SOLO Revisited

[Iceman]

[makobob]

Dropped off my Solo for rigging this morning at OEX MB, you can see it Saturday at the Tournament as it will be there.
They will be installing the bait system, Hobie H-rails, Hook 5 F/F and the BooneDox landing gear. Can't wait to get it back to Baja. After tournament on Saturday I load up and head out to Gonzaga EARLY Sunday morning. Tight Lines.

[Denis_Ruso]

I though this was a kayak forum!





JK.... I'm just jealous because I don't have one.

[rossman]

Originally Posted by Denis_Ruso

I though this was a kayak forum!





JK.... I'm just jealous because I don't have one.

From what I saw, they paddled a lot last week. We can let em in.

[MrPukaShell]

Originally Posted by rossman

From what I saw, they paddled a lot last week. We can let em in.

Classic

[makobob]

Originally Posted by Denis_Ruso

I though this was a kayak forum!





JK.... I'm just jealous because I don't have one.

I paddled mine a couple hundred yards BEFORE I started the engine. It is not fast to paddle, but it works just fine. First two hours with the motor the wind was blowing 10-15 with that short Baja swell. Stable in the swell below 5 mph, but if you put it on plane you had to watch what you were doing. This will be a great fishing platform specially for the flyfishermen. There were cobble stones covering the beach so no panga style landings for me this trip.

[Baja_Traveler]

Originally Posted by Denis_Ruso

I though this was a kayak forum!





JK.... I'm just jealous because I don't have one.

I already sent a message to the webmaster that we will probably need a Solo Skiff subforum so we don't annoy all the paddlers with our Solo banter.

As more of these get sold, the more posts that will be made and it will eventually dilute the kayaking posts...

Yea, I paddled mine ALOT last weekend. Sometimes I'm too smart for my own good and end up doing stupid things. I was convinced Avgas was the dream solution to gummed up carb parts, but the motor just cannot handle the high octane and eventually vapor locks. Then when I drained the tanks and switched out to auto gas, the loose nut behind the wheel managed to switch the lever from external tank to internal and the motor wouldn't run (because the internal tank was empty). Once Bob pointed that out I got it running fine - but it was victory at sea with the wind...

[makobob]

Originally Posted by Denis_Ruso

I though this was a kayak forum!





JK.... I'm just jealous because I don't have one.

If you buy it at a kayak shop is it not a yak?
Solo Skiff says it is a yak on STEROIDS. Whatever you call it, fun city it is.
Tight Lines.

[blazian]

Originally Posted by makobob

If you buy it at a kayak shop is it not a yak?
Solo Skiff says it is a yak on STEROIDS. Whatever you call it, fun city it is.
Tight Lines.

Bob, so what are your thoughts on the Solo now that you have gone on a Baja run with it?

[Baja_Traveler]

Originally Posted by blazian

Bob, so what are your thoughts on the Solo now that you have gone on a Baja run with it?

Bob's back in Baja all this week, but I can give you my impressions.

First, I bought this never intending to it replace my PA, but supplement it. What the Solo Skiff is going to allow me to do is explore and access locations that were simply out of reach in the PA. Now I can hit the backside of the Island at Bob's place without a 12 mile round trip paddle. I can even island hop the whole chain, which would make for a 30+ mile round trip - Bob and I are talking about camping on the islands. I also bought it with Mag Bay in mind to be able to hit mangrove channels well out of kayak day trip range.
Second, it gives me lots of options fishing San Diego bay with the ability to go anywhere in it on a whim, or head out to Point Loma kelp - easily skirting the MPA without all the paddling - or heading south to I.B. targeting the halibut grounds.

I've been kayaking since the 70's and would never give it up in favor of a skiff - the stealth of a kayak cannot be beat, which is why kayakers outperform every other private boater in our local kelp.
Bottom line, I love the boat - but I'm keeping the kayak.

[blazian]

Originally Posted by Baja_Traveler

Bob's back in Baja all this week, but I can give you my impressions.

First, I bought this never intending to it replace my PA, but supplement it. What the Solo Skiff is going to allow me to do is explore and access locations that were simply out of reach in the PA. Now I can hit the backside of the Island at Bob's place without a 12 mile round trip paddle. I can even island hop the whole chain, which would make for a 30+ mile round trip - Bob and I are talking about camping on the islands. I also bought it with Mag Bay in mind to be able to hit mangrove channels well out of kayak day trip range.
Second, it gives me lots of options fishing San Diego bay with the ability to go anywhere in it on a whim, or head out to Point Loma kelp - easily skirting the MPA without all the paddling - or heading south to I.B. targeting the halibut grounds.

I've been kayaking since the 70's and would never give it up in favor of a skiff - the stealth of a kayak cannot be beat, which is why kayakers outperform every other private boater in our local kelp.
Bottom line, I love the boat - but I'm keeping the kayak.

Thanks Kai for the reply. I'm more specifically looking at launching and landing in LJ beach conditions. Like you I have a PA14 and wanted to see if it's easier to launch at LJ. Can you drop the motor and break thru surf or do you have to paddle past surf line first? If you have top paddle is it easier than a PA14? and opposite is it easy to land? can you cruise in under power and lift the motor at the last minute?