If the stripers were still boiling...

I'd get there first!!! 



Guess I'll have to see if a big ling will fit down the hole under the hatch instead, looks like it will fit easily...




More later, gotta hit the hay, I'm pooped.

From the back...



The overall quality of these is very impressive and the lightness compared to other boats this size is nuts.  The seating is like nothing any plastic boat I have seen either.  I also had the Pelican equpped with a sail kit.  It is nicely made and is HUGE.  This svelt yak should fly with the sail empolyed.
 
It took FOREVER for these to make it here from South Africa...what an odessey.  They were held up by the Department of Homeland Security no less than 3 times  Like damn near any boat that got shipped half way around the globe, they did get some boo-boos on their journey.  However, since they are glass they are readily repairable.  Considering how bad plastic boats have gotten squished between L.A and here, these boats must be pretty tough because the packing was PATHETIC...anyways guess what I'm doing this weekend! 

I can't wait to get these on the water, if they go like they look these will paddle like a dream.  I'll keep you guys posted.  If we like them on the water we have made all of the arrangements to import them by the container, which totally eliminates opportunity for damage in transit.   

VERY NICE 

Looking forward to your review

What is the weight on those?  What abouth the length?  They are beautiful.

They are 16 feet long, about 25 inches wide, and the Pelican weighs somewhere in the mid 40# range, the Doroado feels like its in the low-50's...the heft factor is significantly better than any plastic boat I have ever handled that was this long with rudders etc.  They are light.

More impressive is the overall mold quality.  These things are straight as an arrow and very glossy.  The built in fish box on the Dorado is simply too cool.  I wish I was in one today!

cost?

TBD-but essentially more than a plastic boat, and less than a domestic hand-laid glass boat.  To say the least, shipping costs are significant.

Sean - how about some close up pics of the hatch 

Also - do these kayaks have bulkheads - just like the traditional sit-inside-kayaks?

Is there sufficient internal storage for gear like:

speargun
a couple of rods
tackle......

How about mounting FF? Can this be done easily?

Mooch:

They do have bulkheads, and a lot of other traditional sea kayak hardware like very well laid out deck lines.  The two hatches on the Dorado have lot of room for packing gear away.  The hatches on Pelican make access to a ton of room.  The hatches are smaller than what I'm used to however. 

The Dorado has a crate and/or a shallow tw for tackle and a lunch cooler.  I have also seen guys online put a pretty big Plano on the hatch lid with a bungee.  The fish box will eat a speargun or a 2 piece rod, but not a big one piece.  However it looks like you can easily store two large rods down the top of the deck and secure them...sounds whacky but it'll make sense when you see it.  They would be totally out of the way and secure, just topside.

The rudder system is SUPER sweet. I can't wait to paddle these...starting the repairs tomorrow.
 

Those are dreamy.

You'll have to try one, I'd love to get your feedback, especially as a long-time scupper guy.  I'll be testing these at Caspar once they are shipshape and after a short mendo cruz.

Sean... I'm glad to see that those boats finally made it home okay.  They look better than I expected.  I sure would like to test drive one (perhaps at Mendo).  I've been eyeballing surfskis just for the fun and sensation of paddling something really fast.  Those Kazkazi's look like a nice cross between a surfski and the the fishing kayaks we're all use to seeing.

What kind of maintenance is required those beauties?  Can they withstand being dropped off a rack or bumping into rocks.

These boats are probably not meant for guys like Mooch who abuse their kayaks by dragging them on rocks and boat ramps. 

ChuckE- You are always welcome to paddle with us brother...these yaks are a different breed all together.  You will trip when you see how DEEP the seat and cockpit are...cool, but looks wet.  There is no need for a seat.

They must be fairly tough, because they took the slow boat from Africa, got packed and re-packed by the Feds, after weeks in an angry container.  Considering what other boats we've shipped looked like, and all in all, they came through pretty damn good.  I think they will do fine, but blunt forces like a drop off of a rack could damage the gelcoat.  That said, I have been repairing the shipping damage this am, and it is quite ez to fix.

If you looking for a ski, Kaskazi make a nice rec. ski too, as well as a super sweet outrigger.  My heritage has me sweating over the outrigger.

I'll keep you guys posted on the results.

Sean,

A buddy of mine has been hitting the lake in the evenings around 5:30 at boater's beach and has been hooking up several nice stripers. So, there is your excuse to take them out!

CHEERS!

Thanks for the tip Mahi...what is "boaters beach?