CountryboyinDC Posted June 11, 2019 Posted June 11, 2019 This is the bottom of the Jackson Coosa HD. I took a couple of pictures of the bow and stern too, but this is as far as I dare reduce the image quality, so I can't attach those. This is not a real popular design for hulls that I see these days; the bottom is relatively flat with only the shallowest of arches. It does have the 2 ridges sort of midway between the keel and the sides where most of the scuppers are. The center scupper is for the transducer, but I've never made use of it. Although not visible from this picture, this is a pretty rockered boat (shaped like a banana) for a fishing kayak. That's great for maneuvering in the shoals but makes for a lot of correction strokes in open water and/or wind. This thing weathervanes like a prospector-type canoe. For the dimensions, this is not a particularly stable kayak (I think I once taped it at 12'6 long and 33 3/4" wide at the widest point). Compared to the Wilderness ATAK or 12' Bonafide, the primary stability is considerably less. The reason I have the Coosa HD rather than one of those is for river fishing. This one can slide over rocks and has a has a shallow enough draft that it makes the stability trade-off seem worth it to me. Hulls with pontoon, catamaran, etc. style hulls tend to get hung up on shallow rocks more, and if you hit a rock on the right or the left, even if the kayak is keeps moving forward it wants to throw you off the opposite side. Many of them have sharp hull angles (the Bonafide in particular) that I worry about the plastic at those sharp angles being drug off on a rock. For the Coosa HD, I can stand in it and pitch from it myself, but there are a lot of guys (and one gal) that have this kayak that never stand in it. I'll take the Predator PDL out in bigger water, but the hull makes this the reason I have this for rivers. Quote
BoatSquirrel Posted June 11, 2019 Posted June 11, 2019 On 6/5/2019 at 12:32 PM, HoosierFisher said: Don't have a picture, but I've got an Old Town Topwater 106 on order. It has their Double U Hull design. It has a 440lb weight capacity. Seems like a nice combination of stability and size. It's 73 lbs. So it shouldn't be too unmanageable. I considered the RS 117 but the closest dealer is around two hours away. I also read about the tracking issues with Bonafide. A local shop is an Old Town dealer. Made my decision easier not having to drive a few hours to a dealer or deal with shipping issues. Will you give us a review of this boat when you get some time in it on the water please? Thanks! 1 Quote
Brad Reid Posted June 11, 2019 Posted June 11, 2019 Just a note to all Hobie kayakers (with drives) that your standing stability will be enhanced if your fins are down, not tucked up. This assumes, and I don't own a Hobie to take a look, that the fin blades are positioned as would be a keel. It'll add just a bit of water resistance to a kayak's left/right wiggle. Brad Quote
Super User J Francho Posted June 11, 2019 Author Super User Posted June 11, 2019 10 minutes ago, Brad Reid said: Just a note to all Hobie kayakers (with drives) that your standing stability will be enhanced if your fins are down, not tucked up. This assumes, and I don't own a Hobie to take a look, that the fin blades are positioned as would be a keel. It'll add just a bit of water resistance to a kayak's left/right wiggle. Brad I own a Hobie Compass, and it makes zero difference. The fins naturally default to straight down, due to gravity. I often grab one of the pedals to move while standing and fishing. I can't feel any difference, other than I'm moving forward. You can see the stability here: Quote
HoosierFisher Posted June 12, 2019 Posted June 12, 2019 On 6/11/2019 at 8:09 AM, BoatSquirrel said: Will you give us a review of this boat when you get some time in it on the water please? Thanks! I can. Although there will be a bit of a delay due to the wrong kayak getting shipped to the shop ha. Quote
Super User Choporoz Posted June 12, 2019 Super User Posted June 12, 2019 On 5/22/2019 at 1:58 PM, J Francho said: Here's the hull on a Hobie Compass. You can see that there was some thoughtful design put in here. The stern recess is low profile, but protects the rudder when stowed. That little black piece is a replaceable, sacrificial strip, so you don't wear a hole in the hull loading and unloading. Also note the Lowrance Ready transducer pod. The dual sponson design aids tracking, but also provides a ton stability for stand up fishing. Let's see some of your hulls, and talk about what amkes it "good" for you. @J Francho, keep an eye on that rudder. It's pretty straight, but won't take much more curvature to start causing problems. Mine tends to veer off when it's cold, as in the morning, before the heat tightens things back up later in the day 1 Quote
Super User J Francho Posted June 13, 2019 Author Super User Posted June 13, 2019 I haven't seen anything like that on mine. I would contact Hobie about it. Quote
Super User Choporoz Posted June 13, 2019 Super User Posted June 13, 2019 Thx. They said it happens sometimes in storage or shipment and I should take it up with my dealer first. I'm hoping to get in there this weekend. 1 Quote
Hook2Jaw Posted June 13, 2019 Posted June 13, 2019 lol, leave your drive down in the big rollers off Tybee Island here while fishing for Spanish Mackerel and let me know how that added stability works out. 1 Quote
Super User J Francho Posted June 13, 2019 Author Super User Posted June 13, 2019 This is a bass fishing website Quote
Hook2Jaw Posted June 13, 2019 Posted June 13, 2019 Come on this way, @J Francho, and we'll find a 120 pound tarpon to tow that Compass. Do you fish KBF? Quote
Super User J Francho Posted June 13, 2019 Author Super User Posted June 13, 2019 2 minutes ago, Hook2Jaw said: Do you fish KBF? I did in the past. I might again, but I haven't really been too interested. Quote
Hook2Jaw Posted June 13, 2019 Posted June 13, 2019 @J Francho, I think I'm about to give the Southeast KBF Trail a go next year. 1 Quote
HookInMouth Posted June 13, 2019 Posted June 13, 2019 Kaku Voodoo Hull No idea how it compares with other kayaks as far as stability and paddling efficiency/speed but it's known for both. I know 300lb guys stand on it all day long. I also know that I don't have any issues paddling for longer stretches and I don't feel "slow". When I stop paddling it goes straight. Plastic is thick and tough. High quality. Couldn't be happier with it myself. 2 Quote
Super User J Francho Posted June 13, 2019 Author Super User Posted June 13, 2019 Thanks for posting that. I was wondering how the new crop of square stern designs got around tracking issues. Now I can see the strakes and the keel. Quote
HookInMouth Posted June 13, 2019 Posted June 13, 2019 Yep. Figured it was odd enough that it might be useful to have in this thread. 1 Quote
Brad Reid Posted June 17, 2019 Posted June 17, 2019 On 6/11/2019 at 10:23 AM, J Francho said: I own a Hobie Compass, and it makes zero difference. The fins naturally default to straight down, due to gravity. I often grab one of the pedals to move while standing and fishing. I can't feel any difference, other than I'm moving forward. You can see the stability here: I found a little video showing the fins and how they are positioned when all the way down as they pass each other. So, I think if they were "fixed" in that position, that if you rocked a Hobie, starboard to port, or vice versa, the two fins (again, if locked into position) would encounter water resistance. Any resistance they absorb takes away from a kayak's left-right or right-left wiggle. Agreed though that it could be negligible. I take your word that it is, for sure. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted June 17, 2019 Author Super User Posted June 17, 2019 I understand, on paper it might seem so, but in real world, no. It would similar to adding a skeg to a kayak, and touting it as adding stability. It isn't something I'd say was a marketable feature. The boat feels the same to me whether the Mirage Drive is installed or not. The double tunnel hull and square stern add more to the stability, as well as the width to length ratio. Quote
Super User DogBone_384 Posted June 17, 2019 Super User Posted June 17, 2019 On 5/22/2019 at 3:29 PM, Smalls said: but even with pedals, he didn’t seem like he was going very fast. I have a Lure 11.5 with Overdrive. Nope, they're not terribly fast, but their stability, layout, and integrated wheel more than make up for it. Quote
Harold Scoggins Posted June 17, 2019 Posted June 17, 2019 On 6/13/2019 at 1:49 PM, HookInMouth said: Kaku Voodoo Hull Never heard of, or seen a Kaku before. I just checked out the Wahoo 12.5 on YT and on their web site; I'm impressed! The high stern and bow really got my attention along with that hull design. I like a kayak that looks like a traditional kayak and they did that as well as giving it the features of other angling kayaks. Nice, I like it! 2 Quote
Super User J Francho Posted June 17, 2019 Author Super User Posted June 17, 2019 12 minutes ago, Harold Scoggins said: Never heard of, or seen a Kaku before. I just checked out the Wahoo 12.5 on YT and on their web site; I'm impressed! The high stern and bow really got my attention along with that hull design. I like a kayak that looks like a traditional kayak and they did that as well as giving it the features of other angling kayaks. Nice, I like it! The Wahoo hull reminds me of the Malibu Stealth 14 hull. My buddy had one, and it was really stable. 1 Quote
Super User Choporoz Posted June 17, 2019 Super User Posted June 17, 2019 Never heard of them, either, but first glance, that Wahoo looks like it has a lot of potential...especially at the price point. Quote
HookInMouth Posted June 17, 2019 Posted June 17, 2019 1 hour ago, Harold Scoggins said: Never heard of, or seen a Kaku before. I just checked out the Wahoo 12.5 on YT and on their web site; I'm impressed! The high stern and bow really got my attention along with that hull design. I like a kayak that looks like a traditional kayak and they did that as well as giving it the features of other angling kayaks. Nice, I like it! My wife wants a Wahoo 12.5. It's every bit as fast and stable as they say. You really can't go wrong with Kaku. Quote
BoatSquirrel Posted June 17, 2019 Posted June 17, 2019 2 hours ago, JLBBass said: bottom of an Ascend 12T Anyone have an Ascend sit on top? I have read several reviews that say they are tough to stand in... Quote
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