2 Seater Question.

Anyone have an opinion on a decent 2 seater.  Have one and like it/hate it?  Why so? Looking to get one so I can bring my son out with me.  He is only 9 and not quite there on paddling alone.  Thanks all.

Lovingthe big tuna in solo and tandem

Well, since it is to with one of your kids it's probably OK - but tandems are usually referred to as Divorce Boats! The OK Malibu XL is a nice boat - http://www.oceankayak.com/kayaks/tandem_kayaks/malibu_two_xl/

Well, since it is to with one of your kids it's probably OK - but tandems are usually referred to as Divorce Boats! The OK Malibu XL is a nice boat - http://www.oceankayak.com/kayaks/tandem_kayaks/malibu_two_xl/

+1 

* the option to move the seat and turn a double into a single is always a good option 

You can demo the Malibu XL at Monterey Bay Kayak. We will also be having a Kayak Fishing tournament on Sept 15th / Sunday. Big wins a kayak! Come join us!

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=48565.0

I got a malibu XL for the family and so far we love it, so do all our friends and family

I'm looking at a tandem for the same reason, I have been leaning toward the OK malibu xl but hard to find any deals on them.

The Malibu XL's seem pretty nice.  They are huge and handle rough conditions well from what I've seen.

Another option is a Hobie Kona.  It's much smaller, (which can be a plus or a negative), and also can be rigged for solo paddling.

Another option is the Malibu Kayak Pro Tandem - it's available in standard, recreation and fish and dive versions -
http://www.malibukayaks.com/pro-2-tandem-standard.html
They are a favorite of rental companies as they can stand up to heavy usage.

I'm not sure of the exact model but I always fish on a tandem by Dagger. Its at least 10 yrs old so I cant find any info on it, but it is very comfortable and handles water nicely. we both weigh 180lbs and take prob 30 lbs worth of gear. We have also fished on a malibu tandem and you end up hating each-other at the end of the day.

Hey All,
Thanks for all the input, I really appreciate it.  Now I have grounds for some research.
No worries about the "Divorce Boats", my wife wont go past where she cant see her feet / the bottom...
But the little man wants to fish.
Thanks again!
B

I'm looking at a tandem for the same reason, I have been leaning toward the OK malibu xl but hard to find any deals on them.

some shops will sell their demo / rental kayaks - I would call around. Monterey Bay Kayaks has had some really good deals in the past.

I'm looking at a tandem for the same reason, I have been leaning toward the OK malibu xl but hard to find any deals on them.

some shops will sell their demo / rental kayaks - I would call around. Monterey Bay Kayaks has had some really good deals in the past.

Great idea! -

Monterey Bay Kayaks -800-649-5357
You may also want to try Blake at Sub-surface Progression in Fort Bragg - 707-964-3793

I picked up an older necky tandem SOT from the rental company on Tomales bay last year and we love it. It's a few feet longer than the OK Malibu which is great for having space to fish and paddle with two in the boat, but it's a bitch to move around and heavy -- something to think about if the little man isn't going to be able to carry his end. Very stable though on the water.

This demo sale is coming up fwiw -- http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/spo/4038535562.html

 The days of fishing tandems being divorce makers is long gone, unless you get the wrong boat.  There are a handful of models, old and new, that 2 adults can fish in challenging seas and still be friends at the end of every day. For a dad and kid....take your time and do demos on all the likely models.  Move around those boats to see how ample, rigable  and easy to access the fore and aft decks are.  You'll need room on a tandem for a crate or tackle bag w/rod holders.  Fishing seats were developed for travel and to make existing tandems of the time more fishable.  Demo models too for ease of self rescue and surf launching if you can (Monterey Bay Kayaks is one of the best shops on the California coast for angler demos IME).  I saw a couple of guys on an old necky last week at FT Ross who had it wired with rockfish limits early in the day.  Nice guys and new to the state I think, they got a heads up that you can't add 2 lings to your 10 rockfish limit.
Good luck, I hope this helps.

You should call Adventures by the Sea, in Monterey. They were selling demo boats for super cheap. I know they have Prowler 13s for $200, so they probably have some used OK Malibu 2 XLs for sale too. http://adventuresbythesea.com/
The Wilderness Systems 130T is a nice tandem yak too.

Nice guys and new to the state I think, they got a heads up that you can't add 2 lings to your 10 rockfish limit.

Huh?