the pelican castaway 11'6'' yak? (link below)

I'm thinking about buying this one for my first kayak. Thoughts?

http://www.academy.com/index.php?page=co...0142-02305-0305

I have no experience with it personally but some of the reviews ive read have said that alot of water seeps in through the holes and collects in the seat area. Other than that it looks like a decent yak, try searching for some reviews on it.

Look for a review on the yak on www.texaskayakfisherman.com
I don't think they are very favorable though. That site is also great for finding used premium quality yaks, maybe even for the same amount as a new one of those Pelicans.

much appreciated!

I have that yak. I don't have a lot of experience with the higher end yaks but it works for me. It gets me on the water and from what I can tell, the fish don't care what a yak looks like. I've had no problems using it on lakes or rivers. Not fast in any way but pretty stable.

I know nothing about kayaks, so please keep in mind as I ask questions.

Are "faster" kayaks generally more expensive. I would think having a fast kayak would be prefered?? I don't think I want to paddle a lot and not go anywhere...

Between most yaks there is a trade off regarding speed versus stability and the cost is not always the determining factor.

Fast yaks usually equals a not so stable kayak (at least for the novice) due to their narrower beam.

Slow usually equals a more stable kayak due to their wider beam.

Then there are a few out there that are both slow and not very stable...stay clear of those...

My girlfriend and I got a pair of the castaways,,had 'em about a year now.I'm pretty impressed with them.Ofcourse,it's my first one.They're easy to fish out of,and stable enough that I can get out,and back in in open water.Tracking's a bit of a issue,but I found that a "flowtroll" type minnow bucket helps alot when you drag it behind you as you go.Not gonna set any speed records in one,that's for sure.It handles the lakes,with some moderate swells,and the rivers with a pretty swift current easily.If you want to try one out,let me know,I'd be more than happy to lend mine. They come with a seat back,no seat cousion,and paddle from Acadmy,but both of those need to be replaced with better stuff as soon as possible.The seat leads to a pain in the back after a few hours ,and the paddle's to short for me.But for starters,you might look at one of the "gel pads" for your butt,,that plastic gets hard after a while.lol

A castawy will get the job done with no doubt.

I have owned and paddled one.

Most end up considerring it an entry yak and while they have some good days in them, they most always trade up. They are pretty cheap to get into and they actually re-sale pretty good.
When youi get ready to trade up, you wil have a better idea of what you need adn you can paddle severla before you buy. Join TKF and just post up when you are ready to try something new.

Thanks guys! Very good info.

Thank you for the offer slipcork! Very kind of you.

Not a problem,,any time you're ready,during the week'd be great,,that way there'd be a pair of 'em to use.

I have owned one, for all of two weeks. It was wet, and didn't track well. The paddle that came with it is about 4x heavier than a paddle you'd buy in the store. That said, you get what you pay for.

I've had 3 yaks since then and finally settled on a cobra Navigator XF. It's very stable, wide and light. It also cost twice as much as the pelican. It weighs 48 pounds and can hold up to 450. Generally speaking though, you never want to go over probably 75% of the total capacity of a yak. When you start adding that extra weight, you lose stability, maneuverability and it becomes a much wetter ride.


IMHO, you can find a good used yak for just a little more than the price of a castaway.

I have a Charger 10" long. It's fast & easy to slide in the back of the truck for those 2 to 3 hour outings after work. Texas allows 4' to hang out the rear of the truck so it worked great. It tracks good for a short yak. Here's a pic with it rigged out.

http://kfs.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/220603834/m/4531005283?r=6331069283#6331069283

Castaway will get it done and then some. I fish and hunt out of mine with no probs. It does everything higher end yaks do, but if you think you are going to be a die hard rough water paddle 10 miles kind of guy- might want to invest in a better paddle for it. You will not regret purchasing this kayak. If you need a high dollar name, go ahead- and you may like it better. But the Castaway 166DLX is the best Fishing kayak in the sub-$400 range. Other noteworthy yaks in that range are the Pelican Hunter and one from heritage that I can't remember. Ocean Kayak makes a sweet ride, but if you can't afford it the Castaway is the boat to have!

Pelican could use you in a commercial.