I was looking at the pelican castaway kayak, it looks very nice and professional, just don't know how well it does on the water. Anybody here have it and maybe want to review it?

Im currently borrowing a pelican viper dlx and its very stable compared to its size, I wade out baits with it.

A lot of people will direct you to a kayak store so you get informed. Many hate the pelican but at the end it is you who will be in the water enjoying some fishing.

From some reviews, the yak is a good basic fishing platform. Some say to put some glue or "bondo" on the scupper walls and keep an eye on the body seam for leaks.

Im probably going to collect the extra $100 and get a scrambler because it already has a trusted name on its logo, and good reviews.

The castaway isnt the best yak, but for just starting out cheaper is better...you dont even know if you will like fishing out of a kayak!!!!

I started in a O.K. Speck, which was the academy version of the Scrambler XT, its a super stable ride...kinna wet, kinna slow but a great platform to learn on...nice in the surf to!!!

If you want to spend a little more cash check out your local kayak shop, or even the classifed adds at www.texaskayakfisherman.com

Tony

I have two scramblers and love them. I'm in the 265# range and have no issues with them. They are not a wet ride (at all) if you plug the scuppers (which you want to do in lakes and rivers anyway). You can buy a 4 pack of styrofoam practice golf balls at Academy for $0.99 and they work great for scupper plugs. The scramblers now come with a seat which is cool because the seat was $100. You will not be disappointed in a scrambler. To date I've fished 18 bodies of water in 2009 from mine.

man, nice! I am trying to do web design work right now to get enough for a nice kayak. Hopefully I can get it this winter so I will be ready by summer.

One of my friends has a pelican castaway, and it's actually a nice little kayak. Great for the price!

Hello, not sure if you bought a kayak yet or not, i have castaway that i bought on craigslist and a hobie maui also on craigslist, the hobie tracks better but for what i would have paid for a new name brand kayak i bought 2 of them $450.00 for both. the castaway is very stable , i have yet to flip it over, very good on river and bays, but it really depends on your main usage, it may not take big waves to well.My friends use it alot and are pretty much hooked on kayak fishing now, the fish dont mind what kayak im in though, lol. I have pics of it all rigged up if interested.
have fun
ray

rzapata,
Post some pics if you can. I have only seen a castaway fully rigged.

I have a scrambler XT for sale

Dave how much are you selling your scrambler XT?

For your first yak, keep your eyes peeled for a used one here or on the TKF. A lot of people get rid of them at the end of the year so they can get new ones next spring.(no joke)

I had a castaway for two weeks. Bought it new, and realized I wanted more. My first yak experience was on a Tarpon so I'd already had a taste of what a good yak felt like, so I was already biased. It just wasn't for me. Doesn't track well among other things. A lot of people sound like they are happy with them though.

Seriously man, don't do it. I got the Scrambler XT on sale for 325 and will upgrade ASAP. Scrambler's OK Just seems a little sluggish. Look closely at the Pelicans, you'll notice a seam, as if it were made from two pieces. That bothers me.

I have had no problems with my Pelican going on 3 years it is a wet ride in the surf but it does take it P.S. I dont have a rack so I tie it in the back of the truck thus sometimes bending it a little but still no problems with the seem

but if your going in the surf DONT plug the scupper holes trust me

If you do decide to get the OK Scrambler DO NOT get it at Academy. I'll probably open a can of worms here, Academy sells what are called box kayaks they are cheaply made and have no warranty for that reason.

Go to a OK dealer and get the same yak for $50 to $100 more with a warranty, also add a rudder they make a world of difference!

Pelican Castaway was my first kayak! It was a nightmare, on my first trip I paddled 3 miles across the bay and it took me 3 hours. With a paddle stroke on the left side I would push the boat to the right 6" and same for the right hand, when you do that it's wasted movement and turns a 3 mile into a lot longer and strenuous paddle. The paddle blade was like paddling a broom stick with two dinner plates on the end. Needless to say I got rid of that kayak after 3 or 4 trips.

Hey Scout, my Scrambler seems to track OK, just a little sluggish,would the rudder make a difference? I don't know, I've also got two Old Towne Otters that I use in the rivers, maybe I,m just used to them.

Hey Scout, my Scrambler seems to track OK, just a little sluggish,would the rudder make a difference? I don't know, I've also got two Old Towne Otters that I use in the rivers, maybe I,m just used to them.

Sputterfuss the rudder just makes it easier tracking straight in open water and into the wind! As for me I have to have a rudder and use it as much as I can! With a rudder I like that I can control my drifts and if I see a school of fish in the distance I can start turning my rudder to set up to get a good cast on them!

My kayak experience is all in open water paddling a long way where my yak can get blown all over the place! It's different on a river, for one you are paddling a lot shorter boat and can turn and maneuver easier because the boat is so short.

Roger that Scout. My Scrambler is exclusively a bay boat. Really too big for the rivers here, I think. Would work in a pinch, I guess. Next boat will probably shorter SOT that could be used for both. Any suggestions are welcome.

Well what I am looking for is the following:
1. A kayak to take my shark baits out (practically every kayak lol)
2. One that can be stable enough for me to go out into a little deeper water, hang my feet off and just cast. (I don't need a whole angler setup, like 1 or 2 rod holders and a place for a small tackle box).
3. One that could make long bay trips in calm conditions (just for the fun). Maybe 10 miles travel max.
4. Something that I could spear stingrays from, this is also practically every kayak (i don't need to stand or anything).

When I got rid of my Castaway I got a OK Scrambler and used that for a couple years paddling baits out and also in the bay. It worked great and did a lot better than the Castaway. Now that I have moved up to better boats like the T-140 and Search 15 with rudders it makes a world of difference! I am not nearly as tired and cover a lot more water in a shorter amount of time.

I guess the best thing for you to do is go somewhere you can demo different kayaks. If you have no experience with kayaks you won't know how bad a yak is until you paddle a better boat! The problem is not many shops let you demo boats before you buy them with the exception of a few places. Shop around see what you can find out!

VinnyV, if you're in the metroplex area, we have our demo day for our Grapevine shop coming up on Sept. 12th.

We'll have about 40 to 50 boats (wildness systems, ocean kayak, native, heritage, perception, liquid logic, freedom hawk) out at the lake to test drive...including a new boat that Perception is coming out with that has a super basic layout (no hatches, etc) but tracks great and has enough rocker for the surf...and retails under $500 for the 9.5'.

I live in the Pensacola, FL area so I don't think that would be a choice for me lol. Sorry . Im still collecting money for that.