NorCal Kayak Anglers
Kayak Zone => Kayaks => Other Kayaks => Topic started by: SBD on August 07, 2006, 06:05:48 AM
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Met Bluefin 17 at Caspar to give the Dorado its first saltwater workout. The surf launch here is normally ez, but moderate so I thought it would be a decent place to try it out. The good news/bad news...flat as can be. The surf was TINY.
(http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=81&g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=6742&g2_serialNumber=1&g2_GALLERYSID=219d32978ac828dee1b0c07c627905d9)
I waited to get a bigger set (still tiny) and went for it. This boat can really accelerate! Popped up and over and remained dry. However this was not a "real" test due to the tiny size of the swell. Paddled to the outside andwe fished a while. Fishing was slow to say the least. It was also quite chilly and foggy. Once outside the boat was very comfy and efficient. This boat is nearly silent as it passes through the water. I zoomed around and through some rocky area and it was a blast. The rudder is also excellent. Occasionally with my stern at the swell the boat would do a low resonation...felt like something rubber the hull...scared the crap out of me the first time.
(http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=81&g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=6745&g2_serialNumber=1&g2_GALLERYSID=219d32978ac828dee1b0c07c627905d9)
I took a while for me to figure out where to put my stuff, but I figured it all out and it was fine. I kept a decent 18 Cabbie and a bigger blue just see what it was like to use the fish box. I kept my Plano in the upper half of the "shute"
(http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=81&g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=6748&g2_serialNumber=1&g2_GALLERYSID=219d32978ac828dee1b0c07c627905d9)
Another view...its obvious to me now that you could slide a real big fishy down this hole! The box was very easy to clean and drain back at the beach.
(http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=81&g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=6751&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=219d32978ac828dee1b0c07c627905d9)
Later I parked my gear and farted around in slightly bigger surf. Two things were apparent: 1) The boat surfs fine..the bow has plenty of volume...up and over and no pearling. 2) If the waves were big, your going to be in a cockpit full of water.
Without any tools I was able to move in my seat and sqeeze most of the agua out, same with the footwells. However a pump of some kind, or maybe a boat sponge would be a big help. Once outside, you will stay pretty dry.
Look forward to a more legit workout in Elk!
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Sean,
Are there thigh strap fittings on your particular Dorado? How does it track/manuever with the rudder up? Are you bringing it to Elk? If so, then are you going to be allowing test drives ?
Scott
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There are no thigh straps, but the cockpit is soooo snug I can't really see a reason to have them. I padled it with the rudder up and it was fine, but there was no major wind at the time. It is availlable for flogging!
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If it had straps, I'd have liked to see if it would E-roll. Just for grins and giggles.
As for the rudder, I'm a big believer in boats that don't need them. Although I admit that for trolling 2 lb balls, a rudder can be a good thing.
Scott
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I'm a big believer in boats that don't need them. Although I admit that for trolling 2 lb balls, a rudder can be a good thing.
Ditto!