Moving from boat to kayak? Top water 120

[OG SmashSauce]

Hey all!

 

I am thinking of selling my bass raider 10E and buying a first time Kayak. I am doing as much research as possible before jumping the gun like I always do....lol

 

I am 6'2 250lbs and will be mainly lake fishing with a little non rough river fishing. I am looking towards a Top water 120 PDL so far.

 

Anyone have any input on this?  Thanks!!

[Dens228]

I went from a Bass Raider to a kayak 5 years ago and never looked back. I've never even seen a Topwater so I can't comment on that but welcome to the club. 

[OG SmashSauce]

42 minutes ago, Dens228 said:

I went from a Bass Raider to a kayak 5 years ago and never looked back. I've never even seen a Topwater so I can't comment on that but welcome to the club. 

I hope i love it just as much! lol....I should of mentioned its a Old town topwater 120....not sure if that makes a diff

[flyfisher]

One thing to consider is the weight. I’d also maybe look into a kayak and a motor instead. I wanted pedal drive but wet with a good paddling kayak ad recently added a motor. Now I still have a great paddling kayak when needed and a motor for upstream or long lake runs. 

[OG SmashSauce]

1 hour ago, flyfisher said:

One thing to consider is the weight. I’d also maybe look into a kayak and a motor instead. I wanted pedal drive but wet with a good paddling kayak ad recently added a motor. Now I still have a great paddling kayak when needed and a motor for upstream or long lake runs. 

When you say consider weight....do you mean I should go heavier cause of my weight or go lighter?   I just went and looked at this kayak. Its a 2020 Slayer 10 and he wants $2500 for it after his upgrades.

[Bluebasser86]

I have a 120 Sportsmans PDL (basically the same kayak you're looking at), weight will not be an issue for you in it. I'm 6' 180 and bring more gear than I should and it would handle more. I considered a trolling motor version but decided against it because you have to register it once you put a motor on it in Kansas and I didn't want to have to do that. It gets around really well with the pedals though.

[OG SmashSauce]

10 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I have a 120 Sportsmans PDL (basically the same kayak you're looking at), weight will not be an issue for you in it. I'm 6' 180 and bring more gear than I should and it would handle more. I considered a trolling motor version but decided against it because you have to register it once you put a motor on it in Kansas and I didn't want to have to do that. It gets around really well with the pedals though.

d**n it!!!! I like that one also!

 

I am never going to be able to make up my mind lol

[Bluebasser86]

11 minutes ago, OG SmashSauce said:

d**n it!!!! I like that one also!

 

I am never going to be able to make up my mind lol

I originally tried to order the topwater but they were out of stock. The Sportsman is the same thing but with an upgraded seat from what the store was telling me.

[OG SmashSauce]

4 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I originally tried to order the topwater but they were out of stock. The Sportsman is the same thing but with an upgraded seat from what the store was telling me.

Ya, I have been looking and they are actually the same exact price and it looks like the sportsman is a little bit lighter but I am seeing different numbers depending on where I look. I really like the orange and black color on the sportsman also lol

 

 

I am up in Washington state so I am going to call REI to see if they can order one. Otherwise I dont really know where to find them. I dont see anywhere up here that has these Kayaks in store

[Bluebasser86]

6 minutes ago, OG SmashSauce said:

Ya, I have been looking and they are actually the same exact price and it looks like the sportsman is a little bit lighter but I am seeing different numbers depending on where I look. I really like the orange and black color on the sportsman also lol

 

 

I am up in Washington state so I am going to call REI to see if they can order one. Otherwise I dont really know where to find them. I dont see anywhere up here that has these Kayaks in store

I ordered mine from these guys, but they're looking at August as an ETA on them.

https://ecofishingshop.com/products/old-town-sportsman-pdl-120-fishing-kayak?variant=31676380315782

The good thing for you is you already have a boat, so you could just fish it until the kayak arrives. Shipping was a long process, but I guess they're really careful and slow in moving them (no forklifts, everything done by hand, no stacking), to make sure it gets to you in one piece with no damage. It was packaged great and shipping was very reasonable.

[OG SmashSauce]

1 minute ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I ordered mine from these guys, but they're looking at August as an ETA on them.

https://ecofishingshop.com/products/old-town-sportsman-pdl-120-fishing-kayak?variant=31676380315782

The good thing for you is you already have a boat, so you could just fish it until the kayak arrives. Shipping was a long process, but I guess they're really careful and slow in moving them (no forklifts, everything done by hand, no stacking), to make sure it gets to you in one piece with no damage. It was packaged great and shipping was very reasonable.

Awesome...thanks for the info Blue. I will check them out and yes I am lucky I have a good little boat.

 

Did you happen to see the used Slayer 10 I posted up top? Not sure if it is worth $2500 but it was in pretty good condition.

[Bluebasser86]

2 minutes ago, OG SmashSauce said:

Awesome...thanks for the info Blue. I will check them out and yes I am lucky I have a good little boat.

 

Did you happen to see the used Slayer 10 I posted up top? Not sure if it is worth $2500 but it was in pretty good condition.

Yeah I don't know anything about the Slayer but I don't see a lot of upgrades in that picture and $2500 sounds really steep for a used paddle kayak.

[OG SmashSauce]

Just now, Bluebasser86 said:

Yeah I don't know anything about the Slayer but I don't see a lot of upgrades in that picture and $2500 sounds really steep for a used paddle kayak.

copy that....thanks man

[Darth-Baiter]

6 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Yeah I don't know anything about the Slayer but I don't see a lot of upgrades in that picture and $2500 sounds really steep for a used paddle kayak.

 

6 hours ago, OG SmashSauce said:

copy that....thanks man

The slayer is a pedal drive kayak right?  What is the original price?  $2k?

 

he added the boondox landing gear, which are the wheels. Nice!  Looks like it need the fish finder.  If you talk him down to original cost of boat, good deal.  His gear box is nice. 
 

here us the deal. Look at the carrying capacity.  That boat can hold 400 lbs.  I bet your fine. I do however suspect a 12 foot kayak would be more comfy for you.  Space is nice.  But that slayer propel 10 is a great kayak.  I would love one as a backup.  Native kayaks have a huge aftermarket upgrade universe. 

[OG SmashSauce]

5 hours ago, They call me “Gaiter Salad” said:

 

The slayer is a pedal drive kayak right?  What is the original price?  $2k?

 

he added the boondox landing gear, which are the wheels. Nice!  Looks like it need the fish finder.  If you talk him down to original cost of boat, good deal.  His gear box is nice. 
 

here us the deal. Look at the carrying capacity.  That boat can hold 400 lbs.  I bet your fine. I do however suspect a 12 foot kayak would be more comfy for you.  Space is nice.  But that slayer propel 10 is a great kayak.  I would love one as a backup.  Native kayaks have a huge aftermarket upgrade universe. 

Ya, it does come with a fish finder but I know its a POS. It comes with the bass trackers which I have had in the past. Since I dont know Kayaks I had him send me a list of the upgrades he is saying it has so this should help.

 

Upgrades:

Berley pro steering

Berley pro steering handle

boonedox rudder

native sidekick landing gear

kiwi tires/ctug

12v 10ah lithium battery

lowrance hook 5 triple shot *cough* POS

ram transducer mount

yak attack lock and load fish finder mount

 

[michaelb]

I think 10' kayaks are too small for you and you should be looking at 12' boats. So I am no on the slayer 10 for that reason. The only reason to think about a 10' boat is for moving water on a river, basically running rapids where you need to spin the boat into turns. I have a tarpon 100 that I think is too small for me for open water, and I am 5'9". I would also buy a used boat solely on the boat, and not factor upgrades into that at all (unless that is a nice trolling motor or something worth real money).

 

I don't have a peddle kayak and never tried one, but your original idea of the 120 PDL seems pretty good to me (if you don't want to jump up to a hobie). Natives are really good boats, just think you should be in the larger 12' model.

[OG SmashSauce]

44 minutes ago, michaelb said:

I think 10' kayaks are too small for you and you should be looking at 12' boats. So I am no on the slayer 10 for that reason. The only reason to think about a 10' boat is for moving water on a river, basically running rapids where you need to spin the boat into turns. I have a tarpon 100 that I think is too small for me for open water, and I am 5'9". I would also buy a used boat solely on the boat, and not factor upgrades into that at all (unless that is a nice trolling motor or something worth real money).

 

I don't have a peddle kayak and never tried one, but your original idea of the 120 PDL seems pretty good to me (if you don't want to jump up to a hobie). Natives are really good boats, just think you should be in the larger 12' model.

Now im looking at the Hobie PA 12...lol....ugh!

 

I can actually go get a Hobie PA 12 right now but its in the orange color. Any old town, no matter what it is....I cant find anything before August.

[Darth-Baiter]

52 minutes ago, OG SmashSauce said:

Now im looking at the Hobie PA 12...lol....ugh!

 

I can actually go get a Hobie PA 12 right now but its in the orange color. Any old town, no matter what it is....I cant find anything before August.

Dang. If a Hobie PA us in the cards...do that. 

[OG SmashSauce]

7 minutes ago, They call me “Gaiter Salad” said:

Dang. If a Hobie PA us in the cards...do that. 

Ya, I am almost pulling the trigger on the Papaya orange one cause any other color is not avail until may/june    and its the 180 not the 360

[Hook2Jaw]

I switched from Hobie to Old Town and will never look back, but that doesn't mean Hobie doesn't make a good boat.  My Predator PDL is just plain faster than both the Outback and PA14 and the instant reverse is a blessing for fishing tight spots.

[Darth-Baiter]

18 minutes ago, OG SmashSauce said:

Ya, I am almost pulling the trigger on the Papaya orange one cause any other color is not avail until may/june    and its the 180 not the 360

The 360 is having some growing pains.  (I’ve heard)

[OG SmashSauce]

12 minutes ago, Hook2Jaw said:

I switched from Hobie to Old Town and will never look back, but that doesn't mean Hobie doesn't make a good boat.  My Predator PDL is just plain faster than both the Outback and PA14 and the instant reverse is a blessing for fishing tight spots.

Ya....I am sure they are both awesome brands..... that is one of the negatives i heard of the hobie is that you have to pull some kind of lever or something to go in reverse. 

[Hook2Jaw]

4 hours ago, OG SmashSauce said:

Ya....I am sure they are both awesome brands..... that is one of the negatives i heard of the hobie is that you have to pull some kind of lever or something to go in reverse. 

If you're anything like me, you'll never use the reverse.

[OG SmashSauce]

If anyone is interested this is what I walked away with!! Super excited for tomorrow! lol

[Darth-Baiter]

I’m orange with jealousy.  And I have a craving for Cheetos!

 

great kayak bud.  Great kayak.