Affordable pedal kayak 10 foot (10.5 is limit)

[Pogues2300]

Thought i was 100% sure I'd take a chance on the pelican catch110 hydrive 2 that isn't in stores yet but i was curious if anyone had experience with a different 10 foot fishing kayak. I need it to be 10 -10.5 feet and stable to stand on, and $1500 or less would be ideal. Thank you. 

[Smalls]

I think your only other option on the new market is the Hobie passport. 

[Hook2Jaw]

Why does it need to be under 10.5?

[Pogues2300]

Fits in my vehicle where my kayaks live currently. I've decided on the pelican. Watched reviews and comparisons to the passport. Thanks for the suggestion though. 

[YoTone]

i recommend what im using, a slayer 10. they can be had for that price used.

 

[Hook2Jaw]

15 minutes ago, Pogues2300 said:

Fits in my vehicle where my kayaks live currently. I've decided on the pelican. Watched reviews and comparisons to the passport. Thanks for the suggestion though. 

I can tell you I've watched an original Hydryve tear up multiple times.  Three.  I hope they've sorted out the kinks.

[Smalls]

19 hours ago, Hook2Jaw said:

I can tell you I've watched an original Hydryve tear up multiple times.  Three.  I hope they've sorted out the kinks.

I've heard nothing but problems from guys who own them, too. But they also say Pelican has no issues sending them a whole new drive everytime theirs fails. 

[Hook2Jaw]

13 minutes ago, Smalls said:

I've heard nothing but problems from guys who own them, too. But they also say Pelican has no issues sending them a whole new drive everytime theirs fails. 

Yeah, but good lord is the boat a tank and there's absolutely no way it can paddle well.  I can't imagine facing any sort of current to return to a ramp with a broken drive.

 

Then, you've got to deal with customer service and wait a week or more for a new Hydryve to arrive.  I would rather go with the more proven drives on the market, be it a Mirage Drive, Native 701, or Old Town PDL drive.  Being able to fish every weekend instead of saying my drive is down is worth way more than a few hundred dollars.

[Tizi]

I recently purchased a Old Town Topwater PDL 106.  I got it on BF for 10% off from Asutin Kayak.  The PDL drive is fantastic.  I have been in the kayak a few times and I am super happy with how it pedals, steers, and it's stable.

[Hook2Jaw]

@Tizi, I've been out about 10 times now in my Old Town Predator PDL.  OT makes an awesome boat!

[Fishingmickey]

I'd look at the Hobie Compass. Yes, it is 1900.00. I think it ticks a lot of the boxes regarding reliability and has the mirage drive. It is much lighter then almost another other pedal drive kayak out there. That fact make it car top-able.

FM 

[Pogues2300]

10 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

I'd look at the Hobie Compass. Yes, it is 1900.00. I think it ticks a lot of the boxes regarding reliability and has the mirage drive. It is much lighter then almost another other pedal drive kayak out there. That fact make it car top-able.

FM 

Looks nice but unless I'm missing something it isn't available in 10 foot

[Yak_in_the_Sac]

I recently purchased a Riot Mako 10 and took it on it's maiden voyage this past weekend. I was able to grab it from a local dealer (Sacramento/Bay Area) for the $999 msrp although I was told the manufacturer was just raising that price for 2020. They are difficult to track down. They also sell it at Sportsmen's Warehouse under the Lost Creek house brand. Occasionally the 10' or 12' version are also sold on Amazon. Oceanside Paddle in southern CA is one of the only dealers willing to ship.

 

Overall I was really happy with it. It's definitely not the fastest boat due to how short and wide it is but that makes it easy to car top and also super stable while standing and fishing. It also has a couple of places on the drive to easily pull yourself up for standing. I also like that I can move the rudder control to either the left of right side of the kayak. The seat is comfortable and I love being able to lounge back. However, this kayak is not for those much taller than 6ft. It's got a good amount of high quality tracks. Also it was bone dry after a long day in some choppy water. 

 

What I don't like is how tiny the tankwell is in the back. It literally can only fit a standard milk crate. I even had to modify the rod holders to be higher up so they would fit. I got a Plano soft crate for it and it meets my needs. Wish it had more room for a cart. I also would love if it had a dedicated transducer mount on the bottom of the hull like the newer kayaks (Old Town 106 pdl). All features that are available on other kayaks but this was about half the cost and used ones in my market were difficult to come by. 

 

All in all, it's worth a look and i'm happy. I did a ton of research and info can be hard to come by on this but look up Kayak DIY on YouTube - he has extensive videos on the Riot Mako kayaks and owns both sizes. I felt confident with his thoughts on them (and willingness to be a customer) considering testing kayaks is a huge part of his life. 

 

Good luck! 

 

[LadiMopar]

If the PDL drive wasn't an absolute necessity I'd recommend the Feelfree Lure 10. Currently on sale direct from Feelfree for $899 

I loved mine, plenty of standing room on the deck, in hull storage, generous tankwell...super comfy seat, and the wheel in the keel. Or check out their sister company, 3 Waters kayak.

 

For the money you're looking to spend you could add a trolling motor if a separate mode of propulsion is needed.

https://www.feelfreeus.com

[Tizi]

3 hours ago, Hook2Jaw said:

@Tizi, I've been out about 10 times now in my Old Town Predator PDL.  OT makes an awesome boat!

That predator is sweet.  I considered it.  A little too big for me.  I’m 5’8” 150.  I wanted a smaller yak like the Jackson in my signature.  It’s easy to move around by myself without slipping a disk.

 

How long have you had it?

[Hook2Jaw]

27 minutes ago, Tizi said:

That predator is sweet.  I considered it.  A little too big for me.  I’m 5’8” 150.  I wanted a smaller yak like the Jackson in my signature.  It’s easy to move around by myself without slipping a disk.

 

How long have you had it?

About a month.  It is fast for a kayak.  The top speed I ever touched with a PA14 was 7.2mph, I managed to touch 8 the first day I had the Predator.  It cruises at 4mph all day for me with extremely easy peddling.

 

I'm hoping to get a Topwater 106 PDL for my son in about 5 years, if that lineup is around.  Maybe Old Town will make a mini Predator between now and then.

 

That Jackson is a sweet little boat.  I like the look of the Native Watercraft Manta Ray Propel when it comes to a light pedal kayak.

[Smalls]

4 hours ago, LadiMopar said:

Or check out their sister company, 3 Waters kayak.

He's looking for something easy to move around, that's definitely not the way. 

 

8 hours ago, Hook2Jaw said:

Yeah, but good lord is the boat a tank and there's absolutely no way it can paddle well.  I can't imagine facing any sort of current to return to a ramp with a broken drive.

Yeah, I'm not advocating buying one. I'd cut a hole in my kayak and jam a Hobie drive in there before doing that. Just thought I'd throw some sort of positive about the company while I threw them under the bus. I'm nice like that, sometimes. If you're gonna sell junk, you should at least have good customer service

[Hook2Jaw]

 

On 2/18/2020 at 7:52 PM, Pogues2300 said:

Fits in my vehicle where my kayaks live currently. I've decided on the pelican. Watched reviews and comparisons to the passport. Thanks for the suggestion though. 

What vehicle?  If you have a pickup truck with a 5.5'+ bed you'll have no trouble carrying even a 13' boat.

 

My suggestion is the Native Watercraft Manta Ray Propel.  12', 70#, stable enough to stand and sleek enough to cut water.  The drive has a proven track record.

 

 

Transducer recess under the hull, a nice seat, tons of track mounts and plenty of access to the inside of the hull for 1600 bucks makes for a nice boat.  It should paddle very well.  Unless you're sticking your boats in a van, I think upping length without increasing(actually decreasing in this case) weight is the superior choice.

 

That's just my two cents.

[Pogues2300]

Lol i appreciate all the 12 foot suggestions, maybe someday that's an option. I did edit topic to try and be more specific but yeah. Live in an apartment with no garage and the kayaks we own stay permanently in our van. 10.5 is the limit. Decided to take a chance on the pelican, if it has issues my old kayak will be 40 minutes away at a relatives. Thanks again guys!