>>542964>ocean kayak striker xtYou mean the Scrambler XT? I can't seem to find anything called the striker.
11 feet long and it has a decent carrying capacity, looks like a decent beginner kayak for your uses and it's half price.
I'd say go for it at that price, spend some cash on getting a smaller bladed touring paddle, that way you can paddle at a higher cadence and not have to muscle around and correct weathercocking in windy conditions.
Best beginner advice I can give you is to learn how to bail out and get back on easily and learn how to turn by leaning instead of using uneven strokes.
Don't go out in the bays in more than about 8-10 knot winds to start with until you get more confident with your strokes, handling and safety drills and make sure you have a PFD even if it's not required by law.
Best of luck anon, you're pretty much the same size and weight as me but i run a basic 14 footer sit on top for sea work, as it's super easy to fish off, snorkel and lay back and read a book in.
