Calling All Hobie and Jackson Cuda 14 owners.

Hard to beat a hands-free Hobie! Monday, I was tying line while I was heading for my spot and I just thought to myself "damn I love my kayak"!

Cuda = stable, but it does not = fast. Good kayak but it's better at marketing than paddling. Just my opinion though...everybody else seems to enjoy them, until they try a different kayak. What's your height/weight? Because that should factor into your decision too.   

  that's been my opinion about the Jackson's I have paddled. The newer designs are more promising for saltwater but we will see. I am sure the freshwater bass guys like them.

I have a Hobie Adventure, and a Jackson Cuda 14.

If there is a chance that I am going to be fishing in current or wind, then I go with the Hobie. I'll also take the Hobie if I know I need to cover some ground.

 If I am fishing on anchor or in a lake on a day with light wind, then the Cuda is great. The Cuda is also nice for when you're going to be in the kelp all day. Kelp is not Hobie-friendly. However, you always have the option of removing your mirage drive on the Hobie.  I'd say I'm more of a Hobie guy, but the Jackson definitely has it's place in my fleet. It isn't fast, but I feel it's well thought out and if you use it for the right type of fishing, it's awesome. I'm (one day) going to buy a Pro Angler and in my opinion will have a perfect fleet of fishing kayaks.

Like the other guys said, you have to sacrifice stability for speed, that's just the way it is. That being said, my Adventure isn't the most stable feeling kayak I've ever been on, but falling off hasn't been an issue at all. Get out there and test drive.

Check Windy Toys in Santana Rosa for both kayaks

WindToys is no longer a Jackson Dealer...

SlackTai, I have a extra Cuda14 you're welcome to barrow anytime you'd like.  I'm just a little north of you.
Definitely try before you buy.

might have to take you up on that offer. Guys im leaning towards buying a Cuda 14 for the now, an be in the market for a revo 14 later at the end of the year. Cant go wrong with having both. NCKA members are awesome seriously cant wait to hit the water.

Check Windy Toys in Santana Rosa for both kayaks

WindToys is no longer a Jackson Dealer...

SlackTai, I have a extra Cuda14 you're welcome to barrow anytime you'd like.  I'm just a little north of you.
Definitely try before you buy.

might have to take you up on that offer. Guys im leaning towards buying a Cuda 14 for the now, an be in the market for a revo 14 later at the end of the year. Cant go wrong with having both. NCKA members are awesome seriously cant wait to hit the water.

just my 2 cents:
if you serious about Revo and having both kayaks - look at BMB 2.0 deal for lile new 2014 Revo package
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=56008.0

and than you can wait for Fall SWAP at Headwaters in Lodi or monitor Dan's (aka paddleboy84) posts and get a great deal on Cuda as well   (if seat does not matter for you, try Caribbean 14 too, kayak weight can make a big difference at the end of the day)

When I have been kayak fishing around the kelp in Monterey Bay I would have the fishing line in the water 25-35 percent of the time. The rest of the time I was reeling it in and then paddling away from the kelp to keep the line and hooks from getting caught up in the kelp. This is where the Hobie changes the situation.

I appreciate that I would use an anchor or a drogue chute to keep the boat out of the kelp and off the beach but it is more to manage and store while on a space limited craft.

The other factor is trolling which I can do with the Hobie but not for all practical purposes with a boat I have to paddle. It is a lot less effort to pedal at the required speed and monitor the rod and line than to try to do the same while paddling.

My primary concern with the boat was its hull weight. At 69 lbs. and 13'5" x 28.5" for the Revo 13 (bare hull weight without the Mirage drive) it was no less manageable than a Trident 13 with a hull weight of 67 lbs. and 13'6" x 29.5" - which was on my paddle fishing boat short list.

The difference is between pedaling and paddling and cost with the Revo 13 boat at $2000 and the similarly sized kayaks selling for $700 to $900 less, though without a paddle which is included with the Revo 13 (as well as a Hobie water bottle).

I own both a Cuda 14 and a Revo 13. I got the Revo 13 as a prize because I caught a lot of really big fish out of my Cuda 14.  I can offer a comparison, but I recommend you try both boats out before buying.

The Cuda 14 is a damn comfortable and enjoyable boat to fish out of. It isn't the fastest boat it is fast and efficient enough to paddle the distances needed to find the bite (if you don't mind a workout).  The wide hips give it enough stability to stand on and sight fish (which I wouldn't want to do in a Hobie).  It anchors well in delta and lower american river current, and I was comfortable paddling it with the seat in the high position while on calm parts of the lower American, and flatwater. The high position is cool because you can see much better through the water, and it's ridiculously comfortable.  The cuda 14 is easy to rig, and has lots of deck space for modifications.  What the Cuda 14 doesn't have is stability in rough conditions.  I took the Cuda 14 in to pretty big swell and high wind without problem, but I felt far less stable than my fishing buddies with lower COG kayaks. The Cuda 14 is also pretty heavy.  I was able to cartop the Cuda 14 solo, but it wasn't easy the first few times.

I have used my Revo 13 for a few months (I fish more than most mortals), and taken on the delta, lakes, lower american river, and a number of times in the ocean. Compared to the Cuda 14, the Revo 13 is a much more aggressive kayak that will get you to the fishing grounds faster. The Revo 13 is also more stable in bad swell and high winds.  Trolling is a breeze, as is jogging against a wind. The revo 13 has fewer rigging options and less deck space than the Cuda, but if you use rails it can still be rigged to meet the target species.  The Revo is not built to stand up on.  I'm sure it is stable enough to do, but the deck is not built to stand on. The Revo is also less comfortable for me.  I don't mind the slightly recumbent position of the Hobie, but the lawn chair on the Cuda is hard to beat.  After a year of cartopping the Cuda 14, the lighter Revo 13 was easy. I have also had to repair my revo twice since I got it. I first bent the drive when I hit some sunken timber in the American (which can't be blamed on hobie, but it is an inevitability). The rudder has also had issues staying down (which renders it nonfunctional) as a result of rudder lines stretching and wear on the line sleeves.


Demo both!