Length 11' 5"
Width 30.5"
Weight 54
Max Weight 400
I was able to take the new Trident 11 out for it's maiden voyage and put it thru some real world conditions, so I thought I would post up my initial impressions of this kayak for those interested. Clint, Sam and I fished Galv West Bay Friday evening and nite...Clint was the only one to get bit..1 red, 2 trout...myself I didn't get a bump...weather man kept calling for severe weather and possible hail...so I bugged back to Houston...we woke up to beautiful conditions..pissed...no rain..no wind....so we decided to go back for an afternoon session and relocate to Galveston Bay...by the time we got on the road around noon, the winds were cranking...we got to our first launch and I was thinking to myself thtat I made a BIG mistake in taking this 11 foot kayak on a maiden voyage in those conditions...we arrive to 2-3' sweels and whitecaps...when Clint and Sam baulked at the launch conditions...I knew I was making a mistake....we decided to take another approach to our location which would put the first section of the paddle down wind...but it would add 1 mile to the total paddle...and eventually we'd have to go back into that wind...reluctantly I went along...you know who wants to be the guy to pull a Nancy..right Bird...
(our term for wussing out) We launch near a deep channel and paddle across to a more protected shoreline. I will compare this kayak to two other models that I own the Caper and the Prowler 13.Chop Hull Slap and Bounce: I was really surprised at how this kayak keeps it's bow in contact with the water for it's length...the one thing that I didn't like about the Caper is that you can over paddle that kayak and push the bow out of the water, causing some bounce and hull slap. The bow of the Trident is steeper and has more volume than the Caper.
The Trident is in the background and the Prowler in the foreground
The cockpit layout is excellent...the seat area is very roomy...I'm not a big fan of the sonar shield on the Trident 13 or 15...and was glad to see it not included on the Trident 11. It has the crosslink hatch which makes access a one handed breeze. The tankwell is a bit larger than the Prowler as well...another bonus over the small tankwell the Caper has..I'm starting to become a fan of the center console...it was nice to have lots of stuff below deck but easily accessible...also looks like a novice could install a rudder on this kayak...very easy to get to the inside of the hull.
The tankwell has the standard Trident groove to hold a baitbucket in place and is slightly ridged to keep things from sitting in any accumulated water.
Width, Stability, Tracking
It's a bit wider than the Prowler 13 but weighs the same...probably why it doesn't get tossed around in heavy chop or bounce. The hull made constant contact with the water...no need to put anything in the hatch to keep it down. Stability is a joke...I could stand and walk to the hatch..or turn around and get something from the tank...granted I'm 125lbs but there was very little side to side rock while standing..and the kayak didnt rock when paddled. Tracking was amazing...I put a ruddder on this kayak and when pointed in the direction you wanted it was almost impossible vary off course...I kept telling the guys I don't think I've ever paddled a kayak in bad conditions that held it course better than this kayak...wind wasn't a problem and it didn't push this kayak around like it does some smaller lighter kayaks. This is also a very dry kayak...the footwells performed the same as the Trident 15 and 13 and stayed clear of water...the seat area and rest of the kayak stayed dry as well.
Speed:
Ok..this is where I thought it would really take a dip....but for many stretches I got along side Clint or Sam and matched stroke rate with them...the crusing speed was right up with the Prowler 13...I'm sure at top speed or in a race it would get smoked by the 13...but while paddling out and back at normal rate it held it's own...even up wind..so bottom line..this kayak may not paddle as fast as some longer kayaks..but I usualy judge one by how hard is it to get up to cruising speed and how hard is it to keep it at that speed.
Total Distance Paddled: 5.4 Miles
Overall this is the best small kayak I've ever paddled..for stability, glide, speed, comfort...I give it a A+ and I"ll probably use it more than the Caper in days to come....I'm not doggin the Caper..it's smaller, lighter, easier to carry, and with a rounded bottom much easier to drag than the Prowler or Trident and drafts less water...it will stay in the line up and get plenty of use...but if I were purchasing a new kayak I'd choose the Trident over the Caper.
I'ver heard people tell me the Trident has a higher freeboard than the Prowler ..I just don't see it though
