jetski v rubberduck

nankwe

New member
hi fishing friends I need some advice

I have to decide if I must buy a 4.2 m rubberduck or a jetski(need something small)

I will use it at henties Namibia. the surf conditions are a bit rough there. because of rocks you basically have to go through the waves.

what I want to know is what will handle the force of the waves the best a 4.2 m rubberduck or a jetski (read what will be the safest)

all comments appreciated
 

Vamoz

New member
I have used both type of crafts. From a comfort perspective I prefer a duck. If surf handling capability is the overriding measure nothing beats a jetski. In real rough surf you will have to be more careful with a duck, a jetski handles marginal decisions better. From a cost perspective I think a duck could be cheaper to acquire and maintain. Launching and trailoring is pretty much the same, depending on how well you are organised.
 

nankwe

New member
thanks vamoz

I surf launched with a friend(I was the crew) in a 4.2m duck with a 40hp stroke Yamaha in December in hentiesbay. the swell was 2.6 m according to windguru(the roughest condition we did launch )

I have a fair knowledge what the rubberduck can handle. the front tend to lift up a lot which increase the risk off flipping

I have no idea what the jetski can handle.

the core of my question is if a wave break in front of me in that immediate following turbulence will the rubberduck or the jetski go through it the safest and easiest.

I do understand that you have better turnaround time with the jetski translating to more opportunities
 

Vamoz

New member
Nankwe,

I have experienced rough surf with ducks and given the condition that you describe, provided that you carry sufficient momentum, a jetski will probably provide a smoother launch. As you pointed out, with the turning and acceleration capability of jetski's you can avoid a bad situation completely. I found that after playing in the surf a couple of times with a jetski it became easier to make decisions on the fly. On the other hand, if you flip a ski, you turn it over and continue. The same is not true for any boat.

Something else to consider is if you plan to fish alone or with a crew. With a jetski you do not really want to carry a passenger when fishing. That means that if you do not have buddies with ski's you are going to fish alone - I found it to be not much fun in the long run. On a lighter note, with crew at least you won't be the only one sh_tting yourself if that wave breaks in front of you javascript:emoticon(':)', 'images/emoticons/1smile.gif')
 

Uncle Cracker

New member
Some good advice above. One thing to also consider is the difference when trying to punch a wave. The Rubber duck (Esp a smaller, lighter one) will tend to go up and over the wave (As you said the front lifts up a lot) where as a Jet ski tends to go through the wave more (Obviously depending on the state of the wave and with what momentum you hit it with) leaving you very wet etc. However as mentioned above, with the increased maneuverability you can turn and run and hit slightly smaller gaps than in a boat, so hopefully avoid having to punch one all together.
A good point mentioned above is if you flip a ski it can (in most cases) be righted and you can carry on.
Another thing to consider is the type of fishing you'll be doing and whether or not you'll be comfortable enough on a ski and be able to carry the required tackle.

I also found that a jetski is not as easy to launch by yourself as you would think, especially if there is a shore break, you need pushers etc. Just my 2c.
 

Spin Doctor

New member
There is a reason why they use jetskis rather than ducks as rescue craft at big wave surf events.
A Jetski is not really an ideal fishing craft (for reasons pointed out by others), but then neither is a rubber duck - fine for catching kreef, etc but they have little to no storage and are easy to puncture with any sharp implement.
I would go the jetski route, but others will no doubt hold different opinions.
 

nankwe

New member
thank you for all your comments

I have decided to go for a jetski instead of a rubberduck.

the good news is that the minister of finance gave permission to buy 2 jetskis. she wants to partake in the fun
 
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