Ultra 4.7 center hatch

Every few weeks I think about this boat again..... 

Allen, or anybody else who owns an Ultra,  I wonder what your opinion is on the center hatch and the clasps for it. How do you think they will hold if you take a big wave over the bow, or if you were to make a mistake and end up flipping in the surf, how well do you think it will hold?

My inner gear whore and an unexpected tax return have me weighing the options between a new pistol or a new yak (Ultra 4.7 or a Jackson Coosa). The pistol is winning the competition right now, but it hasn't been decided yet.....



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Jay given your current location I can see the S&W or Coosa getting more use....I can't beleive I just said NO to the Ultra.

Jay given your current location I can see the S&W or Coosa getting more use....I can't beleive I just said NO to the Ultra.

I tend to agree. The S&W is for hiking/fly fishing/camping in wolf, moose, or cougar territory. The Coosa would be great for steelhead and bass fishing. But, the 4.7 would be nice for trolling on the large lakes up here. There are some days I put in 5+ miles of paddling. If I got the 4.7 I would have to sell my Prowler to afford it, so I am concerned about surf launch/landing and that center hatch. Despite being in Idaho I intend to get 2 - 3 ocean trips in every year. I have never rolled in the surf, but I know that someday it will happen.

::cough cough:: revo

The hold downs for the center hatch hold very tight. I wouldn't worry about that. The 4.7 was made with the ocean in mind. I hear the Revo chant starting already...BMB... I was originally looking very hard at the Revo, but it just busted my budget no matter how I tried to stretch it. I was able to get the 4.7 because I got a fantastic deal. I don't regret it one bit.

That looks like a nice pocket heater in the second pic. I've wanted one like that for some time, but couldn't justify the expense. What is that in the third pic?

::cough cough:: revo

If I bought a Hobie it would be an Adventure, but I like to paddle   

What is that in the third pic?

http://jacksonkayak.com/jk-kayaks/kayak-fishing/coosa/
This would be my steelhead and sight fishing boat. 

::cough cough:: revo

If I bought a Hobie it would be an Adventure, but I like to paddle   

you knew i had to say it   for the price of a 4.7 a revo would definitely be within budget!  adventures are actually cheaper used than revos are...great for trolling!

Before you get all hot and bothered about the S&W,
Let me get home and post the pics of mine.
I found a malfunction in mine and now it makes a great paper weight.
That's right - it blew the cylinder apart and took the top strap with it.
this occurred after 3 boxes of ammo.
"The S&W is for hiking/fly fishing/camping in wolf, moose, or cougar territory"
This gun might work for a Bobcat or a rogue Squirrel but you should concider a little larger caliber if you are concerned about the above animals.
In fact the S&W you pictured might make them more mad than scared.
Just my 2 cents.

See Ya Soon,
Eric / Yakhopper

Before you get all hot and bothered about the S&W,
Let me get home and post the pics of mine.
I found a malfunction in mine and now it makes a great paper weight.
That's right - it blew the cylinder apart and took the top strap with it.
this occurred after 3 boxes of ammo.
"The S&W is for hiking/fly fishing/camping in wolf, moose, or cougar territory"
This gun might work for a Bobcat or a rogue Squirrel but you should concider a little larger caliber if you are concerned about the above animals.
In fact the S&W you pictured might make them more mad than scared.
Just my 2 cents.

See Ya Soon,
Eric / Yakhopper

Being .357 it should stop a wolf or cougar. If there's moose around then the best I can hope to do is scare it or buy time to get to the shotgun with slugs. What kind of pistol do you have? As far as malfunctions go, the "no lock" version of the M&P 340 has a pretty strong reputation.

Jay,
I had the model S&W 442 Airweight in .38 +P w/ Crimson Laser Grips
I purchased it because It was touted as the perfect carry weapon.
As you can see in the photos I was lucky that it didn't cause any damage other than to the revolver.
When I called customer care at S&W they tried to say I used the wrong ammo - That was not the case and I told the tech that it was a light load from A very reputable ammo mfgr. and sent some photos to him.
After he saw the photos (as blurry as they are) he contacted me and agreed that it was metal fatigue.
They offered me a credit for the gun which I was glad to get but unfortunately the credit didn't cover the two holsters, 4 auto loaders, and 500 rounds of ammo I purchased.
Because The metal gave on a 38+P I would be concerned about the 357 with the same frame.
I still think S&W makes a fine product but will be carrying a little more solid piece from now on.
Just my 2 cents

See Ya Soon,
Eric / Yakhopper

JC Eric! Thats some scary stuffrightthere.

Wow! That's some explosion! I owned a 442 for years and never had any trouble, but I suppose when you make as many guns as S&W does you're bound to make the occasional mistake. The 340 I'm looking at has a stainless steel cylinder and a "scandium alloy high strength frame," which so far seems to be pretty good based on other reviews and gun blogs.

Anyhow, I'd still be interested in the original question about the 4.7 center hatch. I'm picturing the surf crashes I've witnessed and in every case the boat ends up barrel rolling sideways through the surf. I thank Gabe for his opinion, but I'm wondering what others think too.

Goes without saying, always wear eye and ear protection when shooting, esp. w/revolvers!

The hatch isn't going anywhere, the latches hold it down tight and are very secure. Granted I haven't rolled it in the surf,  but I feel that in the event I did,  everything would stay right where it is.

Hey guys,,, I've spent years touring sea kayaks as well as paddling canoes and whitewater kayaks, but I'm a noob to dedicated yak fishing and have borrowed a 4.7 while I'm waiting for mine (t-minus 2 weeks).  I usually know what I'm doing but every now and then, my youthful stupidity/excitement gets the best of me and I brain fart,,, never anything dangerous, just those silly head slap "DOHs".  Anyways, rolled up the beach yesterday, after coming back from trying to stab some dinner with a sharp stick.  No water entered the hatch.  The rubber straps hold it down well, but I still keep my precious things in a dry bag, as I've learned on plenty of sea kayak trips and river boating, that no hatch is always dry.  The hatch and it's straps seem durable enough, the design seems good,,, so IMO I think it'll be solid enough unless user error or some production/warranty issue jumps out.  Hope this helps.  I'm not sure what length Prowler you've got,,, but if I lived in ID, a lead thrower or Coosa would probably get more use.  That being said and living at the coast,,, I'm stoked to (some day) be getting my own 4.7,,, as are my friends, since I no longer need to borrow.