Viking Kayak Profish 45

[Frogsauce]

Anyone had any experience with a Viking Kayak Profish 45?

http://www.vikingkayak.com.au/fishing-kayaks/profish-45

Looks well designed, but not sure how it would track or how stable it is.

[reel-em-in]

MetroMan has a profish reload, which looks very similar to me. http://www.snaggedline.com/showthrea...ghlight=viking

[Frogsauce]

That does look pretty similar. Good write-up by MetroMan too.

[Frogsauce]

Actually, a closer look, the 45 has a fishfinder spot and a tankwell. I suppose there are configuration differences there, not sure about hull differences.

[MetroMan]

Yeah, I'm pretty certain that the model you linked above is not carried by any US retailers.

Still loving the Profish Reload though...just can't find enough time to get out on the water this summer like I planned.

[Frogsauce]

Well, your video showed it pretty good. Now I wish I had taken a closer look at it when we were at lowes wharf.

[Limitless]

Hi Everyone, I'm Stephen Tapp, one of the crew based in New Zealand that's brought you the Viking Profish Reload (I'm the one with his name inside the cockpit ).

In answer to some of the questions posted in this thread, here's a little info:

The Profish 45 from our sister company in Australia (different company but with linked histories) is similar to our Profish 440 http://www.vikingkayaks.co.nz/shop/kayaks?product=1 It's hull design is different to the Profish Reload that has recently arrived over there, being a flatter hard-chine design. The Profish 440 (NZ) / Profish 45 (Au) is an incredibly straight tracking craft with great primary and secondary stability, and has been designed to offer maximum storage without the need to risk open hatches on the water (very useful with some of our offshore fishing expeditions)

The new Profish Reload also offers good storage, but the hull design is edged more towards performance and an ability to handle oceanic conditions (in addition to the usual fresh water and coastal paddling). It tracks just as straight, but is considerably faster. The forward part of the kayak takes seas better, and the overall design makes the Profish Reload a better kayak in the surf. Paddling wise the shape of the kayak at the forward "catch" part of the paddle stroke and the profile of the sides allows proper "follow through", and makes the Profish Reload much easier and nicer to paddle.

Based on this you can guess the two kayaks are quite different. I like the Profish 440 / Profish 45 as a pack mule and when I need to access lots of gear on the water. The Profish Reload is now my go-to boat for all other situations: every bit as stable, faster and easier to paddle, less windage, and properly rough water capable.

[Frogsauce]

Thanks for the info! I am starting to favor speed and stability now, and I don't bring much tackle along with me. I will definitely be watching the Profish Reload and try to get a test ride out of one soon.

[Fishtank]

You’ll have to let me know what you think of the Profish 45 if you get one. I was impressed with what I read about it and the Viking Reload but missed placing an order. Didn’t want to wait for the next shipment so decided on the Ultra 4.7. Similar big water - Australian pedigree. I do like the bait well option behind the seat on the Ultra. I thought the console on the Reload was unique.

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[Frogsauce]

Sorry to resurrect my old thread, but when talking about speed, is the reload comparable to a wildy tarpon 140, or the OK ultra 4.3/4.7? I wish someone would come up with a standardize system of measurement for kayak speed ratings.... YAKFISH - LOOKING AT YOU ~ Ha!

[Limitless]

Given I designed Viking Reload it's not my place to publicly comment on the performance of other brands other than to say I highly recommend having a comparative test paddle yourself if at all possible - here are my thoughts:

As a kayak designer, and as a scientist by trade, it's been a pet project of mine to try and come up with a fair and equitable way of assessing the hydrodynamics of different kayaks - so far this has proven impossible. The biggest issue I've found is that prevailing conditions can often profoundly affect the performance of different designs, and a kayak that ranks well on flat water can turn into a poor performer in heavier/windier conditions, and likewise there are designs that aren't the fastest on glassy waters that simply fly when given a little rough stuff. Kayak loading also has a strong influence, especially if the trim deviates from ideal (a classic example here in New Zealand is adding a 50lb yellowtail into the rear well).

For me personally I've found the best solution is to carry out my own paddle tests on familiar waters. I can then test in the conditions I routinely paddle, and I can load the kayak in my normal manor. I can then also test important factors such as the shape and efficiency of my paddle strokes, as well as the speeds I can comfortably maintain on each kayak.

[daolai]

Silly note.. just curious when ready Limitless-post.. do any of you guys try to read it in an australian accent?

[Limitless]

Haha, won't work

I'm from New Zealand and the Kiwi accent is totally alien to the Aussie one

[Frogsauce]

Reading in not so much a Croc hunter accent, but more Richie McCaw...

Limitless, I see your point. I certainly noticed a significant drop in speed on my lake kayak once I hit rough waters. But it will fly around a lake pretty effortlessly. I am going to be hitting the big water off the coast of Japan with the kayak I buy next. It will need to be able to punch through surf and maintain good speed on open water.

With the viking brand being a bit foreign to me (pardon the pun), I suppose a good trial is in order. Any dealers or shows here in the mid-west where we can see one? I suppose I can bother MetroMan at the next meetup he attends...

[Limitless]

Sounds like you're going to be paddling in the kinds of conditions I designed the Reload to excel in. I class myself as a "blue water" angler and wanted a kayak that allowed me to reach the offshore grounds. My theory is that it's considerably easier to build in capabilities for heavy winds and big seas (we see a lot of these around New Zealand) while still achieving good flat water performance than it is to build a great flat water boat and try to make it perform offshore.

To give some perspective to what I'm talking about, I regularly fish more than 5-6 miles from the nearest land, and will occasionally (with appropriate trip planning and conditions) paddle more than 15 miles from land. On these excursions I'm targeting a variety of fish on baits and lures, and am right now planning a mission to target "bluenose warehau" Hyperoglyphe antarctica at more than 900ft deep off East Cape in the next few weeks (waiting for the right weather window).

Here's an image taken off our Taranaki Coast with Mt Taranaki in the background - it looks much like Japan's Mt Fuji. Here I'm roughly 5 miles off the coast trolling lures for albacore tuna, despite the 30+ knot winds and heavy 8-9ft seas...
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