kayak for a fat guy

[Dirtyernie]

Hey Guys I'm a fat guy(5'-10", 300 lbs) trying to find the right boat. I started with a Perception 12', too big for it. it was slow and didn't track very straight. Sold it and bought a Hobie Adventure 16', Can't lift my legs at that angle to pedal. sold it and now I'm looking for another boat. I've been told to try a Cobra Fish'n'dive, they're slow and very heavy but also very stable and easy to re-enter from the water. My buddy's got a 15' Cobra by Ocean Kayak that he swears by. How about it.....any other fat guys or veteran kayakers out there that wouldn't mind sharing the pros and cons of different hulls for a XXX size paddler?

[Dannowar]

Might have to go with a pro angler dude...


I've put myself and wife in that thing and it went fine. Super wide and stable just get ready to $$$$

[driftwood]

I always worry when 300 pounders take up kayak fishing.
Can you easily get back on the kayak if you flip in the middle of the ocean?

Have you gone to the bay and practiced flipping and getting back on?

[alanw]

I have no experience with 300# on a yak but in addition to the Hobie PA I might look at the Malibu Stealth 14 (550# capacity), Malibu X-Factor (625# capacity), Ocean Kayak Prowler Big Game (600# capacity). I think Jackson makes a few bigger models with good weight capacity as well. These will be wide (stable) and slowish but you don't want to max out the kayak with you and gear or it might be a wet ride so look at something with plenty of reserve capacity.

[momo fish]

Seen a guy this year get back into a fish and dive and he was in excess of 300#. We fished together and he said he felt comfortable and never feels like he is unstable. But I would get a x- factor as you need to factor in the additional water you will take over the bow as we all do regardless of weight. That's another 50 pounds you may be lugging around.

[ful-rac]

Just get a PA. You dont want to be like that poor lady....never seen a kayak get sunk like that one....WOW!

[dorado123]

Cobra Fish&Dive is very stable and inexpensive
It's durable kayak for all around
So If you have enough money, go for PA
Other than that, Fish&Dive is good choice

[ol'skool]

I'm no 300# but at nearly 6'4" and 230# I find my PA14 to be as stable and comfortable as it gets. The extra weight of the "boat" is no deal breaker for me; I lug it around and bitch a little bit while I do but being on the water in that thing stops my bitchin' right quick...I love it!

[Theophilus]

try a Hobie quest 13 work for me! (285#)

[Bigfishhunter96]

I'm a 6-3, 300 pound football player and my 13 foot endeavor by ocean kayak is a good fishing kayak for big guys. I think the endeavor is basically the trident 13 just changed the name for sale at bass pros. Easy paddle, good for going through surf launch,and pretty stable. But if you got the money I would look into a PA just because they are the best fishing platforms, especially for big guys.

[MrPatrick]

I've been up to 260 and have had no issues with my Trident 15.
I had a FND first and really enjoyed that kayak. If you have a good cadence and proper paddling stokes the FND goes along just fine.


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[Silbaugh4liberty]

I'm 6'1" 230 and my Malibu XFACTOR its stable for me. It's kind of a beast of a kayak, but tons of storage and fairly stable. Probably not as stable as a PA I'd imagine, but good for the price.

[GregAndrew]

I am 6'1" and 280 lbs. And i carry more equipment than most 2 people. The Trident 15 is a great paddle platform, but initially iy feels tippy if you are not used to kayaks. It will get you where you want to go pretty good, and surfs pretty decent too. The X-Factor and Stealth by Malibu are also rides that you might check out. They are a bit more stable than the Trident but not much slower.

[sdmosch]

I have a PA 14. I'm not a skinny

[LastCast]

I'm 5' 9" and just shy of 250. Whenever I travel up to Nor Cal to fish the Sonoma Coast with my buddy from NCKA, I use either his Wilderness Systems Ride 135 or a Jackson Cuda 14. Both are very stable boats. The Jackson Big Rig looks super stable but will be slower. I'm waiting for Wilderness Systems new Threasher 155 to come out so I can take a demo ride on it.

[Siebler]

Lots of guys your size paddling Malibu Xfactors and Wilderness Ride 135's.

Come to OEX and demo some boats, that is the only way to know how you will truly feel in the kayaks.

[skrilla]

I'm sorry but !

Originally Posted by driftwood

[zatesta]

If you're in the oceanside area before you buy one I have a fish and dive you can try out. I'm small 5'8" 125lbs and I move it around fine.

[Dirtyernie]

I'd like to thank all of you that have given me your ideas on different boats. I am comfortable with my balance, but worried about getting back onto the boat if I do get flipped outside the bay. I will be taking Driftwood's advice on practicing when I get another boat this weekend. I'm looking at an older 12' Scupper Pro Dive model by Ocean Kayak. The specs say it'll carry 400 lbs and I don't mind getting wet. The reviews I've read by some other big guys have been favorable. Does anybody know if the Scupper Pro is the predecessor to the Prowler?

[Bryan Griffin]

i'm 6' 4" 270 pounds I have a hobie revo 13 it is a little tippy for me. it is easy to self rescue. i'm as new to kayaking so the tippy part could come from my inexperience. good luck.