Diablo Paddlesports’ cross between a kayak and a stand-up paddleboard could redefine the fishing kayak. Our exclusive interview with founder Thomas Flemons.

THOMAS FLEMONS: A “stand-up paddle kayak.” We’ve been trying to put our finger on exactly what it is. It’s kind of a cross between a skiff and a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) and a sit-on-top kayak. It’s wide and thin and drafts in really shallow water. It’s everything we’ve ever wanted in a kayak.

How did Diablo Paddlesports get started?
We started March 1 of this year with drawings and a concept of how to do a hybrid boat that you could paddle in but you could also stand up and paddle so you could have a better sight line in the water for fishing. I got together with Tim Niemeyer [the founder and original designer for Ocean Kayak] and he took us from concept to prototype within 60 days.

Can you describe the hull design?
Most kayaks usually stay between 25 to 31 inches wide. We are coming in at 36 inches wide and on the underside we’ve got a keel that basically turns it into a tri-hull. We’ve got a cockpit that’s two feet wide so you can spread your feet out and really get a stable center of balance. We’ve got all the creature comforts of a sit-on-top kayak even though it’s a very flat deck, but you can still use it as a stand-up paddleboard. It’s only about 9 inches deep in the middle and at the deepest point about 12 inches. At 275 pounds we’re drafting in about three inches of water.

What’s the material? Weight?
It’s going to be thermoformed out of ABS. Probably about 68, 69 pounds.

What’s the big deal about standing up?
You have such a better sight plane into the water. When you’re at water level you get a whole lot of glare and you really can’t see below the surface. Once you get an extra 4 to 6 feet you can see into the surface and you get the ability to sightcast. It’s gone over very well with the fly fishing arena; fly casting’s a little bit tougher from a sitting position.

How stable is it?
The stability far exceeds any of the other kayaks we’ve ever tried to stand in. I can be standing up in one of these and pull in a 70-pound dog over the side and not have any worries about flipping over. We’ve had guys up to the 350-pound mark very easily be able to stand up and paddle around. We’ve got a handle in the front of the cockpit with a  pull-up leash so when you are paddling along and you’re ready to stand up, you just put your double-ended paddle in the paddle holder, grab onto the stand-up leash in front of you, put your feet on the traction pad, and then just stand up. It’s very easy. Then you grab your one-bladed paddle, extend it out and you’re on down the river.

So how do you decide whether to stand up or sit down?
I always carry two paddles. So if you want to get cruising along real quick I use the double-ended paddle but when I get out to where I want to fish or I get a good breeze at my back or I’m going downstream, I’ll stand up.

What’s the reaction so far?
So far it’s been great. Everybody’s looking at the concept and saying why wasn’t this done before? This is something you can tell is definitely not a kayak. It really should not be classified as a kayak.

What’s it called?
Our first is the 12.5-foot. We’re calling it the Adios. Our 10.5-foot model will be next and it will be the Chupacabra.

What’s a chupacabra?
Chupacabra is kind of like the Bigfoot of Mexico except it’s a little demonic thing that comes and sucks the blood out of goats and chickens all over Mexico and South America and supposedly South Texas too. Hispanic folklore.

SUP-YAKs aren’t available yet. When can we get one?
We are looking at probably starting production here in Texas within 30 to 60 days. At the latest we’ll be going the first of the year. That should give us enough time to be up and rolling and be shipping by then.

Interview by Tim Shuff. Photos provided by Diablo Paddlesports