OK Malibu 2xl or WS Tarpon T130

Thinking on getting a tandam to take out with the wife or kids. Would be going to lakes,sfbay, and ocean. I have paddled the Malibu 2xl and liked it. Most of the time would be just paddling around having fun, but also would be doing a little fishing. I might even take it on solo missions also. What to buy? ummmm...

Hi Brian,

I've got a Malibu Two (non XL) that I fish out of. I bought this boat "used" prior to discovering this site. In fact, I was doing various searches trying to figure out how to best rig it that finally brought me here.

In my case, it is a clear case of buyer's remorse, and I am already looking for a different (or second!!) boat.  My case may be different from yours though, and it might be a good fit in your case.

I bought it mainly for fishing, but thought it would be fun to be able to take my wife out on the water occasionally - especially since some good friends of ours just acquired a tandem themselves. It was a way to get early buy-in from the spouse, and to that end I guess it accomplished an important goal. 

However, as a primary fishing Kayak, I find it somewhat lacking. Not impossible by any means, but less than desireable. Some of the pros and cons I've found with it are as follows:

Pros

• It *is* stable.
• Seating configurations allow for 2 or 1 in the middle.
• Taking someone on the water with you is fun! (as long as you are not fishing seriously)

Cons

• It doesn't paddle particularly well - especially in the wind.
• There is a lack of in-boat storage for rods and gear. This is especially a minus if you are doing any surf launches/landings (do a search on recent Linda Mar threads).
• Difficult to rig for fishing as there are no easy spots for rod holders, and mounting a FF transducer is challenging due to limited (or no) access to the inside of the boat.
• The solo paddling configuration is a compromise (paddle from the rear and the nose sticks up, paddle from the center and the seat area is not very confortable)
• rear tankwell is not flat, so crates and other fishing accessories don't fit with a lot of stability.

The bottom line for me is that I've learned there is no single, perfect, all-rounder boat that will fit all requirements, and you will need to compromise somewhere. If you are primarily looking for a fishing kayak, there are a lot of disadvantages to it, and you may be best served looking elsewhere. If you are looking for a fun family boat that you could take out for some occasional bass-casting on a lake, it might work our great for you.

There are some other guys on here who have more experience with this model than I do, so they may have a different and more informed perspective than I. And regardless of which boat you get, just being out there is pretty damn FUN!!! 

Peter

Thanks peter. This yak would not be my fishing yak. I fish out of a Tarpon 120. This would be my second yak just to take the family out for a fun day on the water. Maybe catch a fish or tow. 

As a second yak, I'd say go for it.

I have the tarpon 130. It's fine for what you are talking about and I think it has a faster hull than the Malibu II.

i have the malibu 2, rigged for fishing with an internal bait tank in the middle hatch, rod holders all around, depthfinder/gps. i love it, as me and the wife can both fish comfortably from it. that said, it's a pig to paddle. it does surf reasonably well, though...

i have the malibu 2, rigged for fishing with an internal bait tank in the middle hatch, rod holders all around, depthfinder/gps. i love it, as me and the wife can both fish comfortably from it. that said, it's a pig to paddle. it does surf reasonably well, though...

I'd love to see some pics of how you rigged it.

By the way, I agree that it surfs pretty good!

Peter

IMHO, neither.  They both suck.

The Malibu is a barge without really having enough room for two people.  Look at the length, its shorter than most singles!  Its a barge, because thats the only way to get the weight capacity in such a short boat.  The 130 is even less usable.

The OK Zest is the only SOT tandem with enough room for two people (and a kid).  Its an old design, and BIG, but it needs to be.  My Zest is very fun to paddle, comfy, roomy and with two folks that know what they're doing it flat hauls a$$.  






12-0 x 34 or 16.5 x 30...for me its an ez choice. Go big, or long !!!!

The Malibu 2XL is better all around than the Tarpon 13 IMO for many reasons. From a paddling perspective, the zest is better without a doubt. However, the zest is heavier than the 2XL by several pounds and more room than I need. I use mine for fishing feshwater with my dog solo and it works fine since I am usually pulling plugs and speed is not an issue. I have owned two Malibu 2XL's and have both loved them and hated them, but since I got a dog, I have really enjoyed the company.

Scott

It would make a good dog tandem.  Since my sissy dogs hate water it didn't even cross my mind.