X-Factor or Trident 15??

New to the board here and looking for some advice on picking the right Kayak for me. First off I'm 6'4", 200lbs, and soon to be 21yrs old. I want a kayak completely for fishing, fishing has been my obsession for as long as I can remember and I need a cheap way to get out onto the Ocean. My main focus with the kayak will be fishing out on the Sonoma coast and salt point. I will also use the kayak on the lakes too but primarily out in the big blue. I have never owned a kayak before and the experience will be new for me. From the research I have done I have narrowed my search down to the X factor or the trident 15. I assume with the x factor you give up speed for stability and the opposite with the Trident? I have not seen either boat in person yet so I guess I need to get to a store with both to look em over. I was hoping that somebody with experience in both yaks could chime in and help me with this ordeal before rock fish season comes and goes...lol
thanks a bunch
Eric

Welcome aboard, Crotalus.  I've never been on a Trident, but I love my X.  I'm 6' and 195#, and the X is known as a big guy boat, so I think I could be out on the ocean in tough conditions in any of a number of boats, but I like the ultimate stability of my X - especially when fighting a big fish or dealing with really crappy conditions.  I've done 10 miles in the X and it's not a big deal.  I don't find it to be a "barge" at all, but it's probably true that I could paddle a Trident faster.  You gotta want the workout.   

Definitely test paddle both.

you give up speed for stability

IMO: stability is something you can learn and get used to in time - just like riding a bike.

I have never owned a kayak before and the experience will be new for me

More importantly is that you take a class on safety (self rescue) paddling techniques and using proper outer wear (dress for immersion)

Golden rule: Learn to be a kayaker FIRST and a fisherman SECOND.

Good luck and welcome to the madness

I've owned both.  Both are good.  I'm 6'3", 220#.

I don't think you need to worry about stability with the Trident.  While it's not as stable as the XFactor, it passes my threshold of not having to worry.  It is faster than the XFactor and lighter too.  The XFactor's cockpit is more amenable to pimping.

No clear winner here IMO.  Best advice ... try them both and figure out what fits you best, in terms of your personal comfort and how you think you'll layout the yak.

-Allen

I own a Trident and have paddled both. For your age, height and weight either would be fine choices. You might also want to consider the Cobras. The bottom line is that you have to paddle both and then make your decision. The Trident is a very stable boat, enough so that I can stand up and sight cast. As Joel said, your body and technique adjusts to the boat. In really big swells, staying upright is more about bracing techniques, IMO. I paddled a Malibu 2XL for a year on the ocean and could never keep up with the guys in the Tarpons and Prowlers. I got to the destination eventually but they got more fishing time and had a greater effective fishing range. I will also say that if you watch some of Abking's videos carefully, that guy is a paddling machine and I haven't seen many guys that can paddle at that cadence for as long as he does.   If you come to BAM IV, there will be every yak made and folks would probably let you paddle them.

Scott

Couple of Factors to think about how far will your trips be for long trips 10+ miles I would favor the Trident under that it's a toss up.
Comfort how long are you going to be in the saddle the X is super comfy.
Storage both have a plenty but the X has tons.
If you test paddle make sure you do it in some heavy wind we have a lot of it up here, go paddle on a windy day at Lake Sonoma seems like on most trips up here your paddle in will be against a fierce wind.

Dang! Thanks for all the quick replies! I was sold on the X Factor until I emailed Sean White on the matter and he recommended the Trident. That alone makes me want to go straight for the Trident, assuming that Sean is going to know more about fishing Kayaks than just about anyone? Originally I was only planning on staying close to shore and working the outer kelp beds, since my buddy who was supposed to buy a kayak with me was deathly afraid of sharks! lol  Now his wife is making him spend all his refund money on a couch and entertainment center. So that brings me here to hopefully HOOK UP with some of you guys in the future and stick some fish. Afters reading about 10 mile journeys the Trident is sounding pretty nice, even though stability was my number one concern. No worries, I do plan on spending a lot of time at Lake Sonoma (my home Lake) learning the ropes before heading out to sea.
Thanks again
Eric