My journey with the Jackson Coosa kayak started last December when a number of us met in Tennessee to pick up our Coosa from the Jackson Kayak factory. Since this allowed for a behind-the-scenes experience, I must add a few things that made an impact on me and are important to me. First, the entire Jackson operation is top-notch. They are a family-friendly company and entirely US based. Their kindness and helpfulness were striking. And they really care about their customers, so much so that the feedback they have received from our group of anglers has already led to small changes in the way the Jackson Coosa kayak is manufactured and assembled.
Now, onto the real Jackson Coosa kayak review.
I have paddled and fished from the Coosa kayak roughly 12-15 times, and I must say that I am impressed. I have broken this review into categories, in which I will address the pros and cons of the Jackson Coosa kayak.
Weather/Conditions
I have paddled the Coosa kayak all winter long, including a couple days with air temperatures in the 20s where ice formed on the deck. However, I always felt good having extra clothes and supplies in the hull, as the Coosa has a lot of storage space.
A friend of mine even stacked his full of firewood and started a nice fire on the river bank this winter. Plus, the Coosa is a pretty dry ride. And I have paddled the boat in light, moderate, and heavy winds. If the boat has a downfall, it is handled in the wind.
Wind will, of course, affect any kayak, but the large front end of the Coosa (which allows for better maneuvering and stability) catches a lot of wind. And, I have found that when paddling from the high seat position, I got blown quite quickly – roughly three times faster than the 10’ sit-in kayak that a fishing partner (typically my girlfriend/better half) often paddles.
Tracking/Maneuverability
The Jackson Coosa Kayak tracks are OK, but make no doubt it is a river boat. It maneuvers very well and steers, as I and others have noted, more like a creek boat – with a very responsive front end.
I will note that on rivers, particularly those that are quite rocky, beginning paddlers should be cautious. When sitting high in this boat, your center of gravity is quite high, and getting caught on shallow rocks can be a trouble if you are not ready for it.
Speed
This kayak isn’t going to win any races. However, I find it comparable to many other sit-on-top kayaks of similar size and design.
It definitely moves faster from the low seat position. And from the high seat position, I highly recommend a paddle of at least 240 cm in length to maximize efficiency and speed. This size paddle will also help when standing.
Stability
At 11’3” with 31.5” of width, the Coosa is quite stable. And it is noted for being a kayak from which you can stand and fish. I found that it does take some adjusting, but after I got comfortable, it became easy to get up from my seat, stand, and kayak fishing while floating. For reference, I am 6’ and 200 lbs.
It is also easy to enter the boat from the water; however, I have yet to do so from water deeper than four feet. My first trip in saltwater will not be for another month or two, but on a very windy day on Jordan Lake, it handled 2-3 foot waves with ease, so I suspect inshore applications will be a breeze.
Weight
The Coosa kayak weighs 63 lbs without the seat, which is removable in the elite model. I have no problem loading the boat onto the roof of my SUV by myself. It is significantly (20 lbs) heavier than my other kayaks, but after a few trips, I barely noticed.
Jackson Coosa Kayak Features
This yak has a number of nice features. First, it has a lot of storage space in the hull and rear tank well. It also has a small pocket for keys, wallet, camera, etc., in front of the seat, room for storage under the seat ( which fits 4 tackle boxes perfectly), and a cup holder (which, if you are like me, typically just fills with lures).
The Jackson Coosa has an extremely comfortable removable seat, which inclines to any position. It has paddle holders on each side of the boat and a paddle “stager” in front, which is a notch to rest your paddle and is particularly helpful while standing.
It has two flush mount rod holders in the back, two-rod stagers on the sides (with bungees), and 3 slots that help to hold rods on the front hatch. Both hatches are also lockable, which is a great feature while traveling, particularly because you can store 4+ rods and other gear in the hull without a problem.
One other nice feature on the Jackson Coosa Kayak is the recess in the back, made for a drag chain (for river guys) or anchor system of some sort.
I also have a depth finder transducer mounted in-hull, although you could mount one in a scupper if you desired. The in-hull mount works great because the Coosa has recesses in the deck that is made for Talon and RAM mounts, which make installation of a depth finder easy and keeps the deck clear and free of wires.
Final Thought
Overall, I am extremely impressed with the Jackson Coosa Kayak. The positives vastly outweigh the negatives with this boat, and I would recommend it to anyone from beginning paddlers to seasoned vets. I think it will also be a great boat for any body of water, ranging from freshwater rivers and lakes to saltwater marshes and inshore applications. I know I can’t wait for things to warm up so I can spend an entire year with this fishing machine!
