What kind of leashes do you prefer?

The coil ones are less likely to get tangled in your reels when you're fighting a fish or just simply retrieving an iron. They are easy to store and don't tangle as easy. I would certainly suggest those.

As far as the paddle goes, I would suggest getting the Manta Ray over the String ray.

It has a wider blade with more Surface area. It weighs almost exactly the same and the price point is the same.

The rule of thumb when choosing a paddle is you want to match the kayak in width.

"many recreational kayaks are so wide that they need a little extra "oomph" in the paddle to make them perform well—especially when accelerating from a dead stop. "
http://www.roguepaddler.com/choose2.htm



AB Sting Ray Specs
Blade Surface Area:
87 sq.in.
Paddle Weight:
28.75 oz


AB Manta Ray Specs

Blade Surface Area:
104 sq.in.
Paddle Weight
29.5 oz


If I remember, you got an X-Factor? 33inches is a nice WIDE boat. You will definitely notice a difference.

Good luck, see you out there.
Neill