Buying a Stealth Fusion 480

The universe has a funny sense of humor. I was BSing with a few locals at Lawson's Landing while I was cleaning the striped bass I caught on the bar. Someone mentioned how a Stealth would be the perfect Tbay bar/sketchy area fishing kayak and I said something along the lines of "I absolutely love the concept of Stealths, but I won't buy a glass kayak, or a kayak with a thru hull rudder"

Two weeks later a plastic Stealth with a swing up rudder appears on my Facebook Marketplace. It's time to put up or shut up.

 The guy who sold me it is in here, can't remember his username, but he's in Gilroy and did a wonderful job of rigging the kayak. A lot of thought and care. I don't need to or even want to redo anything.

The kayak itself is everything the Stealth fanatics say it is and everything I imagined it would be. It's not too often you have high expectations and something further surpasses them instead of tempering them. Two minor quibbles, these are likely digs against me more than the watercraft itself.

#1 I need to do some core workouts. This no-backrest thing is tough on my abs and lower back. Inexplicably my ass has never been less sore. I sat in a hard plastic bowl for 4hrs straight and no sore butt. Witchcraft.

#2 The rod holders are a scosche too small for my favorite rod, the Ugly Stick Tiger 2201. I'm already not in my confidence kayak (prowler) and now I have to give up ye old trusty confidence rods? Dang

I'm still very impressed and think it will be a really good kayak for my body type and the way I like to fish - minimal gear, and lots of drifting, trolling, live baiting, and ocean conditions.

Any Stealth owners in the comments,  I'd love to hear your experiences regarding the seat back. Did you tough it out, cave and buy a seat back, or something else entirely?

Grats on the Fusion 480. Comfort is subjective a lot of times but here is my experience with the Fusion 480. The first and only time my butt got sore was when I was on the water for over 8 hours for the first time. After that one time my butt never got sore even when I was on the water for over 8 hours. I think you described it well "witchcraft"  First the 6 months, my abs were burning. It was best ab workout I got. I personally don't feel the need for the backrest. I actually think not having a backrest forces me sit up in proper position for paddling.

Great feedback, I suppose the core workout will do me good.

Ruben Ledesma(fishkraft) is our local stealth dealer. Stealth doesn't ship directly.   If he's got one of these or if you can wait for an order to come in you'll be satisfied.  There are seat pads as well and I'm thinking about another one.  The smooth one not the pro one because the smooth one has a sticker adhesive.  I like the pad because it grips me to the yak on the glass but the poly may not have that issue.

https://stealthkayaks.com/product/standard-back-rest/

Ive been using this for 5 years and it is a simple support for paddling ergonomics.  Welcome to the tribe!

Congrats on the new ride. Don't give up yet on the TigerStik. I've modified several of mine in the past to reduce the length and diameter of the butt section. It's a pain peeling the foam off but once that is done I've used tennis handle/bike handle tape to rewrap the butt section and reduce the overall diameter. You can get a rubber cap at HomeDepot/Lowes that will fit the end. Shorten it if you like - I find it easier to work the rod on the kayak with the shorter length. YMMV.

Cheers,
Brad

Congrats on the new ride. Don't give up yet on the TigerStik. I've modified several of mine in the past to reduce the length and diameter of the butt section. It's a pain peeling the foam off but once that is done I've used tennis handle/bike handle tape to rewrap the butt section and reduce the overall diameter. You can get a rubber cap at HomeDepot/Lowes that will fit the end. Shorten it if you like - I find it easier to work the rod on the kayak with the shorter length. YMMV.

Cheers,
Brad

So, basically what Phenix does with their rods?  that's a great idea thanks for the inspo

Can't do the no back rest thing in fact I fold up the seat part of my seat for a double backrest experience. I find it's really helpful in bracing in the surf to be wedged in between the seat and the rudder pedals.

Rod holders didn't fit some of my rods or my gaff so replaced two of them with stranded off the shelf normal type.

Congratulations on an awesome upgrade!

Could you use pvc pipe to make an adapter to fit the rod butt?

Could you use pvc pipe to make an adapter to fit the rod butt?

Of course, but I really love the placement and angle of the rod holders. I don't want to mess that up or move the weight of my rods and nets up higher. I will probably try shaving the hard rubber butt of the Ugly Stick 2201 down a little on the bench sander, and then if that doesn't get my rod butt all the way to the bottom f the holder I'll try Chopper's custom wrapped rod butt suggestion.

Could you use pvc pipe to make an adapter to fit the rod butt?

Of course, but I really love the placement and angle of the rod holders. I don't want to mess that up or move the weight of my rods and nets up higher. I will probably try shaving the hard rubber butt of the Ugly Stick 2201 down a little on the bench sander, and then if that doesn't get my rod butt all the way to the bottom f the holder I'll try Chopper's custom wrapped rod butt suggestion.

I had a rod that I sanded the butt down to make it fit. Worked like a champ. You could also replace the rod holder like Tsuri did. I also never have needed a seat. I find it pretty comfortable without it and when paddling don't need it