Stealth 14 vs Pa 14

[makobob]

Drake, Cbad Mike, thanks for helping me make a choice, your posts helped mucho.

[Socalkayak]

I have the stealth 14 and have had several other yaks. I love fishing off of it. I am 6'4 240 42 years old and don't kid yourself it is a beast when you are done fishing for the day. I always surf launch. It doesn't even compare to when I had a prowler 15. The stealth does not like to go over waves and white wash but loves to go right through it which in turn loves to go in the hull. So when you are done for the day and try to pull it out of surf the extra water in hull make it extremely difficult. Fishing on it very cool but paddling in surf really sucks it noses down way to much. I am torn and am now leaning towards ditching it and going back to a trident 15 which is a shame because I like the fishing platform but is just not made for surf launches I do it and it can be done but the platform doesn't help much if you can't make it out. I don't think anyone with a PA or a stealth can say they are good in the surf I don't even think that malibu or hobie would say that. Trust me neither is good in surf compared to other kayaks but other yaks don't compare to there fishing platforms. For surf and transport look elsewhere. Just be honest.

[Dirty Curti]

I had a Stealth 14 for a short time. It was huge. I have since dropped down to the Stealth 12. Ahhh much better for me. The size is more comfortable and I feel I didn't lose anything but 2 feet and the back hatch which is no big loss. In fact I like it better with out it. I use an igloo cooler that fits perfectly behind my seat which I attached a 3 rod holder to and it keeps all of my belongings perfectly dry which the milk crates don't do.

The fishing platform as everyone said is great. The bait well and 2 side storage areas works very well. I am 48 years old 5'10' 215 lbs. and 2 not so good knees so standing up has proved to be a challenge. I haven't been able to get up from the seated position.

The two things I don't like are the position of the forward rod holders and the water that accumulates after a 6 hr trip in the hull. Other than that it travels and fishes great.

[alanw]

Hey Curt I'm about the same age/size as you and also a sorta bad knee which makes standing up hard from so low of a seat. A tow rope attached to the front to pull on while standing helps alot but I really don't get up.

I agree with the forward rod holders being kind of a far reach but I checked it out and if they were any closer you would hit them with your paddle.

And yes it's definetly a wet ride. It leaks through the side hatches. I've removed them to inspect and there's no evidence of water leaking under where the screws and gaskets are (which you could seal up with goop). I think it's leaking from around the hatch lid itself. The lids don't close properly on their gaskets and you can't goop them or you wouldn't be able to open the hatches.