Ok have a question my neighbor came home with a hobie pro angler 12. This thing is decked out and sweet the problem is he paid a pretty penny $3,100. Now being the good neighbor he is he calls me over and shows me. Now Im thinking about getting one its a lot of money but it is nice. Now i have a Pelican kayak with a nice depthfinder it does what i want yes i will get bashed for owning a pelican but it has been real good to me no complaints. Now we both fish the same places pretty much community parks and every now and then head over to Lake Texoma. My question is should i make this jump just want your opinion i have been looking at the hobie pretty hard not sure if i really want to do it. By the way this is my neighbors first kayak he is a 65 year old man i respect i know he will have fun but he has put me in a decision making process im not sure about. If you havent seen this kayak check it out. Just not sure yet. Thanks guys

I think hobies are great yaks. I think unless you have a buddy to help unload they are heavy. There are so many great yaks made, good reason to try em all.

Don't play that game of keeping up with the Jones. No complaints with what you got so stay a happy paddler with cash in your pocket. $3100 for a plastic pedal boat is loco IMHO. If you haven't noticed, the resale drop of selling these high priced boats after only a year could pay for your current boat..watch the for sale ads to confirm

Get your neighbor to let you try it out a couple times when you guys go fish-N. Try to actually fish out of it and give it a real test. Consider loading, unloading, hauling, (weight) and storage, if you're OK with what you find and it fits your budget....I would also consider waiting a month or so just to make sure its not just because it's new and shiny.
If all this checks and you think a new PA will increase your fishing enjoyment then DO IT!!!!

You can't buy happiness; and sounds like you are enjoying the Pelican. If I were under 220lbs and looking at Hobies, I'd look at the Mirage Outback--much lighter than the PA.

Bass

1. Do you fish every chance you get?
2. Do you scour the fishing reports looking for clues?
3. Do keep fishing even though they aren't biting cause you just know they will "turn on" any minute now?
4. Do you all ready have gear picked out when you know you will get gift certificates for Christmas/birthdays?

4 yes's= no doubt
3/4 = thinking about it hard.
2/4. = maybe
1/4. = probably shouldn't.

This survey is brought to you by AA. Angler's Anonymous.

I always said if I upgraded I would buy a pa12. But when it came down to it I couldn't. It's big, heavy and pricey. But it is top dog of fishing kayaks in my opinion. If I bought one I would have to have a trailer for it. Then I might well just buy a power boat.

Definitely you should try it out before you make your purchase decision. If you can use your neighbor's or line up a demo and go fish for an hour or more (not just a quick out and back paddle), that's even better.

Also, don't limit yourself to just the PA...try one of the Native Propels to see which you like better in a pedal platform.

I've got a PA14 and consider it to be an outstanding fishing platform. It's comfortable to sit in, a breeze to stand and fish from and handles rough water really, really well. That might be a factor depending on where you fish on Texoma. I'm in the PA most of the time when I'm fishing.

The downside is that a fully rigged PA is a heavy beast and can be a pain to load, unload and transport.


I also have a paddle kayak that I use when I'm fishing skinny water/creeks or just want to go for a paddle and not lug the beast.

There's a place for each and, if you get a pedal kayak, you'll probably want to keep your Pelican.

Craig

I would look for a good used Pedal kayak, maybe even one with a Propel drive. If you truly like that one, then consider upgrading to a new PA one day. Some people prefer paddling over pedaling. Just ask Jason!

Oh, and if anyone bashes you for owning a Pelican tell them to kick rocks, nobody needs that type if negativity in their lives. I fish out of an Ascend and can still catch fish, granted no one has bashed my boat and I doubt someone will as we are a classy bunch

I can confidently say that you would be happy with a PA. They are great boats and very comfortable to fish from. I can't say if it's perfect for you but if you like kayak fishing and enjoy your Pelican you'll love the feel of the Hobie in comparison. If you decide to get one I would suggest keeping your pelican if you have the room. You won't get a lot for it and there might be times you just want a easy throw it in the back of the truck trip or you might go places the PA can't (or it can but is more work than fun). I'll also second what collincountytx said. The Outback is a great kayak and less expensive. Give Mariner Sails a call and they can get you some Demos.

Several years back Pelican had a problem with their kayaks coming apart at the seams. Happened while way off shore and it was bad. They have since made great improvements but some people still hold it against them.

You've got new boat envy right now. With the winter coming up sit and wait for a while. I've either built or helped build quite a few hot rods over the years and I'll give you the same advice that I give newbys. Write everything down that you like about the current boat and what you want in a boat, then set it aside for a month. This gives you some time to research and think. After a month pull the paper back out and go over it again. Is it feasible for you to spend that much on a boat with the time of year right now? Can you do without it until you find a used one or buy new when the weather gets nicer? Will it improve your fishing success and make it worth it to you?

If all the answers to the above questions are yes, then get it, if not then keep watching the for sale section and one will come up and save you some coin so you can buy other things that you need/want.

HO HO HO... Merry Christmas... Now that is funny. Where do I pay my membership fees?

go used pro angler 12 . they go about 2100 or so. or outback if u want lighter. about 1400 used or less