. Silicon will work fine for a temp mount of the foam pocket.

I have now used my & several times in fresh water lakes. It works well and the vegetation really stands out with the unit. Have not had it in salt yet,. but will soon.

the older tarpons are lighter, narrower and tippy. I don't know the year change, but I had two used and got rid of them due to the ease of rolling over...they were light and fast tho.

a friend of mine was the local Minnkota dealer and service guy, he swears by the Trojan over others

if the yak is a SOT it should be stored upside down so it rests on the flat areas and not on the rounded bottoms. The other safe way is a sling of some sort, either on its side on the wall, from the ceiling or some form of a stand where it is positioned upright on its bottom with straps underneath. It should not be stored on the ground or a stand on its bottom or the bottom will most likely distort. If it does get the distortion on the bottom from improper support most times the dents or oil canning will come out if left out in the sun upside down for a while. In the pic above a yak will probly get a flat spot since they are not reinforced with the metal ribs like the canoe.

yes, but put some sort of a pad on the rails so the yak is protected and so that the yak has something to bite into when you strap it down. The plastic on metal bars will be slippery and the yak will wiggle or move, with a pad it will be snug. I use large diameter pool noodles and slit them to fit on the bars. Find them at the Dollar store this time of year for cheap.

with the pickup you can just slide it in and or get a bed extender at harbor Freight for cheap. The car you will need to get bars that go across the top from side to side to put the yak on upside down. There are also some inflatable heavy duty bags for this purpose, but most guys do not like them.

The older Tarpon 120 is a very unstable yak...make sure if you get one one of them it is no more than a few years old. There are several of us in the central valley area and two kayak fishing forums I am on for the area...NCKA and CCCK. I just got a new Hobie Outback and have had several others. Still have my Ocean Kayak T13...maybe we can fish together and you can use my spare. PM if interested.

you stow a pole on the side with the paddle retention device, bungee or clip