Thinking about buying a Outfitter tandem

I initially wanted to get an Outback but got to thinking I'd like to bring my youngest son along with me from time to time especially in the summer months when there's no school. My older son isn't in to fishing as much as my younger one is. The older one is turning 14 this month and just cares about his friends, video games and girls haha.

Anyway my main question is how difficult would the Outfitter tandem be to operate solo? I'd be fishing I'd say 75-80% of my time by myself but would like the option to bring my boy along with me. He's 8 years old by the way if that makes a difference. Is there any other Mirage drive models I should be looking at? I like the idea of using your feet to propel the boat and having your hands free. Id mostly be fishing the Napa river (closest to me), montezuma and occasionally northern San Pablo bay and maybe even the rockwall for some buts.

Most people I know who first buy tandems end up buying a single seater kayak.  The kids eventually get busy with school, sports etc and don't have time or loose interest.  The Dad's quickly find out the tandems are difficult, slow to handle solo especially in rough windy conditions. 

Owning a tandem kayak is pretty close to owning a tandem bicycle.  If you don't have anybody going out with you, you're out of luck. 

I agree with FishingAddict.  I have an Outfitter that I've used solo (passengers returned to the beach after getting seasick).  It's doable, but the bow tends to bounce around without any weight in the front seat.  Not really ideal or confidence inspiring.     

Send a PM to Da Braddah.  He fishes from Hobie Oasis (tandem) and can give you his thoughts on using it solo. 

Also, do a search for Chaeki's posts.  He takes his son out on Santa Cruz Kayak's Raptor and even though it's a single person kayak, it handles the both of them very well.  BTW, the Raptor G2 has pedal drive now.

Start with a single, you can always borrow another kayak (single or tandem) when you want to take your son out.


 

I had an Outfitter several years ago that I bought because I wanted to fish with my son.  He went one time and decided it wasn't for him.   I continued to use the yak, solo for a couple of years but it really doesn't work well without someone in the front seat.  The bow sits really high and acts like a sail in windy conditions, making it very difficult to pedal effectively.  I found that placing a fairly heavy ice chest up front improved things but soon transitioned to a Revo.  The difference was night and day!  The Outfitter is a great tandem yak but a horrible solo in my opinion.

Martin

if your son is a good swimmer and confident, I would think about getting him his own Hobie sport and then if he later stops fishing you can sell it.

Buy this:

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=76079.msg868512;topicseen#new

Thank me later 

Buy this:

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=76079.msg868512;topicseen#new

Thank me later 

+1

You can definitely take a kid with you on that AI...

Appreciate all the replies. Starting to think a tandem won't be practical since the majority of the time I'll be solo. Maybe I'll buy my son his own in a few years if he's still interested in fishing.

I agree with FishingAddict.  I have an Outfitter that I've used solo (passengers returned to the beach after getting seasick).  It's doable, but the bow tends to bounce around without any weight in the front seat.  Not really ideal or confidence inspiring.     

Send a PM to Da Braddah.  He fishes from Hobie Oasis (tandem) and can give you his thoughts on using it solo. 

Also, do a search for Chaeki's posts.  He takes his son out on Santa Cruz Kayak's Raptor and even though it's a single person kayak, it handles the both of them very well.  BTW, the Raptor G2 has pedal drive now.

Start with a single, you can always borrow another kayak (single or tandem) when you want to take your son out.


 

+1 on Santa Cruz Raptor, the G2 to be specific.  Try one out and you'll see what I mean.  The cargo side is huge.

I bought a tandem Outfitter to fish with my son. I am 1 season in and I have ended up using it solo a fair amount. You will definitely need to put weight in the front to keep the bow down, but I don't mind that inconvenience for the ability to take out another passenger. I use a cooler with ice most trips in my bow.


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