This coupled with plenty of storage<\/strong> space helps make up for the boat\u2019s unspectacular top speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pros<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cons<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n While it is possible to fish from any kayak, fishing kayaks come with several helpful accessories<\/strong>. Features like rod and paddle holders make fishing easier than from a generic kayak. Angling can be tough enough without worrying that your paddle is floating away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As one of the larger and heavier angling kayaks on the market<\/strong>, finding the proper storage space can be challenging. Ideally, you can find a place to keep your kayak that is out of the weather and climate-controlled. If it must be stored outside, keep it covered with a tarp or metal to keep rain and direct sunlight off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ll have to drive to the water, be sure you have a vehicle that can safely get it there. This may require purchasing a roof rack, trailers, or tie downs. At just under 13 feet long, it won\u2019t fit in the bed of most trucks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Knowing where you plan on fishing is key before purchasing. Fortunately, the FS128T can handle many different environments<\/strong>. Because of its open cockpit, it\u2019s best to limit usage to warm excursions<\/strong> where water splashing into the cockpit won\u2019t be a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those that fish in cold-weather regions can look to other options like Wilderness Systems\u2019 Tsunami 125<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Like most kayaks in this price range, the Ascend FS128T is made of a durable plastic called polyethylene<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plastic hulled kayaks are more expensive than inflatable models but are much more durable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are heavier than boats made of fiberglass but can absorb most drops and collisions with little effect on the hull\u2019s integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the hull is built for stability, the V-shape bow and longer keel do help with speed, although this boat isn\u2019t built to cover long distances<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plan trips accordingly and give yourself a little more time than you think you\u2019ll need to get there. A good rule of thumb is to estimate an average speed of two miles an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The lack of a rudder<\/strong> comes into play here. While the boat turns ok in calm water<\/strong>, any wind, wave, or current can make steering challenging if you\u2019re new to the sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you plan on being in rough waters, I\u2019d recommend practicing your paddle technique first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most angling kayaks go through great efforts to make their seats comfortable. The FS128T is no different. The seat can be adjusted between three different heights<\/strong> and reclined to accommodate most anglers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The seat does sit a little higher than I prefer<\/strong>. With your center of gravity so far above the hull, it can make you feel a little unstable if you have it in the highest position. But this is more of a personal preference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The factory design has a design quirk that bears mentioning. It\u2019s lashed to the boat via bungee cords instead of straps<\/strong>. This can make the seat rock if you\u2019re moving around, casting, or trying to net your catch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The expansive 33-inch hull gives the impression that you\u2019re paddling a battleship<\/strong>. The FS128T is an incredibly stable platform whether you\u2019re paddling or fishing. After a little while, you may find you can even stand and cast when conditions allow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At just under 13 feet in length, the FS128T can maintain its course in most calm and moderate conditions. Strong wind and waves can make tracking troublesome if you\u2019re not experienced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The dense plastic hull can take a pounding and keep on going<\/strong>. Like any material, the more collisions you put it through the quicker it\u2019ll deteriorate or lose its form. Scratches and peeling plastic also add water resistance, will slow you down, and degrade the boat\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the world of kayaks, it\u2019s hard to mix durability and portability without paying a premium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The durable plastic hull and long keel boost the weight of the FS128T up to 84 pounds when empty. Add in the seat – which you\u2019ll almost certainly want – and you have a total weight of 96 pounds.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A pair of carrying handles on the bow and stern do make tandem carries easier.<\/strong> Similar issues can arise transporting it to the water. Getting 96 pounds on the top of a vehicle is almost impossible by yourself. Depending on your vehicle, you may require a trailer or sturdy vehicle rack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s no skeg or rudder<\/strong> with this design, but Ascend has done a good job of ensuring that it tracks well nonetheless as long as the water and wind aren\u2019t too bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some kayaks come with bonus items to sweeten the pot like a paddle, but that\u2019s not the case this time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There also aren\u2019t any paddle holders<\/strong> installed on the base design. This can get frustrating when you want your hands free to fish. It\u2019s hard to relax and concentrate when you\u2019re worried that your paddles are floating away. This can be alleviated somewhat thanks to the wide and open hull that provides some room to lay your paddle on the deck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Storage space is important to hold all your angling gear. And the FS128 has plenty of it. Several watertight storage areas<\/strong> of various sizes can be found including one that is easily accessible from the seat. One is a recessed tackle tray storage area cleverly integrated beneath the seat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bungee cords are stretched across the hull to provide open-air storage space<\/strong> for a cooler or items of a similar size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A quartet of rod holders<\/strong> keeps your fishing pole and any spares you want to bring secure as you travel to and from your favorite fishing hole. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The lack of a rudder or skeg can be a little troublesome when you\u2019re adrift in waves, wind, or current as it can blow you off course from where you want to be. The boat does have the ability to have an anchor placed on it<\/strong> though. So as long as it\u2019s not too deep you don\u2019t have to worry about it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While you won\u2019t find a ton of customization options <\/strong>or any included accessories, the FS128T provides a reliable and stable surface to fish from. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The lack of speed and load capacity that some may find subpar <\/strong>might be enough to turn some away. But for day trips or quick overnight journeys, the versatile and ample storage space is a nice plus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I love the big open deck <\/strong>and any angler will tell you that it\u2019s easier to cast with accuracy when you can safely stand over trying to cast from a sitting position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The clever tackle tray storage location is innovative, no leaving sharp hooks across the deck on this boat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re willing to put up with the plodding pace and the 350-pound load capacity doesn\u2019t limit what you want to do, the Ascend FS128T makes for a fine fishing kayak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I spent some time looking online to see other people\u2019s opinions of the FS128T. Reviews seemed to be mostly positive with reviewers praising the stability and mentioning the cumbersomeness.<\/p>\n\n\n One of the longer designs<\/strong> out there, the Ocean Prowler 13 is the greyhound of the fishing kayak world. At 14 feet long and sporting a narrow hull, the Prowler 13 glides easily across the water<\/strong>, covering distances that other angling kayaks can only dream of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This streamlined set-up does make it more unstable <\/strong>than other angling kayaks, which makes it better for those that are more experienced and comfortable with tippier kayaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The design makes it better for rougher water and the excellent secondary stability feels very reassuring once you adjust to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a customization standpoint the Prowler 13 is fairly basic, sporting a pair of rod holders and not much else.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s no rudde<\/strong>r included either although you do have the ability to install one if you desire. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full review of the Ocean Kayak Prowler 13.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Several gear tracks let you outfit a host of fishing accessories from cameras to a small anchor to keep you in place. A central console offers more versatility including the ability to install a fishfinder.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The seat has been lauded as one of the most comfortable in its class<\/strong>, appropriately dubbed the \u201chero seat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plenty of watertight storage and a mammoth weight capacity<\/strong> of 550 pounds makes it a great kayak for multi-day adventures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the water, it can maintain its speed in a host of conditions and the rudder helps maximize its maneuverability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite all the features and being four inches longer, it\u2019s still lighter and more portable than the FS128T, checking in at 75 pounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full review of the Vibe Sea Ghost 130.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The boat has similar design characteristics of the FS128<\/strong> with the same load capacity although it is a little narrower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other than that and being a little lighter, the FS12T provides similar performance. It tracks well in most conditions despite lacking a rudder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It moves even slower than the FS128<\/strong> and some questions have been raised about its stability<\/strong>. As a cheaper option, it\u2019s hard to quibble with a few shortcomings, but issues such as instability make it more of a boat for calm day paddle trips over risking more difficult water conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The load capacity of 350 pounds<\/strong> does limit it a little bit as far as how much gear you can take and how long you can stay out. The built-in accessory rails offer a decent amount of customization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Ascend FS128T – Things to Consider Before Buying<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"Picture](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ascend-FS128T-kayak.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nAscend 128T Specifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Ascend FS128T Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Material<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Speed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Maneuverability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Comfort<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Stability & Tracking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Durability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Portability<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"Picture](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ascend-fs128-portability.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nAscend 128T Features & Accessories<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ascend 128T Fishing Ease<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"Picture](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ascend-FS128T\u202ffor-fishing.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nAscend FS128T Value<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ascend FS128T Testimonials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"First](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ascend-fs128t-testimonial.png\")
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nAscend FS128T Alternatives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ocean Kayak Prowler 13<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Picture](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/ocean-kayak-prowler-13-2-e1585520415225.jpg\")
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Vibe Sea Ghost 130<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Picture](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/vibe-sea-ghost-130\u202forange.png\")
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With a host of customization options<\/strong>, the Sea Ghost 130 lets you tailor the kayak to your specific needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Ascend FS12T<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"Picture](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Ascend-12T-sit-on-top-kayak.jpg\")
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