So If I Was Going To Get A Yak...just Asking If

[flyfisher]

If your boat is leaking in the scuppers where they are joined together, take it back and get another boat.  Unless you are carrying the boat around with a scupper cart or anchoring through the scuppers creating additional stress, this should not happen.

 

I believe you are right on the feel free being made overseas somewhere.

 

Like other 128T owners found out is that the sealant Ascend uses at the factory doesn't always keep water that gets on the deck out of the hatches.  I unscrewed the hatches and applied a bead of clear RTV silicone around the hole and reinstalled the hatches.  Problem solved.  

 

I read some owners experience leaks in the scuppers where the upper and lower bodies are bonded together.  My scuppers don't leak into the hull. 

 

The 128T is a great kayak at its price point, even with its minor flaws; probably the best 'value' fishing 'yak out there.  It's big and stable (I call it our aircraft carrier.), and the swivel seat is all day comfortable.  It was my first fishing kayak and cost just over half of what I paid for our FeelFree Lure  11.5.  It's heavier than the Lure, but not so heavy I can't muscle it onto my truck's ladder racks, even at the end of the day.

 

Another plus the Ascend has over the FeelFree is that it's made here in the US.  I believe the FeelFree is from Korea, though I might be mistaken, off the top of my head.

 

I really can't answer your question regarding waiting or buying now. That's up to you and what you tell yourself what you want to spend on a fishing kayak.  I bought the 128T first because it got great reviews and was very affordable: I wasn't risking a ton of dough if it turned out I didn't like kayak fishing.  I bought the Lure as a second one after paddling it and being able to hoist it onto my ladder racks more easily than the Ascend.

 

Good luck with your purchase.  Regardless of what brand you buy, fishing from a kayak frees you up to fish waters those 'big & fancy' bass boats can't. 

[Smokinal]

Is there a big difference in tracking between a 10' and say an 11.5'? Any other differences I may notice as a new kayaker? And I should point out that I've owned a canoe for 20 yrs so not new to paddling, just kayaking. My canoe, which I am trying to sell now to fund the kayak, is a 14' Lincoln; very wide, stable canoe.

Thanks again folks. Great info in here.

[flyfisher]

i think it depends on the hull shape but generally the long the boat, the better the tracking.  

[Smokinal]

Would any of you even consider something like this?

 

http://maine.craigslist.org/boa/5134667050.html

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=ultimate+12+basic+kayak&biw=1440&bih=773&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CFMQsARqFQoTCOjv8JHW7sYCFQJIPgodmgcClA

 

Any experience with these?

[Mike2841]

I haven't used an ultimate, but I've paddled a friend's slayer and the native seats are top notch. Ask the guy if you can test it out. The only thing about the ultimate that would be a problem for me is that the deck Doesn't look flat, I have the same problem in my ride. Yes I can still stand on the deck but I'd rather it be completely flat.

Also to add onto my previous post about seats make sure you buy a pfd with a high back.

[flyfisher]

I haven't used an ultimate, but I've paddled a friend's slayer and the native seats are top notch. Ask the guy if you can test it out. The only thing about the ultimate that would be a problem for me is that the deck Doesn't look flat, I have the same problem in my ride. Yes I can still stand on the deck but I'd rather it be completely flat.

Also to add onto my previous post about seats make sure you buy a pfd with a high back.

i thought the same thing when i bought my commander but being that your feet are below the waterline and you can lean your legs against the gunwales, it is surprisingly stable, even without the flat floor area.  

[Darren.]

I haven't used an ultimate, but I've paddled a friend's slayer and the native seats are top notch. Ask the guy if you can test it out. The only thing about the ultimate that would be a problem for me is that the deck Doesn't look flat, I have the same problem in my ride. Yes I can still stand on the deck but I'd rather it be completely flat.

Also to add onto my previous post about seats make sure you buy a pfd with a high back.

 

 

i thought the same thing when i bought my commander but being that your feet are below the waterline and you can lean your legs against the gunwales, it is surprisingly stable, even without the flat floor area.  

 

Ditto fly's sentiments re: standing below waterline, etc.

 

The one thing I preferred about the Ultimate over the 

Commander was the Ultimates pontoons are opposite,

going into the water - which to me was/is more comfy.

 

You may feel differently.

 

But these are amazingly stable boats.

[boostr]

Like other 128T owners found out is that the sealant Ascend uses at the factory doesn't always keep water that gets on the deck out of the hatches. I unscrewed the hatches and applied a bead of clear RTV silicone around the hole and reinstalled the hatches. Problem solved.

I read some owners experience leaks in the scuppers where the upper and lower bodies are bonded together. My scuppers don't leak into the hull.

The 128T is a great kayak at its price point, even with its minor flaws; probably the best 'value' fishing 'yak out there. It's big and stable (I call it our aircraft carrier.), and the swivel seat is all day comfortable. It was my first fishing kayak and cost just over half of what I paid for our FeelFree Lure 11.5. It's heavier than the Lure, but not so heavy I can't muscle it onto my truck's ladder racks, even at the end of the day.

Another plus the Ascend has over the FeelFree is that it's made here in the US. I believe the FeelFree is from Korea, though I might be mistaken, off the top of my head.

I really can't answer your question regarding waiting or buying now. That's up to you and what you tell yourself what you want to spend on a fishing kayak. I bought the 128T first because it got great reviews and was very affordable: I wasn't risking a ton of dough if it turned out I didn't like kayak fishing. I bought the Lure as a second one after paddling it and being able to hoist it onto my ladder racks more easily than the Ascend.

Good luck with your purchase. Regardless of what brand you buy, fishing from a kayak frees you up to fish waters those 'big & fancy' bass boats can't.

Actually the scupper leaks would be on the Ascend FS12T the FS128T is prone to the hatch leaks.

[Dye99]

I was all about the ocean kayak trident 13 for many years, then I Went to a smaller native...then this season I got an ATAK.

Much like different rods and reels, boats are specific tools for me....

I do think the best advice would be to demo as many boats as you can....

[Felix77]

Best advice I can give you is try the kayak for comfort before you buy it. My friend bought a kayak and had to sell it after a couple of outings because it was uncomfortable. I can comfortably fish on my kayak for more than six hours before taking a break to eat, use the bathroom and go back at it again. 

 

One thing I wish i could change on my kayak is that I have to side saddle it to reach the back of my gear box. 

 

I was given this same advice when I went shopping for mine.  

 

Comfort was my #1 priority.  As I traveled around to sit in them I could quickly tell which I would prefer to keep.  After that it was all about your own personal preferences.  For me I wanted a very stable fishing yak.  It was narrowed down to the Ride 115x, the Hobie MIrage and the new Predator.  Of the 3 the 115x was perfect for my needs so I went with that.

 

For the record I had a canoe before the kayak and it was uncomfortable as hell so I avoided fishing out of it.  Wasted good money on that thing so do yourself a favor and make comfort your #1 priority.  It will make the difference. 

 

Good luck.

[Blake2737]

why the hate on the SINKs? When i was looking to upgrade my kayak this past summer i was able to paddle alot of different boats. I ended up going with the jackson kilroy and i LOVE it. i have a problem with dropping things in the lake and the SINK helps with that, also i rented a cuda 12 which is very similar to the kilroy just a SOT. i like the kilroy alot better. to me it feels faster, and more stable because the bottom of the boat sits under the water, im 6´3 190 and have no problem standing in it.

[Rhino68W]

Not sure what your budget is but also looking to the Slayer Propel 10 and 13's. They are awesome fishing boats and offer the value of peddle reverse. I have peddled a friend's many times and have to say that it will be my next kayak. I will probably get the 10' version merely for the fact that it is lighter and more agile, but just as stable as the 13.