Texas Gulf Coast Drifter
It all started when Richard Zewe (aka TKF) introduced me
to the pursuit of coastal fishing with a kayak. I saw a lot of potential in
chasing fish that are virtually inaccessible in the tidal flats with one of
these shallow water craft. After that first trip
into Jones Lake, I began researching various makes and models of these
stealthy little craft. There are several excellent websites which helped guide my
search.
So which kayak is the right one for you? Honestly, the choice of a kayak is highly
personal. I had no doubt in my mind that I was going to buy a sit-on-top kayak
because of the ability to get on and off easily for wade fishing. You can look at all the data from all of the manufacturers, but nothing compares to wet
testing. Things that I learned from my research are discussed below:
| Length: |
Normally, the longer a boat is, the straighter it will
track and usually the boat is faster. Shorter kayaks use pronounced keels to help with
tracking and will generally handle better. If you plan on long range
fishing, the longer boat will be easier to paddle in the long haul. |
| Width: |
The wider a kayak is in relationship to its length
usually adds to the initial stability. It is also likely that the
wider kayak will be a slower boat. You'll also need a longer paddle. |
| Cockpit
Size: |
Be sure and check the size of the cockpit for leg and
butt room. No doubt about it, this is a big
consideration for taller, bigger paddlers such as myself. |
| Capacity: |
The real issue is that you consider not only your
weight, but you the weight of your gear also. Depending on the type
of fishing you plan to pursue, you might want to add as much as 50 lbs.
or more to your weight. I planned for another 100 lbs. |
| Weight: |
This is the bare weight of the yak.
Accessories will add more. For me, not much of an issue, but for
some folks it could be. |
| Color: |
This is a matter of choice. I chose olive drab because I'd
like to duck hunt from the boat also. A little food for thought, a
brighter colored kayak should make you easier to spot by oncoming power
boaters. |
I had already paddled and fished from one of
Richard's Perception Prisms. The boat tracked and paddled well, but it was definitely
confining for my large frame. I'm a good sized feller and had narrowed my choices down
to 2 kayaks via specifications found on the internet. The Ocean Kayak Drifter and Cobra
Navigator. The next job was to find a dealer and test drive. An internet
search and a phone call led me to John Gordon at Coastal Paddler located in
Beaumont. John had both boats at his shop and was more than willing to let me
spend an afternoon on the Neches River with both of them. John also gave me a
few pointers during the testing process.
I initially had my mind set on the Navigator due to the
specs and it's lines. I really liked the Navigator during the trial, but it was
the first boat I tried. It handled well, was stable, and I liked it's
construction. I then moved on to the Drifter. Wow, what a difference! The
Drifter handled like a Cadillac. Stable as the dickens and quick to boot. It
was a wetter ride, but for me, the Drifter won the competition hands down.
Once again, nothing compares to wet
testing. I have since installed noodles into the scupper holes and it is
now a much drier kayak to fish from. I have quite a few plans for rigging this boat
for fishing and also rigging it with lights for flounder gigging. Check back
in the weeks ahead to see what I'm up to.
Texas Gulf Coast
Fishing
