In my last entry http://finstalker.blogspot.com/2015/03/a-blossoming-relationship-part-1.html I kind of left you hanging because I was afraid I was going to be a bit too long winded for a single post. So lets get down to the ducks guts and actually talk about this fishing machine.
The Trident line was released in 2009 and since then Ocean Kayak has sold over 20,000 of these units, not bad considering how competitive the fishing kayak market has become. In a market where the consumer thinks that he needs bigger, wider more stable kayaks it's nice to see that companies haven't abandoned the sleeker faster models like the Tridents.
Now as I said in my earlier entry I had/have a few specific features that I was looking for in a fishing kayak.
1. Enough stability to stand and fish from.
2. Comfortable enough to fish all day in.
3. In hull storage.
4. Decent cockpit layout.
This boat has all of those areas covered. As I stated in my earlier post I knew the seating was going to be a little rough on me because of the seating position. I have come up with a cheap/simple solution that is relatively comfortable and allows me to get to my feet fairly easily and also takes some of the pressure off of my lower back. So my seating concerns have been handled for the time being.
As for the other three items on my list, stability, storage and cockpit layout. She has those areas covered nicely as well.
Owning and selecting a kayak is a very personal thing it has to fit you and how you are going to use it. I think a little thought needs to go into the purchase. You should ask yourself where and how you plan on using your new kayak and not just "In the water to fish". DUH! Ask yourself if you need a purpose built kayak for say fishing rivers like the Predator MX or are you like me and need more of a "utility boat" that can do most anything well but not be focused on one type of water? You'll also notice that my requirements in a kayak didn't include a bunch of doodad stuff, they are utilitarian in nature because mounts for accessories and the like do nothing to improve the true performance of the kayak and can be added later if I really think they are necessary.
I've had this boat for a few months now and I've fished it in the places that I fish the most and I've had the opportunity to take it on a road trip to Lake Eufaula and I've got to tell you. The more I use this thing the more I like it. It is smooth, fast and quiet. It's easy to get up to speed and just as easy to maintain that speed. The cockpit layout is good and there are two things that I've found I really like; one that I thought was a waste of space originally and one I never gave any thought to. First the faux waste of space. The hatch that is intended for a depth finder. OK I was wrong. I like it, in fact, I like it a lot. Not for a depth finder but as a catch all for the things I like to have on hand and easy to get to like my phone and the things I carry in my pockets also other knick knack stuff like leader material.
The tank well area is something I didn't give any thought to but it turns out I like it's size and layout. What I like about it is the fact that there are basically two separate areas back there. One directly behind the seat that is just the right size for two 4700 Plano boxes or a small soft cooler for snacks (which is what I use it for) and then the main tank itself that is obviously big enough for a standard size milk crate or small cooler.
Overall I really like this boat and with a couple of minor changes it has quickly become my go to kayak. One last thought; the sturdy construction of Ocean Kayaks in general. I have notice that every O.K. model that I have looked at or paddled all feel well built and durable. So if you're in the market for a fishing kayak you owe it to yourself to give the to Trident 13 a serious look. I honestly believe that it can compete against any kayak in its category and hold it's own just fine.
