Malibu eXtreme Kayak Review

Answers provided by Drew Clark

Read other Malibu eXtreme reviews - Review 1 - Review 2 - Review 3

1. How long have been fishing the eXtreme?

I picked up my yellow eXtreme at the Malibu shop in Seal Beach. Karen and I made a special trip up there and went to the Malibu store first by mistake. Oops. 2 hours later we found the right store and I was able to get this beast of a kayak. It was January 2004.

2. Why did you choose this boat?

I had been fishing on a smaller kayak, something that seriously impeded long distance paddles and that did not have the weight capacity I was hoping I'd need with a big fish catch. Ever the optimist I looked around and found the eXtreme had just been released and met the requirements. I test paddled one and then struggled with the huge comittment of color choices.

3. Have you owned other boats? Which? In what order? Discuss your progression to the eXtreme.

My first kayak, and I still have it, is the Ocean Kayak Caper. Man was I in love with that boat. That's where the whole website thing started, too. I was chronicaling the setup and fishing exploits of the Caper as it was the first sold in San Diego and probably one of the first ever used in fishing. I loved fishing in that boat, the cockpit is comfortable and fits a tall guy really well and the stability was great. Living in Pacifc Beach at the time let me out on the water 3 or 4 times as week and the Caper just lived in my truck most of the time. I started fishing La Jolla but didnt' feel safe some days so I went looking for a bigger boat. That's when I found the eX.

4. What are the tradeoffs of this kayak?

The first thing that comes to mind is weight. It's heavy heavy heavy. My bathroom scale puts it at a bit over 70 lbs with the hatches installed. Lugging it around the beach is never a good time. Wheels make the eXperience a lot nicer. One of the tradeoffs is also a benefit, it just depends where you are. The profile is very low and sleek - this works great in the wind but not so awesome punching through or coming in with surf. Going out tends to put a wave in your lap and coming in can get your rear picked up and the nose pearls under fast. It's not a surf board, for sure.

5. What are the strengths of this kayak?

It's probably the most stable fast boat out there. The Prowler, Scupper Pro, Tarpon 160 and the eXtreme are all faster boats but the eXtreme is by far the dryest and most stable. I'm never ever feeling wobbly and I do all kinds of stupid crap when I should be sitting still and fishing.

6. What is the one thing that keeps it above the rest in your mind?

I've been trying new kayaks as they come out and I'm always excited about new boats and the features they bring. I keep coming back to the eXtreme though, it's stable, it gets me miles and miles out and away and back again safely. It's also got that badass name.