How many Yakers own and use a Cobra Kayak?

I'm looking for info on Cobra Kayaks. Does anyone own a Cobra?
How do you like it?
Would you buy it again or recommend it to a friend?

Your thoughts?



S.

Check out the post right below yours.

1. Not currently but did own a cobra marauder
2. It was ok for fishing, great dive boat.  Not fast by any means but the deck layout was super nice.
3 Never, not a fan of submersible hulls.  Maybe to an enemy 

 

1. Not currently but did own a cobra marauder
2. It was ok for fishing, great dive boat.  Not fast by any means but the deck layout was super nice.
3 Never, not a fan of submersible hulls.  Maybe to an enemy 

I could have written this, Except I still have an almost new 3yr old marauder in the garage that I don't trust.

Let's see, I'd add the word Great for fishing, but unfortunately No. 3 is what did it for me.  Twice.

I hate to bash a brand but at least the Marauder had serious hull issues a few years ago and I'm not sure they fixed it properly.

I have a Cobra built waveski designed by Hunt Johnson in HI that I really enjoyed paddling for the past 6 years.
I thought the finish to Cobra's kayaks was always nicely done. Now that said, I only ever paddled my WaveWitch in surf and rivers, and it does not have any hatches.

I had a Cobra Navigator XF that I loved. Probably the lightest weight 12.5 foot kayak made but the hull was still plenty thick. Tracked good for the length too. Only sold it to go to a Hobie Revo since I don't have storage room for two yaks.

The first run of Marauders had problems but I think they changed the mold and were good after that.

The first run of Marauders had problems but I think they changed the mold and were good after that.

I don't think the molds were fixed.  Cobra is very accomodating about replacing the faulty yaks but I'm pretty sure the hulls they sent had the same design flaw.

 

Sackyak has a Cobra Marauder and like it. There was a problem with the hull but they fixed it. In SCAL, lot's of guys own them. They are relatively light weight which is nice.

I had a Cobra Navigator XF that I loved. Probably the lightest weight 12.5 foot kayak made but the hull was still plenty thick. Tracked good for the length too. Only sold it to go to a Hobie Revo since I don't have storage room for two yaks.

The first run of Marauders had problems but I think they changed the mold and were good after that.

I really liked my first Marauder, it was not a first run boat, I talked with them since my boat didn't match the pics I'd seen and they told me the mold had been modified twice by the time they got to my version of the boat.  After that boat almost sank out from under me due to a cracked hull they replaced it with one that was supposed to be redesigned to fix the problem, that new boat leaked on the first outing due to a small hole in the scupper area (which had plenty of material around it so I fixed it myself). I sent an email explaining what I'd found and how I fixed it and never even got a response of "Gee I'm sorry you got a new boat with a hole in it". Also the redesigned hull that I have appears to have the the same issues as the first one I got.

Looking at the pics of the current version of the Marauder makes it look like they've done some significant work on the boat. 

This may sound funny but I really like the Marauder, stability, pretty light for its size, great deck layout, big usable center hatch, lots to like, it's the bottom of the hull you got to watch out for, THEY MUST HAVE FIXED THAT BY NOW THOUGH.

Just thought I'd add that the only cobra I've ever heard of having problems were the Marauders.

I owned a Navigator and I loved it. I then went to the new Marauder and it was an awesome kayak but was really heavy for me. I love how it handled on the water, but I had trouble getting it up on my truck. I would have gone back to the Naviagtor but thats when I saw the Necky and switched to that.

My wife paddles the Cobra Escape and loves it.

Just my two cents.

At one point I had 4 cobras in 2000. 3 fish-n-pigs and one tandem. 
All were cut with a big rectangular hatch in them middle.
These kayaks were used extensively in the surf.
Other than being slow, I respected the stability. Mine only leaked water
when the hatch seals failed years down the line.  (I still cannot find anyone
to sell me hatch seal for these models!)  Meanwhile I used silicon.
I still have the tandem permanently on a local quarantine lake and
one of the fish-n-pigs for guest. These kayaks are 12 years old now
and work great. 
I currently fish a Tarpon 160 but I really miss the aircraft carrier like
deck space of those fish-n-dives!

I've got two, a FnD and a Triple.  I like them both and don't plan on replacing either one. Just adding to the fleet.

I'll add Navigator on Sunday (vwool event) and a RTM in May (abking event).

(I still cannot find anyone to sell me hatch seal for these models!) 

Try this, its Water Tight and cheap...just take the hatch of every so often to let the foam regain its shape.
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,5204.msg42513.html#msg42513

I have had a Fish-N-Dive in the fleet for quite a few years now and don't plan on getting rid of it any time soon. I love the amount of deck space, large tank well,and storage it has. It also has the front jumper seat which is nice for my son to hitch a ride in. I have used this boat in just about all conditions ocean,lakes, drift fishing in the rivers and even running some smaller river rapids.

  Shh....I have to admit that on a low wind day I actually think It paddles better and quicker then my Trident. It sits a little higher in the water which, equals less drag and is more responsive when you have to turn it around quick. I paddle this kayak regularly miles up the AR with minimal effort. 

Thanks everyone.

The good, the bad, the glad and the sad were all appreciated.


Thanks again,


S.