Drifter

We bought a couple of OK Drifters used (think they must be a much older model). While we had read reviews talking about the water in the cockpit we thought 'it can't be that bad' since they are rated for 400-500 lb capacity. Well....one 5'4" size 6 female sat down and immediately found herself in 1.5 inches of water!! So, scupper plugs are a necessity not an option in this vessel. With practice golf balls firmly stuffed in the scupper holes and a thick pool saddle for a seat that provides comfort & back support, we can finally enjoy time on the water with these kayaks. I found an Airhead Sun Comfort swim saddle for $15 (at a local large retail store) that is 1.5" thick foam with more of a material feel - not slippery vinyl feel. I like to sit on the small side with the large part supporting my back, but others in my group sit on the large part. Bonus, your seat becomes your relaxing floaty on breaks! With these cheap modifications in place - we actually really like these kayaks. They have ample storage, SUPER stability and are just great for a quick trip to the local lake to do a little fishing.

First off, this is my first ever kayak, so maybe my opinion doesn't mean much, but that being said, here's my review.

I'm 6'3, 330lbs. Weight obviously being my worry point, I felt absolutely safe on this kayak. Rated 400-450, I have no doubt it can hold that weight. One thing I've read that I can agree with is that it is a very wet ride, especially for us bigger folk. I've never been on a Kayak, and for being my first time, it is very stable. Loaded up and got some good fishing done on it. I recommend a cushion for your rear end, granted, was in it for about 7 hours straight. Stable enough that I was actually able to lay out on it and catch a 20 minute nap comfortably.

Definitely recommend this for bigger anglers wanting to get into kayak fishing.

I bought a Drifter new about 2003. I had used one that my friend owned and fell in love. I still use it as often as I can and proclaim its virtue to any who are interested!

A local dealer had a leftover at a good price so I bought it after a test paddle.At the time I had a longer boat but I wanted something I could just toss in the PU bed instead of dealing with roof hauling.At first I really liked it but I found that after a couple hours my back got sore. I tried everything I could as far as seat adjustment goes but the size/shape of the seat area was simply way to big for someone my size. Nonetheless, this boat would be a great choice for someone large enough to fit it properly.

For it's length-width I was very surprised how easily it paddled and it has good speed to. Like many of Oceans older designs there's a good bit of rocker fore and aft. That's sadly lacking in most boats these days. I guess they're trying to squeeze as much speed out as they can. A mistake if you paddle big waters or where big wakes can be an issue.

This is another boat Ocean should not have dropped from their line. If you're the right size and find one used it would be well worth trying.

Why does OK keep discontinuing this kayak? It is by far their best platform for river running, especially multi-day camping expeditions on moderate whitewater. I've had a Drifter since mid-2011. My river running buddy has had his since 2008.

Pros

• It handles mild class III whitewater just fine. Little bit of rocker in the hull allows it to be turned easily. Rides up and over waves rather than punch through.
• Weight capacity - I've loaded the Drifter to the gills with camping gear with no major change in handling characteristics.
• Stability - great platform for standing to site fish. No problem even in flat, but moving river water.

Cons
Unless you weigh about 120 lbs, the Drifter will be a wet ride. Plugging the scuppers will help in flatwater, but I run rivers and the scupper plugs are useless. Getting wet is part of the experience. The back tank well is a bit small for a 12 ft. kayak, especially if you're on a multi-day camping trip and need more rear storage space. It is not a fast kayak, but speed hasn't been a big issue for what I use it for.

So why did I give the Drifter a 6 out of 10? The #1 fatal flaw with any Ocean Kayak product is the design of the hull. (Is anyone from OK listening?) The scuppers are totally exposed to hazards. I guarantee you will blow out a scupper hole on a rock, eventually, and it will be the scuppers under the seat. Make sure you know how to do emergency repairs or you will be stranded. Other manufactures have figured this out. They place the scupper holes in channels to protect them from damage. It is a fairly simple design change and OK needs to implement it. (Is anyone from OK listing...?)

Why did I buy a Drifter knowing about this design flaw? There is a fix - strong resins and kevlar skids plates to close up the scuppers under the seat. Once you do this repair, the Drifter (in modified form) is possibly the best 12 ft. SOT for river running on the market, if you can find one.

Tried out the Ocean Kayak Drifter today. I thought it tracked fairly well and had decent speed. However, at 185 lbs, I was sitting in about 2 inches of water at all times.

- and they are going to make it again: Ocean Kayak had better to keep this mold well stored cause, as it happened with the Scupper models, they will need to revisit one of the best all around kayaks ever made on the 12' range by this company that seems not to find some level of standardization for their final quality control, they make excellent kayaks mixed with some horribly finished ones.

Pros:
tons of them but here goes one to say it all: you go & try to flip her...harder, try harder, nothing yet? you still on her? IT'S A DRIFTER!!! Stability is the drifter's main feature along with an excellent cockpit layout, tank well doesn't fit a standard milk crate but there are several other options for gear junkies.

Forward hatch is enormous to say the least and comes with one of the best hatch cover OK ever made, it's easily accessible when on the water with plenty of room for goodies and/or fishing stuff.

Speed is good, more than good considering the width of this booty lady, she is not intended to be a racing kayak but keeps a nice pace if you know what are you doing.

If you can find a zero mile model it'll probably come with two flush mount rod holders angled for trolling which is a plus for storage & trolling techniques.

Have read the Drifter is a wet ride, scuppers, thick pad under the seat, etc. I wouldn't go there, for better or for worse these craft are designed with an optimization of possibilities, adding stuff jeopardizes balance & performance. When in cold weather some waders will keep you dry & safe, warmer picture in place, who cares for a wet behind?

In days that money is lean the OK Drifter is a good chance of having a good, safe & versatile craft for shooting the breeze, fishing & diving, even surfing for which she is no shy.

Cons:
Might be a bit on the awkward side to handle due to her width, other than that I don't see any other downside.

Mark my words: they are going to make her again sooner than later. Let's paddle!"

I’m a new kayaker. I’m 5’9’’, 190 lbs. I purchased the OK Drifter (Angler Edition) at an ‘Academy Sports & Outdoors’ store for $599. I’ve taken it out to West Galveston Bay twice already, and I can’t wait to take it again.

I love the huge forward storage compartment; I’m able to fit a 30-liter gear bag in it with no problems. I have to use the 240 cm paddle because this kayak is very wide and I’m not very tall, but I can still paddle very fast. I’m also able to paddle against 15, or even 20 mph winds (though, not very fast). It’s not as fast as other kayaks. For example, when kayaking against the wind, I could not keep up with my brother-in-law (a first time paddler) using a WS Tarpon 120. However, we tried both kayaks and the Drifter was by far, more stable.

It is a wet ride (up to 1 1/2" of water in the foot well), but I don’t mind because the weather down here is very warm. I bought the scupper stoppers and they do the job. Once installed, the only water that I saw was from the overwash from waves and the paddle itself. The other thing I don't like about it is the small tank well. However, I bought a small Igloo cooler and it fits perfectly. The Drifter also has 2 flush-mount rod holders, so I don't need a milk crate with PVC pipes to hold more rods.

Surfing
I took the Drifter to the surf just to see how it handled the big waves. I was totally surprised to see how well it cuts through 4-5 foot waves. It was incredible! I’d never thought I could see myself jumping over big waves with a kayak before. I beat the hell out of this kayak for about 2 hours in these waves and I was actually able to surf with it at the beach. After I was done surfing, before I loaded it back onto the truck, I checked how much water was inside; surprisingly, there was almost none (not even 1/2 cup). I was able to dry the inside with a small rag. My brother-in-law’s Tarpon 120 had about 2 cups of sea water inside. He also wiped out in the surf about 10 times; on the other hand, my Drifter only threw me overboard twice. Next time, I’m going deep-sea fishing!

My family has purchased 12 various low-end yaks over the past 5 years, 9 sit in and 3 sit on. We usually just go out on a nearby creek for fun and exercise. The extras are for when friends visit, etc.

I picked up a 2008 Drifter Angler a couple of weeks ago and added scuppers, a foam seat pad and the yellow OK seat back. I picked it due to max weight rather than fishing rod holders, etc. Using a baling sponge for paddle drips keeps me totally dry (5'10" 200lbs) and I've loved every trip taken in this yak so far (about 7).

Good tracker and maneuvers well - it just feels right no matter how much I load it up. The longer paddles are a better fit, but I've personally had no problems with our 220 cm ones either. Since I got the Drifter, I've been looking for any excuse to head for the water even if only for an hour or so.

I bought my 1st kayak May 2006. It was and still is a 2004 Drifter. It is all the things that everyone else has said. It is slow, but I'm not in a race; it gets wet, News Flash: you're in water. I have fished inshore and stayed very dry and I have gone off shore and gotten a little wet & soaked, depends on the weather & the waves. The one thing I have not had happen is getting dumped and I have had some BIG wakes come my way from motor boats. It is a very solid yak and I use an ice chest in the tank well for all my gear. And when I catch a big fish I don't get the feeling I'm gonna get pulled over. Its a good yak all around, its just a bit hard to paddle with a strong current or the wind against you because its so wide. If going into the ocean is your thing, this is a good choice.

I've heard some say the Drifter is wet and slow. I have a 2006 Angler seriese Drifter. The only time I really got wet was when I was power stroking (and I'm 6'2" and over 200lb). And I managed to get it fast and keep it fast enough to keep Spanish Mackeral interested in a spoon I was "trolling" with on the gulf. It's not really a touring kayak, but it does track well, its stable, and pretty fast. I really like the front hatch when I'm fishing- easily accessed while on the water. Maybe the others rode an older version, and need to give a newer model a try. I love mine, and so do my kids.

I just got a drifter last week and i like it alot, this is my first kayak so i cant compare it to anything else. I was surprised after reading so much about it being a wet ride that it wasnt really that bad, most the water in my yak is at the footrest area.

Now i'm a pretty big guy, 6'3" and 310lbs. and this thing is very stable, took me all of about 2 minutes to get used to it. let my kid try it out (she's like around 100lbs if that) and she handles it just fine.

So big or small, if you want a stable kayak, the Drifter is it.

I wanted a Prowler due to the reviews on the web, but when I sat in one, it was not suitable. Weighing 245 lbs at the time, the Drifter was a perfect fit. After losing 25 lbs, it still is. The Prowler is a wet ride for me and carries water in the tankwell even with the main scuppers plugged.

For some reason, people always comment on the wet ride. Plugged scuppers and a sponge for paddle drips keep my yak dry and it has a low profile which is nice in the wind. The front hatch is accessible while on the water, and the stability is very good. You can crawl all over the yak with perfect safety.

Speed wise, it is not that slow. The boat is used for fishing and was a replacement for a SIK which was faster with the paddle. The Drifter is three times the SIK when it comes to fishing. Try a high angle paddle if more speed is desired, but for fishing, a more comfortable low angle paddle suites my style.

People worry about the small tankwell. A soft side ice chest solves that problem readilly. Access to the front hatch enables carrying all the tackle you might consider for a days fishing, raingear, etc.

The boat has met my expectations. It does what it was designed for very well.

I purchased the Drifter as my first kayak and I absolutely love it. I took it out on a local lake, and it performed like a dream. The only water that ended up inside of the kayak was my own fault, and was easily taken care of by the bilge sponge (a must have for a sit on top). The scupper stoppers really do make a difference, so I will definitely take them everywhere.

This boat is the first of the fleet I am planning to acquire, but I feel like a sit on top is great for summer use when you want to be out in the sun and have the option of swimming and paddling. I would recommend the drifter to everyone. Having a boat over 12 feet makes for streamline tracking, which is important on longer trips. Anything shorter may start to feel like it is going from side to side.

Finally, the people at Ocean Kayak are great, and were very helpful in making my buying experience great! A+.

Have just purchased a Drifter. I was looking for about one month and was trying to decide between a WS Ride and the Drifter. I finally decided on the the Drifter mainly based in price ( was able to get the Drifter for about $150 less)I am 6'3 and 215 so I wanted a roomy stable Kayak for flyfishing. I went ot the coast on a fishing trip this past weekend and was very pleased. I was slighly slower than some others but not much, really enjoyed the stability, I may add a rudder system later if needed. I would highly recommend this kayak.

Great bay fishing boat. Have fished Rockport, Corpus Christi and Port Mansfield. I'm 6'1"/260#; stay dry by cutting 4" sections off my kids' "noodles" and making plugs out of them. Excellent stability. If it's too slow for you- get in the weight room!!! Onlt problem-water in the hatch. Biggest asset-can carry a 12-pak cooler in the back in case fish aren't biting.

I've had the Drifter for some time and use it down here in South Florida both in the ocean and bass fishing. My friend has the 15' Bimini and i usually can keep up easily with it.

I bought an 04 Drifter and took it out for the first time. I had the gray "highback" seat and did not experience the wet ride. I'm 6' 195lbs and the only time I really got water near the seat was when I crawled to the front of the boat to get my other rod out. Some water seeped in the foot scupper holes and when I moved back to the seat ran back toward the seat. I still did not get wet butt syndrome. I had wet thighs but after a short paddle all the water drained back out. I then decided to push my luck standing on the kayak. No real problems there... The paddled did seem a little slower than a more narrow kayak, but I never really felt bogged down. I also ran it through about three or four inches of water and slid back in to some shallow coves without much effort.

This thing is wet and slowwwww !

I had been wanting a SOT kayak for years but had a hard time finding one that "fit". I am a 6'1" and 295# Firefighter who loves the water. I am also a semi-retired NAUI SCUBA instructor. I had the chance to try the OK Drifter at a demo day. I was able to try the entire OK line and then some of the Hobie line. The hobies are for the narrow butt types. The drifter however was more than enuf room for my butt, and then some. Yes the ride was very wet. But on the day I tried it it was nearly 100 degrees out so I thought nothing of it. I decided to buy the drifter and have loved it ever since. After a month of enjoying the wet ride I decided to look into scupper plugs to dry out the ride for the comming colder months as I do not want to shelve the boat for the long hard southern california winter (yeah right). I went to my local Home Depot and found a variety of rubber plugs (in the hardware section in the drawers next to the screws) got 2 large ones for the footwells and 2 slightly smaller ones for the seat. The seat ones needed to have a rubberband wrapped around it to give it the perfect seal. Then I took it out to newport/balboa harbor (my favorite paddle spot) and found that the drifter sat about 4 inches higher in the water than before. Was completely dry for the duration of my 3 hour tour (except for paddle drips) Seemed to track better and was a lot easier to control. What a difference $5 worth of plugs have made to this boat. Forget the $16 plugs that OK sells (I hear that they tend to leak). But on the down side my plugs dont have to cool little pull loops. I suppose I could drill the center and push a cord through. If I wanted to latter on. In the end For a dryer ride try the HD plug trick, it worked wonders for me. If anybody is interested I will report back on how the boat and plugs did when I load it up for scuba diving. I expect it will ride lower again but we will see.

Had my boat about a month now and have paddled it over a dozen times and love it more every time I get to use it. It has all been said before about the Drifter and you should believe every word. The only draw back is the wet ride. Every thing else is excellent. I had a rudder installed on mine and I would not trade it for the world. The rudder is really not at all neccessary for crusing around even though it does make it much easier in strong wind. However it works great for fishing down shorelines. I drifted nearly half a mile down a shoreline fishing using the rudder to keep me just casting distance away from the grass line and I never had to pick up my paddle once. Like every one else I'ld have given it a 10 if not for the small swimming pool that ocean kayak installed right in the middle of the boat but as long as it warm outside a little water isnt really that big of a deal. I got a set of scupper plugs from the dealer and they help a lot but if your in the water very long the water still seaps in some. Also the Drifter Scupper plug set does not fit real well because the front and back scupper holes are not exactly the same size. The dealer was nice enough to take the scupper plugs from several different kits and mix and match them so the fit my boat.

I got the drifter last summer, and liked everything about it except getting wet. I solved this by getting a package of 1" stool leg caps, which work great and only cost $3.00. I also sit on a square boat cushion, which keeps me pretty high and dry and comfortable.

I am interested in getting a kayak for fishing in the ocean and bays around San Diego Ca. I talked to a lot of people and surfed the internet and found that most people around here fish out of Scupper Pro TW'S, Scrambler XT'S, or Cobra FnD's. I tried the FnD and didn't like the way it handled. The S.P.T.W. wasn't the boat for me either. I'm 6'2" 250 lbs. I didn't have enough room in the seat. It wasn't stable enough for me either. And don't try to tell me you'll get used to it. If I'm going to spend a lot of money on a kayak it had better feel comfortable right away or forget it! The scrambler xt felt very stable. I liked the way it paddled. The only concern I had was the weight capacity at 350 lbs. Me at 250# + all my fishing gear+ a live bait tank. I thought that was pushing the limit. So Allen of Allen's Kayaks in Mission Bay suggested the Drifter. It felt like I had been paddling it for years the first time I tried it out. It has tons of room in the cockpit. It has a huge hatch up front that I can store 7' rods and all my stuff in. It has a 500lb. capacity, which is perfect. I love the way it handled. It's extremely stable. I could turn around in the cockpit on the water and get something out of the tankwell easily. I could hang my legs over the side while fishing and not even worry about tipping over. Some people complain about a wet rear end in this kayak. The solution is to place one of those square floating boat cushions under the seat. I never had a problem with it. I'm definitely going to buy a drifter. I would recommend it to anybody.

Great all purpose kayak. I bought it exactly for that reason. I can use it in rivers, lakes and the ocean. I would have to admit that it performs best in the ocean after all it is a SOT Ocean Kayak but it also does reasonably well in rivers and lakes.

Very stable kayak. Even in somewhat choppy water I can stand up in it with ease. I can do tricks for the ladies and the kids while offshore at the beach. Backflips into the surf and if calm enough, handstands. After all that, I can reach into my cooler that straps on the back a crack open a beer. It's like a party boat and as you can tell, I have lots of fun with it.

I just took up kayaking with my new girlfriend; and, at 218#, wanted a wider, more stable kayak for my first endeavor. Demo'd several and picked the Drifter. All in all, I am happy with my choice. Very stable in rolling water, like close offshore in Florida, and quicker than I would have thought on flat water. the "slap" of small waves under the bow is a minor annoyance. The biggest negative is how much water collects in the seat area. Even with Scupper plugs crammed in as hard as possible, paddle drips collect at the seat, so you get a puddle. I find the O.K. molded seat raises you a little above the puddle. In closing, it's a little "chubby" for quiet river touring, and I plan to get a 2nd kayak for that purpose; but for offshore and bays, it's quite confidence-inspiring to know you're unlikely to go for a swim. And, getting back onboard after, say, snorkeling, is a breeze for a beginner. I recommend the Drifter, scupper stoppers rammed home with a dowel or fat screwdriver, and a pair of water-repellant shorts!

I have been using my drifter every weekend since I bought it. Its wonderful, I did plug the holes and now it is a solid dry ride ... I love it.

I had read all of OK's specs on their new Drifter and couldn't wait to buy one. Fortunately, I sprang for the $30 rental fee and tried it out first -- despite many excellent characteristics, I didn't buy it. Like others have said, there is no more stable or all around functional SOT on the market today. And if you want to surf waves, this is the yak for big people (most wave riders maximum capacity is only around 200#). At 245#, I easily surfed Waikiki and had a blast. But what I didn't like about it and what finally convinced me not to purchase it was how wet it is -- all the time. After 5 hours in the ocean, my back side felt like a prune!!! If you are a big person (and that's what the Drifter was designed for)you are always, always sitting in a great deal of water. Putting plugs in it may be a solution for calm waters, but it sounded too suicidal of an option in large open Pacific swells. Maybe the next generation of the Drifter will improve on this problem.

I have now been out in my new Drifter 3 times over the past 2 weeks and have found it to be a great boat for all day trips. It is my first SOT and I was a little shocked at how wet the ride was, but the other qualities have made up for that. It is VERY stable, I was fishing out of a Pungo, but this boat is much more stable and easier to fish from. It is also faster and easier to get on and off when the landing conditions are less than perfect. Many times I launch from rocky beaches or ledges which do not allow for the classic techniques used with sit-in kayaks, no problem with this boat, just step off and walk ashore. The front hatch is wonderful and with a little practice you can open it on the water, the boat is that stable. Overall it is a great platform for all recreational activities.

I love my new drifter , I tried them all and I'm a big guy #260lbs nothing came close to the stability for fishing. A+ for this kayak.

I've owned my Drifter for about a month now and literally use it 4 times a week. This is the best toy in my box. I bought the Drifter because the salesman told me to... no really because of its incredible stability, light weight and versatility. Since I had never kayaked before, weigh over 200#'s, and wanted to fish, dive and play in the ocean, these seemed like good qualities to have in a kayak.

I have only used the Drifter along our gorgeous south florida coastline in all the winter weather conditions it offers; waves, winds and spinner sharks, and have (probably unwarranted) a lot of confidence in using it. Its stability make me more apt to use it than worry about weather I am going to get rolled in the seas; its great. So many people have come up to me and asked me about it I can't help but think that its ease of use makes others wanting to get into this great sport.

I can't really say its better than other kayaks, except that I can't think that there is a better kayak which is such a pleasure to fish from, and yet is easy to handle and a great way to get out and excercise! Thanks again, Ocean.

A super kayak , I have replaced my Scrambler xt with a new drifter and Its even better. I am a large paddler #260lbs and it is more stable. A+ for Ocean Kayak.

I had heard a lot of "pre-production" hype about this boat and at the Houston Canoe Club Fall Rendezvous last weekend was finally able to try one out. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. I own a Scuppe Pro T/W that I think is the most able fishing platform of all the SOT's. The Drifter is shorter and 'fatter' with more room in the seat and a little larger tankwell. It is VERY stable, tracks well, and is almost as fast as the SPT/W. For "stouter" people this is the perfect kayak! For smaller folks, this is the most stable fishing platform you'll find anywhere. You can stand in it, sit on the seat back, or pole it through the mud flats or marsh. I highly recommend it.