Specifications

Features

The Line 280 is our angling edition of the Access 280. This compact light weight kayak is jam packed with all the essentials needed for a productive day of hunting and gathering. The size of this kayak makes it easy to transport no matter the size of the paddler or the vehicle.

Designed with the freshwater and estuary kayak fisher in mind the Line 280 is extremely maneuverable which will be of great assistance to those trying to pull the big one out of an isolated and tight spot X. Being a sit in kayak the Line 280 has a comfortable and dry seating position offering more appeal to fish all year round.

We have not forgotten those of you who have a bit of duck shooting in mind and the Rainforest Green color option will ensure you have every advantage. Come standard with 2 flush mounted rod holders, 1 adjustable rod holder, 2 paddle parks, rear hatch and a running line and 0.75kg grapnel anchor.

Specifications

Features

The Catch 420 is our decked out anglers version of the Xstream 420 and comes packed with practical and useful features for fishermen -  comfort, stability, safety, easy to paddle, speed and lots of storage and fishing hardware!!

Experts will appreciate the speed and efficiency of this boat as well as the vast array of accessories that come standard – a comfortable seat, large tankwell area, deck bungee’s, dual rod parks, 2 flush mounted rod holders, 2 rod parks, deck lines, unique fish finder storage area with transducer scupper hole as well as internal electronic mounting points and  front and rear bulkheads for added safety. Mission kayaks are renowned for their good looks and superb finish and the Catch 420 doesn’t disappoint in this regard.  Moulded handles add to the sleek lines and make lifting the kayak easy and comfortable.

Overall this is a fantastic fast yet very stable kayak perfect for fishing. The Catch 420 is available in both ruddered and un-ruddered options.

April 2010:
After more than a year and a half in development, with continual feedback from the kayak fishing community, Cobra Kayaks are proud to present the ‘new Marauder’.

Historically, the Marauder has been one of Cobra Kayaks most popular performance fishing kayaks. At 4.3 metres (14’1”) long and 780 mm (31”) wide, and 24 kgs (52 lbs) and more than 200kgs (470 lbs) capacity the Marauder has been one of Cobra’s best selling kayaks, with an ideal combination of length and beam for good hull speed, and good stability. The hull shape remains the same with features such as ample rocker, giving the Marauder nice maneuverability, and with the sweeping bow shape, the boat is dry and seaworthy in even the roughest conditions.

Cobra has taken the Marauder’s best features and with feedback from ‘fishos’ from around the world, has made some major changes to the deck configuration- creating the ideal performance fishing kayak.

The Marauder is now fitted with an optional rudder system for better performance on long distance paddles- giving the new Marauder even better maneuverability.

A transducer mount has been incorporated in one of the scuppers, for ease in installing your choice of fish finder/GPS unit.

The deck has been reconfigured with a new sealed centre hatch, complete with a bung so that it can be used as a live well if desired. But, soft baiters will love this feature for it’s mega- convenient storage, and they can feel in large seas (as the storage is sealed from the as interior of the boat) there is no chance of flooding the boat if water comes aboard. The new storage area measures approximately 210 x 470 x 170 (deep) mm / 8″ x 18.5″ x 7“.

Cobra has created a unique hatch cover- with simple and easy to secure bungy loop tie downs, to secure the cover on the well. A plastic bait board lies over the cover, with a convenient recess for storing a fishing knife or icky tool.

Aft of the well, there is ample room for a small rectangular hatch or a 10” round hatch, to maximize storage in the cockpit area. The bow area can take the Cobra ‘A’ hatch to maximize storage.

The foot wells are wider than on the old Marauder- with more than 50mm (2”) extra clearance on each side. Fishermen with large feet or booties can now comfortably fit in the wider foot wells. The OZO rudder controls are easy to adjust and fit in special recesses within the foot well.

The Marauder can take 4 flush mount rod holders, 2 aft of the seat and 2 forward of the knees. Cobra is also installing the rail blazer rod mount standard on the Marauder Fishing package.

“We feel that we have refined the Marauder so that we now have one of the best performing, best set up fishing kayaks on the water today,” said Ted Dixon Sales and Marketing Director.

Stop by your nearest Cobra Kayak dealer to see the new Marauder, and take the next step in performance sit on top kayaking.

For more information:
Contact Ted Dixon- Aquatx Ltd. Sales and Marketing Director-
+64 21 162 3307 or email at ted@aquatx.co.nz or Tdixon@cobrakayaks.com

Specifications

Features

The new Prowler 4.7 builds on our core technologies(performance hull design, insert attachment system, Transducer scupper hole) and adds a number of inspired new features (live bait tank, rod tube, ice box and flip center lid) The result is a superior fishing kayak that has genuinely been designed by kayak fisherman for kayak fishing.

However, over the decades we have managed to talk ourselves into believing that bigger is better. Now we need a brand new six meter boat; 200 H.P. outboard and enough electronic gadgets to start your own space program! Often these rigs sit in the driveway or storage yard and see very little use after the novelty wears off.

It only took one trip in a conventional kayak to realize the quiet feel of slipping over the water to rendezvous with fighting game fish. Immediately I felt the same excitement I once knew while fishing as a youngster.

In a kayak, you are literally sitting on the water. Today’s sit-on-top kayaks are extremely stable. Unlike sea kayaks, they don’t feel “tippy” in the least.

Kayaks can be decked out with all the modern fishing conveniences of a motor boat. Fish finders, landing nets, bait live-wells, anchor systems, gobs of storage areas, You’ve always wanted to be the Captain of your own ship. Well, now you can be that and more. It’s all in your hands!

Before anyone uses a kayak there are some basic kayak safety information that you should know, kayak fishing whilst fun and rewarding can also as with any water sport be dangerous and carries the possibility of injury or death. Always use common sense and follow all safety rules at all times.

• Never mix alcohol, or drugs (prescription or non-prescription) with kayaking.

• Never exceed the weight capacity of your kayak.

• Always check your equipment for wear and tear before you paddle.

• Seek qualified instruction to learn proper paddling techniques, water safety and basic first aid.

• Wear your life jacket/PFD. New Zealand Coastguard regulations require that all kayakers wear a lifejacket/PFD at all times whilst on the water. Wearing your lifejacket will help keep your head above water and add insulation to your body, keeping you warmer in cold water.

• Tell someone your trip plan, which includes: where you are going, what you will be doing, how long you expect to be gone and how many people are in your party, where possible provide the contact details for these people aswell. Then stick to your plan.

• Paddling in the surf zone or in rivers can be dangerous. Always wear a helmet.

• Be aware of weather conditions and water temperature. Prepare for changes in weather and the possibility of a capsize. If paddling in cold water, a wet suit or dry suit can keep you warm and comfortable. In warm weather, a long sleeve shirt can provide sun protection.

• Stay hydrated. Always bring plenty of water and food.

• Beware of off-shore winds that make it difficult to return to shore.

• When paddling in a new area, check with the locals regarding currents, shoreline conditions and weather patterns. Plan an “escape” route – an alternative place to get off the water should environmental conditions dictate it.

Well what can I say, this is a NEW Prowler, lots of changes, about the only thing that is related to the previous Prowlers is the name… This is a ground up design which according to Ocean Kayak has taken over 18 months and close to $100,000, all done here in NZ “Designed by kayak fishermen for serious kayak fishing”

I’ll start at the front and work backwards through the whole kayak…

Even from the bow you’ll notice something new, the old toggle type lifting handle has now been replaced by a solid handle, no more snagging your line…

You’ll also see in the picture above there is a small flat section to add your GPS or VHF aerial.

Moving back we come to the hatch, this is a standard Prowler hatch, the Ultra will be shipped with the standard neoprene hatch seal, to close the hatch you’ll see there is a new four-way buckle, this is an Ocean Kayak designed item and makes for a much better fitting system.

Before you get into the cockpit there is a small bungy set up for securing any gear on deck.

In the photo above you will also see you have a standard Scotty rod holder mount and the new flat section allows for two more flush fitting rod holders if you want to fit them later. In front of the Scotty mount you’ll find the transducer access scupper. Also on either side of the foot wells you have two small areas that can be used for storage, these are scuppered.

Now the bit you have all been waiting for, the cockpit…

Yes that’s right you are seeing a fishing kayak, what do you mean “where’s the fish finder?”. Time to introduce the multi-function hatch cover… Time to turn it over…

Ah there you go, time to go fishing!

The hatch cover is double sided you lift, rotate, and place back down! One side for safe surf entry and exit one side for the serious stuff, so yes that does mean there is a well inside and yes it is sealed.

Plenty of room in here for a truck load of gear, place for up to two 7Ah batteries, this is where you will also get access to the optional rod tube, the rod tube goes back under the seat all the way to the stern, will take a couple of eight foot rods.

There are two more rod holders on the sides of the cockpit too, great place to drop you rod in while rigging up or unhooking your fish.

There is also storage areas under your legs fort a couple of small boxes, good for softbaits.

The side handles have also been replaced by flush mounted solid handles.

The seating area has been raised, to keep you dryer. The standard seat on the Prowler Ultra 4.7 will be the Deluxe Comfort Seat.

Behind the seat there is a new well, which can with an optional kit be converted into a live bait well, and the two rear rod holders.

The kit comes with cover, manual bilge pump, and scupper bung for the unused scupper, the well is symmetrical so the pump can be fitted to either side to suit the paddler. Of course if you are not interested in a live bait well this area can be used to store your gear or your anchor.

Moving further back we now have the BIG WELL, yep this is BIG, 1.1m long, bring one those big fish!

And for all those old Swing owners who miss their pods for putting your fish in, take a look at this…

That’s a full roto-molded foam insulated fish bin, roughly sixty litres, and only weighs in at around 5kg. The opening hinge is reversible so will suit left or right handers.

Nearly finished, the rear lifting toggle has also been replaced with another solid handle.

And finally the rudder, this is the standard Prowler rudder we are all used to.

Well that’s the top, now lets look at the hull, the hull has also been re-designed, the bow has been narrowed and flared giving much more lift and keeping the ride drier as the kayak will ride over the waves and chop and shed water.

The hull has retained the tri-formed hull for stability and tracking but much harder and fuller chines have been added. The Transducer scupper is retained but will now take the Humminbird Sideimaging transducer out of the box.

One final change to the hull is at the stern where there is now a sacrificial wear strip.

Specifications:
Weight: 35kg (unruddered)
Length: 4.7m
Capacity: 250kg+
Width: 74cm

Pricing:
Standard Prowler Ultra 4.7 kayak with rudder: $2599
Rod Tube kit: $99
Live Bait Tank kit: $129
Ice box storage pod: $399

Availability:
Will be available nationwide from November 30th – if you want one before the holidays I’d suggest you talk to your dealer sooner rather than later…

So all that out of the way, I then took it for a paddle… This test paddle was done on Lake Pupuke, in Auckland.

This is a different kayak, you are not just getting in another Prowler, I paddle a Prowler Elite on a weekly basis, this boat is faster (apparently 15% faster), and although you sit higher in this kayak it seems more stable, way more stable, probably from the filled in chines. I was able to lean further out in this than my Elite before it got tippy. The biggest thing I did notice though was how quiet the hull is, the slap had gone, may be it was the lake factor, so I jumped in an Elite and yep there it was…

The cockpit is a better layout, will be good to see how it works in a real fishing situation, the hatch was easy to un-clip and flip over, everything seems to be within reach and no concerns turning around or sitting side saddle but again this was a lake…

I have requested a full sea trial and will post that review as soon as I can secure access to a kayak for a weekend, fingers crossed this weekend…

Hope you enjoyed this

Cheers, Mental

Photos were taken at the Dealer Launch event Nov 10th 2009, please note the final production model may differ slightly
For more photos and discussion see the forums > Click Here

WHAT PADDLE LENGTH SHOULD I PURCHASE?

Factors to consider:
1 Boat width – the wider the kayak, the longer the paddle
2 Paddling style:
High-angle paddling = power – white water, fi tness and competition.
Low-angle paddling = cruising – recreational, relaxation and touring

RECOMMENDED KAYAK PADDLE LENGTH (AVERAGE PADDLER)

High-angle White water 194cm – 200cm, Multi-sport/Competition 212cm – 220cm
Low-angle Sit-on-tops 214cm – 220cm, Sea Kayaks 220cm – 230cm,
Extra wide kayaks up to 240cm

BLADE SIZE AND SHAPE

For fl at water longer distance paddling a smaller blade size is preferable as it reduces fatigue. White
water or surfi ng requires a larger blade size. Sea Kayak paddles are typically asymmetrical to
provide easy entry and exit, reducing torque during stroke.
Symmetrical blades are more forgiving of mistakes and as such are good for beginners or recreational
use. Whitewater paddlers use both symmetrical and asymmetrical blades by personal preference.

FLAT BLADE

A good choice for beginners and recreational paddlers. Flat blades provide easy stroking, but lack grip on the water that more advanced paddlers prefer.

DIHEDRAL BLADE

Designed to give direction to the fl ow of water off the blade to reduce drag and fatigue by providing a powerful, smooth stroke.

WING BLADE

Designed to generate lift, with a very cupped blade with hi-drag for increased speed, like the air plane wing. Generated exceptional power and stroke effi ciency in all applications.

Japanese jigging, butterfly jigging and jigging are terms used to describe a contemporary technique for fishing with long metal jigs, in a rhythmic action. The action goes something like this: drop the rod tip and wind the reel one revolution, lift the rod tip and repeat at speed, through the fish active water column. Sounds awkward but with practice it becomes a natural fluid action. Mechanical jigging is very effective, often out-fishing traditional speed jigging, mainly because the lure is kept longer in the fish zone and a more frenzied lure action produces more bites.

Rods used are short, non-traditional parabolic high modulus graphite rods, which are very strong with huge lifting power and the parabolic action imparts some fluidity to the jig. These rods are generally not parabolic in the original sense but, with great hoop strength and thick walls, they are capable of handling heavy braid and massive drag pressures. Know this: not all rods are created equal. There are some real back-breaking shockers out there.Most good rods are factory-tested so if you break one, warranty claims may on deaf ears because it may have been used outside the manufacturer’s specifications.Rods are given a PE rating, which is the braid-breaking strain: PE-8 is 80lb, PE-5 is 50lb generally. Rods also have a rating for recommended lure weight, maximum reel drag setting and maximum angle at which the highest drag setting can be applied to not point-load the rod. Some popular rods are Smiths, Shimano jigwrex, Shimano blue rose, Xzoga, Jigging master, Terminator, Daiwa Monster Mesh and power jig rods.

The reel specs are as follows: braid capable, ideally narrow, low speed – between 4 and 5:1 for heavy braid PE 5 -8 (that’s 50 to 80lb, but usually breaks at 100 to 150lb crazy ratings but that’s the world of braid) and up to 6:1 ratio for lighter braid is fine.Popular reel brands include Daiwa Saltist, Daiwa Saltiga, Shimano Ocean Jigger, Shimano Torsa, Shimano Trinidad, Accurate Reel, and Fin-nor Offshores. There are also some exotics like Blue Heaven and Pro Gear. Factory drags are often up-rated with carbontex kits but be warned: this can void a warranty. However, you will find that these reels can take it when market handles (like the Power jig T-bar and Accurate round knobs) are fitted, making it more comfortable and less abrasive than a rubber handle. Spin or overhead? In New Zealand, we’re about 80/20 in favour of overhead. Daiwa Saltiga Expedition 6000, Shimano Stella SW 20000 and Fin-nor Offshore 7500 8500 are the pick of the bunch and will handle PE 5-8 braid and all low speed so you can get a crank on decent fish. Metal jigs, long jigs, knife jigs, 7 gram to 700 gram­, centre, tail- and head-weighted, all shapes and sizes – there is a huge variety of jigs, from designer to cheap. But you do get what you pay for. Good jigs don’t bend so much, the paint and prism film doesn’t lift and the wire that sticks out the end goes right through the jig. A kevlar cord, via a solid ring that is, in turn, attached to the jig by a strong split ring, usually connects the hook. Hooks need to be super-sharp and strong to ensure good penetration and holding power. Reliable brands include Zest Jigs, Powerjig, River 2 Sea, Hook Choice, Fisherman, Owner Monster and Mustad Hoodlum.

Here at Go Fish we are mechanical jigging specialists. We built the gear, we understand modern tackle and techniques and we are always happy to discuss trends and tackle. So it’s time to go out to the shed, put the old gear up for sale and invest in some modern mechanical jigging tackle. We’re not only talking heavy gear. There is also great light 20-30lb tackle available that’s effective on yellowtail (kingfish) bass, haupuka, trumpeter, haupuka, tuna, and many other fish­ and that will keep you smiling and enjoying your sport fishing for years to come. This is fishing today.

www.gofish.co.nz – Gofish Tackle Co is an Auckland fishing store that has been following and developing all the tackle and gear required to suit New Zealand conditions. We are always happy to discuss tackle trends and development.

About the Author:

Greg Hill, owner of Go fish tackle kicking against the flood of low-quality unreliable fishing tackle on the market, sources here and overseas to hand-pick a range of the best fishing tackle available. Everything is exceptionally well-priced, with absolutely no compromise in quality – guaranteed. “I’ve built the kind of shop that I want to visit,” he says. “Somewhere where you don’t have to trawl through a load of junk to find the good stuff. A place to just swing by and see what’s new.”

Greg has been in the wholesale and retail sports trade since the 70s. He was founder and owner of one of the first specialist tackle stores in the country, in Whakatane, New Zealand’s premiere tackle store 80s and 90s. He developed the original ‘duck egg’ trolling lure, among other products now widely used. He was also the original importer of Calstar rods. He knows what he’s on about. “I’m just into fishing — everything from game fishing to sitting on the wharf with my daughter catching sprats.” He still holds a 6kg NZ Skipjack record and includes many days fishing at the Ranfurly, and Three kings, and sitting in a 12″ tinny at Browns Bay as favourite fishing moments.

the Aluminum strip started out at 50mm wide to match the transom bracket but I decided to trim this down to try an drop the drag a bit:

Now to run the cable, needed to fit a hatch so I could reach the cable gland

As per my last sounder I’m going to mount it on a Scotty so time to make a transition plate out of a chopping board, why can’t you buy black chopping boards?

I’m not happy with this board, got a bit over keen with the router when trimming it, so I’ll make a new one at some point.

Now the question is, with or without the triple, it appeared quite tall at the time with the triple but looking back on it it’s probably no taller than my old Navman was on the triple

One more picture of the transducer…

And yes I know the transducer bracket is upside down, I’ve done this to pull the transducer up just a little, it should still be well in the water, I can always turn it back later if needed.

Now just to get out there and test it… That may have to wait till next week…

Cheers, Mental

Discuss this post in the forum > Click Here