Question for the Free-Divers/Spearos - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

ProfessorLongArms · 11-07-2018, 03:40 PM

Looking into a kayak that's nice and light.
Anybody use a kayak for this kind of application they're particularly fond of?

I love my outback, but it's so much weight to haul down to the beach... Was hoping to shave off 10 or even as much as 20 pounds of hull weight.

Stability not as important as when I have 2-3 rods on deck and I'm sans wetsuit... for obvious reasons

This would be primarily surf launching.
Considering an old prowler or even a revo. Probably only for getting to the kelp, but possibly for covering a mile or two.

From a physics perspective, I'm trying to understand how much of a drawback there is to a lighter kayak, even if it's 13 feet (I see some prowlers @ almost half of my 90 pound hull weight outback)

I've only ever really paddled in a really long, heavy Trident with a rudder and an Outback.

Iceman · 11-07-2018, 04:45 PM

I'd look at a Prowler 13 or Tetra for what you are looking for.

https://oceankayak.johnsonoutdoors.com/tetra-12-75

RedSledTeam · 11-07-2018, 05:43 PM

I would just use a Stand UP Paddle Board (SUP) so you can have more visibility for distance and looking into the water.

Biggameaddict · 11-07-2018, 09:13 PM

I’ve paddled everything from a scrambler to a pa14. If you’re looking for something just to get you to the kelp I would say go with scrambled or mini x for ease of transportation and price. It’s just a floating peice of plastic the end of the day.

Dannowar · 11-08-2018, 06:56 AM

I loved the trident 13. I could lug it down the steps at casa and launch 10 minutes from the kelp.

randman · 11-08-2018, 07:43 AM

Following!this seems like a very interesting thread

Aquaholix · 11-08-2018, 09:51 AM

Aquaterra Prism 14' any day. Perception brand nowadays. Scupper Pros are excellent as well.

On-The-Prowl · 11-08-2018, 02:58 PM

Trident 13 or 15. Throw everything inside the rod pod and charge it.

MrPukaShell · 11-09-2018, 04:59 AM

X2 on the Trident

ProfessorLongArms · 11-09-2018, 12:04 PM

Just wanted to say thanks for all of the input!

This is super helpful.

Dannowar · 11-09-2018, 02:43 PM

Lemme sell you all the way

Easier launches especially when the tide recedes 200 yards

Easy to stash everything. A crate on the back with weights balanced everything perfectly.

Stable. That’s 250 pounds (with fish) on one side. Also means easy entry and exit.

I’ve dove off a pro angler and an outback. Go for the trident.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Tomol · 11-11-2018, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by On-The-Prowl

Trident 13 or 15. Throw everything inside the rod pod and charge it.

Yep.

Denis_Ruso · 11-12-2018, 09:36 AM

Only thing to add, is you shouldn't really be freediving by yourself anyway. So you'll always have a buddy help you carry it down to the beach.

Other than that, Trident 13 is the way to go.

ProfessorLongArms · 06-16-2019, 04:01 PM

Wanted to update this thread for a couple of reasons....

One - thanks mrJB for the sale yesterday. After 6 mos of being generally busy with life and not getting out fishing, I finally pulled the trigger on a used Scupper Pro.

Couldn't find anything that seemed to track as well under 60 pounds except a Prowler, and I was too curious to try surfing in one given how low as it sits in the water compared to a prowler or a trident. Given that it's going to be mostly for diving, the wet ride seems as much a feature as a bug.

At half the price of a used trident, I figured it would be fun to go as old school as possible. I'm stoked to not only have a dive platform, but also a fishing platform that isn't 90lbs with 100lbs of gear to boot.

Two- I thought some of you might find this cool as well. I went back and re-read the Summer 2018 Kayak Angler this morning... It has a really cool piece on Tim Neimer and how he started this whole thing with Ocean Kayaks back in the 70s in Malibu.

On this read, I noticed they mentioned two companies that have carried on the design of the original Scupper pro. Mind you, my biggest interest in the Scupper/Prowler has been the weight.

The first company is Swell Watercraft, https://swellwatercraft.com/product/scupper-14/ which is just meh to me because they weigh in at 70 pounds...

But this one... This is kind of fascinating (and maybe this is just news to me)- I didn't realize Tim Neimer was running this co, but they make a ScupPro that is pretty much the original but in three different materials... https://www.onwaterdesigns.com/shop
Granted, the lightest one is a carbon fiber composite and costs as much as a Pro Angler, but it's THIRTY POUNDS. I'm a bit curious about durability launching/landing in the rocks, but to me that's just amazing. Even the fiberglass composite at 38 pounds is pretty crazy.

monkeyfishturds · 06-17-2019, 08:04 AM

What web site is this from? "Summer 2018 Kayak Angler" Could you be more specific. Thanks

ProfessorLongArms · 06-17-2019, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkeyfishturds

What web site is this from? "Summer 2018 Kayak Angler" Could you be more specific. Thanks

I'm referring to the magazine Kayak Angler.
I think they offer a digital version, but it's behind paywall.

Aznronin · 06-18-2019, 05:58 AM

I love my tetra 12

11-07-2018, 03:40 PM	#1
ProfessorLongArms Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 401	Question for the Free-Divers/Spearos Looking into a kayak that's nice and light. Anybody use a kayak for this kind of application they're particularly fond of? I love my outback, but it's so much weight to haul down to the beach... Was hoping to shave off 10 or even as much as 20 pounds of hull weight. Stability not as important as when I have 2-3 rods on deck and I'm sans wetsuit... for obvious reasons This would be primarily surf launching. Considering an old prowler or even a revo. Probably only for getting to the kelp, but possibly for covering a mile or two. From a physics perspective, I'm trying to understand how much of a drawback there is to a lighter kayak, even if it's 13 feet (I see some prowlers @ almost half of my 90 pound hull weight outback) I've only ever really paddled in a really long, heavy Trident with a rudder and an Outback. Last edited by ProfessorLongArms; 11-07-2018 at 03:58 PM.

11-07-2018, 04:45 PM	#2
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	I'd look at a Prowler 13 or Tetra for what you are looking for. https://oceankayak.johnsonoutdoors.com/tetra-12-75 __________________

11-07-2018, 09:13 PM	#4
Biggameaddict The Kayak Peddler Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Hollywood Posts: 591	I’ve paddled everything from a scrambler to a pa14. If you’re looking for something just to get you to the kelp I would say go with scrambled or mini x for ease of transportation and price. It’s just a floating peice of plastic the end of the day. __________________ Keep your rod close, your gaff closer, and your paddle on a leash.

11-08-2018, 06:56 AM	#5
Dannowar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,823	I loved the trident 13. I could lug it down the steps at casa and launch 10 minutes from the kelp. __________________ "Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you’ll suck forever." — Brian Wilson

11-08-2018, 09:51 AM	#7
Aquaholix Addicted2Water Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: SD Posts: 25	Aquaterra Prism 14' any day. Perception brand nowadays. Scupper Pros are excellent as well. __________________ "Addicted 2 Water"

11-07-2018, 05:43 PM	#3
RedSledTeam Daddeo Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: OC Posts: 660	I would just use a Stand UP Paddle Board (SUP) so you can have more visibility for distance and looking into the water.

11-08-2018, 07:43 AM	#6
randman Banned Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 5	Following!this seems like a very interesting thread

11-08-2018, 02:58 PM	#8
On-The-Prowl Junior Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 29	Trident 13 or 15. Throw everything inside the rod pod and charge it.

11-09-2018, 04:59 AM	#9
MrPukaShell Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Ventura COunty Posts: 521	X2 on the Trident

11-09-2018, 12:04 PM	#10
ProfessorLongArms Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 401	Just wanted to say thanks for all of the input! This is super helpful.

11-09-2018, 02:43 PM	#11
Dannowar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,823	Lemme sell you all the way Easier launches especially when the tide recedes 200 yards Easy to stash everything. A crate on the back with weights balanced everything perfectly. Stable. That’s 250 pounds (with fish) on one side. Also means easy entry and exit. I’ve dove off a pro angler and an outback. Go for the trident. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ "Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you’ll suck forever." — Brian Wilson

11-12-2018, 09:36 AM	#13
Denis_Ruso Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 571	Only thing to add, is you shouldn't really be freediving by yourself anyway. So you'll always have a buddy help you carry it down to the beach. Other than that, Trident 13 is the way to go. __________________ 2018 Hobie Outback 13 I do not fear the storm as it will teach me how to sail my ship.

06-16-2019, 04:01 PM	#14
ProfessorLongArms Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 401	Wanted to update this thread for a couple of reasons.... One - thanks mrJB for the sale yesterday. After 6 mos of being generally busy with life and not getting out fishing, I finally pulled the trigger on a used Scupper Pro. Couldn't find anything that seemed to track as well under 60 pounds except a Prowler, and I was too curious to try surfing in one given how low as it sits in the water compared to a prowler or a trident. Given that it's going to be mostly for diving, the wet ride seems as much a feature as a bug. At half the price of a used trident, I figured it would be fun to go as old school as possible. I'm stoked to not only have a dive platform, but also a fishing platform that isn't 90lbs with 100lbs of gear to boot. Two- I thought some of you might find this cool as well. I went back and re-read the Summer 2018 Kayak Angler this morning... It has a really cool piece on Tim Neimer and how he started this whole thing with Ocean Kayaks back in the 70s in Malibu. On this read, I noticed they mentioned two companies that have carried on the design of the original Scupper pro. Mind you, my biggest interest in the Scupper/Prowler has been the weight. The first company is Swell Watercraft, https://swellwatercraft.com/product/scupper-14/ which is just meh to me because they weigh in at 70 pounds... But this one... This is kind of fascinating (and maybe this is just news to me)- I didn't realize Tim Neimer was running this co, but they make a ScupPro that is pretty much the original but in three different materials... https://www.onwaterdesigns.com/shop Granted, the lightest one is a carbon fiber composite and costs as much as a Pro Angler, but it's THIRTY POUNDS. I'm a bit curious about durability launching/landing in the rocks, but to me that's just amazing. Even the fiberglass composite at 38 pounds is pretty crazy.

06-17-2019, 08:04 AM	#15
monkeyfishturds Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 74	What web site is this from? "Summer 2018 Kayak Angler" Could you be more specific. Thanks