Nutty1 wrote:
My first trip with the PA12 was an adventure. I found sensitive steering and then tipped it while just slightly leaning to one side to pull in a perch.
That almost happened to me my first time out as well. When steering hard the kayak leans, and it can be alarming at first (I had zero boat experience). And the first few times I leaned out the side, the natural tipping caught me off guard and I reacted in a way that somehow made it worse. I didn't flip it, but there were some moments when I was certain I was going to.
But by my third outing, I was much more used to how the boat moves and reacts. I've got 50 hours of on-board time now, and I'm very comfortable with it (as long as I'm seated - I haven't gotten the hang of standing yet). I go out on the Illinois River fairly often, and deliberately plow into the waves from boat wakes because it's fun. The kayak handles it splendidly, I've learned to trust its stability.
Sorry your first outing was a bad experience, but stick with it. If a clumsy oaf like me can get the hang of it so quickly, anyone can. Also, you might want to invest in some tethers for your rods and Mirage drive. The tether on the rod is a bit in the way sometimes, but it's nice to know that if I need to drop it for some reason, I won't lose it.