Goodbye, Ocean Kayak

I just retired my OK P13 and was shocked by the changes in the industry.  It seems the only brand still with a recognizable product line is Hobie.  The sub-$1k offerings have pretty much vanished entirely along with SOT's designed to be paddled more than leisurely in flat water.  The pedal and motor offerings are insane.

Much like Richard, my OK still beckons but it needs some serious reconditioning after sitting unused for quite a few years.  In the mean time I'll be in my stubby & chubby Tupperware (Lifetime Tamarack Pro).

Yarjammer.  OMG, he lives!

-Allen

Says the semi invisible man who helped pioneer kayak fishing in PNW.

https://youtu.be/w8VnyKM9rj8?si=PKM2JH-xab0ctu84

I see Tyler agrees with some of us.

I went to a HOW event this last summer and if I recall I was the only one with a paddle that wasn't a back up drive.  My Stealth may be long and gangly on land, but cruises past most of those peddle powered barges going out, coming back in I had fight getting wind cocked, but still cruised in respectfully.  I helped load a couple of the two up Hobies, and I thought I was lifting a small dingy damn heavy compared to the 555.  But I agree with the previous comments most companies are building smaller and wider yaks and not really "salty" IMHO.

the more i dig into this the worse it gets. I think we hit peak Kayak back aboit 2011. Anything after that , well we see the current market results.

Even the old "2nd tier" yaks like Vibe and Native have gone the bass barge route.

What's the old saying about markets defaulting to the lowest common denominator ?

 

Even the old "2nd tier" yaks like Vibe and Native have gone the bass barge route.

Didn't Vibe announce last year the Hydra 130, a 29" wide offshore kayak?  Hardly a bass barge.

-Allen

At some point i like to A) get myself a pedal kayak for many reasons, having Parkinson’s being a big one, and B) I'd like to get my boys fishing kayaks.  They must be good ocean fishing platforms. For the boys, a paddle yak has advantages.

Normally I'd have picked up a couple T13's for the boys, and something like a Revo for me, but it looks like the Revo's have changed a lot since I last checked (2018ish), and the Tridents are, from the intel in this thread, no more.

Now I'm wondering what I should be looking for to get equivalent rides.

At some point i like to A) get myself a pedal kayak for many reasons, having Parkinson’s being a big one, and B) I'd like to get my boys fishing kayaks.  They must be good ocean fishing platforms. For the boys, a paddle yak has advantages.

Normally I'd have picked up a couple T13's for the boys, and something like a Revo for me, but it looks like the Revo's have changed a lot since I last checked (2018ish), and the Tridents are, from the intel in this thread, no more.

Now I'm wondering what I should be looking for to get equivalent rides.

The Hobie Revolutions have not changed much since 2015 when the Vantage seat was introduced. Kickup fins on the newer models, but from what I read more complexity = more issues. I picked up a lightly used 2017 Revo last year for less than half the price of a new one. No issues so far. Most other pedal/paddle kayaks are wider and heavier.

As for paddle yaks, I'd look into the Swell Scupper 14, Eddyline Caribbean 14, Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140, and Stealth Fusion 480. I'm sure there are other brands/models that I am forgetting.

Decent condition used OK Tridents and Prowlers show up on Craigslist and Marketplace from time to time. There's not much that can go wrong with them if they're kept out of direct sunlight. Replace a few straps and bungee cords if needed.