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Posted by drew on 19:58:09 08/28/03
Jim got the first test ride but I got the first Prowler fish!
I test drove the Prowler this afternoon. Picked it up at Allen's a little after three and hauled it down to the shore. People have said it before, and they'll say it again - this is a very looooong kayak. 15'3" from tip to tail and every bit of it is well planned.
I dropped the pfd, the wheels and my dry bag in the tank well and it still looked empty. I shoved off and paddled straight out towards the jetty - I'd brought my favorite rod/reel/spinnerbait just in case.
I flew around the jetty and was loving the speed so much I just kept going, before I knew it I was up under Ingraham St and looking at Sea World. To make this trek in my Caper would not have been half as easy. Several times I cranked down hard on the paddle and built up some steam and then let it coast. I'm so used to a shorter kayak that's nearly as wide that I was really blown away by the residual speed of this boat. After I quit paddling I had to wait two or three times as long for it to stop moving so I could accurately throw a cast.
My first cast resulted in a healthy 14" spotty. 2nd cast did the same. Third and fourth were no good and then another fish on the fifth cast. I limited out in less than twenty minutes and then turned around and zoomed back to the launch. Gone about an hour in total, I think.
If this were my yak I'd want the rudder but turning wasn't a huge pain without one.
With a longer paddle I could really do some damage to that 5mph speed limit, too. (just had the rental paddle).
Plenty of room for my legs which means, unless you're in the NBA you'll fit, too. I'm 6'4" with a 36" inseam.
I took pictures of the boat with close ups of the molds for rod holder, etc.
The rest of the pics here:
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