Malibu Yak Questions and BTB Gear for WSB/Tuna - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

FISH11 · 05-02-2014, 11:19 AM

Go to OEX they'll be glad to help you in getting a Kayak. They carry quite a few brands. They have Blems from Malibu that would save you a bunch. They cost about 60% of no-blems. New is best for a Kayak or get one less than 2 years old. The posts where there are hatches leaking are usually when going out in the surf a taking waves over the bow. On older kayaks the decks slightly warp (from constant exposure to the sun and riders weight) and the hatch lids don't seal well due to the warping. Most are an easy fix and there lot of post on how to fix. The easiest is some very inexpensive stick on narrow window seal (1/4 or 3/8 inch width) that you just apply around the inside edge of the lid where the original seal contacts the lid. That only takes like 2 minutes per lid and then you just replace that foam seal at the start of the season. It really is not a big deal for the convinience of having large access hatches. Good Luck

05-02-2014, 11:19 AM	#9
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,643	Go to OEX they'll be glad to help you in getting a Kayak. They carry quite a few brands. They have Blems from Malibu that would save you a bunch. They cost about 60% of no-blems. New is best for a Kayak or get one less than 2 years old. The posts where there are hatches leaking are usually when going out in the surf a taking waves over the bow. On older kayaks the decks slightly warp (from constant exposure to the sun and riders weight) and the hatch lids don't seal well due to the warping. Most are an easy fix and there lot of post on how to fix. The easiest is some very inexpensive stick on narrow window seal (1/4 or 3/8 inch width) that you just apply around the inside edge of the lid where the original seal contacts the lid. That only takes like 2 minutes per lid and then you just replace that foam seal at the start of the season. It really is not a big deal for the convinience of having large access hatches. Good Luck __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )