About the reviewer

Surfer, Fisherman, Skin Diver and just recently this year started fishing off of a kayak.

Test environment

Oahu, Hawaii. Paddled on the West side in calm to 2 to 3 foot swells. 10-20kts winds.

Review

The Moken was stable and tracked well with the rudder up. Paddled fairly easy enough for its length and width. When the wind kicked up and the chop started to boil, with rudder engaged it was easy to keep pointed in the right direction. It sliced through the larger chop very well and wasn't too prone to windcocking even with the rudder up. Storage on deck was ample with many options to stow gear. The seat and backrest were very comfortable, no problems after being out on the water for five hours. She was also very dry. I'm not one to complain about a dry or wet ride, you are on a kayak after all. But I was surprised at not having puddle ass, even in the chop. Also, the hull was completely dry. The seals on the hatches were well made.
Only a couple of items that could use some modifying. The rudder control locks are next to my calves so I had to keep disengaging the lock when my calves would knock them to the locked position. The front storage compartment isn't too easy to get to on the water, I had to use my gaff to unclip the bungie lashing to open it. It probably wouldn't be a problem for taller paddlers. I'm going to install a padeye and bungie so I can unclip with one hand while not having to lean or scoot too far forward.

Conclusion

The minor cons aside, this kayak functions well for its intended purpose as a fishing vessel.

About the reviewer

Newbie to kayaks but oldie to fishing.

Test environment

Several trips off Coromandel peninsula in calm to rough conditions

Review

My first sit on, so previous experience was fishing out of a traditional sik. Love all the advantages of a sot for fishing and overall very happy with the well thought out moken. Very stable and dry, even in a moderate sea. Feels a bit slower than a sik naturally but chugs along quite quickly with no problem at all. Wide and very easy to access rod holders, tackle etc. Very handy open working space between legs with useful tackle and gear hatch. Facility for fishfinder and two areas to mount Scotty rod holders up front. Rudder is solid, so is the seat back and a little firm in the bum padding. As mentioned by the other reviewer in a rough sea for several hours took o quite a bit of water internally so will look into that.

Conclusion

Overall very good value package but would like to try a prowler 13 to compare

About the reviewer

I am relatively new to paddling having been into it some years ago and then mostly sailed so am just back to kayaking - this is my first boat in some time and my first sit-on

Test environment

in land waterways - sydney harbor, Myal Lakes, Nepean George

Review

I have found this boat to be easy to paddle and relatively fast. I have a friend with a Prowler 13 and find the performance of both boats to be very similar - the Prowler could be very slightly faster, but it would be only a minimal difference.

The seat is relatively comfortable however could do with more padding for the bum - the back of the seat is excellent - I really like the support and solid seat back gives and much prefer this seat to the material ones in the Ocean Kayaks and others .

Storage is really great.

I am a heavier person and the kayak remains dry around the legs in normal use - it takes a little water over the bow when larger power boat waves come along - I have not had it out at sea so can not comment on how it deals with larger swell.

My boat has been leaking a bit - a couple of liters of water over maybe 5 hrs - Feel Free have acknowledged this is not right and I just dropped the boat back fro them to fix. I did however fill the hull with water to see if I could see the leak and the hull itself is water tight, so that is excellent - no leaks at all - so it must be the deck fittings - hope this will be fixed and then it will be dry.

ps. (21/11/08) It turns out the seat studs where not sealing properly and as such were sucking water in every time I paddled - they replaced the studs that hold the seat in and she has been dry as a bone ever since. Cheers, Garth

Conclusion

All in all I am happy with the boat and find it easy to paddle for 20+ kilometers in a few hours.