Great comments from our East Coast, USA Surf Kayak & Waveski Facebook Group: Richie Guerrero Waveski Surf Kayaker I really enjoyed your second video. You were able to demonstrate the reasons why the 3 boats surf so differently -- and they really do! -- when I had not quite understood why. Something which might be useful to note, is that the more 'sit inside' type SOT surf kayaks (Kaos and Strike) don't fit you well unless you are thin or have a man's build. I have the problem of being tall, heavier, and female build, so the Kaos was a tight fit for me but do-able. The Strike is very narrow and was really uncomfortable for me. The Perception 5.0 was nice because I could adjust the leg length correctly and I didn't have to squeeze into it and get bruises on my hips. As you might imagine, I upgraded from a Kaos to a waveski eventually... all the SOT kayaks are very heavy and awkward to carry. I had a lot of trouble turning the Kaos easily, because of the problem you noted with fins too far back. I ended up riding it as a twin with 2 larger fins forward and no centre fin. My profile pic on here shows me surfing the Kaos -- it was a lot of fun in rough water but just too heavy for me.
I've been surfing a chaos for the last several years. Foot wells aren't an issue, though I did modify the scupper opening by gluing in a diverter plate and that solved the water jet issue. One thing I did not hear mentioned is for the Kaos, especially an older boat, to burp air through the seals if you land hard, say after dropping over the falls. This can "oil can" the bottom of the boat temporarily. I added a PVC stiffener to the storage compartment, that maintains the space and keeps the oilcan from happening. Otherwise I love the boat, and would only upgrade to something made custom.
@@NickDangerThirdGuy wow that’s cool. Wish I could see the diverter plate. I had a friend mention it on his. My next GoPro video has him with me on his Wilderness Systems Kaos. Thanks for all this info.
A very nice intro to plastic boats. Some minor points - the Cobra has 6 scupper holes, not 4, so it drains extremely fast. A back band in combination with a foam foot rest or adjustable foot rest allows you to adjust for your size, and also microtune your position both to move you forward or back. This lets you change the center of your weight which is very important. The adjustable footrest alone on a boat like the 5.0 only allows you to adjust by moving your position farther back. I believe the Cobra actually works better on larger, steeper waves rather than small mushy ones. The reduced nose rocker does require more of a diagonal takeoff on steep waves. And IMO the Cobra is flat-out the most stable boat in breaking/lumpy/crazy waves due to its unique undercut grooved rails. Finally, SOTs are easier to launch and land in shorebreak waves than any SIK or waveski. On some days that's important.
Great info Ross! I also forgot to mention that the Cobra Strike was designed by a Surf Kayaker with decades of professional experience. Maybe someone knows more about the other kayaks as well.
Thank you for the great video Richie. I wasn’t familiar with the 5.0. Nice to learn about it. I’m a life long stand up surfer who started surf kayaking two years ago. I’m having a ball on an older Kaos. The stability and paddling efficiency are nice, and the lenient rocker allows me to shoot straight down the face on steeper waves without pearling. It has more of a long board feel and ride than the Strike, which seems more agile. I also have a Strike with no foot straps or thigh straps that I haven’t used in a while. This video has inspired me to take it out again and see how I like it. I’m curious, has anyone taken the Kaos or Strike on a river?
Dude! Thanks for that description of the Kaos like a longboard. I get it. Some folks were never standup surfers so they haven’t ridden different types. We’re going to do some more videos to feature more sit on tops when it gets warmer. Also the designer of the strike surfed it with no fin so I’m sure it could do some river running. 🤙🏼
I started with a perception then bought an infinity Clark foam board had a blast till I was 71. Also grew up surfing and was an avid kayaker so the waveski was a natural. Have fun out there
Good to hear. We surf kayak with a 72 year old we call The Big Kahuna. My next video is on Waveskis so hopefully that will informative for the SOT paddlers and maybe a few will make the transition.
I started paddle surfing on an Ocean Kayak Frenzy. It was the best SOT at the time because even though it was wide…it was short, so it could turn hard at the bottom. It go to the point where I was turning it so hard at the bottom, I was losing the rail and would slide sideways. Then somebody let me try a Wakeski and it was over. I worked my way up to custom designed/Specified Wavema ster Customs with full carbon fiber Styx paddles. Until I became a California refugee in the mid 00’s and fled the state. I do miss it.
Good video! I'm looking for a sit on top kayak but in my country, Spain, the kayaks you recommend are not available, it's a shame, because I'm in love with the Cobra Strike. I have a KS Waveski and I was looking for a kayak for calmer days. The available kayaks that I have found are the following: pyranha surf jet, watersport scooter x, tootega pulse 85 and rotomod mojito. What would you recommend me? Thank you!
Hola! Yes that's a shame not available. The Pyrahna Surf Jet is popular here and have more room in the cockpit. Without a real surf fin they all are hard to turn but great for smaller weak days. I have glued a plastic fin to the bottom of a kayak once and it helped! :) Our friend Bill now uses a Longboard Macski Waveski instead of his Cobra Strike which gives alot of float and can really paddle fast and ride very small waves. I do believe MacSki USA ships his "Phoenix" globally but I'm sure it's expensive. Let me know what you find.
If you are in Spain: check out RPF kayaks, I surf the Master a lot, and have a Mega surf on top. Both are carbon, so very different from the KS, the Master is for bigger waves and straight down the line, the Mega is nice and nimble like with more volume like the KS. Got some videos surfing them on my channel.
@@ericbird4269 I favor the Cobra Strike and especially the MacSki Phoenix, but as you know people love their Kaos. Danny Broadhurst, champion Surf Kayaker, designed the Strike. I think he did a great job. And as long as waves are 3 feet plus, it’s powerful enough to push the plastic SOTs.
@@ericbird4269 I plan to shoot more videos of the strike and Kaos this year but check out my friend Tom on the strike and me on the MacSki Phoenix. th-cam.com/video/4rFEXCtJo84/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Qp8cekbva0z3lwzB
Hi Tom, Doug Petock, the owner is pretty responsive thru his website. he travels so it might be a week. I will be riding one in May, maybe sooner, in New Jersey and I'll do a proper review and hopefully shoot some video of me and Doug. 5 Fin options! Doug rides no fins, but he's like 300 lbs. I would do a twin fin set up. I know there is a used one in Massachusetts I think. Let me know if I can help out in anyway.
Also, would the minicell footblock mod you showed on the Strike work on the Kaos to alleviate the footwell pain issue (I've seen that mentioned in other reviews as well)?
Another great informative video,
Thanks Ritchie
Great comments from our East Coast, USA Surf Kayak & Waveski Facebook Group: Richie Guerrero Waveski Surf Kayaker I really enjoyed your second video. You were able to demonstrate the reasons why the 3 boats surf so differently -- and they really do! -- when I had not quite understood why. Something which might be useful to note, is that the more 'sit inside' type SOT surf kayaks (Kaos and Strike) don't fit you well unless you are thin or have a man's build. I have the problem of being tall, heavier, and female build, so the Kaos was a tight fit for me but do-able. The Strike is very narrow and was really uncomfortable for me. The Perception 5.0 was nice because I could adjust the leg length correctly and I didn't have to squeeze into it and get bruises on my hips. As you might imagine, I upgraded from a Kaos to a waveski eventually... all the SOT kayaks are very heavy and awkward to carry. I had a lot of trouble turning the Kaos easily, because of the problem you noted with fins too far back. I ended up riding it as a twin with 2 larger fins forward and no centre fin. My profile pic on here shows me surfing the Kaos -- it was a lot of fun in rough water but just too heavy for me.
I've been surfing a chaos for the last several years. Foot wells aren't an issue, though I did modify the scupper opening by gluing in a diverter plate and that solved the water jet issue. One thing I did not hear mentioned is for the Kaos, especially an older boat, to burp air through the seals if you land hard, say after dropping over the falls. This can "oil can" the bottom of the boat temporarily. I added a PVC stiffener to the storage compartment, that maintains the space and keeps the oilcan from happening. Otherwise I love the boat, and would only upgrade to something made custom.
@@NickDangerThirdGuy wow that’s cool. Wish I could see the diverter plate. I had a friend mention it on his. My next GoPro video has him with me on his Wilderness Systems Kaos. Thanks for all this info.
A very nice intro to plastic boats. Some minor points - the Cobra has 6 scupper holes, not 4, so it drains extremely fast. A back band in combination with a foam foot rest or adjustable foot rest allows you to adjust for your size, and also microtune your position both to move you forward or back. This lets you change the center of your weight which is very important. The adjustable footrest alone on a boat like the 5.0 only allows you to adjust by moving your position farther back. I believe the Cobra actually works better on larger, steeper waves rather than small mushy ones. The reduced nose rocker does require more of a diagonal takeoff on steep waves. And IMO the Cobra is flat-out the most stable boat in breaking/lumpy/crazy waves due to its unique undercut grooved rails. Finally, SOTs are easier to launch and land in shorebreak waves than any SIK or waveski. On some days that's important.
Great info Ross! I also forgot to mention that the Cobra Strike was designed by a Surf Kayaker with decades of professional experience. Maybe someone knows more about the other kayaks as well.
Thank you for the great video Richie. I wasn’t familiar with the 5.0. Nice to learn about it. I’m a life long stand up surfer who started surf kayaking two years ago. I’m having a ball on an older Kaos. The stability and paddling efficiency are nice, and the lenient rocker allows me to shoot straight down the face on steeper waves without pearling. It has more of a long board feel and ride than the Strike, which seems more agile. I also have a Strike with no foot straps or thigh straps that I haven’t used in a while. This video has inspired me to take it out again and see how I like it.
I’m curious, has anyone taken the Kaos or Strike on a river?
Dude! Thanks for that description of the Kaos like a longboard. I get it. Some folks were never standup surfers so they haven’t ridden different types. We’re going to do some more videos to feature more sit on tops when it gets warmer. Also the designer of the strike surfed it with no fin so I’m sure it could do some river running. 🤙🏼
I started with a perception then bought an infinity Clark foam board had a blast till I was 71. Also grew up surfing and was an avid kayaker so the waveski was a natural. Have fun out there
Good to hear. We surf kayak with a 72 year old we call The Big Kahuna. My next video is on Waveskis so hopefully that will informative for the SOT paddlers and maybe a few will make the transition.
I started paddle surfing on an Ocean Kayak Frenzy. It was the best SOT at the time because even though it was wide…it was short, so it could turn hard at the bottom. It go to the point where I was turning it so hard at the bottom, I was losing the rail and would slide sideways. Then somebody let me try a Wakeski and it was over. I worked my way up to custom designed/Specified Wavema ster Customs with full carbon fiber Styx paddles. Until I became a California refugee in the mid 00’s and fled the state. I do miss it.
Not sure where you are now, but if you are on the East Coast, USA ever please drop us a line.
Also my next video (Episode 5) will be on Waveskis!
Good video! I'm looking for a sit on top kayak but in my country, Spain, the kayaks you recommend are not available, it's a shame, because I'm in love with the Cobra Strike. I have a KS Waveski and I was looking for a kayak for calmer days. The available kayaks that I have found are the following: pyranha surf jet, watersport scooter x, tootega pulse 85 and rotomod mojito. What would you recommend me? Thank you!
Hola! Yes that's a shame not available. The Pyrahna Surf Jet is popular here and have more room in the cockpit. Without a real surf fin they all are hard to turn but great for smaller weak days. I have glued a plastic fin to the bottom of a kayak once and it helped! :) Our friend Bill now uses a Longboard Macski Waveski instead of his Cobra Strike which gives alot of float and can really paddle fast and ride very small waves. I do believe MacSki USA ships his "Phoenix" globally but I'm sure it's expensive. Let me know what you find.
If you are in Spain: check out RPF kayaks, I surf the Master a lot, and have a Mega surf on top. Both are carbon, so very different from the KS, the Master is for bigger waves and straight down the line, the Mega is nice and nimble like with more volume like the KS. Got some videos surfing them on my channel.
What sit on top model do you recommend for someone who is about 195lbs and rides swells from 3-5 ft primarily? With the occasional 6-8ft wave.
@@ericbird4269 I favor the Cobra Strike and especially the MacSki Phoenix, but as you know people love their Kaos. Danny Broadhurst, champion Surf Kayaker, designed the Strike. I think he did a great job. And as long as waves are 3 feet plus, it’s powerful enough to push the plastic SOTs.
@@ericbird4269 I plan to shoot more videos of the strike and Kaos this year but check out my friend Tom on the strike and me on the MacSki Phoenix.
th-cam.com/video/4rFEXCtJo84/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Qp8cekbva0z3lwzB
I'm interested in the Ackless Psylock but very little info available online. Can you share any info?
Hi Tom, Doug Petock, the owner is pretty responsive thru his website. he travels so it might be a week. I will be riding one in May, maybe sooner, in New Jersey and I'll do a proper review and hopefully shoot some video of me and Doug. 5 Fin options! Doug rides no fins, but he's like 300 lbs. I would do a twin fin set up. I know there is a used one in Massachusetts I think. Let me know if I can help out in anyway.
@@richie_waverider Great, thank you Richie
@@tomjudge7879 facebook.com/share/3TytLrgYDaE3xSKy/?mibextid=79PoIi
I'd make an offer on that but I'm in Melbourne FL. Thank you anyway
Also, would the minicell footblock mod you showed on the Strike work on the Kaos to alleviate the footwell pain issue (I've seen that mentioned in other reviews as well)?
It is not the rocker in the nose that keep you from nose-diving. A long tail gets lifted by the wave and drills you into the bottom of the ocean.
Yes that too. The shorter the length behind the seat, the less chance of that happening. Thanks for the comment. 👍🏼