Pro Explorer Kayaks

[tinkerbell]

I am looking into my first kayak. I want an SIT and I'll test drive a tarpon 12. Has anyone used or seen the Pro Explorer by Malibu Ocean Sports (www.malibuoceansports.com)? It sounds great but that info is coming from the manufacturer and the fish caught on the kayak are sure impressive in size. The package price is very attractive, too. Any opinions are welcomed. Thanks!

[SamRiley]

Never seen one before but that front hatch is a trip. Question is, how much of that space will be accessible when on the water. Looks solid though. I'd paddle it before I pulled the trigger though. Better to make sure that it fits you well.

Good luck :)

[Wes]

I haven't seen one but I saw a review on another site. Novice owners liked the boat and did not mention any quality issues or other problems. Comments were that it is very similar in design to several Cobra models and the Pro Explorer is sort of a slightly smaller version of Cobra's Fish and Dive. Some comments I've seen about the Cobra's of this type are that they have good initial stability but are relatively slow and have annoying hull slap in small chop.

Paddle a few, ask a lot of questions and decide what's best for your purposes. Keep in mind that what feels tippy at first is likely to become very comfortable after a few days on the water. I like SOTs for safety and in addition to the WS boats I think the Perceptions are worth a look.

[ZenFisher]

I bought a Pro Explorer last fall. (It's a SOT, not a SINK.) So far I am mostly pleased with it's performance. It is my first kayak so I don't have a lot of experience with other models. Wes is right about the annoying hull slap. As for "speed", I would think it rates somewhere in the middle for this type of kayak. Hull shape is similar to a Cobra Navigator. From what I've read on other sites, the Tarpon 12 is a 'better' kayak, but I don't know how they compare cost wise.

Where in CT are you? I'm in Oakdale, not far from Gardner Lake. E-mail me if you'd like to arrange a test paddle. I'd be more than happy to let you take it for a spin.

Sam, there is a center hatch that is large enough for most of the fishing essentials. I've tried to scoot up to the front and access the front hatch while on the water and it was a bit dicey. It can be done, but I wouldn't recommend it. It is ideal for tent, sleeping bag, spare paddle... where you'd be on shore.

rob
chef723@myeastern.com

[Birdman]

That front hatch is wild. From the slide show they have on their site it looks like they're marketing to the illegal alien smuggling trade. Or perhaps for those on the run! Just slide Saddam down the hatch and paddle on down the Tigres!:D

[FLYRODER]

Birdman they are marketing the kayak to the west coast fisherman. They catch 100+lb Thresher Sharks and 50-100lb+ WSB out there not far from shore. Catch 1 of those and its nice to have that much room to store it away.

[Birdman]

Cool!