Pros and cons of using out riggers.

I'm looking to upgrade from my Tarpon 120 to something with internal rod storage for ocean fishing. I tried the Tarpon 130X and fell in love with the stability. The problem was it doesn't have internal rod storage. I've looked at a lot of kayaks and they are too narrow, too wide or too heavy. Then I thought maybe out riggers on a lighter narrow kayak would solve my problem. That way I could have the extra stability when I need it. What has your experience with out riggers been? Are they a good solution as an add on? Thanks.

you don't need internal rod storage for ocean fishing unless you plan to surf launch.  the vast majority of launches on our coast are not surf launches.

you don't need internal rod storage for ocean fishing unless you plan to surf launch.  the vast majority of launches on our coast are not surf launches.

It's not surf launches I worry about. If the launch is too rough I can just go home. It is the landing I worry about. If I return to the beach and it is worse than when I launched I can't wait it out. I'd like to be able to stow my rods out of harms way.

Internal storage access is like gold for me.....salt or fresh, beach or ramp launch. 

With that being said, unless you're sailing, I've never seen any pros to outriggers, they're just training wheels.   

I have

Internal storage access is like gold for me.....salt or fresh, beach or ramp launch. 

With that being said, unless you're sailing, I've never seen any pros to outriggers, they're just training wheels.   

I have one of the narrowest fishing SOT's there is and I have never even considered anything to add on for stability. I have been in the worst of the worst conditions too. Albion was nice compared to some stuff I and others have been in. I always joke with Rider about his training wheels he used to use. He put in enough time and now has no need for the crutch. In 8 years of kayak launching and landing I have only stored my rods maybe 2-3 times for landing. You need to look at a kayak with good secondary stability. That narrows it some. You only have a few choices for a kayak that is sea worthy with internal storage. Thresher, Trident, maybe Cuda, Kraken, may have missed something. None of these are light. If it looks sketch to land I just lay my rods down with tip under front bungee and paddle holder holding the butt of the rod on my Tarpon. I can scoot to the bow and gets rods inside if I need to.

I'm looking to upgrade from my Tarpon 120 to something with internal rod storage for ocean fishing. I tried the Tarpon 130X and fell in love with the stability. The problem was it doesn't have internal rod storage. I've looked at a lot of kayaks and they are too narrow, too wide or too heavy. Then I thought maybe out riggers on a lighter narrow kayak would solve my problem. That way I could have the extra stability when I need it. What has your experience with out riggers been? Are they a good solution as an add on? Thanks.

I use them in the ocean on my SIK pedal conversion in that the hull is 24 inches and COG has been raised to line up legs with pedals so the kayak is not as stable as a regular SIK. They are set high enough so they seldom touch the water but add stability in rough water and breaking off snags. 6x4 inches 48 long. Solid insulation 1 inch panels glued and glassed. Less than fifty bucks to make and very light. If you want a light fast yak go with a glass SIK and add outriggers.

I forgot, cons, they look funny. If you do for some reason roll it will be harder to get your kayak upright. A saw that before. Pros, a little stability, but more psychological than anything in my opinion.

I forgot, cons, they look funny. If you do for some reason roll it will be harder to get your kayak upright. A saw that before. Pros, a little stability, but more psychological than anything in my opinion.

Quite a bit more stability. I can stand up in the SIK with them on and mine are relatively narrow and short compared to an AI. I've got them set so in case of a rollover one outrigger can be rapidly detached and the yak then flipped upright. I don't use them on the Adventure, 27 1/2 beam, and like you never felt a need to do so. I do think that a narrow SOT or SIK when paddle is in hand, essentially extending the beam to six feet, is all the stability one needs. COG is everything in kayaks so when the new modified lawn chair seats raise an angler well above the gunnels it better be a fat wide yak to prevent capsize.

I have

Internal storage access is like gold for me.....salt or fresh, beach or ramp launch. 

With that being said, unless you're sailing, I've never seen any pros to outriggers, they're just training wheels.   

I have one of the narrowest fishing SOT's there is and I have never even considered anything to add on for stability. I have been in the worst of the worst conditions too. Albion was nice compared to some stuff I and others have been in. I always joke with Rider about his training wheels he used to use. He put in enough time and now has no need for the crutch. In 8 years of kayak launching and landing I have only stored my rods maybe 2-3 times for landing. You need to look at a kayak with good secondary stability. That narrows it some. You only have a few choices for a kayak that is sea worthy with internal storage. Thresher, Trident, maybe Cuda, Kraken, may have missed something. None of these are light. If it looks sketch to land I just lay my rods down with tip under front bungee and paddle holder holding the butt of the rod on my Tarpon. I can scoot to the bow and gets rods inside if I need to.

I would call them training wheels also. That being said, training wheels do have their place in life. If they helped me to grow into a faster narrow kayak it would be all good. They can be left at camp if the conditions are good. Saturday I'd didn't have a problem with the main swell, it was the instability factor. I don't know what makes the difference, second swell maybe? I got more comfortable as time went by.

I am looking at the Thresher 140. I wonder if the fish finder pod makes as much noise as it does on the 130X. Probably matters less on the ocean where it would get used the most. It's an inch wider than the 140 and maybe the hulll design is more stable. I thinks it's worth trying.

I am also looking at the Cuda. The 14 is pretty heavy and the 12 has a small hatch. Plus I don't really like the hatch style.

The Kraken Elite looks like it has possibilities. 10lbs more than my 120 and it has a larger front hatch. At least it is not narrower than my 120.

I don't know enough about the claims for higher stability hull design. That may make the difference. The 130X was like riding a Caddilac out there. If I could find that without a loss of speed from my 120 I'd be happy.

The Cuda is not stable in rough seas like that. Ask Archie Marx. The Kraken is better. The Thresher 140 is faster than the Tarpon 120 and about the same as the 130x, maybe a little faster. I can stand on the Thresher 140 in slightly choppy water. Nor like last week though. I like it to dive off of. It has the same seat as the Tarpon 140 you tried. The Thresher has a larger volume hull which helps in stability. It is only an inch wider than the Tarpon 140, but is much more stable. Designed for rough ocean water. You should have tried that one out too while you were there.

The Thresher is also VERY good in the surf. Actually really fun to surf and handles well in it too.

What Rob described with the front bungee and paddle loop works super on many boats. I think the best is if you can spend some time playing in the surf without your rods, net and all the other gear to learn how to land in the swell. Timing, targeting, bracing. Also, Joel's back in method looked cool.

IMHO, nothing beats that experience. You'll gain confidence, ability and control. Gotta try it, Ken!

Disclaimer: I've done that with several different boats and have also been complacent and eaten beach.

The Cuda is not stable in rough seas like that. Ask Archie Marx. The Kraken is better. The Thresher 140 is faster than the Tarpon 120 and about the same as the 130x, maybe a little faster. I can stand on the Thresher 140 in slightly choppy water. Nor like last week though. I like it to dive off of. It has the same seat as the Tarpon 140 you tried. The Thresher has a larger volume hull which helps in stability. It is only an inch wider than the Tarpon 140, but is much more stable. Designed for rough ocean water. You should have tried that one out too while you were there.

If the Thresher is noticeably more stable than my 120, it might work for my needs. I like the seat in my Tarpon. The 130X seat was very comfortable once I put my cushion on it, but it was a little harder to turn and sit side saddle to reach behind the seat. I'd be fine sticking with the Tarpon seat. Maybe I'll get another chance to demo. Are you going to Simply Fishing? 

Yes, but it may be a day run with Adam in the Subaru. Don't know yet what the plan is.

Yes, but it may be a day run with Adam in the Subaru. Don't know yet what the plan is.

I appreciate the help. If you plan any other trips to the ocean maybe it will work out.