Jackson Coosa Kayak

[ness]

Justin,

So, if you sit backwards in the front seat, doesn't that mean you're pointing upstream???

[Justin Spencer]

So, if you sit backwards in the front seat, doesn't that mean you're pointing upstream???

That must be why I keep hitting things, and going nowhere!

[ness]

I think we're onto something here. Let me ask you a question: When you put the car in "R" which way do you go?

[Al Agnew]

Justin, a good solo canoe is well worth the money. The difference in handling ability between a dedicated solo and any average sized tandem paddled solo is like night and day. I wouldn't even say a solo canoe is any more difficult to handle than a kayak, especially if you want to use a double bladed paddle. Learning to use a single blade canoe paddle will be a little more of a learning curve, however. Basically, though, paddling a tandem canoe by yourself is simply something you do in order to get down the river and fish...it's a means to an end. Paddling a solo canoe is fun...it can be an end in itself.

[jdmidwest]

Could you elaborate further on some of the things you have heard that were not good about the Coosa? Whatever brand I buy, I don't want to be disappointed.

Thanks

Darren

I had a friend try one out near Hot Springs at a shop there on a demo day. His main gripe was the seat and the hull design. The seat is cheap and sits at a weird angle and a little high. The pontoon hull design makes it hard to track in a river current. You could stand in it, but you can stand in a Tarpon too. He ended up with the Ride from Wilderness System, sold a Pungo for it.

It is hard to tell what you need, it depends on how you are going to use it. Best idea is to try out a few and see what fits.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Cuda looks like fun, but 74 lbs is kind've heavy. Heck, an Old Town poly canoe is only a few pounds heavier and can carry twice the load at half the price.

Al mentioned Kingston access - yes, that sucked. I keep telling myself never again, and there I am again, hiking that dam trail at night. And my 15' tandem canoe is fairly light at only 65 lbs. Add a cooler, 3 or 4 fishing rods, a tackle box, some wet boots, and I'm sure I was dragging 120 lbs. Not fun. And it seems like my last few trips I've had to do several lengthy portages around huge logjams, or at the very least, had some distance to get from my car to the put-in, or the take-out back to my car. Lighter is better IMO.

The superior versatility of a canoe is what makes it a no brainer for me. I do a lot of day trip fishing, but also a fair amount of camping on the river.

If you are strictly a day-trip fisherman, then yeah, I would give the Coosa or Cuda a closer look. Still, there is something geeky about those boats. Cupholders and storage compartments and fishing rod holders and molded plastic stuff galore and tie downs for a cute little cooler that holds 3 beers. Ehh, you can have it.

[Justin Spencer]

Al, I'm sure you are right, I need to open the pocket book and bite the bullet, but it's tough when i already have 200 vessels around here to choose from (including the drift boat which is the method of choice when more than one person is going). Maybe next time I order canoes I'll get one and then rent it out as well.

[Wayne SW/MO]

If you don't mind the weight you ca stand comfortably in a OT Guide 160.

[Smalliebigs]

Hef, the Jackson Coosa is a good yak if not a great yak, I have been using one all summer and have not one complaint. I don't fish lakes out of it, that's what my boats are for. The Tarpon is a good yak too there is nothing wrong with either yak I have paddled both, I have only done two float trips with the Tarpon but, it's very nice.

Don't let anyone scare you from either.They both are not going to track all that well but, I was able to paddle from our old cabin below Blue Springs Creek on the Meramec upstream to the boat ramp almost a mile with no problem in my Coosa.I like the Coosa because of the options in seating and it's stability. The Coosa is also heavier because it is millimeters thicker than most yak hulls, I don't care about picking up 65 pounds vs 45 pounds that dosen't bother me. I want my yak to last for years while I abuse it on the rivers.The seat on the Coosa is not a low quality seat whoever told you that is high. Bottom line is both a Tarpon and a Coosa are well suited for Ozark streams and rivers, they are both killer choices.

[gotmuddy]

I solo'd my 16' buffalo today and it was awesome. Floated in super skinny water, and the canoe handled pretty good.