i14T for Fishing?

Hi guys,
I'm thinking of getting an i14T mainly for fishing. (no storage space thus inflatable is the only option now).
I've read alot about it in this forum, and think it will be awesome. However, I'm worried about a few things,..

1) The obvious. hooks! Has anyone accidentally jabbed their inflatable with a hook? How well does it stand up to puncture?
2) I am now assuming it will happen. (Hook in the hull) due to kids or wifey with one bad swing, so the next question is: How well does it repair? Will the repair kit give me a "permanent" repair that will last as long as the other in-tact hull?
3) Safety in case of a leak. How well does it handle if one compartment suddenly decides to leak? Will I be able to still pedal to shore in 4~5 minutes?

Thanks for your feedbacks!

Hey SkyFish,

First off, I am by no means an expert on this kayak but I have been doing a lot of research on it over the last month. My girlfriend and I are in the same boat as you with the storage factor. I also wanted to do some fishing from this kayak. I was just in the dealer yesterday here in San Diego and tested it out in the bay. As far as punctures go, its definitely not foolproof with sharp hooks around but it will take some force for a hook to go through the material that it is made out of. Another thing to think of is any kind of fish that has spiny fins could possibly bump into it and puncture it. Now if a puncture does happen its not going to sink. It has 3 separate air compartments so if you deflate one the other 2 are going to be able to keep you afloat. But the compartments run the long way on the boat. Each side rail is its own compartment and then the hull your sitting on is another. So if you deflate one side your going to have a tough time getting back to shore with it unbalanced but you will be able to make it. As far as repairing it. Its just like any other inflatable. As long as it isnt too big you should be ok with patching it. Depending on the location of the puncture.

Now here is one thing that I really did not like about the kayak. When you are sitting in the rear seat you are going to be sitting in water the entire time. Since the floor of the kayak is completely flat all the water runs right to the back and stays there since there is no drain. The water comes right through the Mirage Drive hole in the back almost instantly. So within 30 seconds I was soaked. I am 200lbs. After the test run the guys told me that is going to happen. They described it as a wet boat. But other than that the construction is amazing. If you havent had the chance to get your hands on one in person you will be amazed.

Good Luck with your decision and let me know if you have any other questions I may be able to help with.

THERE ARE two small drain holes, but if you are heavy enough for the holes to be under the water line then the water will not drain. My wife is fairly light and she sits dry unless a big wave washes over the side. Then she is wet for a while.

The drain holes are very small compared to the scupper holes of the rigid kayaks.

Good Luck and maybe sit on a floation cushion... That will keep you up about two inches, give or take the compression of the seat.

Thanks for the input guys. However, i still need first had experience input regarding patching up hook damage, and how well patched up sections hold up? (Will be best if someone with long term experience with the yak can comment?)

Also, how many years is the warranty for the inflatable hull?

Hello Skyfish,

Full disclosure notice, I am the Director of Engineering at Hobie Cat and the primary designer of the i-series kayaks.

With obvious bias aside, I have done a lot of fishing from the i9, i12 and i14 kayaks catching rockfish, sculpins, whitfish, calicos, sand bass, sierra, yellowtail, bonita, trout, salmon and halibut using a variety of terminal tackle with sharp hooks. Many of these fish have sharp teeth and spines and none of them or any of the hooks have caused damage. I did puncture my starboard hull in an i9 while trying to subdue an angry halibut with a fillet knife. I thought it was the fish's air blatter that went but soon found myself listing slightly to starboard. With the fishing hot and the boat still quite seaworthy with two good compartments, I kept fishing.

If a puncture occurs in an easy-to-patch location, fixing the leak is simple and permanent. Get the area around the leak clean and dry, cut the patch to size, apply glue to the patch and the hull, wait five minutes, press the patch firmly to the hull. If it is cold and wet like it was in Alaska, use some heat to get the material soft, warm and dry. I used my MSR stove due to my isolated location. Some intense sunshine or a hairdryer is a better and safer option. Heat always makes working on PVC easier.

As far as the wet-rear issue in the i14, the rear seat will get your rear a bit soggy if you are over 180 lbs. It helps to move the seat as far forward as possible adjusting the cranks forward accordingly. Also, the front seat rides higher and will accomodate more weight. I am heavier than my wife so I usually ride up front in the i14. A boat seat cushion will lift you up enough to keep you dry in the rear seat and the boat is plenty stable to accomodate the higher seating location.

I prefer the Pro Angler when I am fishing locally but when traveling by air or long road trips, the inflatables are my boats of choice. I have great confidence in them and think you would be very happy with one.