Kaku Kayaks

[gliebig]

I just started looking into these. Anyone have any experience with them?

[J.A. Veil]

One of the guides I have fished with in Florida, Jacinda Rose, works at the Kaku office near Tarpon Springs when she is not guiding. I spent two days fishing with her in Ozello. She provided me with a Kaku kayak for those two trips -- I do not remember the model but from glancing at their website I suspect it was the Wahoo 12.5. The kayak was fine but I don't have strong recollections about good or bad points. Jacinda used a Minnkota trolling motor on her kayak and towed me around to different fishing spots.

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The models shown on their website have innovative designs, but tend more toward SUP craft than kayaks. The Wahoo 12.5 weighs 76 lb -- heavier than some paddle kayaks, lighter than others.

[gliebig]

Not a bad way to fish.

[dsaavedra]

I learned of them last year. Specifically I saw a picture of someone fishing out of a Kaku Zulu and the unique design of the boat caught my eye. I haven't heard much talk about them online, I think they might be more popular along the Gulf coast. They certainly seem oriented for flats fishing or salt marshes, places where sight fishing is common. The super tall chair on the Zulu somehow looks like it would be comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time...

[gliebig]

Looks like it would be a great snakehead platform.

[Peltz]

I have two of them. A Wahoo 12.5 and a Zulu with pedal drive. The Wahoo is pretty fast for a fishing kayak and is also stable enough to stand up comfortably. It has an open deck that is nice and uncluttered. The Wahoo has a nice bow flare that cuts through chop pretty well. The Zulu is exceptionally stable and is very easy to stand in. If you are paddling it is not fast. Pedaling the Zulu is a lot faster. It would be great with a trolling motor. The main appeal of the Zulu is its open deck and stability. You can stand on the seat of the Zulu to and use a push pole to get around shallow flats. You can fly fish or throw a cast net off of it. They are a Florida company and I bought them for use there. They are reasonably priced when compared to some other brands.

[gliebig]

Ordered a wahoo 10.5 and zulu with pedal drive yesterday. I'm excited.

[dsaavedra]

Ordered a wahoo 10.5 and zulu with pedal drive yesterday. I'm excited.

Wow, you went all in! Let us know how they are once you've used them a bit.

[gliebig]

I have two of them. A Wahoo 12.5 and a Zulu with pedal drive. The Wahoo is pretty fast for a fishing kayak and is also stable enough to stand up comfortably. It has an open deck that is nice and uncluttered. The Wahoo has a nice bow flare that cuts through chop pretty well. The Zulu is exceptionally stable and is very easy to stand in. If you are paddling it is not fast. Pedaling the Zulu is a lot faster. It would be great with a trolling motor. The main appeal of the Zulu is its open deck and stability. You can stand on the seat of the Zulu to and use a push pole to get around shallow flats. You can fly fish or throw a cast net off of it. They are a Florida company and I bought them for use there. They are reasonably priced when compared to some other brands.

Got my Zulu this weekend. Still waiting on Wahoo delivery. The Zulu is a Tank! Going to rig up the pedal drive this week.
Question for how you transport it...I use the bed of my pickup. Since I've never had to deal with a rudder before, do you think it's best to secure nose-first and have the stern towards the tailgate?
Did you get a wheel/cart system to move it? Seems like it's going to be a beast to get from truck to launch.

[DanMarino]

Excellent! I can't wait to see how you like the new kayaks. I'll check out the website to see what you are talking about.

[gliebig]

Excellent! I can't wait to see how you like the new kayaks. I'll check out the website to see what you are talking about.

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Is there a way to rotate pics?

[Peltz]

Congrats on the Zulu. They are tanks. I transport mine in the bed of my truck with the rudder facing outward using a bed extender. I leave the seat and Scotty rod holders attached while in transport. I strap the back of the boat to the bed extender using a Thule strap and I tie another rope through the middle handles attached to cargo ties in the truck bed. I own a kayak cart but most of the time I launch at concrete boat ramps so I just back the truck up the water's edge and drag the boat out of the truck and dump it in the water. I got the seafoam color but I was between that and orange. The orange looks good.

[gliebig]

Congrats on the Zulu. They are tanks. I transport mine in the bed of my truck with the rudder facing outward using a bed extender. I leave the seat and Scotty rod holders attached while in transport. I strap the back of the boat to the bed extender using a Thule strap and I tie another rope through the middle handles attached to cargo ties in the truck bed. I own a kayak cart but most of the time I launch at concrete boat ramps so I just back the truck up the water's edge and drag the boat out of the truck and dump it in the water. I got the seafoam color but I was between that and orange. The orange looks good.

Oh, good. I was also going to ask about keeping the chair on while driving. Didn't know if it was secure enough to handle highway winds.

[DanMarino]

That is a pretty neat looking kayak. It does look wide open for fly fishing and/or going after snakeheads.
The pedal drive system looked like the Native propel type if I saw the correct video.
That seat back is kinda interesting. What is the deal with the really curved back part?

[gliebig]

That is a pretty neat looking kayak. It does look wide open for fly fishing and/or going after snakeheads.
The pedal drive system looked like the Native propel type if I saw the correct video.
That seat back is kinda interesting. What is the deal with the really curved back part?

You can sit on the upper part of the seat too.