Kayaking, Diving, Skiing, & Surfing Forum. - I'm a big boy...kayak suggestions?

Hey all....
I live about a mile from what is probably one of the most popular lakes in the US (Lake Powell). I'm getting tired of shore fishing, can't afford a boat (cost of fuel, insurance, maintenance, etc.) but would like to get around a few parts in the lake. Second, I have access to the Colorado river as well as several Utah lakes so all of this got me to thinkin' KAYAK....

Here's my dilema...what should I look for?

I'm 6' and about 260. I wouldn't say I'm overly fat but I believe I am stock and most of my weight is probably in my legs. I have a lot of leg muscle.

It is my understanding that wider kayaks have more stability but longer ones are better for the long haul/long distances.

The primary kayaks I have been looking at, company wise, are Hobie and Malibu.

The kayak/boat I would like to get is the Hobie Pro Angler....but, I don't have $2,400 to cough up. About 4 months ago, I did, but I wont have that much $$$ for probably another year or so. Then there's the revolution but I was thinking that for my experience and size, 28" wide is probably too narrow.

A specific question: Is 33" too narrow for a person my size (should I try and find the widest thing possible).

Aside from the Pro Angler, a boat I've been looking at is the Malibu X-Factor. I also like some of the accessories you can find with this boat, such as the X-wing.

Another boat I was looking at as well (which would probably have to save for) is the OceanKayak Torque...but, probably not.

Anyway, whatever ideas or info you can provide would be greatly appreciated; and I'll continue to do more research. Sad thing is, it'll probably be winter before I can get a kayak. At least I can set it up in the mean time :o)

Why don't you rent several kayaks to determine what works for you?

Why don't you rent several kayaks to determine what works for you?

That would be an option, however, the town I live in has a population of 7,000. Places to rent kayaks, 2. Selection of kayaks to see what works....nill :D If I could do that, I would in a heart beat. Maybe it'll require waiting a little longer or a lot longer to rent one in a different area. By that time, I may have the money for a Pro Angler :D

I can only talk about the Hobie kayaks.

I have an Angler and it is worth waiting for. Great kayak for fishing - I even stand up for fly casting. I fish it in Mobile Bay and stay out when the wind kicks up some chop so the size is really nice to have.

I would pass on the Revolution. 28" width and 350 lb capacity does not sound right. If you add the live well you will have at least 35 lbs when it is 1/2 full. Another "heavy" item would be a cooler or insulated bag with ice and drinks - easy to add another 10lbs. Make that 20 lbs if you want to keep some fish!

You might want to look at the Outback. 33" width and 400 lb capacity. I have been on one and it felt really good. If you go with the Outback think about getting the larger mirage fins which are standard on the Angler.

Only negative to any Hobie is the mirage drive which needs more draft than a paddle kayak. If you are in at least 10" of water you are OK. With the mirage drive you can cover miles of water and cast as you go.

Thanks for the info on the Angler. After some thought, I think I will end up saving and springing for the Angler. Two reasons to the decision. #1, by the time I got one anyway, it would probably be too cold to fish...+ the small lakes I would fish will be closed to fishing (They close in September) and #2, by the time Spring rolls around, I can maybe find some Anglers used or the novelty may wear off and the price will drop a bit. As for the draft of the Angler, not too worried as I don't think I will ever fish less than a foot of water.
I just got back from a fishing trip and let me tell ya, sure made me want a kayak even more :) We were fishing from the shore and were only catching about 18" cutthroat. That would all be fine and dandy, if the limit weren't set at 22" or more :D If I could have reached the center of the reservoir and trolled a bit, I think I would have got what I needed. Oh well...So now I have it narrowed down to 1 of 2 boats....
Hobie Pro Angler or Malibu X Factor. Both have the same weight capacity, one is just set up much nicer :) I'm not considering the Outback so much as the X-Factor has the same dimensions (width & weight) but can alledgedly hold 225#s more weight.
One more question: With the Hobie Angler, do you have any problems with the weight? Fully rigged it's listed at 138#s which I think would be a little cumbersome if you had to pull that down off a rack :D
The hull weight alone is 88#s compared to the 62#s of the Malibu. Just a basic question, not criticizing either one.
I think if I REALLY get in to this, I'll eventually have 2 or three different yaks for different purposes....

Thought I would mention one more thing do the comment on the draft...I don't think that should necessarily be an issue as if you aren't drafting enough for the drive, you can take it out and just paddle :D

I would check out the Ocean brand. They have a fisherman that is real nice, and if you are saving up your ducketts for a good one, check out the one with the plug and play electric motor. I would get this one. if I were getting a kayak.

Another idea would be to contact a kayak shoppe locally and see when their demo days are. I know a good store here in my town will do this once or twice a summer. Worth a drive if you get to demo several different models.

Finally check the weight rating and consider what gear you will be carrying. Don't push your luck by trying to get close or just under. Find one that is stable and you will be happier in the long run.


Good luck and happy paddling

I was traveling - sorry for the delay.

The Angler's weight and size makes it awkward if you are alone. When I am solo lifting the Angler it is EMPTY and I use the cart from Hobie to cover distance on land. Two people move it with no problems.

There are roof racks which have a swivel/tilt on the back. Getting on and off alone is OK once you learn where to grab. For two people it is real easy.

I put the Angler on the cart, load it, move to the water line, float it, remove the cart from underneath (leave ashore or put behind you), step in, paddle out a bit, drop in the mirage drive.

My only bolt on accessory is a fly rod holder. The built in vertical holders were designed for a longer butt section - you can stick a fly rod there but I had visions of it bouncing out . . . .

The seat on the Angler is much better than the Outback. Better back support too.

I did not have a local store with Malibu so it was not on my list. Sounds like you have time to look at Malibu and other "fishing" kayaks and pick what is best.

Enjoy :thumbsup:

I'm your size and use a Cobra Fish n Dive...very stable..got mine for $1.1k ...GL

Thanks for the replies everyone.

A little update. I think I am steering away from the Angler now for 2 reasons....#1, there does not seem to be ANY area on the sides to mount anything, besides the replaceable boards. Now, anything you put there will have to be a Scotty or Ram because anything flush mounted will interfere with the rod holder set up they have. Basically, it just does not seem to fit what I would like as far as adaptability. #2 is the weight issue which has been mentioned. I've seen videos of people lifting it themselves, but it has never seemed like a pleasant thing and the size being 38" wide is a little excessive to me.

One kayak I have been looking at again is the OK Prowler Trident 15 Angler, The drawback to this may be that it's only 29" wide. As said in the first post, I'm 6' & 260# with a 40" waist, so this may be too narrow. I'm not sure.

My interest is still held with the Malibu series, being either the X Factor or the Stealth 14; however, a recent video that I've seen of the Stealth 14 with leaking issues has me a little concerned. As I've said, I won't EVER fish the ocean or any surfs, just local ponds/lakes so this issue shouldn't be of concern as it is said that the issue occurs with 2' swells or so. The concern I have is, I fish Lake Powell. Normally, this lake has calm water but storms and rough water can roll in quick and rough water can occur to over 3 ft. waves. Just a little concern here and there.

**To remind everyone, I live in a small town where there are a few rental stores....1 rents the Gemini by FeelFree, I know one dealer rents Cobras....but all of the dealers rent out kayaks for the tourists to take on the lake. There are not any kayak dealers where they stock multiple outfits for consumers, just rentals...so the option of being able to look at kayaks would be impossible. The closest towns to me (within 3 hours) don't have any shops of the sort either. I live in a pretty remote area :o)**

I appreciate all the feedback that has been recieved and continue to research the best possible option for me, but the only research I can physically do in testing kayaks woul be to just test the width and see if they feel okay; which is something I will probably start to do this weekend...

Thanks again

Hobie Outback. I am 6'1", 235 lbs and it works great for my size.
Check out Craigslist. I see them on there every once in a while with reasonable prices.

Why can't a kayak company take all the ideas of great kayaks, and make the best flippin' yak there could be :D This is my problem....and each yak, has it's own characteristics that I like and then try to find it on another one and can't :)

So if I could built the perfect yak, I would say HOBIE would have to build it strictly because they have the mirage drive. So, the perfect yak
Length of the WS Tarpon 160 / Width of the OK Prowler Trident Big Game
Hobie Mirage Drive
WS SlideTrax system
OK Rod Pod
Malibu Gator Hatch
OK Torque option for the rear (still have the capability of Mirage drive if needed)
Tuck away rudder like the Hobie PA
and just for fun, see through hull/keel

Now all of that is not too much to ask, so why is it so darn hard for people to do :D

Plus, with the width of the Big Game, I would incorporate some type of 4 rod internal system similar to the Hobie PA, any therefore utilize the Rod Pod for an internal tackle storage system...

I'm leaning towards the Hobie Outback. Not the length I'd like, but, can't beat that mirage system from what I hear and it's wider. Can anyone tell me what the internal width is of the seat?

The search continues :banghead:

Like your kayak made from the best parts ;)

I made comments earlier about the Outback. Thought it might work instead of the Revolution.

I do not know the width of the Outback's seat. Maybe take 3" off on each side from hull width leaving 27" ? Hopefully someone else can answer. Ask Hobie ???

Here is what I remember after trying the Outback:

hull is lighter than Angler. Also shorter and narrower - can be "grabbed" and carried. Hull
moves faster in the water (I had same fins as the Angler). Hull and rudder stay on track

4 vertical rod holders instead of 2 (horizontal holders can be slow to use if you have paddle, net, baits, lures, etc scattered around)

good storage. can use a live well. has the bungee cord system for holding stuff in place

I stand in the Angler for a fly rod and sometime for a spin rod. Did not try to stand in the Outback. Think you can stand - might ask others about stability

smaller hull makes tighter turns. easy to get lined up. I thought the Outback was really good.


one thing. I added the anchor trolley system after I started using the Angler. I can hold position against the current/wind and alway cast across my body by shifting the anchor along the side

Thanks for the response.....feedback was dead there for a while ;? I think I'll end up getting the Outback, but probably not for a few months (at least). Maybe by then Hobie will also have some revolutionary boat out....we'll see.

I've been looking at the Mirage drive as well, and wondering something. I wonder if the fins could be better by designing them a little different. Right now, the fins are straight and the fins themselves bend a little to move the water, right? I keep thinking of like a Penguin or even making waves in the water with your arms/hands. What if you curved the fins to have a curved profile? If you stick your arm straight out in the water and sweep it to the side, you move water; but if you bend your arm and sweep it in the same fashion, you displace more water. Does this make sense?

I was also thinking that when I get a Hobie, I'll take an impression of the fins and then probably do a resin infusion of a carbon fiber weave to make the curved fin and see it it works :grin:

Cobra Fish n' Dive. Wide and stable without being overly long. Add a WaterSnake trolling motor if you want hands free operation. The Hobies have horrible seating position for fishing and, after an hour of so, I am ready to take a break.

I am 5'7" and 160. I paddle a 9'4" Malibu Mini-X that is 34" wide. I'm 68 years old and often make 6-9 hour trips.

SO COOL!!! So, I went to the lake fishing yesterday and there was a person in a Hobie Revo out there just paddlin' about. So, I told him about my interest and he let me take a turn on his yak....I loved it....but now the bad news. I don't think I'll get a Hobie because of something I was afraid of in the beginning. I inherited bad knees from my dad (and I'm only 30 now). Anyway, with this I was able to pedal for 30 minutes or so, but my knee started swelling up and so I figured that was it. I know the revo is narrower than the Outback, but for a test run of the Hobie, I really wanted to see it's function with the pedals. Still in the search, but we'll see. Maybe I'll still look at the Hobie's and use the mirage drive to strengthen my knees.
So as stated before, my search continues and I'm still looking at the Malibu series (either X-Factor or Stealth 14) and also looking at the OK Trident Prowler series of the 15 or 13.
Maybe I can get lucky enough to find people with all the boats on the lake :grin:

I have a Hobie Kona two seater that my GF and I take out fishing a lot. It is about 31 inches wide and a heavy pig which makes it really stable. I installed two flush mounted pole holders just behind the front seat but that allows the reels to get really wet so I fashioned an "H" out of one inch pvc piping to stick into the holders and that keeps the reels dry. I also use the horizontal bar of the pvc "H" to hang my dry bag and portable fish finder. I also installed four stainless steel "D" rings, two on each side of each seat to hang paddle holders, net and a rail system for the anchor.

It is really beat up from years of ocean and lake fishing but still floats!

Happy paddling!

Thanks for the info good life. I've actually thought about getting the Hobie Outfitter which is supposed to be designed around the Outback (just tandem) so that when one of my girls wanted to go, it wouldn't be an issue. Then, depending on where I sit, I could just plug the additional mirage drive and have more space :) I wonder if anyone has ever fabricated some bars to just hook the 2 mirage drives together :D Would be like a dual drive. Probably take some more power to pedal it but who knows. Of course, that would only work if you sat in the back, which is the thing that would worry me most about the outfitter. With the outback, the seat is in a more forward position. The outfitter has the rear seat set up to the aft; which with a person my size (260 lbs.) that would probably make for a nice bow lift :D

which with a person my size (260 lbs.) that would probably make for a nice bow lift :D

I weigh in at 215 so when I go solo, I sit on the back seat and put around 30-60 pounds of rocks on the front seat to equalize the weight distribution. My GF likes to hear that! :grin:

I weigh in at 215 so when I go solo, I sit on the back seat and put around 30-60 pounds of rocks on the front seat to equalize the weight distribution. My GF likes to hear that! :grin:

I was thinking that IF I got a tandem, I'd probably just get a water bladder or something and fill it up to whatever point would equalize the weight....problem with that is, then I lose the front for storage would would be the primary intent of getting a tandem....unless I put the bladder under and have some type of fill/drainage system....Problem with that is, #1...100lbs or so resting on simply the keel of the kayak would probably put A LOT of strain on the hull and scuppers....#2, it would be a pain in the rear to find a way to drain it...

So, all that said, I'll probably just go with a single seater :D Still looking heavily in to the Hobie though, even with the concern of the mirage and my knees, I can always use a paddle when my knee gets tired.

So, all that said, I'll probably just go with a single seater :D Still looking heavily in to the Hobie though, even with the concern of the mirage and my knees, I can always use a paddle when my knee gets tired.

I know a lot of guys that just use the foot peddles just to position themselves while fishing. I've paddled some large bodies of water with just the arms and it's a good work out.

Just be cautious of the winds in your area. I went solo once and didn't pay attention to the afternoon winds. The winds were so strong that I couldn't make any headway for awhile and the winds actually turned my kayak in the wrong direction. Now that was scary.

Good luck!

Thanks for the info....Fortunately, I don't live on, or near the ocean. I live next to Lake Powell where winds, waves, etc. wouldn't be an issue. If it's windy, it means there's a bad storm to which I wouldn't go out anyway :D I think the MAIN reason for the mirage drive would be 2 things....so I suppose 2 reasons. The first is if I decide to pedal/paddle a ways (maybe a few miles), then the drive may come in handy....but the second, probably more useful reason to me; is trolling canyon walls for fresh water stripers....with the mirage drive, I think this would be MUCH easier to do and much more efficient.

In the long run, what will I end up getting; probably the Outback...then after some more $$$ is saved up, I'll probably go for something more narrow and sleak (intended for longer and faster journeys)

Thanks for all of the feedback and helpful info everyone has provided. It has helped a lot.

I'm about your size 5'11'' and 230lbs. I have an Outfitter the front seat is great for a girl a dog or usualy a cooler of beer. I'm lucky to live where I can sail it, Or beat it up on creeks and rivers, the Ozarks. It comes with two miragedrives...one for the lake with the longer ST turbo fins ( extra $$$ though) and one with the regular fins for the river. Creeks are no place to take your peddels!!!!! " I seguest a sixpack of shiner though." On the kings river in arkansas I use my paddle with the rudder up (push on peddel forward to save the fin from being bent) going through our gravel shoots on the sholes and drop the rudder and and peddel through the slower open pools at about 3.5mph. The friends have gotten smart. I'm now an unlicenced tugboat captin. I have peddeld my way with 8(eight) other canoes and kayaks holding on to my boat. it only costs one beer per boat. Yep a party barge on the river! OK. On BEAVER LAKE!!!!! This is what I live for!!! With the sailing rudder and the huge ST turbo fins (aka the dagger board) and the sail it is the best boat in the world........ I have one modification ......I made a boom out of a 3/4" PVC TEE and 4.5' of CPVC pipe!!!!!! I copied the pullys off of my Laser sailboat and a got longer main sheet. Now no more loud popping sail, just quiet forward progress as wanted. When people tell you they had fun trying to locate you as you sail around a vast body of water and then sail back to your campsite after 3 hours........you know you have a real sail boat!!! !!!!!!FYI!!!!! YOU WILL GET WET WITH THIS BOAT, but thats what is so great about it. This boat is for every one. I taught a nine year old kid how to sail. If they flip over ,just flip it back over. It truly is a boat boat that floats. All that talk about weight in the front. I have never done that, other than a cooler weighted with beer but that never lasts too long to use for balance. Don't buy silly pontoons for the sides, you wont need them. JUST BUY THE BOAT . You wont regret owning a Hobie.

While I really dig kayak rigs (just got my 11yo son one for xmas), don't rule out a canoe. I have a 16' Old Town Guide, which is 40" wide. I built a custom ash seat amidships for when I am solo. I have 4 kids so the seating options are nice. Many of the trick fishing add-ons will work, though I keep it simple with a "fishing crate".

i know this thread was a couple months ago but just in case you have not purchased a kayak yet i thought i would mention Native kayaks. I am 6'5" 220 and i have a native manta ray 12' sit on top and i love it. Its very stable and has more than enough leg room. The seat is very comfortable and has great storage.

anything out there for 6'7" 270?

anything out there for 6'7" 270?

a lot of kayaks with 350 lb capacity or more. here are a few:

Native Ultimate 12
Native Ultimate 14
Hobie Outback
Hobie Revolution
Hobie Pro Angler ==> 600 lbs

I only know the Native and Hobie brands. Got to be others.

You are going to have to sit in one to find out about leg room.

Definitely give the Native Ultimate a try. 'The Seat' is worth it. I have a Magic 14.5 and my buddy has the Ultimate 14. Both are great.

I'm a big boy like you. I settled on the Malibu Stealth 14, and have started riggin it for fishing. I like it very much. I can stand in it. Plenty of storage and a 550# capacity.

Here she is ready to go fishing.

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Kayaking/Attheramp.jpg

Been a while since I been here, but jumped on anyway....oddly enough, haven't sprung for a yak yet :) Still too many decisions..but I'm still venturing towards the Hobie side. The new Commander series is nice as well, but who knows what will happen. My kids are getting bigger, so I'm also looking for something to transport kayaks up and down the lake (pontoon boat). Chances are, I'll end up building it because nothing out there suits the need of being exactly what I want. One thing I have thought of for a pontoon boat is a paddle on deck...meaning a platform which will drop below the water line that you can just paddle onto...then lift away. Would also serve great for a swim deck, diving deck, etc. But we're in the ballpark of a 30' boat now....so, we'll see :D

Hobie Outback. I am 6'1", 235 lbs and it works great for my size.
Check out Craigslist. I see them on there every once in a while with reasonable prices.

:thumbsup: hobie outback is the most stable kakak I've fished. It's slower (but less tippy)
than the revo, but both have the all-important mirage dirves

Here is a used Pro Angler in Colorado Springs $2k.

http://cosprings.craigslist.org/boa/2412527843.html