Demoing new pedal kayaks

[HeavyTwenty]

I was wondering if others could comment on some of my experiences so far.

 

Radar 135 w/ Helix Pedal Drive

The drive system was "wobbling" near the top part of the unit http://i.imgur.com/NeyxTMQ.png (marked in red). I asked the salesman about it and he said it was normal. There's no wobbling in this video https://youtu.be/kSyzdgUxVFY?t=380 and the wobbling felt really weird. I activated my phone's gps and was basically doing ~4.5 mph while pedaling and paddling. The paddling speed is what I expected; I can do about 6 mph on my Tarpon 120 because its much narrower. But I was hoping for about 5-5.5 mph while pedaling. Basically I suspect the drive unit I demoed could have been defective.

 

Hobie Outback w/ 180 Pedal Drive

I could haul ass in this thing, 6+ mph. It seemed to maneuver much better using the rudder than the Radar; I could make really tight turns. My main issue was switching over to paddling. I tried paddling with just the fins setup like this http://www.kayakfishing.blog/uploads/2/4/9/1/24916216/hobie-mirage-drive-fins-flat_orig.jpg, but I struggled to paddle @ 3.5 mph. I should have pulled the drive unit up and tested it. 

 

I'll probably send an email out on Monday, asking them to double check the wobble on the Radar. 

 

[BrianSnat]

The Hobie is a nice boat and well regarded.  Not familiar with the WS Radar.  Hobie has been making pedal drives for years and has perfected it.  WS is relatively new to the pedal drive game. Perhaps you tried a bum boat or perhaps the WS pedal drive is still a work in progress. Both are pretty heavy boats and you might find them difficult to car top easily. Both are probably tubs when paddling only. They build those boats for stability, not speed.

[GetBent]

I'm 5'10 and 195lbs. I love my Outback. I am interested in trying the wilderness drive system but haven't had a chance. I'm biased with Hobie. I have had 3 different models over the last 10 years. The 2016 and newer Outback is very nice. Everyone fishes different and has different needs so each kayak fits different people better. I got a bass boat but still keep my kayak for days I want to keep it simple. 

[YoTone]

Wow that price is pretty attractive.

i checked out a Hobie outback a few days ago, talk about sticker shock.

 

I was seriously looking at the Perception Pescador Pilot, which is selling for $1,800 but now I seen this one for about the same price. 

[HeavyTwenty]

7 hours ago, YoTone said:

Wow that price is pretty attractive.

i checked out a Hobie outback a few days ago, talk about sticker shock.

 

I was seriously looking at the Perception Pescador Pilot, which is selling for $1,800 but now I seen this one for about the same price. 

The Radar 135 with pedal drive costs more than the Outback. The pedal drive isn't included with the hull.

[YoTone]

1 minute ago, HeavyTwenty said:

The Radar 135 with pedal drive costs more than the Outback. The pedal drive isn't included with the hull.

yah sorry i was in the middle of trying to delete that post, i just realized that it didnt come with the drive. 

the prices for both of those seem way too much for me. 

[Leftymuk]

Look into the Nucanoe brand.......they just came out with a sweet pedal drive system...and from personal experience are more stable than a pro angler

[Turtle135]

On 4/16/2017 at 1:00 AM, HeavyTwenty said:

Radar 135 w/ Helix Pedal Drive

The drive system was "wobbling" near the top part of the unit http://i.imgur.com/NeyxTMQ.png (marked in red). I asked the salesman about it and he said it was normal. There's no wobbling in this video https://youtu.be/kSyzdgUxVFY?t=380 and the wobbling felt really weird. I activated my phone's gps and was basically doing ~4.5 mph while pedaling and paddling. The paddling speed is what I expected; I can do about 6 mph on my Tarpon 120 because its much narrower. But I was hoping for about 5-5.5 mph while pedaling. Basically I suspect the drive unit I demoed could have been defective.

 

 

Never been in a Radar but I know a couple of Wildy Prostaffers and I asked them about that wobble. They said there should not be any wobble in that assembly (and that might account for the slower top speed you were seeing).

[J Francho]

26 minutes ago, Turtle135 said:

 

Never been in a Radar but I know a couple of Wildy Prostaffers and I asked them about that wobble. They said there should not be any wobble in that assembly (and that might account for the slower top speed you were seeing).

 

Correct, there should be no wobble.

[Darren.]

Seems like they're all catching up to the pedal drive

system, finally. Some very nice yaks to compare in 

the field, I'd be hard-pressed not to look at several

if I were in the market, and not just from my current

brand, Native.

[clayton86]

How much wobble we talking about? There will be some but not a lot there has to be for clearance so the unit to spring up into zero draft. If it was tight then the unit wouldn't slide up freely.

 

Also the two we have to demo one is a pre production one and it doesn't have the two knobs on the side to control there speed for the drive to come up so it wobbles a little more. The other is brand new off the line and has the knobs so when tightened you can take some wobble out but like I stated before there needs to be some to allow the drive to come up. 

 

Personally I'm not a fan of the radar and I'm on the wildy staff. It's a great boat don't get me wrong it's just not for me. I'm a little on the short side so with the seat all the way up I just reach the pedals comfortably but then it makes it so I can't reach my gear in the back with out a stretch. So I didn't like that about it. I also like to have several rods on the deck laid out infront of me just to grab and cast. Can't do that with pedal drive. 

 

Other then them them two things the boats great. Stable and fast we had a radar 115,135,slayer 12 or 13' and an ATAK 120 all head to head in  race a few weeks ago. All three pedal drives were about the same speed no one left the other in the dust. It tracks well seats comfortable but it's the same seat as my ATAK which last week I did a 42hr long tournament and other then two short 4 hours naps after the 10pm check in I was in he seat the whole time. 

 

Just what I've noticed about the radar from my view. A lot of people love em it's just not my style of fishing really.

 

If you don't mind me asking where did you demo the radar. 

[HeavyTwenty]

The thread is a bit old. I actually went through and purchased the Radar 135 after demoing the Native Slayer. The drive on the slayer had superior speed and feel (completely stable), but I preferred the hull and comfort of the Radar 135.

 

Quote

 Stable and fast we had a radar 115,135,slayer 12 or 13' and an ATAK 120 all head to head in  race a few weeks ago. All three pedal drives were about the same speed no one left the other in the dust.

 

I'm surprised when you said it could keep up in a race. With both the demo and my purchased Helix PD, I usually can't get above 4.5 mph. I had about 5.25-5.5mph on the Slayer (I only demoed it 15-20 minutes, I tracked my speed with and against the wind). But the only times I go max speed are at the very start and end of inshore fishing trips, so the extra stability trumped the speed. 

 

Quote

Also the two we have to demo one is a pre production one and it doesn't have the two knobs on the side to control there speed for the drive to come up so it wobbles a little more. The other is brand new off the line and has the knobs so when tightened you can take some wobble out but like I stated before there needs to be some to allow the drive to come up. 

 

I actually didn't know about those knobs until recently. I tightened them up and the drive seems to wobble or flex a lot less. Only downside is I need to help pull it up when its not in use. I think the demo unit didn't have those or they weren't tightened; the drive shot up very quickly. 

 

Quote

If you don't mind me asking where did you demo the radar. 

 

Black Creek Outfitters in Jacksonville.

 

The kayak hasn't been perfect. The storage compartments aren't sealed properly so it takes on water, the rudder assembly on the rear has come loose twice, a rudder tube has been pulled through the hull causing it to slightly malfunction, the drive wasn't greased in certain areas like the pedals or crankarms so eventually they started squeaking... I guess that's the price of early adopting a new product. I still think its worth it in my situation. Florida winds are no joke and unpredictable. I went out to a big lake when the weatherman forecasted 8 mph winds. Eventually it was 20+ and probably 30+ gusts, 3+ft swells. On my Tarpon 120, it was torture just paddling back to the boat ramp. I've recently gone out to similar conditions in my Radar 135 and barely broke a sweat. Only got wet during a significant swell of 4ft.

 

It does take some adjusting to get used to not having rods sitting right in front of you, but I found the benefits outweigh the cons. 

[clayton86]

3 hours ago, HeavyTwenty said:

The thread is a bit old. I actually went through and purchased the Radar 135 after demoing the Native Slayer. The drive on the slayer had superior speed and feel (completely stable), but I preferred the hull and comfort of the Radar 135.

 

 

I'm surprised when you said it could keep up in a race. With both the demo and my purchased Helix PD, I usually can't get above 4.5 mph. I had about 5.25-5.5mph on the Slayer (I only demoed it 15-20 minutes, I tracked my speed with and against the wind). But the only times I go max speed are at the very start and end of inshore fishing trips, so the extra stability trumped the speed. 

 

 

I actually didn't know about those knobs until recently. I tightened them up and the drive seems to wobble or flex a lot less. Only downside is I need to help pull it up when its not in use. I think the demo unit didn't have those or they weren't tightened; the drive shot up very quickly. 

 

 

Black Creek Outfitters in Jacksonville.

 

The kayak hasn't been perfect. The storage compartments aren't sealed properly so it takes on water, the rudder assembly on the rear has come loose twice, a rudder tube has been pulled through the hull causing it to slightly malfunction, the drive wasn't greased in certain areas like the pedals or crankarms so eventually they started squeaking... I guess that's the price of early adopting a new product. I still think its worth it in my situation. Florida winds are no joke and unpredictable. I went out to a big lake when the weatherman forecasted 8 mph winds. Eventually it was 20+ and probably 30+ gusts, 3+ft swells. On my Tarpon 120, it was torture just paddling back to the boat ramp. I've recently gone out to similar conditions in my Radar 135 and barely broke a sweat. Only got wet during a significant swell of 4ft.

 

It does take some adjusting to get used to not having rods sitting right in front of you, but I found the benefits outweigh the cons. 

 

 

Contact wildy customer service they are sending out new hatches with a thicker seal to those with leaking hatches. 

 

Guys s have been using rem oil in the pedals to quiet them down and greasing the drives. Blue lock tight on the rudder block also.