Malibu Stealth 12 $900 (off the market) - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Big Wave Dave · 09-24-2013, 09:44 AM

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 · 09-24-2013, 10:13 AM

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 · 09-24-2013, 10:20 AM

like I said earlier, I think I will get less water in the kayak the second time around. When I do get the time and money to get my fishfinder and baittank up and running again...I will experiment alot more. Like taking out the bottom baittank plug, take out the plug in the seat scuppers, and turn the adjustment valve way down. I also read that you shouldn't run these bait tanks unless your using a timer...so once I recycle more cans at my job and can afford these extras I will look into buying them along with some marine goop and work on the seals of the hatches the best I can.

Whit-

sanjuancapokayak · 09-24-2013, 10:24 AM

also noticed since I weigh 210 lbs. and had more weight towards the back. The front gator hatch was empty, that I need to balance the weight of the kayak more. That also caused some of the problems, as the baitank drains forward and may have not been as effective because of the uneven backloaded kayak and my weigh as well.

sanjuancapokayak · 09-24-2013, 10:34 AM

Quote:

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.

Dirty Curti · 09-24-2013, 01:05 PM

I'm about the same weight as you 210, 215 sometimes 220 if we BBQ'd during the weekend. What I did for the bait tank was to remove the black slips in the drainage area, I tried drilling holes first but didn't work, and put large scupper plugs in there so it still has room to drain but keeps the dines and chovies in the tank. Also having the right amount of pressure flow into the well helps. It will also change depending on what bait your are keeping alive.

I've been testing the drain plug out to see if enough water flows in and out to keep the bait alive just in-case the battery runs out and it seems to work okay.

As far as water in the storage compartments i get very little in mine. It happens like you said as a wave or wake comes over the edge or even water dripping from the oar with every stroke but there are little drainage holes in the bottom of my storage bags.

But I do love my vessel for sure.

alanw · 09-24-2013, 02:34 PM

I've tried it with no pump and no drain plug in the bottom, and for me there just wasn't enough water in the tank (was only about half full) to keep a full scoop of chovies from being overcrowded in. It should work fine for a smaller amount of bait, or if you can't get the top drainage right with the pump on it may help to leave the drain plug out to help with drainage.

I'm also around 210 lbs, which is part of the reason I wanted the stealth's high weight capacity.

ful-rac · 09-24-2013, 07:55 PM

Heres an old post of my bilge pump set up on my stealth when i had it. Just like you i had the same problems....but i loved my stealth no doubt about that! If your interested check it out.

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/s...lth+bilge+pump

sanjuancapokayak · 09-24-2013, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ful-rac

Heres an old post of my bilge pump set up on my stealth when i had it. Just like you i had the same problems....but i loved my stealth no doubt about that! If your interested check it out.

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/s...lth+bilge+pump

Sweet Tony,
Just curious as to how often you saw water shooting out the side? Thank You for the post, appreciate the pics. That is a project that even I might be able to take on. lol

Whit-

ful-rac · 09-25-2013, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanjuancapokayak

Sweet Tony,
Just curious as to how often you saw water shooting out the side? Thank You for the post, appreciate the pics. That is a project that even I might be able to take on. lol

Whit-

It was a manual system. I would flip the switch every once and awhile to see if I had any water in there. Usually on surf launches, or when I noticed that my bait tank was overflowing, and also on those rough days.

At times I would get gallons of water in there, but with the pump it wasn't a problem at all.

09-24-2013, 10:20 AM	#3
sanjuancapokayak Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: San Juan Capistrano Posts: 69	like I said earlier, I think I will get less water in the kayak the second time around. When I do get the time and money to get my fishfinder and baittank up and running again...I will experiment alot more. Like taking out the bottom baittank plug, take out the plug in the seat scuppers, and turn the adjustment valve way down. I also read that you shouldn't run these bait tanks unless your using a timer...so once I recycle more cans at my job and can afford these extras I will look into buying them along with some marine goop and work on the seals of the hatches the best I can. Whit- Last edited by sanjuancapokayak; 09-24-2013 at 10:26 AM.

09-24-2013, 01:05 PM	#6
Dirty Curti Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oceanside, CA Posts: 419	I'm about the same weight as you 210, 215 sometimes 220 if we BBQ'd during the weekend. What I did for the bait tank was to remove the black slips in the drainage area, I tried drilling holes first but didn't work, and put large scupper plugs in there so it still has room to drain but keeps the dines and chovies in the tank. Also having the right amount of pressure flow into the well helps. It will also change depending on what bait your are keeping alive. I've been testing the drain plug out to see if enough water flows in and out to keep the bait alive just in-case the battery runs out and it seems to work okay. As far as water in the storage compartments i get very little in mine. It happens like you said as a wave or wake comes over the edge or even water dripping from the oar with every stroke but there are little drainage holes in the bottom of my storage bags. But I do love my vessel for sure. __________________

09-24-2013, 02:34 PM	#7
alanw Made in U.S.A. Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dana Point Posts: 1,625	I've tried it with no pump and no drain plug in the bottom, and for me there just wasn't enough water in the tank (was only about half full) to keep a full scoop of chovies from being overcrowded in. It should work fine for a smaller amount of bait, or if you can't get the top drainage right with the pump on it may help to leave the drain plug out to help with drainage. I'm also around 210 lbs, which is part of the reason I wanted the stealth's high weight capacity. __________________ Hobie PA 14 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Jackson Kraken ¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu X-Factor ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu Stealth-12 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Its not a spelling B its a fishing B ~yakjoe

09-24-2013, 07:55 PM	#8
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	Heres an old post of my bilge pump set up on my stealth when i had it. Just like you i had the same problems....but i loved my stealth no doubt about that! If your interested check it out. http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/s...lth+bilge+pump __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

09-24-2013, 09:44 AM	#1
Big Wave Dave Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: San Diego Posts: 137	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.

09-24-2013, 10:13 AM	#2
boxturtle Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 291	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

09-24-2013, 10:24 AM	#4
sanjuancapokayak Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: San Juan Capistrano Posts: 69	also noticed since I weigh 210 lbs. and had more weight towards the back. The front gator hatch was empty, that I need to balance the weight of the kayak more. That also caused some of the problems, as the baitank drains forward and may have not been as effective because of the uneven backloaded kayak and my weigh as well.