|
• |
Is
it OK to store my
kayak outside? |
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• |
I
find water in my kayak
after use. Is
this normal? |
|
• |
Are
Cobra Kayaks usable
for surfing? |
|
• |
What
material is used in
the construction of
Cobra Kayaks? |
|
• |
What
should I do to care
for my kayak? |
|
• |
I
tied my kayak down
on my roof rack really
tight and now I have
a dent in the bottom.
Is there any way to
correct this? |
|
• |
My
kayak is getting some
minor scratches.
Is there something
I can do to restore
the "looks"
of my kayak? |
|
• |
What
should I use to clean
my kayak? |
|
• |
Is
it possible to have
a Cobra Kayak made
in a non-standard
color? |
|
• |
The
waterways where I
kayak have lots of
boat traffic.
What colors do you
recommend for best
visibility? |
|
• |
Is
the rudder kit really
needed on the longer
boats such as the
Tourer? |
|
• |
How
is it possible for
the T/A Traveler to
be watertight? |
|
• |
How
do the modules of
the T/A Traveler connect
together? |
|
• |
Where
are Cobra Kayaks Made? |
|
• |
I
have a small cut in
the hull of my kayak.
Is it possible to
repair this damage? |
|
• |
What
advantages does Cobra
offer over the other
kayak makers? |
|
• |
I
don't need all the
hatches offered on
the kayaks stocked
by my local dealer.
Can I get a kayak
with fewer or no hatches? |
|
• |
Will
accessories from other
manufacturers work
on my Cobra Kayak? |
|
• |
My
local dealer tells
me Cobra Kayaks are
not repairable because
you use a different
material. Is
that true? |
|
• |
If
my kayak ever becomes
unusable is it possible
to recycle the material? |
|
• |
What
is the recommended
motor weight for a
small outboard engine
for use on the Fish
N Dive and how is
it affixed to the
motor mount? |
|
• |
How
to best use the Cobra
Wave Witch. |
|
| Q-
Is
it OK to store my
kayak outside?
A- Yes.
You should, however,
not leave your kayak
exposed to direct
sunlight for long
periods of time. |
| |
| Q-
I
find water in my kayak
after use. Is
this normal?
A-
It is normal to find
small amounts of water
in your kayak.
Water can enter through
seals in the hatches
and condensation often
forms when a kayak
is used in cool water.
The drain plug is
provided to remove
the water from the
kayak. Leaving
hatches open while
in storage will allow
remaining water to
evaporate. If
water is left in the
kayak for long periods
of time a stale smell
will likely develop. |
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to top
|
| Q-
Are
Cobra Kayaks usable
for surfing?
A- Most
Cobra Kayaks are suitable
for surfing.
Longer kayaks with
a flatter rocker line
such as the Tourer
and Expedition are
less suitable for
surfing although they
can certainly go in
and out through waves. |
Back
to top
|
| Q-
What material
is used in the construction
of Cobra Kayaks?
A- Cobra
Kayaks are manufactured
using Super Linear
Polyethylene. |
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to top
|
| Q-
What
should I do to care
for my kayak?
A-
Your Cobra Kayak requires
very little maintenance.
Common sense dictates
washing salt water
off the boat (although
salt water will not
harm the plastic material),
keeping hatch operating
mechanisms and sealing
surfaces free from
salt and debris will
assure easy operation.
Rudder mechanisms
should also be kept
clean to reduce the
chance of corrosion
and keep all moving
parts operating properly. |
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to top
|
| Q-
I
tied my kayak down
on my roof rack really
tight and now I have
a dent in the bottom.
Is there any way to
correct this?
A-
If the dent won't
push out easily, leave
the kayak in the sun
with a black trash
bag over the area.
This should heat and
soften the plastic
to the point that
you can easily push
the dent out of the
hull. |
Back
to top
|
| Q-
My kayak is
getting some minor
scratches. Is
there something I
can do to restore
the "looks"
of my kayak?
A-
Minor scratches can
be reduced or eliminated
with a carefully applied
flame from a propane
torch. Usually
just a quick pass
will reduce the visibility
of scratches. Caution!
If you apply this
technique to textured
areas of the kayak
the texture may change
in character!
|
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to top
|
| Q-
What
should I use to clean
my kayak?
A-
For general cleaning
kitchen cleanser such
as Comet or Ajax and
a scrub brush work
fine. To remove
stains or tar, baby
oil works well. |
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to top
|
| Q-
Is
it possible to have
a Cobra Kayak made
in a non-standard
color?
A- At
the present time Cobra
Kayaks are available
only in the colors
you see listed on
this site or in our
advertising materials. |
Back
to top
|
| Q-
The
waterways where I
kayak have lots of
boat traffic.
What colors do you
recommend for best
visibility?
A-
We recommend either
white, yellow or mango
for best visibility
to other boaters. |
Back
to top
|
| Q-
Is
the rudder kit really
needed on the longer
boats such as the
Tourer?
A-
The rudder is not
needed on the Tourer
for mild conditions.
If you plan to use
your Tourer in windy
or open ocean conditions
the rudder is recommended. |
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to top
|
| Q-
How
is it possible for
the T/A Traveler to
be watertight?
A-
Each part of the T/A
Traveler is separately
molded and and each
part is in fact a
closed unit. |
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to top
|
| Q-
How
do the modules of
the T/A Traveler connect
together?
A- The Traveler
connects with heavy
duty hinges on the
bottom and adjustable
stainless steel locking
mechanisms on the
desk. |
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to top
|
| Q-
Where are Cobra Kayaks Made
A-
Cobra Kayaks are made at our Factories in the USA, Chile, New Zealand, and Australia. |
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to top
|
| Q-
I
have a small cut in
the hull of my kayak.
Is it possible to
repair this damage?
A-
Yes, it's easy to
fix. Even though it
is very hard to cut
or damage our kayaks,
if it does happen,
then please contact
us directly, let us
know the color of
your kayak and we
will send you material
to repair it. You
will then need a soldering
iron to "weld"
the repair material
into the damaged area.
|
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to top
|
| Q-
What advantages
does Cobra offer over
the other kayak makers?
A-
Some of the most significant
advantages are generally
greater stability,
more comfortable seating
arrangements, versatile
storage accessibility
and higher weight
carrying ability.
Cobra Kayaks are constructed
using the highest
quality recyclable
materials. |
Back
to top
|
| Q-
I
don't need all the
hatches offered on
the kayaks stocked
by my local dealer.
Can I get a kayak
with fewer or no hatches?
A-
Your Cobra Kayak can
be ordered with any
combination of available
hatches or no hatches
at all! |
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to top
|
| Q-
Will
accessories from other
manufacturers work
on my Cobra Kayak?
A-
Many accessories from
other manufacturers
such as backrests,
paddle and rod holders,
knee straps or kayak
carts will work with
your Cobra Kayak.
If possible work with
your dealer to determine
the best way to go
in this area. |
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to top
|
| Q-
My local dealer
tells me Cobra Kayaks
are not repairable
because you use a
different material.
Is that true?
A- The
Super Linear Polyethylene
used to construct
Cobra Kayaks is repairable.
It may not be possible
to repair kayaks that
sustain major damage
to the hull. Kayaks
that suffer from many
years of sun exposure
may become brittle
from UV exposure.
Super Linear Polyethylene
contains UV inhibitors,
however sun exposure
will eventually break
down those inhibitors. |
Back
to top
|
| Q-
If my kayak
ever becomes unusable
is it possible to
recycle the material?
A-
Super Linear Polyethylene
is a recyclable material. |
Back
to top
|
| Q-
What
is the recommended
motor weight for a
small outboard engine
for use on
the Fish N Dive and
how is it affixed
to the motor mount?
A- Generally
a 25-30 lb thrust
electric motor is
used and works well
with a deep cycle
marine battery.
The motor mount bolts
to two L-shaped brackets
which are riveted
to the inside of the
tank well. The motor
mount extends off
the starboard side
of the kayak behind
the seat. |
Back
to top
|
| Q-
How to best use the
Cobra Wave Witch.
A- The Wave Witch
family of designs,
includuing the popular
Cobra Wave Witch,
feature a relatively
long and sharp bow.
This fine entry helps
give the boats their
excellent paddling
characteristics and
the ability to punch
through soup and breaking
waves on the takeoff
zone. It also gives
them different characteristics
on the wave compared
to more wave-ski like
hulls.
......The most common
problem the novice
encounters is burying
the nose while taking
off or turning away
from the wave. Leaning
back and turning (using
the rudder) before
the nose goes under
will avoid this.
Another fairly common
problem is getting
stuck sideways in
the soup-sidesurfing.
Bracing into the wave,
rolling the boat up
on its rail, and turning
away from the soup
using the rudder will
usually get you back
in control.
......Turn and Burn
- the rudder, together
with the planing hull
and hard edges, give
the Wave Witch an
incredible degree
of speed and control,
so learn to use it
and you will get the
most out of your boat.
......
Basic rules/practical
advice:
- Take off
at an angle unless
you are sure you can
turn before reaching
the bottom.
- Turn before
you reach the bottom
of the wave
- Lean way
back to keep the nose
up while making bottom
turns or big cutbacks.
- Don't use
a seat back/back band
while surfing as it
restricts your ability
to lean back. Lean
forward while dropping
in, and lean back
to turn.
- In the soup,
use the rail. Lean
into the wave, brace,
and put the boat up
on edge. Rudder away
from the wave. You
can usually get through
the soup and back
in the clear. This
also works when you
are about to get nailed
by the lip.
- Learn to
paddle as an outrigger,
an extra planing surface.
You are incredibly
stable when riding
on both hull and planing
paddle.
- Your boat
has a rudder - so
use it - and use the
paddle only for stability
and propulsion, not
steering.
- Experiment with fin size. Try the boat without fins. In our experience fins are not necessary in small surf, but do become useful on large steep faces. |
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