Kayaks

[MAD]

J Francho you stated earlier in the year that if you were to buy a kayak it would be the Commander 14. Can you give the reasons why and compare it to the Coosa? Trying to learn as much as possible before buying one.

Thanks,

Mike

[MAD]

If anyone has any comments on the Commander please give your opinions or experiences. Any other suggestions on a kayak are more than welcome.

Thanks,

Mike

[flipin4bass]

Have you tried messaging JFrancho directly? Wish I could help. but my only experience is with the Ocean Kayak.

SCOGGINS OUTDOORS

[J Francho]

I fish stillwater, mainly and sometimes paddle great distances to get to spots. The Coosa is better at "going with the flow," and doesn't track well. It is also prone to wind. If I fished only rivers, I'd probably get a Coosa, it's a super cool boat, but it's a very specific tool. They happen to be the most frequently seen boat on the used market, so if it suits your style, get one used.

The Commander is a lake fishing machine. There are literally thousands of ways to rig that boat to suit you're purposes. It's VERY stable, maybe more so than the Coosa. I've heard more than one story about turtled Coosas.

All that said, I actually think I might be getting a Ride 115, to replace my Ocean Kayak PBG. The PBG is too much for me, now that I have an 18' bass boat. I'd rather downsize a bit, and use a kayak when it is the better tool, instead fishing out of kayak in any water I choose. The Ride series was just updated, and is worth a look.

Another company to look at is Malibu. My friend Paul is sponsored by them, and the boats he fishes out of continually impress me.

[OkobojiEagle]

The Coosa is self bailing while the Commander has no scupper holes... am I correct? If I'm correct in my observations there is a bigger difference than simply how they track. The low freeboard of the Commander will invite plenty of water to wash/spray inside. A lighter solo canoe might also be a valuable consideration.

oe

[J Francho]

That's correct, it is not a self bailing design. I don't think you'll find any solo canoe with the features of the Commander. If that design doesn't seem like a fit, the other models I mentioned are all self bailing sit on tops.

[MAD]

Thank you very much for the in-depth reply. I really appreciate the comments and they definitely help in the decision making process. I always liked the Commander but I heard so much about the Coosa. I also fish more stillwater, even the rivers I fish are more of a lake with heavier current. Thanks again.

Mike

[flipin4bass]

Hey J Francho, have you seen these Ride Kayaks in person? I drove up to the city today to check them out and I was very impressed. I'll probably miss my rod pod on the OK, but the trade off might be worth it. The 135 has a capacity of 550 lbs, that is awesome! I'm a big man and the salesman told me that I could stand up in this kayak without turning it over, something I've never tried in a kayak, but I might be tempted in this thing. It looks more solid than my OK. I had planned to get another OK, but I'm considering getting this one instead. A lot of folks will probably consider the Ride a littly expensive, but from what I saw it's worth every dollar. I like this craft.

[J Francho]

Yes, I had to sneak off to the competition to see them, though. LOL.

[LargeChuckles]

MAD,

You might want to check out the Jackson Cuda and Big Tuna. Both of which should be faster than the commander and have the self-bailing feature, plus have a taller seating position (which makes it easier to stand from), and larger flat deck area to stand on. I posted video on another thread.

As far as the Coosa tracking goes, it tracks great if you have good technique. It doesn't have a strong keel, to rob you of power, but to "automatically" keep you going straight. For small lakes (under 500 acres) it works well and for rivers it is the bomb.

Regardless of brand, you should try them out before purchasing.

[MAD]

Thanks for the advice, I should try some out. What I don't understand is why would a kayak be good in a river but not a lake? Excuse me if this is a stupid question, but seriously don't know. If it is just speed, that is not my biggest concern.

Mike

[LargeChuckles]

River fishermen (especially for rivers with riffle areas) want a boat that turns quickly. Lots of kayaks are made with strong keels that keep the boat going straight even with sloppy paddling technique. However in a river, not only do you need to turn faster (to avoid rocks in the rapid areas), but the current piles against the keel which tends to keep the kayak sideways, making it even harder to turn. A strong keel (or pontoon design) also gives the kayak more initial stability, however it makes it slower to start moving/turning (a disadvantage for river fishing). Both types usually have plenty of secondary stability (ie keeps you from falling all the way over). River kayaks tend have more rocker (bend from bow to stern) as this allows them to slip over bouncy water better (bob like a cork) rather than spear through the water. A design between the two usually is never a "fun" boat to paddle, as they mostly always feel like they are lacking in one aspect or another.

If you ignore the branding, this is a decent description of a kayak attributes (from a sea kayak perspective, but it mostly holds true for other types of kayaks):

http://www.cdkayak.c...sign_basics.php