New kayak adventures

I sold my trusty Native kayak when I bought my boat but after a year, I missed having a kayak. There's just some special places a boat can't go. I ended up going to look at a Hobie Outback and bought a FeelFree Lure 11.5 V2. It looked great...had great specs. Couldn't wait to get it out. Well...my first run nearly was a disaster. They claim this is one of the most stable kayaks on the market. Ha! Lord help if you have to scratch your nose...you're liable to flip it. I could stand up in the Native...it was wobbly but I could stand and stretch, etc and never felt like I was going to roll it over while in the seat. Can't say I will be standing in this one! Anyway it serves the purpose I guess. Got me to where I I wanted. Hope to do a lot more.

How wide?

34".

Maybe after a while you will get more used to it.
Love the perch !

How do you like the drive mechanism on that kayak?

7mm08 said:

How do you like the drive mechanism on that kayak?

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The Native you got from me has a much better drive on it. It is easy to take out and install...this one, you have to hold your mouth just right and hope for the best. Haha. The Propel drive on the Native must be a faster gear ratio as well...you didn't have to pedal it hard or much to move at a fast pace. This one, I had to work at it. This is one of those times I wish they had waited on kayak demo days where you can take some different models out on the water and see what you think. Most people that have these are putting the trolling motor in the middle.

I think the balance issue may be the seat. It is a lot higher up than what the Native was...thus creating a center of gravity difference. The seat is adjustable...I just have to figure out how to lower it.

that is one nice perch... might have been a TARP perch

I have yet to stand up on mybkayak. I have a 12' Perception Pescadoe Pro. I'll try itnin the summer when thr water is warmer.

I debated going there last weekend but went to higher elevations with a fly rod instead. Was the Perch bite strong?

I know what you mean with seat height and center of gravity. My Hobie PA-14 definitely feels less stable with the seat in the highest position. I am not totally sure but have read the PA-14 is one of the most if not the most stable kayak on the market for standing up. The only way I would stand up is if I purchased the bar you can install in it to lean/hang onto while you are standing. Otherwise, this boy is sitting all the time. I carry too much gear to risk flipping it and dumping it in the lake. I tether some of it but not all of it. Plus, it is a b**** to flip back over and get into while wearing a PFD.

This is my 11.5. Don't need pedal drive. I stand in mine all the time and also use it to paddle board with my wife. I'm 5'11 and weigh 224. I have tried to flip mine many times and cannot do it. Even walk to the bow and stern and I might lose my balance but it won't flip.

I'm 6' and 245 lbs. I barely turned to try and see where the rudder deploy cord was behind me and it went on its side. How I didn't lose everything and go in, I will never know. I posted about it on the Facebook page for FeelFree kayaks and it is a mix bag of responses. Some say they have tried flipping theirs and say it's stable and some agree with me that it's wobbly and tipsy. I guess it depends on what you are used to. The Native was very stable and my wife's Mahi Mahi is too...I was expecting similar from this one since the length and width are the same. I can just about do jumping Jack's in my wife's kayak.

Crow Terminator said:

I'm 6' and 245 lbs. I barely turned to try and see where the rudder deploy cord was behind me and it went on its side. How I didn't lose everything and go in, I will never know. I posted about it on the Facebook page for FeelFree kayaks and it is a mix bag of responses. Some say they have tried flipping theirs and say it's stable and some agree with me that it's wobbly and tipsy. I guess it depends on what you are used to. The Native was very stable and my wife's Mahi Mahi is too...I was expecting similar from this one since the length and width are the same. I can just about do jumping Jack's in my wife's kayak.

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Thanks for giving up that Native! At 6'7" I find it stable. I like it so much I got it a present !
A Malone trailer….: 200 nuts and bolts later! Soooo much easier to load and unload!

Kayaks are like rocking chairs some rock a lot before hitting that "wall". Some may not rock that much but actually tip over easier then one that may rock more and feel more unstable. Maybe as you use it more you will get use to the feel. I know when I switch between my vibe and Jackson it takes me a little while to get use to the Jackson as it rocks more but is still a stable kayak.

I put outriggers on mine. Tired of trying to get back in.

I wonder what's different between the Lure and the Moken model? I have the Moken 11.5 and I find it pretty stable however over never tried a native…I hope you can figure it out.

CATCHDAWG said:

I debated going there last weekend but went to higher elevations with a fly rod instead. Was the Perch bite strong?

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I was at Indian Boundary. I wanted to go to the perch paradise but they scheduled work for the weekend and it's a little too far of a drive for me after work...I'd get up there and end up having to call in because I wouldn't want to leave. Indian Boundary has big bream in it. Yellow perch too but I didn't get any big ones this trip. It was mostly a kayak tryout for a place motor boats aren't allowed.

Crow Terminator said:

I was at Indian Boundary. I wanted to go to the perch paradise but they scheduled work for the weekend and it's a little too far of a drive for me after work...I'd get up there and end up having to call in because I wouldn't want to leave. Indian Boundary has big bream in it. Yellow perch too but I didn't get any big ones this trip. It was mostly a kayak tryout for a place motor boats aren't allowed.

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That explains why I didn't recognize the spots you were in. My location is the opposite of yours, you must be pretty far north in McMinn. I am MUCH closer to the perch lake than Indian Boundary. Be nice to live close enough to those streams to fish after work! I'm jelly! Lol