Comments for Gulf Coast Texas Outdoor Magazine

Comment on Gear: Pelican Castaway 116 by Sean

Sean — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:47:19 +0000

I bought the Castaway 116 about a month ago and have experienced the hatch, tracking and stability problems, but the seams and scuppers seem to be fine (so far).

What irritates me is that there is no scupper in the seat area. Water collects in the depression where your rear-end sits, and it’s quite irritating. I’m hoping that a small Thermarest style cushion and some Nerf ballistic balls for the scuppers will help solve that problem.

After reading this, though, I’m definitely going to do a preventative resealing of all the seams.

As to the hatch problem in rough water, I read on a kayak forum that some have gotten around this problem by adding car door weather stripping. (Also, they sell these ultra-absorbent sponges that some keep tied to a rope inside the hull. All they do is periodically take out the sponge, wring it out, put it back in and then keep going.)

Comment on Gear: Pelican Castaway 116 by Jane

Jane — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 16:33:23 +0000

J. Shipler,

We had to sign something from Academy also but we returned the castaway any way. We traded the boat in for a Ocean Kayak which has been great this year. Just go back to Academy and make them take the boat back. Make sure you are upset and talk to the manager.
Good Luck. Jane

Comment on Gear: Pelican Castaway 116 by J. Shipler

J. Shipler — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:11:09 +0000

I recently purchased the Pelican Castaway and took it on a 30 minute ride on a local creek. About 20 to 30 yards wide and I don’t know how deep. While paddling to my daughter on shore, she said “It looks like your sinking”. She was right! The kayak went under quickly at that point. Had to be getting water inside the hull as the others here have stated, either through the scuppers or the seam. I have yet to take it back to Academy, who made me inspect it prior to taking it. They stated at the time of purchase there are NO returns on boats. Pretty mad that they can sell a product with KNOWN problems. I am going to try my best to get a refund, or upgrade to a different boat before having to just try and fix the hole on a brand new boat.

Comment on Gear: Ocean Kayak Drifter by Don C

Don C — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:21:29 +0000

Without driving the castaway for a year you probably wont appreciate the drifter as much as I did, but I promise you wont regret it.

Comment on Gear: Ocean Kayak Drifter by Brent

Brent — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:28:46 +0000

Thanks for this article! I was in the middle of desiding wether or not to buy the castaway or the drifter, for my first fishing kayak! This article has tipped the balance!

Comment on Gear: Pelican Castaway 116 by Don C

Don C — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:11:55 +0000

I bet the ol’ boy was very disappointed, huh?

In rough water the leakage is through the top hatch. Lots of water inside real fast. In calm water the leakage is from the seam where the top half and bottom half of the boat is welded together. If the seam around the boat hasn’t separated, the most likely culprit is the seam where the scuppers are welded together. You have to look inside while the boat is in water to get clued in to the problem. I have the scuppers on my Castaway plugged with water bondo–just sealed them off completely. It was the only way to make the boat usable.

For anyone else looking to buy a kayak: The only purpose of the Pelican Castaway is to rip-off people who want to try kayak fishing but don’t know anything about kayaks and aren’t sure they want to kayak fish enough to spend $800 for a real entry level fishing rig. Do yourself a favor and skip the Pelican Castaway.

Comment on Gear: Pelican Castaway 116 by Jane

Jane — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:16:14 +0000

We bought a castaway sit on top for my husband to go fishing in the canals and bay area. The castaway sank in the first 45 minutes on the maiden voyage. This was in a calm canal and he weighs 183 lbs. We took the yak back withing 24 hours of purchase and got a Ocean Kayak sit on top for the canals and bay area. We could never figure out where the water was getting inside the boat.

Comment on Gear: Pelican Castaway 116 by Don C

Don C — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:21:03 +0000

It is a sit-on-top. The water was getting inside the boat through the top hatch which does not seal properly. It also had leaky scuppers that allowed water inside the hull of the boat. I was able to patch the scuppers with water weld but the leaky top hatch will prohibit you from taking the Pelican Castaway into anything but the flattest surf.

Comment on Gear: Pelican Castaway 116 by brent

brent — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 04:18:05 +0000

I was just wondering if this was the ocean (sit on top) model you tried out or if it was a sit-in kayak? I noticed you said the water kept coming in the boat and wasnt sure which one it was. thank you for the help.
-Brent

Comment on Bastrop Bayou Parade of Lights by dcc

dcc — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:32:03 +0000

As The Mayor stated, this Saturday at dusk the boat parade will start at the Bastrop Bayou bridge at FM 523 and run to Demi John Island. If you don’t have a boat join us at Marlin’s Marina for a beer and burger.