2nd time out this year but this time I put all my gear in. Full 16×16 crate with short stack, gearpod with rain coat and lose items and some miscellaneous stuff under chair. I'm 270lbs and this thing held with scupper holes opened. Definitely bought it this way to get some kind of excercise going and hopefully lose some pounds. Here are some things I've notice. First time kayak owner BTW so I can't really compare.
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Pivot drive can use work. Nucanoe seems to have abandon it but I hope that's not the case. It's like a rudder and prop together, which is nice. Just a bit slow and extra parts laying on the boat. I had to get off twice to take out weeds and a fishing line from someone's snag. The handle to turn it wasn't the greatest as I felt like I had to reach for it. Seat placement with come into play for this part. I can only think of adding an extension to it.
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The Unlimted itself is awesome though. I was definitely eyeing more on stability and weight capacity for my plump self. It holds pretty true I'd say. I don't know how much weight was on it altogether but there wasn't water flowing through the holes. Standing up I was able to. I can't say for winder days though. Not gonna test that. All the tracks are nice too. Only once I felt like I was headed for water but it manage to stop. That was my fault though as I was leaning a bit too much on one side of the crate as I was trying to reach off for an item in the back. This is probably what others say about having that second stability.
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360 seat with cushion was nice for the 6 hour I was out. It does feel like I'm sitting higher. Turning around wasn't a struggle or feel like you'll tip over. Slow and easy and never rush through things.
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Paddling wasn't the greatest. I hated the double stack from yak attack. It got in the way. I might move it elsewhere. Maybe separate the top stack. When I was able to, I was able to move the Unlimited quite okay. Definitely not as fast but that's what you get for 41" of stability.
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Gearpod will be awesome in the future for battery and fish finder. For now, it's extra storage.
The wind picked up later in the day. This glass water you see on the first picture was definitely choppier later in the day. Good thing, I wasn't fishing on this side of the lake. There's a channel or creek behind me that I go to that is very shallow(1-6ft) and opens up and marsh like, where majority of the fish come to spawn. I wasn't seeing beds due to the stain water on this side but lake side it's clear. Going back to launch was quite choppy but it handle pretty well. Kinda glad my brother came after me. Loading was a lot faster and I use a malone lowbed microsport trailer. I will eventually get bunks and just load it into water to speed things up and definitely motorize it.
Posted by BambooX86