so I got an Expedition and now I want a second one or something similar. I’ve interacted with the Boreal folks in CA(nada) and while they’re helpful the Expedition is discontinued along with a lot of their other boats. I want a SOT for someone with knee mobility problems, with a clean fast hull design like the Expedition. I see the Tahe Scapa, a little short but the lines look clean. Anyone want to recommend something SOT, 14ft at least, not beamy ? A surf ski is not an option due to skill level and attention demand. Competent paddler, doesn’t need excess stability, has run sea kayaks in river chop but now needs something to accommodate whiny knees. Would prefer new current production or leftover stock, but will consider used. TIA!
Stellar S14S aka Puffin. A hybrid of a SOT
and ski. More stable than a ski but not as barge like as Sot like Tarpons.
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are you making fun of my Tarpon ? just kidding, I know what you mean.
Anyway, thanks for the pointer, the S14S looks sweet. Will look further. The price for the glass one is in line with a boat she may be selling/replacing. So far we’re rotomold people with that one exception, she bought that to have a “really good boat for the Hudson” and now we’re not on the Hudson any more, and we’ve reached an age where aside from an unhelpful knee, we’re not up for incurring the challenge of running a sea kayak with a closed cockpit in anything more than light chop (otherwise I’d keep the “really nice boat” but I’m not going offshore with it for above reason #2 and it’s wasted on inshore waters)
I am making a factual statement about my new Tarpon 140. To me , it is sluggish but that may be because I’m really out of shape.
The Puffin I have is for sale because I am too long for the cockpit. If you happen to be near SC sometime, I’d be glad to let you try it.
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this is interesting. my first boat was/is a Tarpon, which I greatly enjoy. I’ve actually “worked” using the boat, pulling garbage out of the Hudson on a cleanup day. I can just about stand up in her, and the good part about the flat bottom is that she pivots on waves - if you can shake your booty, you can edge the hull where you want (in the “yaw” axis…) as a crest passes you (or you advance across it if you’re paddling faster than the surf…). Enjoy it, very serviceable boat, if I can offer one thought, don’t overdrive it - clean stroke and let the boat come up to speed, then find the rhythm where you catch at the right moment.
This is my 5th Tarpon . The others were 160s.
Have you looked at the Scupper Pro?
Not sure where you are but there’s a 14’ Cobra Tourer for sale outside of Phoenix.
I know you say no surfskis but the last few years have seen a rash of rotomolded “beginner’s” skis that are similar widths to the cobra expedition and have some storage hatches for shorter trips. see here, here and here. The Epic V8 tourer has more storage than the RM boats and is still reasonably stable.
Not sure where you are but Stealth kayaks out of South Africa have the rotomolded fusion 480 or Mirage Kayaks in Australia do a fibreglass Mirage 583 Adventure.
There is a massive shortage in the market for a RM SOT with reasonable performance I guess that is a lack of demand as most companies that make them seem to discontinue the line pretty quickly in favor of stable wide fishing barges. It’s a pity as I’d absolutely buy one.
I have been looking for something simliar. I was looking at a 14’ RTM midway, it is supposed to be fast and has a sealed front bulkhead. There is an importer here in Florida.
Stellar is probably our best option, the puffin, kingfisher or egret (14,16,18’) The kingfisher has a 22.6" beam which makes it wider than the cobra expedition according to google (22"). The egret is 22.9". I haven’t ridden in these boats to offer a comparison.
I have the ocean kayaks scupper pro, I found one for cheap when people recommended them as a faster than normal sit on top. It has a huge hatch and tankwell. You get wet but I really enjoy the boat. Also discontinued, now there is the swell scupper pro which is similar but 10 lbs heavier.
I also see old wilderness systems freedom 15’s from time to time, but they have smaller storage areas and were no longer made after 2003. I saw two cobra expeditions for sale down here this week, one in good shape for $600 another one used only wanted $100. I would have jumped at the $100 one but its about a 5 hours drive.
Outside of stellar it seems we don’t have a ton of options. As I understand it the market segment must be small, but its so nice on a hot day here in Florida to be able to stretch out and dip in the water real quick. I think the segment was more popular before they started making peddle kayaks for fisherman, and then those became the go-to for people wanting a quicker sit on top.
You might check out the offerings from Sea Bird and Mirage kayaks.