Thread: Pedal kayak

I tried a Native Slayer 10, didn’t care for it. Biggest issue was the drive is hard to pull up, you have to get the prop alogned just right, PITA. I understand they have an indexer on the new ones that make this easier.

My my second gripe would apply to any of the pedal kayaks, storage. Or lack of storage, I like to put my tackle bag between my knees and that’s right where the pedal mechanism is.

The Rudder on the Slayer stinks. The turning radius is about like a semi truck. It’s really bad, I understand the rudder on the new Titan is better, but I’d want to demo one and check it out.

My kayak is a Jackson Tripper 12(Kilroy) and I really like Jackson’s. But their pedal drive is too new, I’d wait a year or two until they get any bugs ironed out. The new Blue Sky boat looks interesting to me.

Of all the ones out now, I would probably choose the Predator PDL. Never heard any complaints about the PDL and I like the Minn Kota engineering connection. The PDL has the best rudder set up and turns the best of any of them. Also has the best mechanism for pulling the drive up. I keep hoping they will come out with a 10-11 foot version that would be easier to haul in the back of a pickup.

I’d also look at a Hobie. My fishing buddy has a Hobie OutbCk and he loves it. They have new one, the Compass that’s quite a bit cheaper.

One last thing, look up a forum called Stripers Online. These are saltwater striper fisherman. That really puts a kayak to the test. There’s a guy there “Riddler” that’s done extensive testing on nearly all the pedal kayaks. Good reading for sure.

I own a Jackson FD. They engineered the Flex Drive very well-they actually had beta testers use it for a year to work the bugs out-they didn't rush this to market like some others. I had the shop add a Boondox landing gear to it and I added: SuperNova lights front and back, HD Anchor Trolley, Gator Guard on keel, Anchor Wizard, Lowrance Hook7/scupper transducer, stand-assist strap and a few other add-ons like an RS Nets net bag behind the seat and a front hatch tray insert and quick connect battery and crate/various small tool storage containers. I can stand and fish very well. I also have a clamp on the stand assist strap to keep it easily reachable so I can ease back down in the seat. Jackson. For some reason, Jackson doesn't do much marketing or merchandising, which is annoying if you want gear or other SWAG. I have it set up just about perfectly for my needs-I can have three rods readily available in front of me-one on each side of the seat and one directly in front of me with help of a large spring clamp in the pedal drive housing so the handles of the clamp keeps the rod centered between the pedals and out of the way. It is perfect rod-stager (butt end of rod rests on the seat between my legs). I can go 4 mph for short stretches, but 3 mph is comfortable.

The bluesky is the most appealing to me and my style of fishing, however I've never peddled. Owning multiple powerboats,kayaks,canoes,drift boat, rafts/pontoons,float tubes, etc, not sure I can justify the high price of peddle boats. It might be different if I didn't have so many boats, as I do think a peddle boat can fulfill multiple roles.

They are 'pedal' boats, unless you go around selling thing (peddling) from it.

Originally Posted by TwainGang

They are 'pedal' boats, unless you go around selling thing (peddling) from it.

I must be rattled from my friend trying to talk me into playing PADEL (a tennis/racquetball/paddle tennis hybrid), that's my excuse anyway

We’ve owned several Hobies over the year. When we lived 10 minutes from the Gulf I was in a Revolution 13 and comfortably took it up to 2 miles offshore trolling for kings, it was killer for trolling crankbaits for crappie due to the narrower beam and extra 2’ of length over the Revo 11. It lacked a lot of stability for me when I was doing a lot of casting and fishing to the side of he boat. I’m 6’1”, 220lbs. I sold it and went to an outback which is like fishing out of a tank, lots of stability-even able to stand in calm water but sacrifices some speed and requires increased effort on trolling for long periods of time. The Revo paddled easier but the Outback is manageable if needed. There’s a newer version of the Mirage drive out with reverse capability which I would choose when I sell this one.

Take a look at the Perception Pescador Pilot 12.0
Been using it for my last four trips and am enjoying it a lot although I have changed a few thing to help suit my needs. The first was the rudder blade, way to small for my liking and the second was to raise the seat a few inches to get my legs more comfortable for pedaling. I have added the reg add ons but have to say this thing is as stable of a kayak I have fished from. I'm not a stand up fisherman but no doubt I could if needed.

Have you looked at the Nucanoe Frontier 12 with the H2O Peddle drive....Lots of stability, very good fishing platform, and peddle easy...