NorCal Kayak Anglers
Kayak Zone => Kayaks => Stealth => Topic started by: bluekayak on May 17, 2013, 01:02:48 PM
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I'd buy one of these in a heartbeat but I don't think they're sold here
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_jI42Yy1mvY&feature=related (http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_jI42Yy1mvY&feature=related)
Looks pretty fast and even though it's on the narrower side they managed to still make it stable
Basically is a cross between the two yaks I own, an old glass dive yak, and the WS Tarpon 160
Only drawback I can see is rudder, but as long as you avoid exciting situations should be okay
Not sure why none of the US manufacturers make something like this, all the good stuff seems to be coming out of NZ, Australia and South Africa
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Like to try one out for sure.
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I wonder what it would cost to ship one from SA?
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That looks like fun but its Fiberglas so if you hit a rock won't it crack?
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
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I knocked something like 11 big holes and ripped the hatch off my old glass yak one afternoon
Glass is easy to fix
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Perhaps this can be an alternative for you:
http://www.warrenlightcraft.com/ (http://www.warrenlightcraft.com/)
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I saw those, they look nice but come with a serious pricetag and not sure I'm up for closed deck
Stealth replied to my email, closest dealer is down in Panama
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I paddled a Stealth kayak down in Panama. Very good fit and finish- quality boat. The hull moves through the water very well, good paddling qualities and good glide. It was fitted with a rudder; needed on this boat. Though the lineage is from surf skis, I found the boat plenty stable for fishing.
I don't remember the models in the line, but the boat I paddled was a bit small in the cockpit for me...but I'm 6' 5". I'm told that the company has other models that offer a bit more leg room.
Downside: I really like some of the things our plastic boat builders have done with regard to deck layout, ie a rod pod and provision for sonar.
The Stealth was okay, but not up to state of the art in that respect.
So...a paddlers boat, fast, well built, and light. Good looking boat too. Comfortable seat shape.
Expensive and hard to get? Compromises on deck layout and fishability, but manageable if you love the hull.
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Shipping should be about the same as from Washington, which I think is somewhere around $500-700
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So it looks like it's about $3k to get one of these up here from Panama, and they're "working hard to get them to the U.S. by next year"
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Paul, you paddled the Evolution 495 down in Panama. Yes, fast boats, but still stable. The main drawback on the boats we paddled was that the cockpit was pretty short for us guys with longer legs.
Blue, what's the drawback with the rudder? Note that on the Evo's and Supa's, the rudder is fixed (meaning always deployed and not retractable).
I think I can get you one here if you want. :smt002
-Allen
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Stealth in SA put me in touch with Hennie, while I was looking at this stuff online I saw you guys were down there fishing with him
The Profisha comes pretty close to how I'd design a kayak, like a cross between the old style glass dive yaks and SOT
The rudder looks like something for me to break, I'd probably order a replacement just to have on hand
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Question now is whether to pay through the nose now or be patient and wait til they come to the U.S. to avoid the shipping costs
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Saw more clips about the 575, looking real good but wondering how long that fixed carbon rudder will last here in Norcal since it is not possible for me to stop the yak in time to prevent the rudder from hitting the bottom with waves coming from behind.
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Talking to Hennie in Panama today figured out the price he quoted was for Evolution 495, the ProFisha 575 is about a thousand more than that
Also said it "can easily cruise at 12 kilometers an hour" which puts it at around 7 1/2 miles an hour, which makes those fish ten miles out not seem so far away
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Nonetheless the boat fits your style. Get it if the money is not a real issue since no one can buy the time. I don't believe they will setup a production shop here, period.
Also, did you mentioned the rudder position and if it can be replaced easily by a home made rudder and properly sealed ?
Guess the total cost probably around $4K shipped for the standard unit, the full carbon list price at $2,485 pound sterling :smt005, the oldman's dream unit.
My next yak will be a Pro Fisha 475 full carbon.
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Great boat. The boat is fast, but I wouldn't say they are worlds different from a speedy plastic boat. A bit faster and lighter no doubt. 12 k per hour may be a bit hopeful. Just sayin.
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Did you happen to notice that the Stealth has 2 drain holes? Yup, there are 2 completely separate compartments inside them. Something about South African maritime laws requiring that. I wonder if that's one of the reasons you don't see many rotomolder SOT's down there.
-Allen
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I think it really depends what you define as cruising speed. 12kmph is about 7.5mph.
I can hold 6.5 to 7 in my Addy for short distances on the lake with minimal gear, but I wouldn't call it cruising speed. 12 kmph in an 18 foot long 24 inch wide glass boat. Sounds doable, but dude better have some monster shoulders.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
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What's an Addy?
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What's an Addy?
Hobie Adventure.
-Allen
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I traded some emails with Brett, the owner of Stealth back in South Africa. I knew him from before, in fact he's the one who introduced me to Hennie, which ultimately led to our Panama Trip. Here is what he had to say.
The fixed rudders are really solid and takes some serious pounding to damage these rudders. We launch here in some large and rough conditions often.
The Pro Fishas are really a breeze to paddle and have great cruising speeds.
I comfortably can paddle the 575 around 11km/h and the 475 around 10km/h
-Allen