Jackson Cuda 12 Or Kilroy 12?? 2025

B@ssCrzy reply :

I have been looking at both these kayaks for an upgrade to my fishing kayak experience. I am in a dilemma because I am not in a place where I can demo these kayaks besides just sitting in them in the store. Sat in both of them today and really liked them. Liked the Cuda's open feel, but really like the Kilroy's storage. Also one of my high priorities is stability and I hear the the Kilroy is much more stable since it sits lower in the water. I have a chance to get a really good deal on either of them since it is the end of the season. However, I would be buying without ever testing them on the water. Any thoughts?

Darren. reply :

On 9/22/2013 at 7:07 AM, B@ssCrzy said:
I have been looking at both these kayaks for an upgrade to my fishing kayak experience. I am in a dilemma because I am not in a place where I can demo these kayaks besides just sitting in them in the store. Sat in both of them today and really liked them. Liked the Cuda's open feel, but really like the Kilroy's storage. Also one of my high priorities is stability and I hear the the Kilroy is much more stable since it sits lower in the water. I have a chance to get a really good deal on either of them since it is the end of the season. However, I would be buying without ever testing them on the water. Any thoughts?

I don't own a Jackson, but if I were looking for one, of the two you mention, Cuda all the way. Personally, I prefer Sit On Tops, or wide open hybrids like my Ultimate 12.

As far as stability, Cuda is supposed to be plenty fine to stand in. Once you get used to the secondary stability of whatever kayak you buy, you'll have a *feel* for how it balances for you.

B@ssCrzy reply :

On 9/22/2013 at 7:18 AM, DarrenM said:

I don't own a Jackson, but if I were looking for one, of the two you mention, Cuda all the way. Personally, I prefer Sit On Tops, or wide open hybrids like my Ultimate 12.

As far as stability, Cuda is supposed to be plenty fine to stand in. Once you get used to the secondary stability of whatever kayak you buy, you'll have a *feel* for how it balances for you.

Thanks Darren for the response. I went and sat in both of them. I did feel that I liked the Cuda better. It just felt more comfortable for some reason. I like the fact to that it is easier to get in and out of. However, I did like the storage better on the Kilroy. Now to see if I can find a used one.....

flyfisher reply :

What storage do you like better?

To me in a SINK, even a somewhat non-conventional style as the kilroy getting to gear is not as easy as a SOT.

I am like darren, give me a SOT or a completely open hybrid boat.

Not having paddled the kilroy i would make a guess that standing would be a little easier at first due to your feet being below the water line but i have stood in my old coosa for a few years with no issues. It is just a different feeling.

If i had any concerns about rougher water i would go SOT and especially if you might take it on a float trip or two as getting in and out of SOT is considerably easier.

Hanover_Yakker reply :

There is a Cuda 14 for sale on the Kayak Bass Fishing site......

http://www.kayakbassfishing.com/kbfBB3/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=23192

.....and a Cuda 12 on the Tidewater Kayak Anglers Association site....

http://tkaa.org/index.php?topic=6204.0

.....and a Cuda 12 and Cruise 12 DEMOs from Appomattox River Company (and they will drop ship to you!!!!)

http://www.paddleva.com/Clearance/Jackson-Kayak/APP01952-Jackson-Cuda-12-Kayak-2013-Dominion-RiverRock-Used-Demo

http://www.paddleva.com/Clearance/Jackson-Kayak/APP01953-Jackson-Cruise-12-Kayak-2013-Dominion-RiverRock-Used-Demo

.....or on the Maryland Kayak Fishing forum (snaggedline)......

http://www.snaggedline.com/showthread.php?6937-2013-Jackson-Cuda-14-For-Sale

You just need to look around.....they are out there if you look hard enough.

Darren. reply :

On 9/24/2013 at 9:17 PM, B@ssCrzy said:
Thanks Darren for the response. I went and sat in both of them. I did feel that I liked the Cuda better. It just felt more comfortable for some reason. I like the fact to that it is easier to get in and out of. However, I did like the storage better on the Kilroy. Now to see if I can find a used one.....

I hear you. I'd suggest that after a number of times on the water you may feel differently. Why? Well, once you get out in a kayak, you begin to think (at least I do) that this would go better here, or I wish that wasn't there. Or you may feel you need a less-is-more approach whereby you won't value the extra storage of the Kilroy as much as you thought you would.

My Ultimate 12 was not the Angler model (pre-rigged for fishing). I preferred to find out for myself how best to rig my kayak. I have never installed rod holders. For a while, I used a crate with rod holders, but found myself (too many times) catching a rod behind me on a cast.

So when I saw how Drew Gregory helped design the Coosa with "rod stagers" in front of him, I thought something like that may work better. So I now lay my rods in front of me. That's an evolution of my fishing methodology. It will likely change again. I always like trying new things.

I often stare at my kayak and just think about what I can do to make things better. That's where things like raised seating (on top of U12's gunnels) came into play. I put a sliding box under my seat with tackle. I've got a trolling motor setup, anchor trolley, anchor pin, etc., all arranged to be accessible, but out of the way at the same time.

You just have to fish for a while out of whichever yak you buy. You'll have a lot of fun making it work for how YOU fish, not how an engineer thinks you fish.

And Hanover has great suggestions on looking for one of your models. I can speak to Appomattox River Company's stellar reputation. I bought through their Hampton, VA location. Vick (mgr) and his staff are top-notch people. If you buy through ARC, they'll take great care of you.

Edited September 24, 2013 by DarrenM

flyfisher reply :

Darren-

I think you met Drew gregory not Chad hoover in designing the coosa....

B@ssCrzy reply :

On 9/24/2013 at 10:47 PM, DarrenM said:

You just have to fish for a while out of whichever yak you buy. You'll have a lot of fun making it work for how YOU fish, not how an engineer thinks you fish.

Good point. I am looking forward to giving this a try and seeing how things develop. Thanks everybody for the input.

Darren. reply :

On 9/24/2013 at 10:51 PM, flyfisher said:

Darren-

I think you met Drew gregory not Chad hoover in designing the coosa....

DOH! I sure did. I'll edit the post.

flyfisher reply :

On 9/24/2013 at 11:50 PM, DarrenM said:
DOH! I sure did. I'll edit the post.

Doesn't matter to me but i know how defensive Wildy and Jackson owners can be lol.....i own, well just sold the coosa, both brands

Darren. reply :

On 9/25/2013 at 12:05 AM, flyfisher said:
Doesn't matter to me but i know how defensive Wildy and Jackson owners can be lol.....i own, well just sold the coosa, both brands

Totally understand that, but it does matter to me. I have to credit the right dude!!

Native owners are nowhere's near the lunatics WS and Jackson owners are, LOL

flyfisher reply :

On 9/25/2013 at 12:12 AM, DarrenM said:

Totally understand that, but it does matter to me. I have to credit the right dude!!

Native owners are nowhere's near the lunatics WS and Jackson owners are, LOL

without a doubt....add in hobie and you have the three musketeers of crazy

I think next year though i will get back on board with native nad get myself a mariner for flatwater and most likely replace my coosa i just sold with another one.....it is to hard to keep a kayak for more than 2-3 seasons for me....and i have only been paddling for three years lol

Darren. reply :

On 9/25/2013 at 2:05 AM, flyfisher said:

without a doubt....add in hobie and you have the three musketeers of crazy

I think next year though i will get back on board with native nad get myself a mariner for flatwater and most likely replace my coosa i just sold with another one.....it is to hard to keep a kayak for more than 2-3 seasons for me....and i have only been paddling for three years lol

But I secretly wish I owned a Hobie PA 12. Don't tell anyone.

flyfisher reply :

On 9/25/2013 at 2:11 AM, DarrenM said:
But I secretly wish I owned a Hobie PA 12. Don't tell anyone.

to much boat for me....not to mention the price tag of 700 more than the native and 30lbs of weight kind of scares me and cartopping it can't be fun but i bet i would manage if i had to or it would give me a reason to get a trailer

Hanover_Yakker reply :

Apparently you haven't watched me load my PA14 - which is much heavier than the PA12. Its a piece of cake even for an aging old fart like me at 43 with a bad back, torn labrum and toasted knees. FWIW - I hope to add a Rack-N-Roll soon myself.

flyfisher reply :

On 9/25/2013 at 3:02 AM, Hanover_Yakker said:
Apparently you haven't watched me load my PA14 - which is much heavier than the PA12. Its a piece of cake even for an aging old fart like me at 43 with a bad back, torn labrum and toasted knees. FWIW - I hope to add a Rack-N-Roll soon myself.

yeah i saw your video and i know it can be done. Loading any boat is more abotu balance than weight anyways. It is al ittle trickier now that i have a wrangler and it is pretty tall to get a boat up there and it will get even more so once i get bigger tires next year

Hanover_Yakker reply :

All jacked up and nowhere to go

I could still get my PA up there just might need a step stool

flyfisher reply :

I am looking at a trailer next year myself.....i like the yakima rack n roll but i am gonan go with the www.spacetrailers.com instead. Best of both worlds and more versatile as far as use goes.

It is more than a yakima but it is very comparable if you want to get a rocketbox or something similar for your gear. I also like that i can use it as a utility trailer when needed as well....

Anyways sorry for the continuous thread hijacking

B@ssCrzy reply :

On 9/22/2013 at 7:18 AM, DarrenM said:

On 9/24/2013 at 9:47 PM, flyfisher said:

On 9/24/2013 at 9:48 PM, Hanover_Yakker said:

So tell me how I did? I just picked up a demo'd Cuda 12 for $800 out the door!!! (Works out to $744 + tax) From what I have seen that is pretty good price. Hull has the usual scratches on the bottom and side, but all the hardware, seat, etc, looks brand new. I am pretty excited. I was nervous about pulling the trigger so soon, but figured this is the best time to buy. From everything I have seen it seemed like a deal that was to good to pass on. Did I pull the trigger too soon?

Darren. reply :

On 9/25/2013 at 6:09 AM, B@ssCrzy said:
So tell me how I did? I just picked up a demo'd Cuda 12 for $800 out the door!!! (Works out to $744 + tax) From what I have seen that is pretty good price. Hull has the usual scratches on the bottom and side, but all the hardware, seat, etc, looks brand new. I am pretty excited. I was nervous about pulling the trigger so soon, but figured this is the best time to buy. From everything I have seen it seemed like a deal that was to good to pass on. Did I pull the trigger too soon?

Sounds great to me. I think you'll love it. Demo models are fine, perhaps more gently used than otherwise. Welcome to the kayak club!

B@ssCrzy reply :

On 9/25/2013 at 6:11 AM, DarrenM said:
Sounds great to me. I think you'll love it. Demo models are fine, perhaps more gently used than otherwise. Welcome to the kayak club!

Thanks!! Looking forward to it. The best thing about it is the lake I fish close to me has a $30 launch fee on weekends!! No more paying their outlandish fees!!

Darren. reply :

On 9/25/2013 at 6:14 AM, B@ssCrzy said:
Thanks!! Looking forward to it. The best thing about it is the lake I fish close to me has a $30 launch fee on weekends!! No more paying their outlandish fees!!

That's an awesome thing with kayaks - at some launches. Put in almost anywhere for little to no money. I pay $40/year for my 2 local reservoirs ($40 total for both) to secure a launch permit. Then there's the $25/year shoreline permit (so I can fish shorelines and docks with my boys if we aren't kayaking).

B@ssCrzy reply :

On 9/25/2013 at 6:17 AM, DarrenM said:
That's an awesome thing with kayaks - at some launches. Put in almost anywhere for little to no money. I pay $40/year for my 2 local reservoirs ($40 total for both) to secure a launch permit. Then there's the $25/year shoreline permit (so I can fish shorelines and docks with my boys if we aren't kayaking).

I am only 10 minutes from the White River which I have never been able to get on because it is too shallow for my boat, but is an excellent smallmouth fishery. Super stoked that I can now get on it.

hoosierbass07 reply :

On 9/25/2013 at 6:09 AM, B@ssCrzy said:
So tell me how I did? I just picked up a demo'd Cuda 12 for $800 out the door!!! (Works out to $744 + tax) From what I have seen that is pretty good price.

What store did you buy it from? I'm in west central Indiana and in the market for a fishing kayak. The local Gander Mountain doesn't have much of a selection and I'm thinking of making a trip to Indy or around Indy if I can find a store that sales nice fishing kayaks.

B@ssCrzy reply :

On 9/27/2013 at 2:21 PM, hoosierbass07 said:
What store did you buy it from? I'm in west central Indiana and in the market for a fishing kayak. The local Gander Mountain doesn't have much of a selection and I'm thinking of making a trip to Indy or around Indy if I can find a store that sales nice fishing kayaks.

Wildcat Creek Outfitters in Zionsville. Great place for fishing kayaks and they are currently having a good closeout sale on this years models. Wouldn't wait too long as they will probably go fast. I went to a lot of other kayak stores in indy, but they did not sell many fishing kayaks and were mainly for recreation. This store on the other hand is geared strictly for fisherman. Pretty cool store and the guys are pretty cool as well.

http://www.wildcatcreekoutfitters.com/

hoosierbass07 reply :

On 9/27/2013 at 7:49 PM, B@ssCrzy said:

Wildcat Creek Outfitters in Zionsville. Great place for fishing kayaks and they are currently having a good closeout sale on this years models. Wouldn't wait too long as they will probably go fast. I went to a lot of other kayak stores in indy, but they did not sell many fishing kayaks and were mainly for recreation. This store on the other hand is geared strictly for fisherman. Pretty cool store and the guys are pretty cool as well.

http://www.wildcatcreekoutfitters.com/

Thanks. I didn't know about that store. I'll definitely try to visit that store some time soon.

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Jackson Cuda 12 Or Kilroy 12?? 2025

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