Pro 2 Tandem

It's super stable; I was able to stand and cast as well as treat it like a paddle-board. This was a replacement for my Ocean Kayak Malibu 2 tandem (confusing name overlap) and Pro 2 is not as stable or wide as the Malibu 2. The Pro 2 is faster and comes with better in-boat storage options as well as the room for rod holders.

I also own the Malibu Mini-X and have to say that Malibu Kayaks makes some fine boats and their customer service is phenomenal (lost the bucket and basket for the hatches and they sent replacements without question and free of charge!) I highly recommend this tandem and the company as a whole.

Overall, I am happy with this purchase. We don't use it as much as our other SIKs and SOTs, but when we want to get into the water quickly (wife + 5 y.o. son) we take this, or when we have guests over on the lake. It tracks very well and came with 6 flushmount holders. I installed an anchor trolley and can stand n fish or stand & paddle like a SUP.

The two 8" hatches and the whoppeer rectangular hatch allows me to keep 2 pfds, 2 paddles, and the seatbacks all stored inside the hull when not in use. I wish the stern tankwell could accommodate a small, square milk crate, and also be rudder-ready.

Overall, I recommend it as it's features seem to have an edge over some other manus out there (WS 130T, Ocean Kayak Malibu 2).

My one problem with the boat is minor. While I had the boat on the ground at my house my son jumped on the front deck next to the round hatch, the plastic flexed enough to pop the silicone seal on the hatch. I removed the hatch and used 3m 5200 with stainless nuts and bolts. I prefer stainless nuts and bolts over rivets when I can use them and I prefer heavier duty sealant/adhesives to plain old silicone.

The center seating position for solo use is high and dry. When I paddle in the rear seat and my 8 year old son is up front, it is a dry ride. When my 210 lb brother is in the front and we have the hull loaded with gear, that's a different story. Tracking is great unless there is 20 knot wind and high seas plus improper weight distribution. Stability is beyond awesome. After surf launch (solo), I tie up to the kelp get on my hands and knees, turn around and get my gear out of the large rectangular hatch. The weight capacity and the large rectangular hatch were two of the main reasons I purchased this kayak. When my son and I fish tandem, the deck lay out couldn’t get any better. He can access our lunch and other things through the front hatch while I can manage the other more difficult equipment through the large rectangular hatch. The large rectangular hatch is great for easy access to rods, reels, fish finders, tackle bags, dry bags, extra paddle and to put everything away during surf launches and landings, also not to mention perfect for stowing away a trophy fish. The deck space is more than roomy plus the front and rear tank wells are helpful for things other than dive tanks. My drift chute sits rolled up in the front tank well and stays put in the wind. I put a dry bag (leashed) in the rear tank well and it stays put all day. I fish the Pacific Ocean mostly in the Malibu to Ventura areas and many of the local lakes.

The only reason why I can’t give this kayak a 10 is that I am one of the many guinea pigs giving it the long term shake down. I bought the package deal with the seats, paddles and hatches and I am very happy. I use this kayak primarily for fishing and find it to be well suited for that use. I will be a return customer on their newer products in the future.