Hello

Hi, this is my first post on this forum.  A few months ago I bought my first kayak.  I knew that I wanted to fish from it so I looked for one designed for fishing.  I also wanted one that I could load easily by myself.  I ended up buying a Malibu Stealth 9.  I have paddled it on the Russian River, several lakes, and Bodega Bay inside the breakers.  When I bought it I didn’t have ocean kayaking in mind but now I do.  Would this kayak be safe to take beyond the breakers or do I need a longer one?

Welcome!   

"Safe" is relative to what you're doing and, even more, the conditions at the time.  My friends and I started with 9' boats (much cheaper ones than a Malibu!) years ago and had many successful trips up to a mile offshore.  If you feel stable on that boat and you're confident about re-entry in swells then I think it is safe to use offshore as other boats are.  Flotation is something to consider, and having a good collection of safety gear is a must.

Good luck - have fun! 

Thanks for the reply.  Would outriggers be helpful getting through the surf and coping with the swells?

Welcome to the madness, shorter boats tend to be wider and there for more stable, tend being the key word.  Conditions will dictate a lot.  GO prepared to go in and go out with some one with expierence.

Welcome YaknFish!  A 9' boat is great for rivers/bays, but if you're going to venture out much farther something with a bit more speed and stability would be a good idea.  Like the other guys said, if you are comfortable and confident, go for it, just remember safety first and don't be afraid to bail if things aren't looking good.