I'm loving my pescador and loving the yak thing in general, to the point that's it's probably already real close to upgrading time.

I'm really attracted to more of a "fishing machine" but do NOT want to give up the paddling efficiency of my pescador to go there.

I'm really attracted to the Cuda 12, the Slayer 12 and the Predator 13 catches my attention too.

I'm an old guy. I'm a small guy. River only, no salt or really big lakes. I could care less about standing up. VERY interested in a first class seat. I haul on a trailer and launch at boat launches, so dragging it around is not a big concern.

My only concern is giving up ease of paddling in an attempt to just get cool toys.

How much efficiency and ease of paddling do you give up moving from a Pescador / Tarpon 120 type boat when going to a Cuda / Slayer type boat?

You will most likely find it the other way around. The Cuda or Slayer will be more efficient. Sounds like you need to demo. Try the Cuda and slayer. Then please go try a Ride. If you like the feel of the Pescador which is an old Tarpon 120 then you should try another newer Wilderness Systems product. Don't just dump a bunch of money cause of the look of the toys. Demo and then invest money in a kayak you will always like.

Pop.....I am almost 60 years old and have been in a kayak since March....started out in a 10ft Old Town Vapor Angler and bought a Slayer 12 a couple months ago.....the Vapor is much lighter than my Slayer and is easier to paddle and maneuver in the wind, but the comfort, room, and stability of the Slayer are worth the loss in speed and maneuverability.....minimal loss anyway...

I recently started using the First Class seat in the high position and unless poor weather conditions dictate for safeties sake, I will not go back to the low seat position......I have spent as many as 14 straight hours in the Slayer and got out at the end of the day feeling like I just got in......

As mentioned go for a demo of the ones you are interested in.....

NICE thread pop!

X2 spot on

I'm not positive I agree with this... I mean, the Cuda and Ride and Slayer (and Predator, I'm sure) are all better boats than the Pescador all around. No question at all. But I know the Ride isn't as easy to paddle. Now, having said that, I still think it will make your time MUCH MORE enjoyable on the water. But the Pescador is faster. Now, you'll sacrifice stability, functionality, and deck space for that. But if ALL you're asking/considering is "ease of paddle", the Pescador 12' is probably towards the top of that list.

When paddling oars upgraded from his Pescador to the Ride, he LOVED it, but he did admit that it was not as easy as paddling around in the Pescador.

But I will say it again, all of those are better boats than a Pescador. And I loved my Pescador.

Definitely, definitely go demo one.

you'll like the ride with the high seat. easy to paddle, can't tip it over, plenty of room and you can stand up, if and when you choose to do so.

OK!!! I promise I'll go demo!
In the meantime....
Demoing for a lot of you is way easier than it is for those of us in the boondocks.
I get one day off a week and a demo will be a day long adventure for me.
I'll do it, but won't be able to until I can sacrifice a weeks worth of free time to make the run. It's sound advice and should and will be followed but I also really value the feedback available from this brain trust in the meantime. Your feedback helped me make what I consider a great pick on the Pescador. No doubt in my mind I got the best bang for the buck starter yak on the market and your advice saved me from a bad near miss on one I'm really glad I didn't choose.
So yes, I'll go demo; but please don't underestimate the value of your input!
Thanks and keep it coming.

I hear ya Pop on the concern of loss of paddling efficiency when going to one of the higher riding comfort seats and with YaknAggie on the more difficulty of paddling the Ride over the Pescadore. The wind has a dramatic effect on paddling from the higher profile and the less advantageous position of a comfort seat, as does the extra drag from a much wider beam regardless of hull shape differences. Another difference is a paddlers weight. A guy like myself at 160 lbs or Pops, (don't know what Yakn Aggie weighs) will get a totatlly different feel/experience than what a 220 lb guy that goes from the Pescadore to the Ride, a big improvement in my imagination.

I believe the way folks judge kayaks has a lot to do with what they started out using. If you started out in a short kayak its easy to go longer, if you started longer its hard to go to anything shorter. I'm kinda in no mans land having started out at 14 with no desire to go longer, no desire to go much shorter. From a 27 inch beam to one of the comfort high rise seats kayaks with 30 inch width is a big noticible difference.

Still love the looks of the Native Slayer 14.5 but also considering the Native Manta Ray or the Wilderness Tarpon 140 (the most underrated of the Tarpon series and my favorite) for use in both salt and freshwater fishing.

I'd smoke a pescidor in a race...and I can stand. Lots of sweet yaks out there.

So what are you in????

A santa cruz raptor sot. It doesn't have a fancy lawn chair seat but is a solid fishing machine. Fun n sun hurst has em.

I currently paddle a slayer 12 and can say say that it is a slower yak than most. The stability, layout and seat are great, I wouldn't trade it for any other yak I've owned. I paddled the ride and didn't like the deck as much. Your best bet is to, like others have said, try them all first and see what fits your style. Everyone will have a different idea of what the best yak is.

I'm not sure which Pescadore Pops is paddling but if its the 12 footer it has a 28 inch beam and I don't see how either the Native 12 Slayer with 30 inch beam or the Cuda 12 with 31 inch beam will paddle more efficently, especially from a higher seating position. Granted those seats are comfy but that's the trade off over the kayaks he was considering. Now if he's in the 10 footer, I would agree.

That's a lot of good information right there.
A Slayer 12 is at the top of my list.
I am in a Pescador 12. I can't say why, but I would have sworn it was 30" but you appear to be right that it is only 28".

That raises a whole new question about what are the differences - besides the obviuos - just in the hull, between the pescador and the new Tarpon 120?? I've read 1000 times the Pescador is the exact same boat as the old Tarpon 120. I thought the new Tarpon 120 was the same hull with top cap improvements. I had always assumed that because of the Pesacdor I already knew exactly how a new Tarpon 120 would paddle. I guess not! That's some interesting information!
Thanks