Cobra Mariner Review by Parrothead and Parrothead Jr.
- Parrothead
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- Location: Pt. Fourchon & Oklahoma City
Cobra Mariner Review by Parrothead and Parrothead Jr.
Got on the Mariner prototype for the first time today on Lake Woodlands. All I can tell you is that for all you people out there looking for speed, stability, fishability, storage and a dry ride, this is it!
Stability
As a Fish-n-Dive owner, I have a strong basis of comparison. At 31" this boat is very stable! In fact when you sit side saddle the boat sits level in the water. You won't see that in a lot of 14 footers. I also found that I could move around in the boat with the same amount of confidence as I do in my FnD.
Ride and Speed
Although I didn't clock it, the boat started very quick. It was effortless paddling, to say the least. When I dug real hard this thing took off like a rocket! This boat is a rocket ship to say the least. Nice long glide too.
This boat is distinctly Cobra. The big rocker and reverse chine, in conjuntion with the large and numerous scuppers, including two in the seat, provided for a very dry experience. I'm sure this boat will do very well paddling into those pesky 20mph headwinds that seem to always show up when you have to paddle across the bay a couple miles at the end of a long day. And I can't wait to see how she handles the 3-5 second sets at High Island.
This boat should have been named the "Rig Runner."
Fishability
This Mariner has a big A hatch up front, a large rectangular hatch and an O hatch. The Cobra hatches are as water tight as any I've ever seen. You can load this boat with equipment. Since this is an XF version there are rod holders everywhere. Great boat for live baiting or drifting.
If you're looking for a stealth machine, this is it. I couldn't tell of any hull slap whatsoever when I paddled into the 10mph headwind.
I really like the cockpit placement in this boat. You're not sitting so far away from the bow that you can't get a rod tip around the front when you really have to.
The Mariner is in full production right now and will soon be invading Texas! This boat raises the bar.
Stability
As a Fish-n-Dive owner, I have a strong basis of comparison. At 31" this boat is very stable! In fact when you sit side saddle the boat sits level in the water. You won't see that in a lot of 14 footers. I also found that I could move around in the boat with the same amount of confidence as I do in my FnD.
Ride and Speed
Although I didn't clock it, the boat started very quick. It was effortless paddling, to say the least. When I dug real hard this thing took off like a rocket! This boat is a rocket ship to say the least. Nice long glide too.
This boat is distinctly Cobra. The big rocker and reverse chine, in conjuntion with the large and numerous scuppers, including two in the seat, provided for a very dry experience. I'm sure this boat will do very well paddling into those pesky 20mph headwinds that seem to always show up when you have to paddle across the bay a couple miles at the end of a long day. And I can't wait to see how she handles the 3-5 second sets at High Island.
This boat should have been named the "Rig Runner."
Fishability
This Mariner has a big A hatch up front, a large rectangular hatch and an O hatch. The Cobra hatches are as water tight as any I've ever seen. You can load this boat with equipment. Since this is an XF version there are rod holders everywhere. Great boat for live baiting or drifting.
If you're looking for a stealth machine, this is it. I couldn't tell of any hull slap whatsoever when I paddled into the 10mph headwind.
I really like the cockpit placement in this boat. You're not sitting so far away from the bow that you can't get a rod tip around the front when you really have to.
The Mariner is in full production right now and will soon be invading Texas! This boat raises the bar.
Last edited by Parrothead on Mon Oct 10, 2005 12:01 am, edited 2 times in total.
- Parrothead
- TKF 7000 Club
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- Joined: Sat Jul 24, 2004 12:37 pm
- Location: Pt. Fourchon & Oklahoma City
- Parrothead
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- Parrothead
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Cobra Mariner
Salivating severely. That said, did you try standing up and checking it out as a possible poling/fishing platform?
- Mrs Backlasher
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YES, there will be a rudder option for it.
NO, you do not need to have flush mount rod holders anywhere you do not want them.
Weight of a bare Kayak, meaning no hatches or rod holders, but with all eyelettes, drain plug and handles is 53 lbs.
Don't worry about loading the tank well on this yak up with too much gear. I have loaded 5 gallon buckets of water into the tank well of mine to see how it responds and it settles a bit, but due to the forward positioning of the cockpit and the way we brought the tank well forward, combined with a nice amount of rocker, the Mariner-XF settles much more evenly into the water.
Ric
NO, you do not need to have flush mount rod holders anywhere you do not want them.
Weight of a bare Kayak, meaning no hatches or rod holders, but with all eyelettes, drain plug and handles is 53 lbs.
Don't worry about loading the tank well on this yak up with too much gear. I have loaded 5 gallon buckets of water into the tank well of mine to see how it responds and it settles a bit, but due to the forward positioning of the cockpit and the way we brought the tank well forward, combined with a nice amount of rocker, the Mariner-XF settles much more evenly into the water.
Ric
- Mrs Backlasher
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- Mrs Backlasher
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- Jerry-rigged
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- Mrs Backlasher
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Jerry-rigged wrote:Mrs Backlasher wrote:Hey! I just SOLD one of them yesterday. Now we're down to just 5.
Mrs. B
"WE"? I am guessing that is Mr. B, 1, Mrs. B 4?
Jerry
Well, that's what Backlasher says! LOL
I say he has 1, I have 1, and the 2 older grandsons each have 1. The extra I bought for kayaking in the surf. That was before I knew that the kayaks we already have will do fine in the surf.
Hey, I guess I'll put that one up on the Classified forum! Good idea. Thanks for making me think of that.
Mrs. B
- Parrothead
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- Mrs Backlasher
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- Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2004 8:53 pm
- Location: Pearland, TX
- Mrs Backlasher
- TKF 10,000 Club
- Posts: 14894
- Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2004 8:53 pm
- Location: Pearland, TX
- Parrothead
- TKF 7000 Club
- Posts: 7458
- Joined: Sat Jul 24, 2004 12:37 pm
- Location: Pt. Fourchon & Oklahoma City