I’m planning on getting back into sea kayaking after several years. used to have glass boats but sold them and am now thinking plastic for reasons of price and toughness (lots of draqging along Maine’s Rocky shores). Have been looking at prijon kodiaks and wilderness systems tempest and would really appreciate some advice from anyone with experience with these boats. Thanks, Tim
Love the Tempest
Can’t speak to the Kodiak, but if I were going to go plastic for an expedition length sea kayak at this point the Tempest 165 would be well up there on the list. Nice combination of handling characteristics, comfy seat and rolls like a dream.
I get it about the coast of Maine, tho’ so far the worst damage to my glass boat happened on a local dock rather than on vacation in the mid-coast region.
Have you paddled them?
I like both but the Kodiak seemed heavier and less responsive to me. Different seat systems and foot-pegs as well. Seats are both comfortable to me but who knows if your behind would prefere one or the other…
Unfortunately I only demoed them briefly on a calm lake so not much in way of practical advice on handling from me…
Prijon seats s____!
For the first hour or so the seat seems okay, but within half a day my back and legs were screaming. I replaced both the seat and the back band at a cost of about $100 and a couple hours of labor. The WS seat and backband on the other hand is a keeper right out of the box.
I spent 3 hrs non-stop…
…in mine. I wish my desk chair was that comfortable.
Maybe it’s our butts!
Prijon Kodiak -
The kodiak is a good boat for heavier paddlers who want to go on long trips and paddle in serious ocean conditions. I have used the Kodiak on the Pacific Coast of Baja. I liked it. Thought the hatches were kind of cheap, my only reservation. It’s fast, paddled well without the rudder, and I paddled it in rock gardens and large following seas with breaking waves. It was well behaved.
I’ve only paddled the Tempest at demos on flat water, and too be honest I was much more interested in testing some nice glass boats at the time, so I thought it was nothing special. I would go for the Kodiak myself.
Kodiak
Easy to maintain an efficient speed. Handles rough conditions quite well. Cant beat the constuction and the hatches are bombproof.
MDM
Bomb proof?
I suspect Pacific Baja Bombs are bigger than you are used to…
The fit will be very different
The Kodiak is tall; the Tempest is not. Sit in them at the very least, because you might eliminate one by this alone.
own a
Kodiak; no experience with the Tempest.
When I first looked at the Kodiak hatch system, inner neo cover with outer plastic cover, had the same impression as Mr. seadart. But the Kodiak has stayed dry in lots of wind and waves on lake Ontario and large Adirondack lakes.
Kodiak edges well and paddles fast. Don’t paddle on the ocean so I can’t comment on Kodiak’s potential perfromance in that environment. Though it appears that several big dog paddlers have chosen the Kodiak for their big dog ocean trips.
Kodiak is so nice to camp out of with large hatches that make gear organization a snap. Great for rock dragging a full boat and for seal launches.
Besides the Kodiak, I have two other kayaks: thermoformed Enlightened Kayaks T-16 and a fiberglass QCC 700. I like both my other kayaks, but if I could only have one boat, it would be the Kodiak.
Simple to lose the stock seat and seat pad, and to install a back band and to velcro a MINIMALLY inflated Seal Line Kayak Cushion (this is the new tractor seat shapped cushion, not the old style thick cushion that’s no longer available and would be too thick anyway).
I like my boats snug, but havent’s snugged up the Kodiak, as I also use the Kodiak as a loaner. But the seat pan as well the agressive thigh hooks are adjsutable and give me a good fit.
Kodiak
http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/showReviews.html?prod=534
I believe the blowmolded plastic of the Kodiak to be superior to the Tempest, from all that I have heard and read. I have owned two Kodiaks and no rotomolded Tempests.
The Kodiak is a wonderful boat, with only one liability, in my opinion. It is a fairly rockeless boat, and thus has speed for a bigger vessel, but tends not to do well in waves with plenty of pitching and unstable feeling (like any rockerless boat). And in wind, get out the rudder. It weathercocks.
Not easy to roll because of the higher seat back (no backband). I have the opposite experience of the canoe-named reviewer above–I find the Kodiak and other Prijons to be my most comfortable boat over hours of paddling. Thus it is used for long expedition paddles such as Renata Chlumska (11000 mile circumnav of the USA), and Jon Turk. Google theri names for info and pictures (image search).
I found outfitting the pit with minicell, particularly under the plastic thigh braces, to be very helpful for comfort and fit.
I had the very same choice to make.
I chose the t17 for a few reasons weight, drop down skeg, and handling in rough seas. it is as light as the t17 glass version, the drop down skeg is great so quick and easy to use and ajust(depth). just a little switch on the right side by your hip just outside the rim of your cockpit. Most importantly the stability in rough water. I like to think if a storm blows in and I’m out at sea that I will feel safe. I paddle in cold water alot (bay of Fundy).Regarding this I cant say anything about the kodiak, but I’m sure in caple hands it performs. I have really tested the t17 In crazy 6-8 ft waves while rescuing a capsized friend
in the bay of fundy mid winter. I didn’t once feel unstable no matter which way I faced the on coming waves. I love the tempest. cheers have fun!
Rob.
Ive had a T-170
RM for years and never felt insucure or unstable with in and I’ve been out in some pretty rough waters. Don’t know anything about the kodiak.