I have been out demo'ing a few yaks in the last few weeks. Kayaks for me are hard to settle on cuz I am a big bloke of 130kgs.

Perception Swing: Best all around for the little guys under 100kgs. Fast Stable and Vesatile

Cobra Tourer: The most impressive to be for stability, speed, and tracking. you can see the potential for this kayak. Best factory finish of the Cobras I tested. Imagine a fast Ocean Kayak Scrambler XT

Cobra Fish and Dive: I looked forward to playing with this for almost a year and when I finally did, it left much to be desired. The wind kills it, it's too wide for an efficent paddle stroke, and the foot wells were too narrow. you sit pigeon toed with your knees pointed inward. The positive thing was that it was a dry ride.

Cobra Explorer: Pesssssshhh NOT IMPRESSED you're better off with the Perception Swing by far!

Ocean Kayak Scrambler XT: Roomy, semi slow but faster than the Fish and Dive by a long shot. Very comparable to the Cobra Tourer for stability. I've heard that this one is a top choice for landbased boys that use kayaks to get to their spot.

Will be trying out a couple more from Kayak Direct shortly!

FYI, Kayak direct has a top secret design coming into New Zealand from Aussie shortly. I've seen the pics and it's impressive looking. comes with an electric trolling motor. It's called the "Tempo Fisher"

well I have a SEKAT from farmlands for around $400 I find it a good pratice yak,

I'm built like hellfish so need  reasonable stability and i find the sekat really good coming back through the waves.

will look at a newer model latter when the budget allows

I'll have to look into the SEKAT. It sounds interesting. There's one more high budget yak i'm interested in trying out. I hear it's not the best design for fishing but very comfortable. What makes it bad for fishing is that it doesnt have a tank well for your catch. You have to open a major hatch, and if you land a decent Snapper, good luck fitting his big head in there.

Wilderness System Tarpon 160. It's a 4 metre sit on top with a hull design much like the Swing. From my research, there is only one in the country down in Palmerston North. It's only $2000 bare bones <cough wheeze hak>.

No KingfishSi I havent tried that one yet. I'll look into it.

Cheers

Has anyone tried the escapade? I am looking at buying a kayak at the moment budget around $1,000 and someone recommended the escapade.I will check out the tempo as recommended by kingfishSi.

Any feedback would be most welcome.

stew

When I was looking around the best mix of form vs functionality vs price seemed to be the Tempo and then Scrambler XT.

I also liked the POD arrangement with the Tempo.

As it is I have been using some Ocean River 4m sit on's and have taken over ownership of these for substantially less than the $1k I would have been up for for new ones.

Ocean River definately fit into the extremely stable but not ideal for decent length journeys as they are buggers to steer when in a bit of wind. Great fishing platform when 2 are strapped side by side

Pland

Stew,

Go with a Lowrence sounder. get the best you can afford mate.

stew, i've got the escapade, i like it. i would likely go with a larger kayak next, maybe even a double. i like lots of space when i fish.

hellfish, what didn't you like about the escapade? i'm curious as i only tried out one other before buying. i'm hoping to try a few kayaks in the next year to compare.

has anyone looked into building one? i know some of the best sit-in kayaks are hand made plywood, i wonder what a home built sit-on would be like?

Sure CJ, we'll have to do that sometime.

Been out for a fish yesterday. Caught a biggun' Wooo hooo!!!

Tested the Viking Kayaks Tempo. Comfy seat, not wild about the foot positioning, a bit on the slow side, feels tippy although stable, a good bang for the buck for the average jo blow beginner on a tight budget. Vesatile hatches and deck space which is important. Nice Tank Well that can easily hold 40kgs of fish.

I think the Scrambler XT has it for speed and stability. and the XT also has a better seat if you go with the Deluxe Seat.

CJ you're in Auckland , track down a dealer with a Scrambler XT, have them put a (deluxe seat) on it and use a Northwest Passage paddle on a 75 degree adjustment and go for a paddle. There's a dealer in Northshore off Constillation Drive at the Accencion PL intersection. While you're there paddle the Cobra Tourer. You're wife will love you cuz you'll have a boner for a month! Just don't say it's not because of her.