New to Kayak Diving - Picked up a Malotte

Hi Guys,

I've been diving the north coast for the past 15 years, but the recent MLPA closures have forced my friend and I out of the majority of the spots we dive in.  As nomads this year, I can certainly say it wasn't fun! With this comes the interest in Kayak diving.  I've always been intrigued by the idea, but this year forced our hand.

Long story short, I know nothing about ocean-going kayaks, but found a decent deal on a Malotte diving ocean kayak on CL and picked it up. I found a couple posts about it, but if you guys know anything about them, here are a few questions I have:

1) how durable are these?  I know my boogey board has taking a beating from incidental contacts with rocks while diving, what kind of punishment can these take without the trip becoming a salvage operation?

2) What kind of range can I expect? I've heard they are stable but slow. I'd like to be able to range at least a couple miles from the launch site, is that realistic?

I have a good buddy that I dive with, and we were contemplating 2 singles vs 1 tandem, can anyone lay out pros and cons?  I'm sure I'll have many more questions, but will try my best to search them out before asking.

Great site, looking forward to this adventure!

I don't know much about the Malotte, but a few on here do - notably, "Ravensblack".  I'd think that 2 miles from launch shouldn't be a problem (but I like to walk my yak farther than that on wheels, so I may not be a good reference.   )

As for 2 singles vs a tandem, I've done both and very much prefer having my own boat.  It actually becomes my float much of the time, as I drag it around from below the surface.

Good luck and please report back with your tales and some pics.   

Never paddled a Malotte so Ican't give any good intel there.
As far as a tandem vs. 2 singles........2 singles HANDS DOWN!!!!! Don't even consider a tandem. BTDT

I saw some guys using them this weekend @ Ocean Cove. They look slow and heavy, just my two cents! Id go with A single kayak maybe A scrambler. Good luck and dont forget to take the camera! ....And welcome to the board.

I had a malotte knock off.  It paddled slower than my malibu, tracked pretty crappy and sat kinda below the waterline with me and all my crap piled in it.

Its not ideal, far from it.....but it will get the job done. 2 miles sounds doable.   

Thanks for the advice guys.  My buddy and I are going to go out there with whatever we can scrape together on the cheap (BTW any of you guys getting rid of your old beat up yak? If it floats we'll take it), make a run and see how it goes.  From there, if we like it (which we probably will) we will know what we want and upgrade accordingly. Looking forward to it, hope to meet up with you guys out there to show us the ropes!

Saw A yak on craigslist in Monterey Bay for like two hundred and fifty bucks. Not gonna get one much cheaper than that!

Sounds great, but I'm up in the east bay, that is quite a drive for me!

Thanks for the advice guys.  My buddy and I are going to go out there with whatever we can scrape together on the cheap (BTW any of you guys getting rid of your old beat up yak? If it floats we'll take it)

yup btdt.....I think we're just spoiled nowadays.  when these babies just hit the scene I'm sure guys took em all over the place and they rocked!

I just saw this. I bought my first malotte scout 2 in 74'. It was stable and pretty fast as long as it was flat. the hull tends to slap alot in chop. Tracks Ok. Lots of space and unsinkable as the seating area is filled with foam and sealed with glass bulkhead. I had that SOT for a long time until I bought a Achilles inflatable. You can do 2 miles no problema in that ride. I had mine flip out from me on a sleeper at Stillwater north. It landed about 15 ft from me. I swam over, righted it bailed it out, and went diving. You have a great, inexpensive starter SOT! Enjoy it and go for the nostalgia. Cant wait to see some pics of it with fish and abalone hanging off of it. PM if you want to go out some time. Craig

PS. You have to remeber that these are made of glass. So rocks are a big no no. I never liked paddling tandems. Takes away from the solo experience.

Hi Craig,

Glad to hear from someone that has one if these things.  It is a bit rough around the edges, but I think it will do what I need it to. The biggest thing about it is the weight. Not great if I need to hoof it to a launch spot.  We are looking forward to getting out, I'll definitely PM you to see if you are available.  Thanks for the offer and info.

So...avoiding rocks?  Everywhere we dive it seems that rocks are inevitable, you should see the bottom of the board I use now!

My friend is still looking for a kayak as well, ideally a different one. That way when we go out we can compare them and see the differences. 

I think that the Malotte weighed in at around 75 if I am not mistaken. So dry weight my T-15 weighs 68 I think. Not much difference. The boards are tough. I was just implying that i wouldnt bash them against the rocks on purpose. Where do you guys live? I am in Petaluma.

Gotcha.  That was one of my concerns. So if it hits a rock and takes on water, will it still float due to the foam? I hope I never have to find out!

I'm in the Hercules/Rodeo area, but have to pass through Petaluma every time we dive.