NorCal Kayak Anglers

Kayak Zone => Kayaks => Eddyline => Topic started by: Great Bass 2 on July 06, 2012, 11:53:18 AM

Title: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: Great Bass 2 on July 06, 2012, 11:53:18 AM
I bought the Eddyline Carribean to fish the central coast where some of the portages are long and my bad back was telling to get a lighter boat.  :smt005 My rigging strategy was to keep the fixed hull weight to a minimum so the fish finder, compass and GPS are removable. I installed 2 scotty flush mounts behind the seat and a base for the deck compass but that was pretty much it. My plano box has 5 rod holders so can carry 5 rods easily and fish 4 simultaneously. For surf launch, the Fishfinder, GPS and compass are in the plano box, tackle in the day hatch and rods in the hull.

I have been salmon trolling in snot conditions in Monterey and a ghost hunt in Capitola and will say it is hard to believe it is a 12' kayak. Cruises easily at about 3.8 MPH and if you push it 4.5 MPH. Haven't had problems keeping up with my buddies. Really quick acceleration and tracks well without a rudder. Really paddles over kelp well with little friction.
At 45 pounds, it feels crazy light. Pretty easy to shoulder carry with the awesome graphite handle. The construction and design are the best I have seen. The thermoform construction will not take a loaded impact like a rotomolded kayak but they are easy to repair. Because we launch through rock gardens frequently I am sure I will crack the hull at some point but not worried as long as it is on the way in.  :smt005 Really a sweet little boat but probably not for someone over 6' tall. Check it out.

Scott
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: & on July 06, 2012, 11:57:57 AM
does it have two graphite mid-hull handles? 
I'd like that, easier to military press the boat into a car top cradle.

thx for writing and sharing the review scott
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: Great Bass 2 on July 06, 2012, 12:02:47 PM
Yep 2 graphite handles. They make paddles and use the shaft to make the handles.
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: PISCEAN on July 06, 2012, 12:08:45 PM
I've been waiting to see pics of the new ride. I yearn for something lighter every time I have to muscle the tarpon back to the car.

Thanks for the pics Scott!
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: steveislost on July 06, 2012, 12:26:35 PM
I've been waiting to see pics of the new ride. I yearn for something lighter every time I have to muscle the tarpon back to the car.

Thanks for the pics Scott!

Same here.  I love my Tarpon 140 (my first and only kayak), but the weight and the knuckle crushing handles are my only drawbacks.  Light and efficient gets you on the water more and happier at the end of the day.  Nice Kayak Scott. 
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: Paddleboy84 on July 06, 2012, 06:15:17 PM
Really a sweet little boat but probably not for someone over 6' tall. Check it out.

Scott

Scott, I see you have your pegs extended out all the way. Give me a call and I can tell explain a mod that will give you another two inches of leg length on those pedals. I had to do it on mine because I'm 6'2". Thanks for the awesome review, and I'm soooo pleased you love your kayak. Can I share some of your photos with Eddyline?
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: Dale L on July 06, 2012, 06:46:31 PM
Thanks for the review, sounds like a great addition to any fleet, does the hull material contribute to a better glide OTW.  Back when I had a jet boat I learned a bit about hull design and have always thought that the structure and texture of the polyethylene hulls most of us have (along with the scratches) must create allot of mostly un-noticeable but nevertheless real drag.
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: Great Bass 2 on July 07, 2012, 05:12:15 AM
Really a sweet little boat but probably not for someone over 6' tall. Check it out.

Scott
Can I share some of your photos with Eddyline?

Dan -

Thanks for such a fine kayak. Yes you can share the photos with Eddyline. What a great company and really nice people. I will be posting more pics in the next week or 2 and will have it PIF if anyone wants to test drive it.

Scott
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: Great Bass 2 on July 07, 2012, 05:39:43 AM
Thanks for the review, sounds like a great addition to any fleet, does the hull material contribute to a better glide OTW.  Back when I had a jet boat I learned a bit about hull design and have always thought that the structure and texture of the polyethylene hulls most of us have (along with the scratches) must create allot of mostly un-noticeable but nevertheless real drag.

Dale -

I don't know much about hull design but it's performance over kelp is probably a combination of hull shape, hull material and kayak weight. The bottom has a prominent ridge from the keel to the bow which helps with tracking but may also help on kelp. Overall, a really well thought out and advanced hull design.  Polyethylene hulls flex when loaded which probably creates more resistance on kelp. The thermoform plastic laminate really performs like a fiberglass kayak with little hull flex. I went to a seminar by the Eddyline rep and he said that scratches on the bottom of the hull increases speed because it decreases water surface tension. That might explain why my P15 was so fast.  :smt044 Will post some pics of the hull.

Scott
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: Dale L on July 07, 2012, 09:21:00 AM
Scott,

Thanks for the feed back. I actually used to run interface surface tension tests at work and I can agree that the scratches would reduce it.  It still seems counter intuitive that something with scrathes in it would move thru the water easier than something smoother, but once explained I'll go with it.  Hull rigidity ought to make a positive difference.

Thanks again for the report,
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: Jedmo on July 07, 2012, 08:55:18 PM
Nice looking new ride you have there Scott. I'd like to take it for a spin next time I see you. I planned on using my new Tetra 12' for the PIF. Of course weather permitting.

Jedmo
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: CrawFish on July 08, 2012, 08:12:25 AM
Nice looking kayak.
How is the material for mounting hardware. Does it drill well,etc..? 
I am interested in a boat that light and your review sounds very good.
I am 5' 10" and 170lbs and travel pretty light so should be under boats capacity anyway?

Chris   :smt006
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: LapuLapu on July 08, 2012, 08:23:28 AM
Thanks for the great review Scott!  I myself has been thinking of a lighter and shorter kayak that I can easily put inside my avalanche.  I'm looking forward to test drive yours at the PIF. 

Rey
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: ChuckE on July 08, 2012, 09:36:32 AM
Excellent review Scott.  I've always been interested in thermoplastic as an alternative to rotomolded polyethylene.
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: Great Bass 2 on July 08, 2012, 02:23:39 PM
One of the cool things I forgot to mention is that it is a really dry ride and has only 4 scupper holes. The seat area has a drain which has tubing which drains into the forward scupper holes. How cool is that?
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: Great Bass 2 on July 08, 2012, 02:27:21 PM
I rigged the cockpit with a Shark Shield. Not sure a thermoform plastic hull will hold up well against a white shark attack and don't want to find out. The transducer is mounted on a PVC arm which folds up if needed. Ditch bag is behind the seat.
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: Great Bass 2 on July 08, 2012, 02:35:56 PM
The Plano box and rear seat tie downs are held in place with 125# mono. The Plano box has 6 points of connection and is held tight with 3 zip ties and 1 anchor shackle. Rock solid connection which will survive any surf wipe out. For the surf zone, The FF breaks down and stores in the Plano box along with my GPS and tackle boxes and bait. The reels are stored in the ditch bag and rods in the hull.
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: tiny on July 08, 2012, 03:28:54 PM
Another engineering marvel.
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: Great Bass 2 on July 08, 2012, 07:59:55 PM
Nice looking kayak.
How is the material for mounting hardware. Does it drill well,etc..? 
I am interested in a boat that light and your review sounds very good.
I am 5' 10" and 170lbs and travel pretty light so should be under boats capacity anyway?

Chris   :smt006

Chris -

The material is really easy to mount hardware to but much thinner than polyethylene kayaks. Use 10-24 or 1/4-20 bolts with fender washers and nylock nuts. If you are hunting big game like YT or tuna, make  backing plates for your rod holders. For NCAL, fender washers and marine goop should do. Wait for the 14' version of the boat and test drive both before making a decision. The 14' will be out in a month or 2. Wilderness Systems also has a ultralite version of the Tarpon 12.0 is similar to the Carribean and is also very light but I didn't think it paddled as well as the Carribean and overall was an inferior design. I am your size and the boat fits me fine. Check out a lot of options before making a decision and test paddle them. I have a T15 and Hobie AI and really needed a small light boat and no I am not sponsored by any company so this is my unbiased personal opinion.

Scott
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: Boatmaker on July 09, 2012, 02:09:20 PM
Thank you Scott for your detailed and generous review of our Caribbean kayak.  As the designer, we depended on a great deal of feedback from you and folks like you around the country as we are also doing on the latest version currently in development the Caribbean 14.  This has been a fun project and I have very much appreciated feedback from everyone.  We will have computer images available for those interested and hopefully real photos soon.
Once again, thank you and wishing you many successful fishing adventures ahead.
Tom Derrer
Eddyline Kayaks
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: Great Bass 2 on July 09, 2012, 05:07:58 PM
Thank you Scott for your detailed and generous review of our Caribbean kayak.  As the designer, we depended on a great deal of feedback from you and folks like you around the country as we are also doing on the latest version currently in development the Caribbean 14.  This has been a fun project and I have very much appreciated feedback from everyone.  We will have computer images available for those interested and hopefully real photos soon.
Once again, thank you and wishing you many successful fishing adventures ahead.
Tom Derrer
Eddyline Kayaks

Tom -

Thank you for designing such a fine kayak. I think the 14' is going to be best of class. Your company is what all American companies should aspire to. A superior product at a competitive price. My only suggestion is to factor in 2" thick aftermarket seats which shorten the cockpit and raise the center of gravity. The hatch in the tankwell is a nice idea, but when you mount a crate or plano box, the hatch can't be accessed. In a small boat, storage options are limited so most will have a box or crate. It is not difficult to cowboy up to the front hatch and I will probably install some rod holders for the front hatch at some point. Adding a couple of mesh containers in the cockpit would also be nice for used lures, bait or scent.

Scott
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: NicksYak on July 09, 2012, 06:19:00 PM
Great report with useful detail and one really sweet looking ride.
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: mooch on August 04, 2012, 11:50:59 PM
I got to spend some quality time with the Eddyline / Calypso at the HOW event (Thanks to Dan at Headwaters at Lodi for the demo opportunity). I LOOOVE this kayak :smt045 Waiting to test paddle the 14 footer when it's available. Looking forward to more adventures with the Eddyline!

*If anyone wants to demo one, send me a PM. Willing to meet anywhere within the San Mateo / Santa Clara County.

*I'll have it at Albion as well.
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: Great Bass 2 on August 20, 2012, 07:25:19 AM
Performance Addendum:

I made 2 trips with my buddy PJ in his OK Prowler 15. The first trip was to Monterey on a salmon hunt. Fishing was slow and we fished till 1PM when the fan turned on blowing 8-10kt. We had a 2 mile paddle back against a quartering headwind. I was paddling as hard as I could and was making 2 MPH. PJ was paddling hard but not as hard as me and was making 2.5 - 3 MPH. Bottom line is that this boat does not excel against a headwind. If you do fish in windy situations a lot, I would get a rudder or get the 14' version with a rudder. I don't like rudders because they add weight and complexity but sure wished I had one on that day.

The second trip was to Big Sur with a long portage followed by a rock garden surf launch. We launched at low tide and there were a lot of rocks showing in the launch slot. Here the Carribean shined with a much easier portage and it's nimble maneuvering around rocks. It accelerates and turns quickly which makes it it a great surf zone boat. I may take it to Linda Mar just to do some surfing.
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: Great Bass 2 on August 20, 2012, 07:37:43 AM
Rigging Addendum:

I added a couple of forward RAM rod holders for trout trolling. I does make the cockpit more cluttered but does not interfere with paddling. You can also  troll using the aft Scotty rocket launchers. I will probably troll using the forward port side RAM rod holder and the starboard aft Scotty rocket launcher.

I also added a rubber bath mat and my canine fish finder Molly in the tankwell. The tankwell is surprisingly big and Molly is quite comfortable back there.
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: Great Bass 2 on October 28, 2013, 06:35:36 AM
I wanted to carry 3 rods without using the forward rod holders to minimize foredeck clutter for fly casting. Used a Scotty triple and it worked well. Wouldn't use it for surf launch but fine for freshwater.
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: FLAeddyliner on May 11, 2016, 06:02:28 AM
Would love to see an updated review.
How is it holding up and what, if any, changes have you made.
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: SuperVato on May 11, 2016, 08:30:54 AM
 I know I'd like to hear something from Great Bass2 as well, it has been awhile.
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: Great Bass 2 on May 11, 2016, 10:28:16 AM
It's my favorite yak ever. Only had 3 problems, the seat attachment breaking, gear track came unglued and a crack near the rear scupper. All of these were corrected in subsequent models. I moved to WA which is why I haven't posted in awhile. I use my AI on the Columbia or when condition are marginal with outboard. I use the Eddyline for Rock fishing, any beach launch, some ocean salmon, all lakes and all small rivers. For me at my age, getting the yak on the roof can be a drag particularly after a long day of trolling. The Eddyline is so easy to rack compared to the AI which is why  lot of the Islanders own one. It's a paddlers kayak. If you love paddling you will love any Eddyline. They are made for paddlers. People who start in Hobies have trouble appreciating  sweet paddling ride because they don't paddle enough to develop proficient strokes. It was Molly's favorite yak. Every once in awhile I will around looking for her in the tank well. RIP girl.
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: SuperVato on May 11, 2016, 10:39:22 AM
 Thanks for the update Scott.  You get right to the pertinent facts regarding Eddyline's attributes. Yet again we hear how well the company responds to input from customers. Most importantly, great to hear from you. Hope things are well in Washington.
             We would love to see you sometime, Amos
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: FishingAddict on May 11, 2016, 10:41:45 AM
Scott - Sorry to hear about Molly's passing.  I can still see you both at Shadow Cliff and Quarry together.  I am sure she is in pet heaven.
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: Kurious on May 11, 2016, 10:49:39 AM
Hello Scott,
How are you doing? Glad to see you posting back again. Please post more we sure miss your detailed DIY instructions.
I still remember you and Molly took me to SC trout fishing. That day you showed me the basics of trolling with kayak and the sailing basics. Molly was comfortably seat behind you in the red Eddyline. She's a sweet dog.
She passed away? I am so sorry to hear that. Take it easy. RIP Molly.
George
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: CaddyChris on May 11, 2016, 03:03:46 PM
Now we need a 16ft Caribbean! I'm all over it if it is built!
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: vwool on May 11, 2016, 03:51:27 PM
It is so great to hear from you Scott. Sorry to hear about Molly, she was a great dog.
Title: Re: Eddyline Carribean (AKA Calypso) Rigging and Performance Review
Post by: eelkram on May 11, 2016, 06:11:42 PM
Hi Scott!  :smt006  Share some fishing stories from up North!