Best paddling boat for speed...for the money

Fishing SOT Paddlefest
Why dont we ask club member to get together and share each others kayaks for a test?
As I read this speed money question I see some I would like to try? I didnt even know some of the models are even available.
I am looking for new fishing model and tired of driving all over to try something out
We could make a list of each kayak model currently available and ask members to sign up to bring there's to share.
Suggest a couple of each difrent models to test and folks rsvp for what they would like to try out???

Open to club members and there accompied friends.
Possible Half Moon Bay on a Saturday with good high tide?
I will put my Trident 13 up for who ever would like to try?

I have never known fast and cheap to go together??

I have never known fast and cheap to go well together.  But the original question was best paddling boat for speed and money, which kind of implies there is a trade off. Were money no object I think we would all have Kevlar hulled boats, carbon fiber paddles, and some other super cool stuff out there on the boat.  But we all have to deal with our respective size, weight, reach, ability.  As a forum we get to discuss the merits of pro's and con's based on experience, and or observations.   It is always nice to try something else out when possible.  I bought my Quest used in 2006,  Hobie builds a great boat, and as old as the boat is the color has never really faded, built like a tank,  I have no complaints in the quality of the boat, it is just time to start looking at something else and wanted to get opinion of what others are paddling.  Hobie design wise is slowly getting away from paddle boat and their market is peddle boats.  I Find I great cardio working paddle over peddle and need that balance for upper body versus my hiking and bike riding for lower.

 With the new prices for Hobie's I can start to look at a Raptor and throw a 2 to 4 hp motor on it and still have money left over for a trailer.

here ya go!.... 

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/boa/4643607781.html

Thats a great deal on a fast boat

I guess fast and cheap doesn't always go together, but I considered the Tarpon series reasonably priced and fast.  The 160, of course, the fastest, but the 140 was no slouch either.

An interesting thing happened on my recent Kodiak trip.  I used to think the Prowler 15 was a pretty fast boat.  On Kodiak we used P15's and it's been years since I've been on one.  Well, it was slower than my Ultra 4.7, by quite a bit.  I can cruise on my 4.7 at ~4.2 mph.  On the P15, it was closer to ~3.8.

So a few things could explain the difference ... I had a skinner paddle up on Kodiak vs. the fat high angle paddle I normally use, or possible the lack of a rudder vs the my 4.7 which has a rudder.

Still, I was disappointed and will likely not look back on the P15 with the nostalgia that I used to have.   

-Allen

Bought an older T160 and kept thinking dang this thing is long, and heavy, and wet and I have to hit the waves at angle not to get swamped? WTF?

P13 is still hanging from the rafters  .

Been using a 9' Necky SIS on the lakes and the T160 at HMB, really enjoy the heavy a$$ Tarpon and cost was under $900. The OK will see use again, holds more stuff, better at surf launch (I suspect) and I scratched the heck out of the bottom (so good in the rocks).

Longer/heavy boats really need the cart though don't really like carrying it solo  .  Hey RacinRob what's the difference between a 2012 and  the new Tarpon?

Cheers,

-tsuri

This is why I got my Tarpon 160! (and for less than I sold my X13 might I add )

Whether or not the Scupper Pro is microscopically faster, I can't stand how they're rigged. No center hatch, small tank well, foot molds, and the front hatch closes with clips and straps rather than the nice WS hatches. 160 has really nice hatches, a huge tank well, a NICE seat and these neat pockets under your knees.

No brainer for me!

And a strange little shelf thingy that can hold a small tackle tray and lots of weights and smaller stuff under the front part of the seat  ......still feels like less useful space than the P13  .........but faster   .

Those pockets are not under the seat Caleb. They RE the smaller ones for little items. I use them a lot. Under the seat you can fit the the normal size plastic storage boxes and is nice too.

The difference in 12 and newer is the seat. Better seat 13 and up. at least I think that is where the seat change was made. Drier seat in 13 up. breathes better under your legs. Other than that, no changes made. Same boat.

An interesting thing happened on my recent Kodiak trip.  I used to think the Prowler 15 was a pretty fast boat.  On Kodiak we used P15's and it's been years since I've been on one.  Well, it was slower than my Ultra 4.7, by quite a bit.  I can cruise on my 4.7 at ~4.2 mph.  On the P15, it was closer to ~3.8.

So a few things could explain the difference ... I had a skinner paddle up on Kodiak vs. the fat high angle paddle I normally use, or possible the lack of a rudder vs the my 4.7 which has a rudder.

Still, I was disappointed and will likely not look back on the P15 with the nostalgia that I used to have.   

-Allen

I'm not surprised. Although the 15 is about 2 inches longer, it has considerably more rocker. I think the 4.7 has a significantly longer effective waterline. I remember the P15 as a quick boat, but that's in comparison with the follow-on Trident 15.

   What's the hurry ?   

Hope I don't appear to be argumentative here, but I was thinking something similar. How essential is speed in a SOT rigged for fishing? I would think ease of paddling and glide would be important and tracking, but to what degree is speed in some measure, like what 3 mph Vs 3.1 mph? or some other factor a primary issue, as it seems to be here?

I have an Eddyline Caribbean 12, and I think it is fast enough, but is it any faster than the OK T13 I used to have? I can't tell. Both are a pleasure to paddle. For that matter, I paddled a Raptor for about 45 mins once and found that to be a pleasure to paddle as well, I assume the Raptor is slower, but I didn't calculate the speed difference, and I doubt that relative speed differences would affect how many fish I catch.

My main issue is to enjoy my day paddling and hopefully catch some fish and not struggle paddling back to the launch site. Speed? I would get a sea touring SIK and just haul ass for the sheer pleasure of it.

Just MHO, hope I don't offend.

   What's the hurry ?   

Hope I don't appear to be argumentative here, but I was thinking something similar. How essential is speed in a SOT rigged for fishing? I would think ease of paddling and glide would be important and tracking, but to what degree is speed in some measure, like what 3 mph Vs 3.1 mph? or some other factor a primary issue, as it seems to be here?

I have an Eddyline Caribbean 12, and I think it is fast enough, but is it any faster than the OK T13 I used to have? I can't tell. Both are a pleasure to paddle. For that matter, I paddled a Raptor for about 45 mins once and found that to be a pleasure to paddle as well, I assume the Raptor is slower, but I didn't calculate the speed difference, and I doubt that relative speed differences would affect how many fish I catch.

My main issue is to enjoy my day paddling and hopefully catch some fish and not struggle paddling back to the launch site. Speed? I would get a sea touring SIK and just haul ass for the sheer pleasure of it.

Just MHO, hope I don't offend.

No offense taken, my boat gets used for paddling, fishing, exploring, and just plain exercise.  When I am with GF we paddle/explore stuff as she is not into fishing like the rest of us, but she can point every damn bird, and fish speices in North America by its specie and genus (well that may be a stretch but it sure feels that way.  But hey, that what you get when your with a scientist). So I am looking for something that would paddle better than what I currently have.

Speed equates to ease of paddling. It's not just about how fast it is. The better it will glide the faster it will be. They go hand in hand. Kind of hard to have a good gliding, good paddling boat that is not faster than one that does not glide well. That is a big misconception people have and hear. 

Kevin, you can borrow my T15 anytime.

May do that some time soon.  A lot of choices out there.

   What's the hurry ?   

Hope I don't appear to be argumentative here, but I was thinking something similar. How essential is speed in a SOT rigged for fishing? I would think ease of paddling and glide would be important and tracking, but to what degree is speed in some measure, like what 3 mph Vs 3.1 mph? or some other factor a primary issue, as it seems to be here?

I have an Eddyline Caribbean 12, and I think it is fast enough, but is it any faster than the OK T13 I used to have? I can't tell. Both are a pleasure to paddle. For that matter, I paddled a Raptor for about 45 mins once and found that to be a pleasure to paddle as well, I assume the Raptor is slower, but I didn't calculate the speed difference, and I doubt that relative speed differences would affect how many fish I catch.

My main issue is to enjoy my day paddling and hopefully catch some fish and not struggle paddling back to the launch site. Speed? I would get a sea touring SIK and just haul ass for the sheer pleasure of it.

Just MHO, hope I don't offend.

I like short boats too and I don't find any offense with your perspective.
Let me offer this
 When I'm having one of those moments when I just gave my all to barely bust through the top of that wave, and the next one is already starting to stand up, I want to go faster.
Beyond the pleasurable paddling experience, I appreciate strong advantages having a faster qajaq.
A fast mover can help get you out of a nasty hydraulic before you are swimming or in the rocks.
Speed saves when your friends are in trouble or if you are responding to big fish photo support.
When conditions start to deteriorate, its great to be able to rip through wind and chop to make it back.
A faster boat also increases your range/access to adventure, and if you're paddling with others that are all on longer boats? You could have a challenging day trying to keep up.
Its also fun.
Anyway,thats why I appreciate quicker craft even with the challenges that come with bigger boats.

 enjoying a thread about boats