NorCal Kayak Anglers
General => Introductions => Topic started by: dolphindiver on May 29, 2015, 10:09:32 AM
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Hi. I'm new to this site. Ab diver and looking into a tandem kayak for both ocean diving and fishing. Saw a used "Ocean Kayak Cabo" and considering buying it, but not sure if it's good for fishing and stable enough. I have a Scupper Pro and the Cabo looks like same thing with 2 extra feet and a 2nd seat. It looks pretty heavy (75 lbs) and I'm wondering if it's too big to put on the roof of a Toyota Highlander. Anyone have any experience with this particular kayak and offer any tips on the boat's use - please let me know - here or offline. Thanks.
Joe Spallone
(Dolphin Diver)
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Welcome, Joe. :smt006 Hopefully, someone here can answer your questions.
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Welcome!
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Welcome to NCKA! :smt006 I dont know anything about that yak, but wanted to ask if you meant directly on the roof or on load bars? If it's a factory rack, I'd look up the specs for it's carrying capacity. I can say that I transport much heavier yaks on my Thule rack, two of them in fact. And my Subaru load bars support up to 100lbs, does my X-Factor and Outback just fine.
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Factory Rack.
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Welcome to NCKA Joe :smt006
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Not sure of the year of your Highlander, but this link suggests that it can handle up to 150#'s so you should be fine. http://www.toyota.com/highlander/accessories.html#!/section/Exterior/Roof%20Rail%20Cross%20Bars%20(LE) (http://www.toyota.com/highlander/accessories.html#!/section/Exterior/Roof%20Rail%20Cross%20Bars%20(LE))
Any particular reason your looking at tandem yaks, instead of a regular yak?
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Reasoning for tandem: use with wife and kids, maybe dual dive for abalone/spearfishing, bring along a friend to watch diving. Concerned that if I dive off it, would it tip the other (maybe a non-diver) in, too, as it looks narrower than most. I've found some other info online and I think I'm good for now. Thanks for the hellos and help. I'm guessing it's just like a Scupper Pro and I know how that handles.
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Hi and welcome,
I had a cabo for a few years but sold it as I didn't use it much for it's original purpose (wife and kids). I did use it as a single and while it was very stable, it had some disadvantages.
It's a beast. The problem wasn't the weight so much as it's size. Any wind at all and it's very wonky when you try to load or unload. That was when I drove onto the beach to load and offload. So you would have to consider the places you dive/fish. When I paddled it as a single, the nose would rise up with any wind/swell and slap back down. I could feel the vibrations through my wetsuit and seat.
I would caution you on taking non divers out to observe your dives. The passenger may not know how to brace for your entries/re-entries and could easily be unbalanced, even in such a big kayak.
The few times I took the wife and baby out, it cruised nicely and lots of room for both of them to move around.
Hope that helps,
Nate
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Thanks, Nate.