Navigator

I had read that first review about the fella who tipped this kayak over and i was a little worried, but i used the kayak today and i must say he must of had no experience with kayaks, it's a really good kayak. It's the first sit on top I've ever stayed dry on,this is my 4th sit on top kayak and by far the most comfortable stable and dry ride available.

I've owned my boat for 4 years. I bought it to fish from. I find it best for salt water - larger water fishing. The hatches are superb. I really like the twist locking system.
Very stable platform. I have an aftermarket seat and would highly recommend one.

To begin with, I have very limited experience on a kayak and have only tested a handful. OTOH, this might be an advantage as my thoughts are not skewed in looking for things that may or not be there.

I just got my 2008 Cobra Navigator XF from a private party sale. The boat came fairly well equipped with anchor trolley, anchor, rope, live bait bucket with pump, battery, case, charger. It was also rigged with what I guess are thigh straps, a fairly sturdy high back seat. The weight is supposed to be around 44 lbs, with a length of 12.6 Ft.

Loading: Not so bad for going solo, but a little awkward for me probably owing for my lack of experience. I carried it to the driveway by heisting one of the thigh straps over my shoulder. I used a Hobie, Quick Strap, soft carriers to attach to a naked roof of a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. Getting alongside the car, I was able to lift it high enough to get the bow on the roof, then gently turned it over hull side up and swung the stern over and centered the load. I had pre-strapped the Quick Strap to the kayak before attempting to load it. In time, I think this will not be much of a problem, but I will invest in a set of kayak wheels or at least a padded four wheeled furniture dolly as I know I would tire easily going any distance.

Launched from a boat ramp without problem getting most of its length afloat before hopping on settling into the seat. First impression was it glided very smoothly and I was moving at a good pace within a few paddle strokes. It seemed to track fairly straight and hardly ever required a correctional stroke. The conditions were relatively mild but there were a lot of power boats at speed out in the middle of the bay. (Mission Bay San Diego, near the Hilton). It plowed right through the boat wakes and did not take on water. The front scuppers did allow a bit of water in the molded in foot holds but not enough to make it uncomfortable. The rear scuppers were plugged and made for a dry seat and tank well. The boat seemed fairly fast for its size almost as fast as the Tarpon 160 I had previously tried, but did require a bit more effort. I had a bit of aching in my thighs and felt it also in my upper body. I am assuming this will get better as I become a better paddler or at least I hope so. The Tarpon 160 did not tire me as near as much as this one did, but still it was bearable and I had paddled for about two hours straight.

Maneuverability: I was a little disappointed in its sluggish turns using sweep strokes. It would immediately turn, but required a few to make it around even 90 degrees. Using a rudder stroke, holding the paddle alongside the stern did cause a fairly pronounced veer to the same side. (using a feathered paddle). I learned that if I executed a wide sweep stroke immediately followed by a reverse sweep on the opposite side, it would turn in place but obviously lost all forward mobility and sort of stalled, which I guess is what it is supposed to do. (Remember, I am very new at this). I thought the Tarpon 160 turns easier and it is a good four foot longer!

Stability: Seems to have a great deal of initial stability and felt pretty solid although I did not really try anything really aggressive. Also I did not really crawl around much, but it felt stable enough that I felt as though I could access the forward A hatch and turn around enough to retrieve a bait from the live bait tank behind the seat (I did leave it at home this trip so I cant really say for sure).

Tracking: as mentioned above, this boat tracks straight and true, barely a trace of wobble unless I get more heavy handed on one side or the other. I am more of an upright paddler, reaching for the beginning stroke, keeping it very close to the hull. Pushing with the high arm while pulling the with the lower during the first third of the stroke with a fair amount of power (hope I am describing that right).

Wants: This boat needs adjustable foot pegs as the molded in ones limit you.
All in all, not bad at all for a 12.6 foot boat.

I bought a Cobra Navigator to downsize from a 17' ocean kayak. I was pleasantly surprised by the speed and stability of this yak. I use this to fish and tour 3 times a week, in generally calm conditions. here is the good. very stable, I am 6' 210 lbs and this boat easily handles my size, with room to spare. Tracks well for a 12'6" yak. handles wakes and small waves well head on, the bow easily directs water to the sides and allows a dry ride. pretty quick, I logged 7.5 mph on my gps. lots of deck and rail space for tie downs, rod holders etc. Lightweight allows for easy hauling and transport.

the not so good
The scupper holes constantly let water into footwells, plugs solve the problem, but without them my feet stay wet. I can only imagine a heavier paddler would be worse. no side handles and strange rail shape make hoisting the boat difficult. (I added handles). weird shape to stern tankwell does not allow larger cooler. Taking waves sideways does produce some slap, and wet ride (so don't take waves sideways) no seat drain holes, water in this area will make for a wet okol'e (hawaiian for butt)

all in all this is the best yak I've owned. I am an avid paddler, and don't baby my equipment. All of the things that may not have been perfect for my needs were easily remedied with minimal work and $$$. I recommend the following add ons"
center handles for lifting (I made mine with pvc and nylon rope for $2)
reinforced bow and stern points (glued on rubber pads $4)
scupper plugs (I made mine from a wal-mart pool noodle $3)

I've paddled so many kayaks both in calm lake conditions, and rough huge seas in Hawaii and I would trust this yak in any conditions. I can easily log 6 hours in it and many miles before needing a stretch. Easy to maneuver in tight areas. the stability and tracking make it very user friendly for experts or novices alike. I love it. go get one for yourself.

I sold my Old Town Loon 138 which was getting more difficult for me to get in and out. It was a great kayak. I am 250#.

The Navigator is easy to use, easy to get on and off, and very light weight. I have no problem transporting it in the 6' bed of my truck. On the water this is a safe & stable craft. I have crossed the wake of many large boats in a large bay on Cape Cod with no difficulty. It tracks and handles very well & is easy to use even for a novice like me. The hatches seal tightly and I never got a drop inside. On the negative side it lacks carrying handles. I made my own. Also I use the longer paddles due to the wide width. You can't go wrong with this boat.

I have found the navigator easy to load, easy paddle and tracks well. It seems to do well in a chop but has a slight hull slap which i do not find to be any both. Stable to fish and plenty of room for gear and fishing assecessories.

Kayak with my 3yr old or 9yr old and we fit comfortably. Mom is 5'4" so loading on car top not easy.

I live in Florida and have owned my Cobra Navagator for about 8 months. During that time, I've used it to travel and explore a variety of places, including rivers, lakes, springs, coastal estuaries, and even deep open ocean on calm days. The Navigator tracks well, is very stable, and is relatively fast for a short, sit-on-top yak. I recently used it for a kayak/dive trip to a Florida spring and was surprised to find how much gear I was able to load into the hatches and scuba tank well with minimal sacrifice to speed, stability, and performance.

I spent quite a bit of time shopping before choosing my first kayak. Some of the reasons I selected the Cobra Navigator include the fact that it is lightweight (only 44 lbs.), it has a large forward A-shaped hatch for internal storage, a tankwell for scuba equipment (or any other gear you choose) for external storage, and is nimble, stable, and quick. I might add that I've gotten a lot of compliments on the look and style of the boat, too.

If you are looking for a kayak that you can take on long trips across rough water, you'll want to look at a longer touring-type sit-inside boat. But if you are looking for a kayak that is versatile, stable, and just plain fun to paddle, consider the Cobra Navigator. In addition, I've found the Cobra Kayak company staff to be extremely professional and accommodating.

Great Kayak, just bought a used one for $700 with all sort of cool extra's and compartments. Very Stable even in the roughest chop, fast, and very light for it's size. This beats my old ocean kayak which weighed like, 20 lb's more and which wasn't nearly as comfortable or as dry as this, great kayak.

I am a dealer for Cobra and its only fair that I tell you that up front. The Navigator is my personal boat. If you flip it you have no business being in a kayak. The Navigator is the most stable yak on the market in its length and width range. It tracks straighter than any other boat we cary. If someone drifts of course in a navigator they dont have a clue how to paddle. The navigator like the rest of the Cobra line excells in the chop. The boat parts the swells and deflects the spray back down on the water. The Nav has leg room for guys well over 6 foot and floats a pretty heavy load before water apears in the drain tubes. The cobras are easier to rig for fishing than any other brand and I have carried quit a few others in my shop. The company stands behind every boat they sell and replaces any boat with a problem no matter how old it is.

I used to own a Boston Whaler but sold it because of the costs/hassles involved in boat ownership. Nevertheless, I longed to return to the beautiful ocean waters surrounding Oahu. At 52, I purchased my first kayak. I tried many models, but my size of 6'2" and weight of 245# severely limited my choices. I desperately wanted a Scupper Pro but felt like a sardine in a can when I sat in it. The Hobies were beautiful, but at my weight I couldn't carry a water bottle without maxing capacity. I tried the Ocean Kayak XLT and found it slow and very wet. I waited patiently for the new Drifter and loved how it surfed but didn't like always sitting in 4 inches of water for hours on end. Other models which "worked" for me cost much more than I was willing to spend. I purchased a new "blemished" Navigator for under $400 and love it. I've had it out on canals, lakes and deep ocean water and always stay relatively dry. Last week I paddled it almost 3 miles off shore to a deserted island and loved the experience. I never once capsized despite some large Pacific swells. I fish, snorkel and get a great "work out" on it every weekend. Storage capacity is great and I don't feel like a sardine in it. It's a great "blue-color" craft. Sure it ain't perfect, and secondary stability can be tricky if you don't know the yak. But overall, for the price, I got more than my money's worth. It's a great yak for the person who wants an all around and dependable craft!

This is a great all around kayak. The tracking is good and is pretty stable. There is plenty of room in this kayak. I tried and the OK Scrambler XT and found it slow and hard to paddle...but very stable. I also tried the Cobra Explorer and thought the Navigator is a better kayak. I am 5'5" and can load and unload the Navigator by myself. The speed is good (not great) but it is a good all around kayak that I plan to setup for fishing.