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.

Q- Are Cobra Kayaks usable for surfing?

A- Most Cobra Kayaks are suitable for surfing.  Longer kayaks with a flatter rocker line are less suitable for surfing although they can certainly go in and out through waves.

Q- What material is used in the construction of Cobra Kayaks?

A- Cobra Kayaks are manufactured using Cotene Linear Polyethylene.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

COBRA OFFERS ONE OF THE BEST WARRANTIES IN THE KAYAK WORLD- TEN YEARS TO THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER.

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!

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.

Q- My local dealer tells me Cobra Kayaks are not repairable because you use a different material.  Is that true?

A- The Cotene 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. Cotene Linear Polyethylene contains UV inhibitors, however sun exposure will eventually break down those inhibitors.

Q- If my kayak ever becomes unusable is it possible to recycle the material?

A- Cotene Linear Polyethylene is a recyclable material.

Basic rules/practical advice for Surfing:

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 neccessary in small surf, but do not become useful on large, steep, faces.