PA or Zodiac? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

bubblehide · 10-19-2011, 07:37 PM

I used to use Zodiacs a lot back in the day. They can be damn nice, but they can also be a whole lot of maintenance; not just the motor, as you have to consider that there still a ridged floor rubber boat. They don't always handle sharp things like hooks well, and then there is the wear of beach launching and landing; you'll be patching her in no time at all, and the patch simply wont hold if you anything less than a totally professional job. If you want to get more mileage out of her, simply stay away from or limit the beach launches and landings

Then I'll add that beach launching and landing is not always an easy task, and as were all aware, conditions can change very fast, making way for accidents, i.e., capsizing in the surf. Thus, your not just risking your gear, your also risking a very expensive outboard. If your buddy gets the Zodiac, I'd highly recommend that he find and take a Coasty course that includes such use and experiences.

I can't speak for SD county, but up here in LA county, it is not legal to launch nor land a motorized boat from the public beaches, just one more thing to consider.

But given my choice, I'd go with both, as it's always better to have options.

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10-19-2011, 07:37 PM	#4
bubblehide Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 552	I used to use Zodiacs a lot back in the day. They can be damn nice, but they can also be a whole lot of maintenance; not just the motor, as you have to consider that there still a ridged floor rubber boat. They don't always handle sharp things like hooks well, and then there is the wear of beach launching and landing; you'll be patching her in no time at all, and the patch simply wont hold if you anything less than a totally professional job. If you want to get more mileage out of her, simply stay away from or limit the beach launches and landings Then I'll add that beach launching and landing is not always an easy task, and as were all aware, conditions can change very fast, making way for accidents, i.e., capsizing in the surf. Thus, your not just risking your gear, your also risking a very expensive outboard. If your buddy gets the Zodiac, I'd highly recommend that he find and take a Coasty course that includes such use and experiences. I can't speak for SD county, but up here in LA county, it is not legal to launch nor land a motorized boat from the public beaches, just one more thing to consider. But given my choice, I'd go with both, as it's always better to have options.