Prowler 15 vs Trident for Ocean Fishing

People keep asking me why I use my P15 on the ocean instead of my Trident so I will give you a detailed review based on 12 months of paddling both.

Weight: Advantage P15 - 2-3 pounds lighter and narrower so much easier to carry
Rigging: Advantage Trident - the rod pod is really nice and I have gotten used to the sonar shield
Speed: Advantage P15 - the P15 accelerates faster and has a slightly faster top speed
Tracking: Advantage P15 - tracks better in the wind
Stability: Advantage Trident - better primary and secondary stability
Comfort: Advantage Trident - much easier on the buttocks
Dry Ride: Advantage Trident - I wear a wet suit so...
Swells: Tie - but low bracing is easier in the P15 because it rides lower
Water Tightness - Advantage P15 - When the boat is upside down the Trident takes on much more water because of the rod pod
Surf Launching: Advantage Trident - the bow rides higher and the cockpit drains faster
Surf Landing: Advantage P15 - superior acceleration and manuverability
Fishing: Advantage Trident - Bigger cockpit to hold giant YT and rigging options
Large Anglers: Advantage Trident - I am 5"10" and 165# and the P15 fits me well but over 6' and 200#...
Sex Appeal: Advantage P15 - the P15, Tarpon 16.0 and Hobie Adventure are the sexiest yaks on the water, IMHO

So why do I use the P15 on the ocean? Here is why...
- At my age, carrying the yak any distance is a challenge
- I like long paddles so speed is a priority
- I have more problems with landings compared to lauchings
- I have found ways to rig the P15 so I don't lose equipment often in the surf
- When you fish with Etienne anything goes and the P15 is my "rock yak"

For mothership trips I use the Trident but for surf launches, the P15 is my favorite.

Scott

thanks Scott, that clears things up for me and makes any future decision easier.

Eugene (loser at the limekiln surf competition!)

By FAR the most comprehensive comparison between the two yaks to date.
Thanks for the input. I like that it comes from an owner of both kayaks.
Cribbage anyone?????

Thanks for the comparison, I have been considering upgrading from my P13 to the Trident or the 15.  this is good info.

Great report GB2 . I have not paddled the Trident although I plan to. My rig is a pimped P15 . Suits me just fine. Enjoyed reading your comparison.


Thanks - Ben

GB2 - Thanks for the thorough and timely info. Been paddling a P-15 and have recently been considering a Trident.  Attracted to the pod, greater weight capacity, drier ride without too much loss in performance (speed, stability) based on the limited review info I've seen to date.  Thanks again. 

Would be interested to hear additional opinions from other Trident owners.

Take care - Bird 

I have both the P15 and the Trident as well...to me, the P-15 fits my needs the best. If only the Ocean Kayak "design crew" put a smaller rod pod on the P-15, it would be a hard kayak to beat 

Just my 2 cents...

I am another Trident owner and haven't found it to be lacking the speed that I need but then again I am one of those guys that stays within the speed limit. I'll give the P15 it's dues as Scott stated however, it is my opinion that the options out way the minuses of the Trident. I would rather be able to stow my fish and equipment for a beach landing than not. When I do open up for the yard sale at least I'll have may gear/fish in one safe area to sell on the nice warm sand rather than spread out or lost in the surf.
I have gone out with the paddlers who like to make quick business of getting to point A to B in a hurry and found that I am not that far behind them. Nor do I wish to break any records getting there. I just find that I am more confident in the Trident with it's response to be just fine.
Again when launching or landing my main concern is safety and approach both with the same frame of mind. So it is my biggest promo for the Trident that when everything is under the pod and I eat it, I don't have to be worry about gear catching me up side the head while I have my mind on entry or exit.
I took my Trident recently to the High St. Bridge (in Oakland) while the current was ripping and maneuvered this yak right through the current in both direction and kept it in the current while fishing the whole time. I must say I was impressed how this big yak paddled in a very strong and dangerous situation. I could even position it in the eddy's so that I would hold still with little or no paddling.
Last week I caught a Hali. at the ARW break in the wall, where the current also gets roaring and found that the Trident did a fantastic job of taking the rough water in impressive fashion. I ran the opening like I was on rapids going to and fro at least 7 times before finally hooking up.
Allen Bushnell lent me a P15 last year for almost the whole rock fishing season which as stated before is a much wetter ride. A great craft that I absolutely fell in love with but yearned for a solution to the equipment being on deck under adverse situation. I was going to buy the P15 until Allen told me to wait for the Trident to come out before purchasing. I haven't  looked back since.
I also own a Revo Hobie and a Tarpon 120 as well as the Hobie sport but for the ocean the Trident is my Yak of choose.    Soon I will be adding the rudder system to my Trident which I find to be a big plus in both Hobies and the Tarpon.
My first outting on the Trident was at the Elk Tournment last year and as soon as I had it on the water I knew it was the right Yak for me.

 Just my .02 Frankfishing

Pretty much agree with Scott except for the water tight part, I rolled mine in my class and a bunch of times afterwards and it didn't get any water in it.  I paddled a P-15 many times in Mex and at my weight it is a wet beotch, although a great paddling boat...the Trident is a better rig for me.

I pretty much agree as well, except for the speed factor.  The Trident takes a few more strokes to get going, but the top speed and glide (for me, anyway) are superior to the P-15.  One reason for this besides the longer hull length is the seating position in the Trident is a bit more centered along the balance length of the boat.  The P-15 (again, for me) sits a little 'bow-high' which of course is a stalling position, so the boat slows at a more rapid rate (oxymoron?)

The Trident loses points  for the wind factor, higher sides make it move way faster in slight winds, a disadvantage for  me when I'm trying to eke out another hour on the salt as the wind is picking up.  Also, I have rudders on my Trident and my primary P-15, so the tracking in wind situation is equal.

Allen

If I were to say which yak is superior all around I would say it is the Trident. The speed difference for me which is small may be a combination of the paddle I am using and my low angle paddle technique and the extra wind resistance of the Trident. The leakage issues may be partly from how I mounted the battery. The 2 yaks feel quite different when you paddle them with the Trident feeling like a Mercedes and the P15 like a  Ferari. After paddling the P15 for a year, you get used to it's shortcomings and use them as assets like using the perpetually flooded footwells as livewells for freshly sabiki'ed bait.    I did take the Trident on a 6 mile paddle at San Clemente Island last year and it is rock solid in moderate swells and has good speed. 

scott

I have both boats - my experiences are similar to Scott's. However, I feel the P15 is a better surf launcher, especially for beach breaks, because it accelerates faster and is more maneuverable.

I have a love / hate relationship with the Trident. It paddles like a big boat, takes a lot of steam to get going, gets pushed around by wind... But I keep coming back to it because it is the best integrated fishing system available. My poor P15 is collecting dust.

Ah, but recently I had a chance to jump on one (a P15) down in the East Cape. Such a sweet paddler in comparison.

But I keep coming back to it because it is the best integrated fishing system available.

Kinda captures it.  I pimped my Plano today...2 spools of leader under the lid, and loads of tackle in the bottom...its awesome.

 I pimped my Plano today...2 spools of leader under the lid, and loads of tackle in the bottom...its awesome.

pictures! pretty please!

Thanks for all the great info guys, much appreciated!!!

Take care - Bird