From joining the Jackson Kayak fishing team, to collecting my new Kraken then getting it wet for its first time. I choose the Kraken from a wide variety of options as I personally felt that it would suit my needs in offshore trips. It is a beast of a kayak at 15.7 feet long and 30 inches wide and weighing in at 36kgs. I originally thought it would have been a struggle to manage it by myself as I regularly venture out on adventures by alone..........my opinion soon changed.
It all started with a trip down to Dublin to the Jackson kayak dealers I-Canoe once I was informed of the delivery landing on Friday I was straight down the following morning like a child at christmas.
After a nice chat with the owners I went out to load up and leave as I had work to get home to, my father was with me so he gave me a hand on to the roof of the van and off we went.
I had been kayak-less for a few weeks waiting on the new one arriving so as you can imagine I was busting to get out, the weather for the following week was, well very Irish!!!!!!!
There was a boat angling Ireland meet in Carlingford lough on the North east coast the following weekend that was postponed due to poor weather and high winds. I was hoping to attend this meet in the new Yak with a few other kayaking friends, the location would not be my first choice as the lough is very tidal and was not ideal for a first paddle in a new kayak.
There was talk of heading up anyway for the weekend but as the winds on Saturday where in access of 40mph I went to work instead. That afternoon the weather was to break over night and with a quick couple of phone calls David Smith, Tony Powell and myself were on our way to meet for an overnight stay at a camping site at the location. When we arrived we where greeted by Andy and Paula from http://www.chasingsilverflies.com/ who where there from the night before.
We set up camp and had a great nights crack around the camp fires sharing stories of the ones we lost.
The following morning I dont think any one was mentally our physically fit to venture out on the lough as there was some pretty sore heads :)
After a fine breakfast from our cook David the weather really started to pick up with winds dropping by the minute we started to arrange the kayaks to get them on the water.
I must say, I was very anxious about the Kraken as it was the first of its kind to land in Ireland,
Size, weight, length, higher seating position etc. The strong tides and wind was not helping the situation!!!!!
First thing I noticed followed by David was actually how easy it was to car top on your own. We could lift it above our heads with No issues, The two grab handles at each side of the seating position are very well positioned as the kayak is very well balance once picked up.Also a citroen berlingo van is higher than your average car.
Into the water she went, again anxious as every one was intrigued with it and watching closely I really did not want to have a wet mishap!!!!!!!!
WOW!!!!!
Shocked would not be the word to describe my first impression with stability, by far the most stable kayak I have paddled and soon to learn also the fastest.
It was unbelievable, once on the water it really comes to life, all my worries left me and I was really enjoying it. That much in fact I headed straight out into the middle of the lough in 20mph winds to test it in the 5/6 Knot tidal flow. Again no issues here what so ever.
As we where actually out to target Tope but could not get to the marks with the weather ( I no it looks nice in the pics) we decided to try for anything, and we did with several different rigs from http://www.shamrocktackle.com/ and http://www.coxandrawle.com/ and a wide variety of baits but not a nibble between the three of us.
With very poor fishing it was time to call it a day, so back to dry land we went where the lads had a paddle in the Kraken.
Tony
David
The lay out on the yak is really well though of with yakattack geartracs all over it there is no where you cant mount something with a mount from Ram Mounts.
8 yea you herd that right 8 rod holders, 2 flush mounts, two ram tubes three uprite tubes on the Jkrate and one rod holder positioned, well where you want it on the supplied ram ball with geartrac adapter all supplied with the kayak.
The seat well you would have to try it yourself to see how comfortable it is. Under the seat there is two pockets to put the again supplied plano lure boxes.
Seat with thermarest back support
Jkrate and large Plano tackle box
Lure boxes and water bottle
Built in light and rod holder on geartrac
Rear hatch(space normally wasted on other kayaks as they dont have access)
Im 6.3 foot and I have loads of room as the seat is adjustable and so are the foot pegs
Hull with large transducer scupper hole
Iv yet to find a fault with this kayak apart from the minor problem that the rudder will solve, and as a lot of you no me if there was something I was not happy about I would be the first to tell yas.
I will do another review in a few months to see if and problems arise which I dont think will to be honest!!!!
Its the best suited kayak iv paddled to date, all I need to do now is catch some fish on it.
Until my next adventure guys
Tight lines...
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