Prowler 13, First Paddle

  Well i got my Prowler 13 on Thursday.  For those that don't know I traded in a Scrambler XT that was leaking and decided to replace it with the Prowler 13.

My first impression was the kayak didn't seem nearly as stable at the Scrambler, but that went away after about 20 min.  I found the secondary stability great.  I sat in the kayak and had scupper plugs under the seat but none in the footwells, the footwell filled a little with water.  I have read this occuring by most folks, I am sure my weighing 205 had nothing to do with it..... 

Any case, I paddled the boat and fell in love.  I was about half the effort and twice the speed of the Scrambler.  I was able to cruize along very well with just a light paddle.  I quit paddling and found the boat drifted quite a while before coming to a stop.  The scrambler stopped pretty abrupty after I stopped paddling.  I am more than willing to live with the little bit of water for the speed and ease of paddling I gained!

My wife had a hard time keeping up with me in her Frenzy, even though i was fully loaded and was paddling with my daughter in my lap.

I played around with side saddle, straddling the boat, accessing the hatches and the rear tankwell.  I found the boat very comfortable with its wide seat and the lower sides made it easy to rest my legs and paddle.

I have made a nice crate for the back with rod holders, leashes and an anchor.  However here is the kayak in "family mode" with a fully loaded ice chest, my daughter and myself.  I doubt I will have nearly as much weight when fishing, as the family requires much more 



Matt

Good news...glad you took the advice!

Very cool review Matt!
I think you mad ethe right decision by upgrading to the P13. I wonder if you could have your daughter sit inside the front hatch, facing you. Maybe use a small foam pad as a seat cushion? Of course, this would only be a freshwater option.
Scupper plugs in the footwells and tankwell will make it paddle even faster.

and excellent advice it was, thanks!

I went down yesterday and got a hitch extender for the truck at Harbor Freight and some wheels to make a cart.  I am in full swing "pimp your yak" right now.  I got "The Kayak Fishing DVD" and the book "The Complete Kayak Fisherman".  Both have great advice, but some off the best ideas and advice have been off this board.  I have probably worn out the search feature LOL.

Daughter placement is under construction right now.  The kayak came with a seat, so I have an extra.  I may try to find a place to mount it for the daughter.  I could fill the foot well with a couple small pool noodles to flatten out an area and put it forward on the tackle box mount or maybe in the rear tank well.  A simple boat pad might be easier though.

Matt

Matt,

Welcome to the P13 world. Bought mine last Spring and just love it. I'm 6"5", 215lbs, and there's lots of leg room and I have found the P13 to be very stable in the swells out of Santa Cruz.Like you, I'm in full "gearing up" mode, bought the Humminbird 535, wrapping rod blanks,etc.... But I've been stuck in North Carolina for 2 weeks and the yak's in Ben Lomond.....

Rich

  I used to live in Santa Cruz, great place.  i miss it a lot, especially when summer hits here in Red Bluff.  I used to fish off the pier and up by the lighthouse.  I sure wish i had a Kayak then.  I went spearfishign a few times with my float tube, but didn't do that great.  Watched a guy catch and reel in a harbor seal (to cut the line) off the pier once, it made the front page of the newspaper; I still have a copy.

I stopped by west marine on the way back from a trout trip today.  I got most the gear to rig an anchor dolly system, some drybags, a rod holder, and the stainless hardware to mount most of it.

They didn't have the aircraft rivets, so i will have to order those or well nuts.  They had the regular stainless rivits, but the "leafed" style looks like they would hold better.

I read one post on the trolly, using one simple line and paddling forward or backward to retrieve your float.  I may try that.  I like simple.  I also got a Clam Cleat.

I want to get a fish finder for the yak next month, but have to decide which one.  I may use the one off my boat and just get a second transducer/power cable for it.  I don't get to use it enough as it is.

I will probably start posting my pictures and progress in the gearing up forum as soon as I start.

Now if I can hide the bill from the wife......

Matt