choosing a kayak for a big man 330 lbs 6"3" - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

THE CALI HOOKUP! · 12-06-2009, 12:00 AM

Hello fellow kayak fishermen,

I am looking to join the sport in the next couple of months and i need a kayak that can support my weight, and are comfterable to fish on. any suggestions will be appreciated. I have my eye on hobie pro angler pretty exspensive though.

please give me feedback

Siebler · 12-06-2009, 12:08 AM

If I were you I would take advantage of the 650.00 Xfactor deal OEX Mission Bay has right now. This is the perfect big guy boat and a price that wont last.

Other the the Xfactor look at the Stealth 14 and Ride 135

THE CALI HOOKUP! · 12-07-2009, 04:00 AM

Iam a reel big guy offensive line matirial. i need a kayak i cant flip. I have been looking at the hobie pa but to pricey and the ambush kayak, but for some reason it doesnt feel like a kayak no more with a trolling motor hooked up to it.

Jim Sammons LJKF · 12-07-2009, 07:08 AM

Yeah the Ambush was formally made by Ocean Kayak and it really is more like a small boat then a kayak and the weight is 100 pounds, a real beast.
I have plenty of guys out fishing with me at your size in an Ocean Kayak Big Game and they all seemed quit comfortable in it. And it costs half that of a Hobie PA. Give them all a try if you can to see which you feel the most comfortable in.

dsafety · 12-07-2009, 08:14 AM

I can't comment on which boat will support a big guy best but I can tell you that for fishing, the hands-free feature that the Hobies bring to the party is hard to beat. Sure they cost quite a bit more than most of the paddle kayaks but if your primary interest is fishing, especially in the ocean, it may be worth the investment.

Bob

Jim Sammons LJKF · 12-07-2009, 08:32 AM

Oh by the way, there is no such thing as a kayak you can't flip, at some point or another people manage to flip them all.

I have seen people flip the widest most stable boats on the market on days that are grease flat calm without a ripple on the water.
The learning curve is short though and with a little time on the water kayaks that felt tippy at first will start to feel real stable. Just start out slow, on flat water, bays or lakes, until you get a real good feel for what you can and can not do on your boat.
Taking a guided class will also help shorten the learning curve.

Jimm H · 12-07-2009, 09:06 AM

Jim Sammons is correct in that all kayaks can be flipped. You will find this especially true in the surf, but typically not elsewhere if you use proper technique.

As for actual boat suggestions, the narrower/faster boats will be much more unconfortable for you. That elimintates most of the models on the market, except -
Cobra Triple (a friend of mine your size paddle one of these) Really BIG boat... hard to handle by yourself on shore/load in vehicle

Cobra FishNDive- owned one. slow, but really stable, supports 650 lbs. Tracks to right when not paddling

Malibu X-Factor - like an improved FND. Malibu kayaks are heavy
Ocean Kayaks Drifter- prepare to sit in water in most OK boats... the seat in below the water line and the sea water enters thru the scuppers... needs scupper plugs

Hobie Mirage ProAngler - Peddle-Powered, big and comfortable, but a real PIG (I think it weighs 90 lbs empty.)

GO PADDLE/PEDDLE some boats first.

Good Luck.

Jimm H.

Jim Sammons LJKF · 12-07-2009, 10:05 AM

Not many of the Drifters out there nowadays Jimm. The Big Game is a better big guy boat and is a dry ride. The Drifter was closer to a bath tub

Gino · 12-07-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Sammons LJKF

Yeah the Ambush was formally made by Ocean Kayak and it really is more like a small boat then a kayak and the weight is 100 pounds, a real beast.
I have plenty of guys out fishing with me at your size in an Ocean Kayak Big Game and they all seemed quit comfortable in it. And it costs half that of a Hobie PA. Give them all a try if you can to see which you feel the most comfortable in.

Im a big guy just like yourself Cali Hookup, Get into a Big Game Like Jim Sammons says, Youll like it, it turns much easier than some of the other heavy weight kayaks.

dgax65 · 12-07-2009, 11:09 AM

The X-Factor is the longest of all the 'big man' kayaks. It may not turn quite as fast as one of the shorter kayaks, but it is faster and tracks better. As I don't run slalom courses that often, I prefer the X-Factor. If you install a rudder kit you'll be able to turn it even better.

Pat · 12-07-2009, 11:24 AM

Don't bag on the Drifter

Came with a built in bait tank

I'm 6'6'' 260# and the OK Big Game and Malibu X-Factor are the most comfortable for me and very stable.

MalibuJohnny · 12-07-2009, 03:49 PM

Before my X Factor... I had this

Much better in the X Factor...Got mine from OEX Sunset!

dgax65 · 12-08-2009, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pat

Don't bag on the Drifter

Came with a built in bait tank

Yeah. Drifters were great for that. The macs didn't seem to mind sharing the bathtub.

rogersmith · 12-08-2009, 09:13 AM

Im around your size and love my Prowler Big Game.

THE CALI HOOKUP! · 01-14-2010, 02:29 AM

thank to Gino I made a decision to fish the big game and iam extreamly happy with my choice

12-06-2009, 12:00 AM	#1
THE CALI HOOKUP! Junior Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 17	choosing a kayak for a big man 330 lbs 6"3" Hello fellow kayak fishermen, I am looking to join the sport in the next couple of months and i need a kayak that can support my weight, and are comfterable to fish on. any suggestions will be appreciated. I have my eye on hobie pro angler pretty exspensive though. please give me feedback

12-06-2009, 12:08 AM	#2
Siebler Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Richland Oregon Posts: 1,547	If I were you I would take advantage of the 650.00 Xfactor deal OEX Mission Bay has right now. This is the perfect big guy boat and a price that wont last. Other the the Xfactor look at the Stealth 14 and Ride 135 __________________ CJ Siebler

12-07-2009, 04:00 AM	#3
THE CALI HOOKUP! Junior Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 17	have you seen the ambush kayak by old town Iam a reel big guy offensive line matirial. i need a kayak i cant flip. I have been looking at the hobie pa but to pricey and the ambush kayak, but for some reason it doesnt feel like a kayak no more with a trolling motor hooked up to it.

12-07-2009, 07:08 AM	#4
Jim Sammons LJKF Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 947	Yeah the Ambush was formally made by Ocean Kayak and it really is more like a small boat then a kayak and the weight is 100 pounds, a real beast. I have plenty of guys out fishing with me at your size in an Ocean Kayak Big Game and they all seemed quit comfortable in it. And it costs half that of a Hobie PA. Give them all a try if you can to see which you feel the most comfortable in. __________________ Jim Sammons La Jolla Kayak Fishing The Kayak Fishing Show JimSammons.com Last edited by Jim Sammons LJKF; 12-07-2009 at 08:26 AM.

12-07-2009, 08:32 AM	#6
Jim Sammons LJKF Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 947	Oh by the way, there is no such thing as a kayak you can't flip, at some point or another people manage to flip them all. I have seen people flip the widest most stable boats on the market on days that are grease flat calm without a ripple on the water. The learning curve is short though and with a little time on the water kayaks that felt tippy at first will start to feel real stable. Just start out slow, on flat water, bays or lakes, until you get a real good feel for what you can and can not do on your boat. Taking a guided class will also help shorten the learning curve. __________________ Jim Sammons La Jolla Kayak Fishing The Kayak Fishing Show JimSammons.com

12-07-2009, 08:14 AM	#5
dsafety Olivenhain Bob Join Date: May 2008 Location: Olivenhain, CA Posts: 1,121	I can't comment on which boat will support a big guy best but I can tell you that for fishing, the hands-free feature that the Hobies bring to the party is hard to beat. Sure they cost quite a bit more than most of the paddle kayaks but if your primary interest is fishing, especially in the ocean, it may be worth the investment. Bob

12-07-2009, 09:06 AM	#7
Jimm H Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Rancho Bernardo-San Diego Posts: 117	In my opinion... Jim Sammons is correct in that all kayaks can be flipped. You will find this especially true in the surf, but typically not elsewhere if you use proper technique. As for actual boat suggestions, the narrower/faster boats will be much more unconfortable for you. That elimintates most of the models on the market, except - Cobra Triple (a friend of mine your size paddle one of these) Really BIG boat... hard to handle by yourself on shore/load in vehicle Cobra FishNDive- owned one. slow, but really stable, supports 650 lbs. Tracks to right when not paddling Malibu X-Factor - like an improved FND. Malibu kayaks are heavy Ocean Kayaks Drifter- prepare to sit in water in most OK boats... the seat in below the water line and the sea water enters thru the scuppers... needs scupper plugs Hobie Mirage ProAngler - Peddle-Powered, big and comfortable, but a real PIG (I think it weighs 90 lbs empty.) GO PADDLE/PEDDLE some boats first. Good Luck. Jimm H. __________________ "Back in the day, we.... "

12-07-2009, 10:05 AM	#8
Jim Sammons LJKF Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 947	Not many of the Drifters out there nowadays Jimm. The Big Game is a better big guy boat and is a dry ride. The Drifter was closer to a bath tub __________________ Jim Sammons La Jolla Kayak Fishing The Kayak Fishing Show JimSammons.com

12-07-2009, 11:09 AM	#10
dgax65 Guerro Grande Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 629	The X-Factor is the longest of all the 'big man' kayaks. It may not turn quite as fast as one of the shorter kayaks, but it is faster and tracks better. As I don't run slalom courses that often, I prefer the X-Factor. If you install a rudder kit you'll be able to turn it even better. __________________ Douglas Gaxiola Team No Fish- Amateur Staff

12-07-2009, 11:24 AM	#11
Pat Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 283	Don't bag on the Drifter Came with a built in bait tank I'm 6'6'' 260# and the OK Big Game and Malibu X-Factor are the most comfortable for me and very stable.

12-07-2009, 03:49 PM	#12
MalibuJohnny Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lahina (I Wish) Posts: 272	Malibu X Factor Before my X Factor... I had this Much better in the X Factor...Got mine from OEX Sunset! __________________ Malibu Johnny must catch fish

01-14-2010, 02:29 AM	#15
THE CALI HOOKUP! Junior Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 17	thank to Gino I made a decision to fish the big game and iam extreamly happy with my choice