Product Reviews > Kayaks > Phoenix Poke Boats > Poke Boat

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11-01-2012
Submitted by: Dw - Rating: 10 of 10
     I have owned a kevlar maxi pokeboat for 23 years, if you're a serious duck hunter and like to chase them back in those hard to get to areas this is your boat. I recently saw what they cost now and put mine in the garage; I used to leave it outside. I could fit me, my dog, a dozen and a half decoys, gun and shell bag no problem. I'm 6ft 190 pds.

Poles good in shallow water; can get out of easy and drag into those nasty spots. Everybody I have let use it, wants one. They are a little pricey; I bought mine with a minor defect and have not had a problem.

06-08-2010
Submitted by: RDD - Rating: 10 of 10
     First, ruggedness. Bend the boat in two – not figuratively, but literally – have it spring back; put a few pieces of duct tape on it and immediately go out on the river for over two hours with only very minor leakage. How did this happen? Well, the boat was on top of our SUV, on the two cross bar racks, upside down (i.e., flat bottom toward the sky) and I was in the process of taking off the tie down straps when I discovered that we had left our paddles back at the camp site. So, off we went back to the campground. There was no problem the first three miles since the speed limit was 35 mph. Then we hit the open road and so I cranked it up to 60. After about a mile we heard this terrible crunching crashing sound. Upon looking in the rear view mirror I saw the cockpit of the boat. After exiting from the car I discovered that I had removed the front tie down. The back tie down had held the boat in place, but when the car speed and resulting wind had gotten strong enough, the boat bent totally in two upon itself. One third of the boat was still firmly attached to the back cross rack of the car and the other two thirds were bent 180 degrees down over the back of the car with that end of the boat scraping along on the pavement (the boat actually dented the top of the lift gate on the back of the SUV). When I removed the second tie down, the boat flopped onto the ground and much to my amazement the boat sprung back into its normal shape. Yes, there were about four spots, each about three inches long where the resin had cracked off a bit, but everything considered it was in remarkable condition. Being determined, we put duct tape on the bad spots and went out onto the water for over two hours with only very minor leakage. That’s one tough boat.

Second, stability. The Maxi II has the broadest beam of any Poke Boat at 37 inches. This fact along with its flat bottom provides what I consider extreme stability. I paddle with many thousands of dollars of photographic equipment and thus stability is extremely important to me. The first time out I tested stability by standing up in the boat and then gently starting to rock the boat side to side. I’m 5’11” and 220 pounds. I proceeded to rock from side to side as hard as I could. I didn’t even come close to tipping over. I have absolutely no qualms that I’m risking my camera gear in this boat. Yes, with a flat bottom and a 37" beam there is a down side, but it also helps to provide a draft of only three inches and together with Kevlar I have a 51 pound boat with extreme stability, which for my usage is just great.

09-24-2008
Submitted by: Frank hopkins - Rating: 8 of 10
     Have f/n poke boat. light at 28# and tracks great. Have paddled 32miles in one day on Lake Mead but it was tough. Replaced seat with foam back on plywood and 20x48 Therarest pad. It is like sitting in an easy chair. In wind and waves, boat bounces into waves but surfs with them. Boat is slow and a little wet but stable in tough conditions.

07-01-2008
Submitted by: - Rating: 8 of 10
     Had a Wilderness Ride, enjoyed it but was too heavy for my bad back... so, bought me the Maxi Poke (Kevlar) and have not looked back. Bought me a canoe seat, put some pool noodles on the canvas back and buckled it onto the regular seat. Comfortable paddling around the edges of lakes and down the rivers. Stand up fly fishing and enjoy the room and carrying capacity of 500 lbs. Now installing trolling motor bracket (self made) so I can get to the fishing spots faster. Would do it again and have not had a real complaint about how it handles. At 65, let the young ones paddle faster... I'm enjoying the fishing and the view at my pace.

04-27-2005
Submitted by: --- - Rating: 9 of 10
     I have paddled my Maxi Pokeboat for 15 years now-first in CA and OR, and now for four years in FL panhandle. I have three other boats but leave them at home due to Pokeboat's lightness (32 lbs.) and comfort. It is slow, as any boat this wide would be, and I hate the seat that comes with it-no support at all. Fortunately, the rear cockpit wall is high and several inches wide, so makes a fine back support. The fiberglass hull is subject to injury from rocks, gravel, or-running over it in a Chevy Astro (whoops!) But an $8.00 repair kit from Wal-Mart fixes all cracks instantly-I have added new layers several times-not pretty but watertight. Wish there was flotation built in-one Voyageur bladder blew away in transit and the other has pinprick holes. I am substituting cheap inflatable toys. But for comfort-there is no rival-I can cross my legs or stretch them out or use the footpegs. How about a new seat Pokeboat designers? Janet Reno told me she paddles one, too. I am 61 and weigh 280 and this boat's for me. Especially good for diabetics with poor circulation.

06-11-2004
Submitted by: Winshooter - Rating: 4 of 10
     I bought a kevlar Maxi Poke bought seven years ago. The boat is very unstable and not suitable for duck hunting...the recoil of shotgun can easily capsize it. I tipped mine the first year I had it, and my loaded gun is rusting away at the bottom of the river. Talked to a Florida hunting guide service who related similar experiences with several of his clients, who instead recommended the Aquapod. Just like camping tents, beware the claims that a given model is a "two-man" or "three-man". In reality, such boats are one- and two-man, respectively. Very hard to tie these fragile boats securely to a vehicle, particularly for long drives across the wind-swept Dakota prairies. They ARE very light, however, so good for select purposes, but not worth the money or the risk to your life, in my opinion. If you decide to sell yours, good luck finding someone willing to out anything close to what you paid for it new.

06-10-2003
Submitted by: Max - Rating: 8 of 10
     I give my tandem Vagabond Poke Boat 4 stars for ease of use and versatility. The lightwieght kevlar allows my 72 year- old mom to port it and the rudder allows for improved tracking. You can change to a one man kayak by simply moving the seat aft.

03-19-2003
Submitted by: jtm - Rating: 9 of 10
     I have the standard size (orig style) in kevlar. It is not a white water or even rough water boat, but it is very light and easy to carry with one hand. I have carried it through the woods and put into ponds where noone else can go. Keep in mind as a prev review said that you need a wide beach area to launch from, as you have to get in from firm ground from the side. It is great for nature photography.

03-13-2003
Submitted by: JRR - Rating: 8 of 10
     I bought a kevlar vagabond one year ago based on the New Yorker ad that I could have "more than a canoe." While there is some comparison, they really are different creatures. I have since bought a canoe which can be landed nose first on a shore-line - the poke boat must be "sidled-up" and not every spot has 15' of open shore for landing. On the other hand, I live on the mid-Atlantic coast and enjoy streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, bays, and ocean. A lifetime favorite memory is taking the poke boat out from the point at Cape May, NJ and paddling parallel to the shoreline with schools of bottle nose dolphin. The 16' Vagabond took the rolling 2' swells beautifully as long as I avoided becoming perpendicular to the waves. I would NEVER try that in a canoe. So for fun, for paddling and for versatility - get a poke boat. For practicality and quiet water fishing - especially for more than one - get a canoe.

08-07-2002
Submitted by: Rick618 - Rating: 9 of 10
     I have a Poke Boat, the regular one made of fiberglass. I use it mostly for duck hunting in the fall/win and fishing in the spring. They are light weight at less than 30#'s and handle well, unless there is a strong breeze or current as the boat has no keel to help keep you headed in the desired direction. Would recommend some kind of back support, either a folding type camp chair or just a pc of plywood(cut out similar to a tomb stone), works great and gives you the support needed for long hauls. I have been on an open river when the wind picked up and so did the waves, 2-3 foot swells. Pointed the nose into them, put on the life jacket, and paddled for shore, for every stroke fwd if I stopped to rest I would get pushed back 2-3. These are great boats for small creeks, streams, backwater sloughs, and canals. Enjoyed many many trips and look forward to another season!

06-24-2002
Submitted by: Dan - Rating: 8 of 10
     Purchased Micro Pokeboat - At 7'11" in length and the fiberglass version weighing in at a mere 17lbs, it is unbeatable when it comes time to carry.

Found it a bit weak though on shallow water where rocks were present, current was swift and it took a bit of a beating and I bought one small crack in the bow which was easily repaired. Great to fish from, though I do recommend a miniskirt for the overly large cockpit. Great for calm water or rivers where rocks are not a threat.

05-06-2002
Submitted by: Richard Bear - Rating: 9 of 10
     I bought a Micro Poke Boat (7'9", 17 lbs) last winter, because of the attraction of being able to one-hand it out of the garage and into the back of my "RV" -- a little Toyota pickup. Have spent many winter days on flat water fishing from it, now, even in snow, and for this purpose it is superb. The high sides are good protection from wind, and the shallow draft gets you into places no other boat can reach. I accidentally got into some standing waves near at the base of a huge dam after a surprise high wind began opposing the current there; this was was class III water. If there had been rocks I might have been killed, so I don't recommend river running with this thing; however, it handled the situation beautifully, and when it was all over I found the entire interior was dry in spite of the huge cockpit. I really, really love this boat! I also have a Critter, which is not at all bad (and MUCH faster), but the Poke Boat meets my needs best.

12-10-2001
Submitted by: riverhopper - Rating: 8 of 10
     The light weight makes this a great fishing buddy. It handles well and has a large cockpit. Don't know that I would want to go down the Gauley, or New River in it But it does well on small rivers.

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