Prowler news, with question.

My reply to a query I sent Ocean Kayak about when they might make the Prowler Elite available in the US.

   "Thank you for your email. There are no plans at this time to
have this kayak available in the US."
   
   I currently paddle a Prowler 15, but I am looking to replace it in the next couple of months. I share ownership of it with a buddy, and we use it enough that I feel I should get my own. I really like the way it handles, but I am slightly cramped in the cockpit. I understand the P Elite has a bigger cockpit like the P13, so I was planning on waiting for it to become available. Looks like I might have to wait too long though.
  So, any ideas of what boats I should look at instead of the Prowler? I like that it is pretty fast, has a rudder option, tracks well, and can handle rough conditions. I just need a little more space. I have paddled a P13 on a few occasions, and I much prefer the speed and tracking of the P15.
Thanks
 

My reply to a query I sent Ocean Kayak about when they might make the Prowler Elite available in the US.

   "Thank you for your email. There are no plans at this time to
have this kayak available in the US."
   
   I currently paddle a Prowler 15, but I am looking to replace it in the next couple of months. I share ownership of it with a buddy, and we use it enough that I feel I should get my own. I really like the way it handles, but I am slightly cramped in the cockpit. I understand the P Elite has a bigger cockpit like the P13, so I was planning on waiting for it to become available. Looks like I might have to wait too long though.
  So, any ideas of what boats I should look at instead of the Prowler? I like that it is pretty fast, has a rudder option, tracks well, and can handle rough conditions. I just need a little more space. I have paddled a P13 on a few occasions, and I much prefer the speed and tracking of the P15.
Thanks
 

The Ocean Kayak Big Game has more room than the P15, but it's slower.

Try paddling the Tarpon 160  Or simply wait for the new Prowler 15 to hit the market.....pretty soon

I've also sent them pretty much the same message three times already and got pretty much the same answer.   Also two messages to the contact page from the OK New Zealand site (where it is manufactured) when unanswered.

If this is any indication, OK is throwing away a pretty decent market for this boat.

Mooch ... what's the winky for?  This weekend I saw a P15 with a scupper hole transducer insert fitted in one of the rear scupper holes.  But other than that, no other big changes as far as I could tell.

-Allen

Mooch ... what's the winky for? 

Can't say much right now  But I'm sure you know just as much as I do 

If you guys are interested I talked with the Go Bannanas Kayak shop owner and he is shipping old style two hatch scuppers and the new elite 4.5 to Hawaii. He said he could arange to get them to CA if you guys want.  I am not sure of the cost, but if you got a group together I bet it wouldn't be too bad.  He just sold his last two old tarpon 160 hatches and he recomends buying them if you find them
Ed

Mooch,
You hint at a "new" Prowler 15, any idea if it has a larger cockpit than the current P15? I really like my prowler, but I am a bit cramped in there at 6'4". Is there a new prowler on the horizon? I want the rudders, as I have tons of fun using two-line kites for propulsion.
  So I am faced with a dilemma, I found this site http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com that sells Prowlers with a modified rudder pedal system. This might work for me, but I'd have to pay over 300 bucks for a rudder system, and over a hundred for shipping, and I am not certain that this system would be solid. I would much prefer to keep my money local. Would it make sense to wait a couple months and see what OK might be coming down the pipe with? Or should I buy the boat and have it shipped from New Jersey with the rudders that might work for a taller guy like me?
 I would be interested in getting an elite shipped here, but I imagine that would be really expensive.
Chris

If you really like the P-15, I say wait for the new one to come out.

I forgot to say thanks! Thanks for your help, and everyone's, I have received a TON of really useful knowledge from this board!