Reviews written by RayBorbon

The Trident 13 performs quite well in big water where ocean swells, surf and chop are going to be expected. The hull design is one of the best on the market when it comes to fishing the salt water conditions in my opinion. I was impressed on the first voyage with this boat and have been using it on several trips for about one month.

The 2013 model comes with the Comfort Hybrid seat which is fairly good. However I decided to replace it with a Surf to Summit GTS Pro model seat. I could easily see many people would be content with the Comfort Hybrid though. The Modular Fishing Pod is what a lot of other companies are now copying because it was a good idea. The large opening does not leak and allows me to store rods/reels and other items in the hull when launching or landing in surf. I have been able to easily fit one piece seven foot rods in there and have not tried my seven and a half footer yet. This protection provided by this feature will extend the life on my equipment since it will be less exposed to the salt water. The top of the Modular Fishing Pod is where the Cannon Rod holder that comes with the kayak fits nicely. At first I did not believe I would find this rod holder useful but in fact it is a good spot to place the rod when I am doing a cast and move fishery (like for bass). I can cast a few times and don't have to turn to my side and behind me to put the rod away to move onto the next spot, instead it is right there in front of me. You could easily troll with the rod in front of you as well by using the Modular Fishing Pod because it fits Scotty products such as the Rocket Launcher without any special attachment or addition, but you could also troll with the Cannon.. The Modular Fishing Pod also has places where you can mount other products by screwing into the pod itself.

The Sonar Shield is in a good spot and is where I placed my Lowrance X-4. It is out of the way for when the time comes to land a big fish. I drilled a hole and ran the cables for the sonar down under the hull and to the battery, mounting the transducer in the hull using Duct Seal.

Behind the seat in the tank well there is a spot where a Plano Marine box fits perfectly. This permits easy access to more tackle and I mounted a Mighty Mount base to the marine box so I can run a YakAttack flag when I want. Even with the marine box in the tank well there is plenty of room in this area for fish or whatever you want to put in there. I would guess I could fit a decent sized cooler back there or the kitchen sink if necessary. The two flush mount rod holders are a treat and perfectly located for trolling. Just put your rod in the holder, let the line out and turn on your clicker to troll.

In the cockpit the footing area is flat and if in calm waters a person with decent balance could stand and cast. The ergonomic foot rests are comfortable (more so than Wilderness Systems for example).

The kayak is about 1-1.5 feet longer than the Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 yet weight is close to the same and the carrying capacity is much higher. You could fit a good sized halibut on this boat no problem. With the carrying capacity and ability to handle rough water this is a solid boat for certain. All of the holes/screws in the kayak are water tight such that the screws do not go through the hull but into molded areas which are designed to take them. Therefore there are no water leakage worries for me. I also like the skid place on the back of the boat. This is an area which receives a fair bit of wear and obviously was a smart move by Ocean Kayak to make it replaceable.

The kayak tracks well without a rudder but is somewhat susceptible to being blown around in the wind. Some people will insist on a rudder but I don't see a need for one unless you like them a lot or you prefer to troll with a downrigger or mooching rig with heavier weights.

This is a quality boat made in the U.S.A.

I bought a 2012 model in about January I think it was. So I've been using it in fresh and salt water this year.

I purchased the 120 on a recommendation from a friend and after reading several reviews.


* It turns around fairly easy with little space necessary...
* The cockpit is well designed with the hatch just in front of the paddler. This allows easy access to hooks, lures, etc.
* The slide track system makes it easy to attach almost any sort of equipment necessary from: Ram rod holders, Yak Attack Mighty Mount with Scotty bases, etc.
* The bow hatch allows easy access to the hull for larger items and this is where I placed my fish finder (shoot through the hull) and battery.
* The seat is fairly comfortable but not quite as good as a high end Surf to Summit. I had no problems with about 8 hours on the water but having used other seats I know it's not the ultimate.
* The tankwell storage area behind the cockpit is generous enough to hold my equipment and a load of fish.
* Performance in the salt water was decent as I did manage to take it out in 4-5 foot swells and it managed fine. The boat also managed well in choppy water paddling against a current and a decent wind. However in the surf the boat is a little bit difficult to maneuver. For example: Once a wave sets you on a course it's hard to get straight going back into shore. Going out into the surf the boat does well and seems to punch through the waves. My experiences were with 3-5 foot waves and nothing larger in the surf. I have not seen a use for a rudder yet but the boat can take one. Overall the boat tracks well and has moderate speed.
* The weight rating is an area where I am skeptical about. I've read that it has a rating of 350 lbs. but even with me and all my fishing gear I think the load is around 250. The way the water goes to the top of the scuppers I suspect the real manageable weight is probably closer 250 lbs.
* The boat weighs more than the foot longer Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 and Ocean Kayak Trident 13. It is manageable for me but I have to wonder where all the weight comes from.
* The cup holder seems like a good place for putting lures. It's a little bit of a reach but no boat is perfect.
* The bungee between the cup holder and the mid hatch seems useless to me. I tried to find a way to use it but couldn't.
* The foot braces are a little bit uncomfortable after an 8 hour tour and perhaps they should just provide the upgraded ones with rubber instead.

I would recommend this boat to anyone but I would also recommend looking closely at the Ocean Kayak Trident 13 as well. The Trident has a different hull design which is probably more suitable for rougher salt water conditions.