Malibu Stealth 12 $900 (off the market)

[alanw]

Yes the stealth hatches suck, none of them fit or seal right. It's always a wet ride but the bait tank just about makes it worth it.

I've been too lazy to make any real effort to fix the hatches. I just enjoy the yak and dump the water out at the end of the day.

Glad you're going to give it a shot before you sell it, let me know how it goes.

[Sdspeed]

Originally Posted by alanw

Yes the stealth hatches suck, none of them fit or seal right. It's always a wet ride but the bait tank just about makes it worth it.

I've been too lazy to make any real effort to fix the hatches. I just enjoy the yak and dump the water out at the end of the day.

Glad you're going to give it a shot before you sell it, let me know how it goes.

I like the stealth 12 especially because of the bait tank and I have limited storage space. i haven't bought yet due to shoulder issues. What's Malibu's
position on the leaks and hatch issues. I don't wanrt to buy a new Yak to have to start fixing it the same week i get it

[sanjuancapokayak]

it looks great. Stable and cool looking. I think the water leaking out the bait tank and into the side hatches was the biggest disapointment. And in the wintertime having the bait tank drain onto my feet is something I'm not looking forward to. I had so much water come in through the side hatches, that .... my fishfinder and baittank shorted out somewhere (any advise as to what happened?) . Saltwater I guess ruined the wiring, cause the battery was in the pelican case. Just flustrating when my homemade plywood yak and Trident 15 ride so dry and nice in the wintertime. I took one windwave in and was surprised at how wet that wave was. Sitting that low to the water is gonna be a new wet ride that I haven't yet experienced. And the conditions I were in weren't even that bad. Been in lots worse, and it kinda makes me nervous to think how I'd do with constant windwaves hitting my Stealth 12 one after another.

I've got my work cut out for me, trying to figure out how to make this my main ride. I know my getting use to the kayak has a little bit to do with the amount of water I found inside the kayak, sure. Also, had a dead cell phone, the side hatches are far from waterproof. My bad again though, on my other kayaks I have dry storage boxes that I put all the stuff in. You live and learn. And that is what I will try and do, I just hope I don't sink and die With the recent money spent, I can't afford to make too many big changes in the near future. Even will have to save up to purchase the auto bilge pump. I want an auto bilge pump install in this Kayak especially, but will have to use the hand bilge pump for now.

As for the hatches, I think Malibu is okay at best in replacing the hatches if there is a problem, but I've read some real bummer situations on this very subject as well. Something they know about and want to fix, but haven't yet. To me it seems, they probably know they have a serious issue on there hands and are working overtime to fix a.s.a.p. From what I've read they give you all the reasons you don't want to hear like...."well, your using your kayak in conditions that it wasn't intended to be used in." You know the Guy in the Tie that likes to Lie approach.

Agree big time on the main selling point being the bait tank. But, if you can't turn it on cause it leaks water all over and into the side hatches then ....it just doesn't make it worth it. And to have Fall and Winter water temps draining onto your feet, plain sucks. Makes me think, reaching over my back with a net just might be more appealing.

Again, this Kayak has potential to be great for someone, I'm just not sure it's for me. Still kicking myself for not doing more research before buying. In the future, I will read reviews on something I pay more than $500 for... cause usually the info of the pros and cons are out there in today's info world.

[Sdspeed]

Originally Posted by sanjuancapokayak

it looks great. Stable and cool looking. I think the water leaking out the bait tank and into the side hatches was the biggest disapointment. And in the wintertime have the bait tank drain on my feet is something I'm not looking forward to. I had so much water come in through the side hatches, that .... my fishfinder and baittank shorted out somewhere (any advise as to what happened?) . Saltwater I guess ruined the wiring, cause the battery was in the pelican case. Just flustrating when my homemade plywood yak and Trident 15 ride so dry and nice in the wintertime. I took one windwave in and was surprised at how wet that wave was. Sitting that low to the water is gonna be a new wet ride that I haven't yet experienced. And the conditions I were in weren't even that bad. Been in lots worse, and I kinda makes me nervous to think how I'd do with constant windwave hitting my Stealth 12.

I've got my work cut out for me, trying to figure out how to make this my main ride. I know my getting use to the kayak has a little bit to do with the amount of water I found inside the kayak, sure. Also, had a dead cell phone, the side hatches are far from waterproof. My bad again though, on my other kayaks I have dry storage boxes that I put all the stuff in. You live and learn. And that what I will try and do, I just hope I don't sink and die

Well from one of us who hasn't pulled the trigger yet I give ya big time kudos for your honesty and keeping us rookies in the loop
It's a great looking set-up!

[alanw]

If you have water leaking from the bait tank into the side hatches then something is wrong. Either you have way too much water flow into your bait tank (turn down the valve, run it on 6v battery) or you don't have the required drainage holes drilled in the black plugs. The water level in the bait tank should not overflow the top. Mine runs with the water at around 1-2 inches lower than the top of the bait tank.

The water should drain nicely from the bait tank into the footwell's rear scupper holes without flooding anything. A little bit of water in the footwell is to be expected.

[Big Wave Dave]

I just leave the plug out of the bottom of the bait tank. The water level is lower, but the bait lasts longer due to the recirc of fresh water through the hole. Sometimes I don't even turn on the pump.

[boxturtle]

I had the same problem. No matter what the water level is if you have swells that rocks the kayak water will spill out of the bait tank.... I think the tank hatch isn't design to be water tight. The two side hatch should be...in my opinion it was a poor design making the bait tank higher then the storage hatches it should have been the other way around

[sanjuancapokayak]

Originally Posted by Big Wave Dave

I just leave the plug out of the bottom of the bait tank. The water level is lower, but the bait lasts longer due to the recirc of fresh water through the hole. Sometimes I don't even turn on the pump.

I will try that...Thank You. Just was excited to turn the tank on. Will have too now since the water that came in shorted something out. I'm a relatively new Kayaker as I have about 25 trips in me and started out last Fall and Winter. I work days in the Summer and can't get as many trips out there when the weather is warmer and it matters less that the trip is wet or dry. Also, I try to avoid the Weekend Summer crowds.

So to have cold water coming in and sitting in water...just ain't gonna cut it. Will keep you posted in the future on the outcomes in the fish report section. Willing to keep on making adjustments, but if I can't figure a solution then I may have to unload this thing or try and trade it for something that's dryer.