This is the best takacat 380lx review out there. It is a great boat. I ride it standing up- holding a 2 point harness like a rein at 15-18knots. it is that stable
My Takacat is rusting! The transom tubes of the open transom are made of stainless steel 304 (V2A) (also for cost reasons). The pipes show ugly rust after a short time in a salt water environment. From my point of view, the maintenance is very time-consuming and is not reasonable for me. I quote from Takacat's care instructions: 1. A first care step when driving in salt water is washing the transom tubes at the end of a trip with fresh water (fresh water) including thorough drying. 2. The insides of the transom tubes can be pulled through with an extra-long bottle brush. 3. If corrosion has formed, it can be removed with a stainless steel cleaner. 4. If you drive permanently in salt water, it is advisable to spray the transom tubes and optional slip wheels with a seawater-resistant stainless steel protector. Unfortunately, I only found out about this disadvantage of the high maintenance effort after the purchase. For me, this product is not recommended for salt water environments. I am very dissatisfied and disappointed with the Takacat 340LS for the above reasons. It does not meet my expectations and, in my opinion, is only partially suitable for my application. Did you experience similar issues? Best regards Xaver
Hi. Thanks for your comments. I did have rust stains develop, but it took quite a bit of time for that to occur. I had mine as my tendor so it was always in salt water. Once in a while I would rinse it off. After two years the tubes are still structurally sound. I just sold my Takacat and bought another smaller one 300LX. It's a little less stable, as I expected I would sacrifice stability for weight and to fit on my foredeck better. Still rides nice though. Time will tell.
You are welcome. Thank you for your comment. We probably will do an update this summer. It will be 2 years since we bought our Takacat. Still going strong!
Hey...Thank you so much for your kind words! We laid up back home in RI for the winter but it was almost 70F today so I am getting ready for a Mid May launch and will post more videos. Thanks for subscribing and stay tuned. 👊
I have the same one, a 380 with a 9.9 Yamaha. I concur with your likes and don’t likes. Longest day trip was 102 km, burned12.5 litres, 3/4 throttle, 25 kmh., flat water. In waves it is a bucking bronco, and with no real seat, you get tossed around. We sit on the floor and use the pontoon as a backrest. If you do not buy their expensive rod holders there is nowhere to attach a rod holder. The portability is the reason I have it, it is stable and fun for the kids. The floor is a paddle board. All good, main dislike is uncomfortable fishing all day or long runs .
Is that right you drove yours for 102 km @ 25kmh for 4hrs? Wow! Where did you go? We only used it for short hops 5mil at the most. We actually sold the 380 last summer and bought the 340 I think. It's even lighter and narrower so it sits on my foredeck nicely. Not as stable as the 380 though. Everything is a trade off. Goid luck with yours. Thanks for your comment
@@GoWithTheFloat we put in at the dock on Clearwater Lake, central British Columbia, made camp halfway down, then went to the end, up a river into AzurLake, to the end by the waterfall, and back. Flat water running, did some trout fishing in Azur.
@@GoWithTheFloat On my Beneteau 345 we fitted a small Metzler that was light, fit well, stayed inflated as a liferaft. Used a 2 hp OB to take the short hops to shore. My Yamaha 30 had a clunky RIB that cost us a full knot when in tow, 4 hp Merc.Lost it one evening in a wild crossing on the strait of Georgia and never went looking for it. These Takacats aren’t perfection but work pretty darn well.
Positives I heard about these boats: easy to embark disembark and climb on from water onto the low front section. Negatives: performance drops in bigger swell as no bow to cut through waves.
thanks for your perspective. I haven't found that to be the case. This boat does not displace water aside like traditional heavier hard bottom and soft bottom inflatables. It planes on top of the waves very easily so you can fly across the chop. I have zipped across some good-sized waves with it. You do bounce but there are trade-offs to everything.
I appreciate your review and I believe one of your other videos influenced my recent purchase of a 340LX pvc. Questions: approximately how much psi do you loose in 24 hours? I have been out about 4 times (to my mooring) in my 340 LX and each time I check the psi and each time I need to add air to at least one pontoon, if not both. My floor seems to hold the 10 psi. Just curious as to what is a "normal" expectation. Should I only have to add air once a week or every day? I have started the process of looking for a leak with soapy water and so far found nothing. Thank you for any insight!!
Hey Greg, Thanks for watching and providing feedback. I am glad you found our videos useful and like the boat. To your question. For about 2-3 months this winter that same thing kept happening to me. One pontoon would deflate appreciably. Using some soapy water I finally figure out that the air valve was not making a tight seal against the boat skin. I disassembled the valve, which was pretty easy to do. Just make sure you hold on to the inner ring or it will get away from you and you will have to fish for it in the pontoon. Upon inspection of the disassembled valve, I noticed some grit which I cleaned off. I reassembled the valve and have had no further trouble. Now with that said your comment just caused me to check the pressures. I haven't checked them in months. I only check them when I feel the boat getting too "spongy". They were all down below spec. but not enough for me to really notice, and have the boat suffer performance that I could tell. Both pontoons were maybe 2PSI low and the floor was down to 5PSI. So from my experience, the pressure guidelines are pretty tolerant. So will see tomorrow how the boat feels when at pressure specs. . Thanks again for your comments. Please like and subscribe to allow me to continue providing this content for you.
As hot air cools, it loses pressure. If you fill it hot in the sun, the water can lower the tube air temperature and drop the pressure. We get this in the mountains with our AIRE kayaks. You fill it in the parking lot (hot), then the cold water immediately drops the pressure.
@@destressdojo Good morning, thank you. We take delivery of an Antares 11Coupe this August and your Takakat looks Like e a good option for a tender with all the conveniences you note In your videos. I know it would be perfect for my wife and me (2people) however we do enjoy taking the kids and grand kids. What is the realistic capacity (People/weight load) for your boat and motor. Appreciate your insights and knowledge, keep up the good work! - Thank You!
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Yep, I am getting my 380 in two days. Plenty of "on hand" inventory even here in Colorado. Thanks for the thoughtful comments.
You're welcome. Enjoy your boat! post pics. I have heard the design is different than mine.
to avoid leg splash mount engine slightly higher on the transom, using a shim for engine to rest on. Improves performance too as you reduce drag
This is the best takacat 380lx review out there. It is a great boat. I ride it standing up- holding a 2 point harness like a rein at 15-18knots. it is that stable
Thank you! You, me too! It's a fun stable boat.
My Takacat is rusting!
The transom tubes of the open transom are made of stainless steel 304 (V2A) (also for cost reasons). The pipes show ugly rust after a short time in a salt water environment. From my point of view, the maintenance is very time-consuming and is not reasonable for me. I quote from Takacat's care instructions:
1. A first care step when driving in salt water is washing the transom tubes at the end of a trip with fresh water (fresh water) including thorough drying.
2. The insides of the transom tubes can be pulled through with an extra-long bottle brush.
3. If corrosion has formed, it can be removed with a stainless steel cleaner.
4. If you drive permanently in salt water, it is advisable to spray the transom tubes and optional slip wheels with a seawater-resistant stainless steel protector.
Unfortunately, I only found out about this disadvantage of the high maintenance effort after the purchase. For me, this product is not recommended for salt water environments.
I am very dissatisfied and disappointed with the Takacat 340LS for the above reasons. It does not meet my expectations and, in my opinion, is only partially suitable for my application.
Did you experience similar issues? Best regards Xaver
Hi. Thanks for your comments. I did have rust stains develop, but it took quite a bit of time for that to occur. I had mine as my tendor so it was always in salt water. Once in a while I would rinse it off. After two years the tubes are still structurally sound. I just sold my Takacat and bought another smaller one 300LX. It's a little less stable, as I expected I would sacrifice stability for weight and to fit on my foredeck better. Still rides nice though. Time will tell.
Surprised Takacat don't offer a transman net as optional extra. Possibility of losing items out back is one big negative.
Most excellent of all Takacat practical information.
Thank you guys so much!
I just noticed your comment. Thank you. I am glad you found it useful
Thanks for the follow up video!
You are welcome. Thank you for your comment. We probably will do an update this summer. It will be 2 years since we bought our Takacat. Still going strong!
Beautiful boat. Sensational dinghy. Great couple. Hope you guys get more subscribers.
Hey...Thank you so much for your kind words! We laid up back home in RI for the winter but it was almost 70F today so I am getting ready for a Mid May launch and will post more videos. Thanks for subscribing and stay tuned. 👊
I have the same one, a 380 with a 9.9 Yamaha. I concur with your likes and don’t likes. Longest day trip was 102 km, burned12.5 litres, 3/4 throttle, 25 kmh., flat water. In waves it is a bucking bronco, and with no real seat, you get tossed around. We sit on the floor and use the pontoon as a backrest. If you do not buy their expensive rod holders there is nowhere to attach a rod holder. The portability is the reason I have it, it is stable and fun for the kids. The floor is a paddle board. All good, main dislike is uncomfortable fishing all day or long runs .
Is that right you drove yours for 102 km @ 25kmh for 4hrs? Wow! Where did you go? We only used it for short hops 5mil at the most. We actually sold the 380 last summer and bought the 340 I think. It's even lighter and narrower so it sits on my foredeck nicely. Not as stable as the 380 though. Everything is a trade off. Goid luck with yours. Thanks for your comment
@@GoWithTheFloat we put in at the dock on Clearwater Lake, central British Columbia, made camp halfway down, then went to the end, up a river into AzurLake, to the end by the waterfall, and back. Flat water running, did some trout fishing in Azur.
@@GoWithTheFloat On my Beneteau 345 we fitted a small Metzler that was light, fit well, stayed inflated as a liferaft. Used a 2 hp OB to take the short hops to shore. My Yamaha 30 had a clunky RIB that cost us a full knot when in tow, 4 hp Merc.Lost it one evening in a wild crossing on the strait of Georgia and never went looking for it. These Takacats aren’t perfection but work pretty darn well.
@@tomdonaghy8757 that sounds wonderful.
Thanks for the info, I bought a 340LX with an e-Propulsion motor based on your experience :)
Glad to have helped
Positives I heard about these boats: easy to embark disembark and climb on from water onto the low front section. Negatives: performance drops in bigger swell as no bow to cut through waves.
thanks for your perspective. I haven't found that to be the case. This boat does not displace water aside like traditional heavier hard bottom and soft bottom inflatables. It planes on top of the waves very easily so you can fly across the chop. I have zipped across some good-sized waves with it. You do bounce but there are trade-offs to everything.
I have a takacat 280L but no motor yet, I want to get a 6hp due to local regulations. what sped can i expect with 2 70kg people on board?
thank you!
you're welcome!
I appreciate your review and I believe one of your other videos influenced my recent purchase of a 340LX pvc. Questions: approximately how much psi do you loose in 24 hours? I have been out about 4 times (to my mooring) in my 340 LX and each time I check the psi and each time I need to add air to at least one pontoon, if not both. My floor seems to hold the 10 psi. Just curious as to what is a "normal" expectation. Should I only have to add air once a week or every day? I have started the process of looking for a leak with soapy water and so far found nothing. Thank you for any insight!!
Hey Greg, Thanks for watching and providing feedback. I am glad you found our videos useful and like the boat. To your question. For about 2-3 months this winter that same thing kept happening to me. One pontoon would deflate appreciably. Using some soapy water I finally figure out that the air valve was not making a tight seal against the boat skin. I disassembled the valve, which was pretty easy to do. Just make sure you hold on to the inner ring or it will get away from you and you will have to fish for it in the pontoon. Upon inspection of the disassembled valve, I noticed some grit which I cleaned off. I reassembled the valve and have had no further trouble.
Now with that said your comment just caused me to check the pressures. I haven't checked them in months. I only check them when I feel the boat getting too "spongy". They were all down below spec. but not enough for me to really notice, and have the boat suffer performance that I could tell. Both pontoons were maybe 2PSI low and the floor was down to 5PSI. So from my experience, the pressure guidelines are pretty tolerant. So will see tomorrow how the boat feels when at pressure specs. . Thanks again for your comments. Please like and subscribe to allow me to continue providing this content for you.
Tighten your valves. Unless temps drop overnight, you shouldn’t be losing pressure.
@@Mrjmhill thank you! I’ll try that!!
As hot air cools, it loses pressure. If you fill it hot in the sun, the water can lower the tube air temperature and drop the pressure. We get this in the mountains with our AIRE kayaks. You fill it in the parking lot (hot), then the cold water immediately drops the pressure.
Great information. Thank you. What HP motor do you have.
Hi Gary I am glad you found the video informative. We have a 9.8HP Tuhatsu.
@@destressdojo Good morning, thank you. We take delivery of an Antares 11Coupe this August and your Takakat looks Like e a good option for a tender with all the conveniences you note In your videos. I know it would be perfect for my wife and me (2people) however we do enjoy taking the kids and grand kids. What is the realistic capacity (People/weight load) for your boat and motor. Appreciate your insights and knowledge, keep up the good work! - Thank You!