Best Pedal Kayak (see below)

[J Francho]

32 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I wonder if that Lynx can handle big water?

Define "big water."  There are calm enough days on Lake Ontario that I would take it out.  There are days on smaller waters that I would not.  It clearly is not a rough water boat, but can probably handle a fair amount of chop.  I haven't been in one, so I can't really say.  You'd have to consider boat wakes too.

[Darth-Baiter]

31 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Define "big water."  There are calm enough days on Lake Ontario that I would take it out.  There are days on smaller waters that I would not.  It clearly is not a rough water boat, but can probably handle a fair amount of chop.  I haven't been in one, so I can't really say.  You'd have to consider boat wakes too.

good points.  I felt pretty dumb asking the question about 15 seconds after I hit submit reply.  

[Jeffrey Walker]

I’ve read on other forums the lynx is an egg shell and very fragile.  

 

im not sure this would work then 

 

i want something light that is can throw on top of my roof but also wide and stable as i prefer to stand and fish 

 

[Jeffrey Walker]

On 7/8/2022 at 7:53 AM, J Francho said:

It's not totally flat, and is loaded with bungees.  Managing things is a kayak via leashes or bungees is something we all deal with.  It's only as clumsy as you are, so take whatever precautions necessary.  Here's one rigged for fishing, complete with a graph, crate, and rod holders.

 

After doing more research, not sure if this is durable enough, from what I read the shell is fragile and easily puncutred. I was pretty much set on this but now this picture makes me nervious as I would be sliding mine and dragging it around.  

 

Anyone have one and can care to comment?

 

Looks like I am back to a Native Titan, but that is heavy, I was looking for something lighter than that. 

[J Francho]

Everybody says that about every thermoformed kayak, yet there literally tens of thousands of them in use. 

[Jeffrey Walker]

32 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Everybody says that about every thermoformed kayak, yet there literally tens of thousands of them in use. 

I am leaning towards the lynx, but I will be dragging the thing on shorelines and it probably wont last too long that way.  I would not be using a roller of any kind. 

 

The titan 10 looks amazingly stable but it's too heavy for my linking,

 

Which lead me to the the Native Slayer 10.  Can anyone confirm that the Slayer 10 is a stable kayak and can easily stand and fish?

 

Also, is there anything else that competes with this, that isnt a hobie Kayak, theyre too heavy, which I would just go with the titan.   

 

In my research the slayer appears to be the lightest, most stablde pedal drive. 

Also came across pelican catch but not much info on that

The nucanoe is also really stable but not pedal drive, they do have a pedal kit you can add but its not like the removable pedal kits the others have. 

 

Hobie PA, 12ft, 36in, 109lbs

hobie lynx 11ft, 36in, 42lbs

3 waters big fish, 11ft, 38in, 135lbs

Wilderness Radar 115, 11.8ft, 34.5, 85lbs

Native Slayer 10, 10ft, 34in, 62lbs

Native Slayer Max, 10, 34.5, 75lvs

Native titan 10, 37, 98lbs

Pelican Catch, 10.6, 34in, 67lbs

Frontier F10, 10, 39, 62

 

 

[J Francho]

Get a cart. There is literally zero reason to drag your boat. All boats get scratched from launching, but dragging them around without a cart isn't too great an idea - root molded or thermoformed. 

[flyfisher]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

Everybody says that about every thermoformed kayak, yet there literally tens of thousands of them in use. 

this is so true.  Jeff Little an east coast smallie and kayak guru did a whole writeup on his tarpon ultralight and he beat the crap out of it and it was still ticking with no issues.  

 

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/kayak-fishing.html

 

He talks about the boat here, granted a long time ago but it is still valid.  

[Jeffrey Walker]

So Native Slayer or Hobie Lynx?

 

I fish ponds, rivers, small bodies of waters.  I am in and out not long days on the water.  I want to be able to trasnport on top of car and I like minimal prep time. 

[Allen Der]

41 minutes ago, Jeffrey Walker said:

I am leaning towards the lynx, but I will be dragging the thing on shorelines and it probably wont last too long that way.  I would not be using a roller of any kind. 

 

The titan 10 looks amazingly stable but it's too heavy for my linking,

 

Which lead me to the the Native Slayer 10.  Can anyone confirm that the Slayer 10 is a stable kayak and can easily stand and fish?

 

Also, is there anything else that competes with this, that isnt a hobie Kayak, theyre too heavy, which I would just go with the titan.   

 

In my research the slayer appears to be the lightest, most stablde pedal drive. 

Also came across pelican catch but not much info on that

The nucanoe is also really stable but not pedal drive, they do have a pedal kit you can add but its not like the removable pedal kits the others have. 

 

Hobie PA, 12ft, 36in, 109lbs

hobie lynx 11ft, 36in, 42lbs

3 waters big fish, 11ft, 38in, 135lbs

Wilderness Radar 115, 11.8ft, 34.5, 85lbs

Native Slayer 10, 10ft, 34in, 62lbs

Native Slayer Max, 10, 34.5, 75lvs

Native titan 10, 37, 98lbs

Pelican Catch, 10.6, 34in, 67lbs

Frontier F10, 10, 39, 62

 

 

 

pelicans are thermoformed.  out of that list the radar would be my choice.  you can actually paddle that hull too.  I wouldn't want to paddle any of the others.  it also has a replaceable skid plate for dragging.  I have the same plate on several wilderness kayaks and they hold up well to dragging

[Jeffrey Walker]

I think I have narrowed it down to the Slayer 10 (not max) or the Hobie Lynx. 

[Choporoz]

48 minutes ago, Jeffrey Walker said:

Which lead me to the the Native Slayer 10.  Can anyone confirm that the Slayer 10 is a stable kayak and can easily stand and fish?

Yes.  Extremely stable.  My wife fishes standing in hers.  

  I don't stand and fish in my Compass...in my 'defense', she's younger, in better shape and more graceful....lol.   But yes...look at the dimensions.  10 feet long and 3 feet wide, but only 62 pounds once you remove the drive and seat.   I should mention that the seat on hers is a bit of a pain, so we leave it in most of the time. (The seat screws and rails don't line up as well as I'd like)

 

*My Compass gets dragged. A LOT.   Carts are a PITA and not for the impatient.  I have a nice cart, but I choose not to use it for any but the longest drags.  My hull is mostly fine after years of dragging on gravel, concrete, beaches, etc.  I put a nose guard on, and I buy new aft keel guards as necessary.  The BerleyPro 'ducer cover is super hard plastic and also acts as a keel guard.

[YoTone]

had my slayer 10 for about 5 years now. The reason why besides the awesome pedal drive is how easy it is to car top it. 

 

I fish standing on it over 50% of the time. 

 

My only complaint is when I saw a Hobie that had steering on both sides. The slayer and most kayaks have rudder steering on the left. When fishing a right handed bait caster it can disrupt the flow of smooth repetitive casting  while on the move.  If the hobie pro angler was a touch lighter id be all over it but for now I have no reason to replace my beloved slayer 10.

4 minutes ago, YoTone said:

 

 

[Jeffrey Walker]

Unfortunately the Native Slayer is not in stock anywhere

[Choporoz]

Got ours here a few weeks ago.  Not sure what they charge for shipping. 

https://paddleva.com/products/native-watercraft-slayer-10-propel-fishing-kayak

 

[king fisher]

     There is a reason the Hobie Outback is the most popular pedal kayak in the world, and it isn't because they are inexpensive.  They are stable enough to stand in or launch in surf, or fish offshore with.  The Mirage drive is simple, efficient, small, light, powerful, and fast.  The only down side is you do have to pull a cord to go from forward to reverse and back.  Being able to simply pedal backwards is a huge advantage the propeller pedal drives have.  Now that I am used to my Mirage drive, I will never own another pedal drive system.  The Outback is heavy, but is also loaded with accessories.

[Jeffrey Walker]

I am not against Hobie, but they seem to be too heavy

 

Is the Pro angler 360 to heavy to be quick to load and unload?  

[flyfisher]

25 minutes ago, Jeffrey Walker said:

I am not against Hobie, but they seem to be too heavy

 

Is the Pro angler 360 to heavy to be quick to load and unload?  

quick i guess is relative but the kayak is over 150lbs once everything is in it.  How you are loading and unloading is probably a major consideration as well.  You get it on a trailer that you can back into the water and it is pretty quick I am sure.

 

 

[Jeffrey Walker]

I wish Hobie made a 10ft

 

 

[Choporoz]

38 minutes ago, Jeffrey Walker said:

I wish Hobie made a 10ft

 

 

Compass isn't much more than 10.  The weight is what sold me.  Most folks stand in them just fine. Ask @J Francho I stood a few times, but I'm old and clumsy. 

I've been extremely happy with mine.  I'd give it a hard look.

[Jeffrey Walker]

If I go above a really lightweight kayak like the Hobie Lynx or the slayer, then I am going to go Hobie Pro angler.  

 

I have been reseaching for quite a few days, and I dont think the Hobie Lynx has the longevity and to spend 3k on something that wont last wont work for me. 

 

On the other hand the native slayer has the durability but it lacks in a lot of other areas that a heaveier kayak would fulfill, such as the slayer max or even the titan and so maybe my request for the very lightweight kayak is misguided and perhaps I can learn to find ways to transport a heaver kayak more easily. 

 

Using a cart as others metioned or even kayak rollers to get on top of a car would be more beneficial in the long run. 

 

I am now leaning towards the pro angler 360 12ft.  Watching someone stand on the front and back is pretty cool. 

[Koz]

2 hours ago, king fisher said:

The only down side is you do have to pull a cord to go from forward to reverse and back. 

 

For me that's a deal breaker. If I'm fishing an area thoroughly I'm constantly jogging the pedals and occasionally bumping the rudder to maintain my position WHILE I'm still casting and reeling. And there are times when I'm bringing in a fish where I need to engage reverse.

 

I suppose if I did not have the option I would adapt, but to me it impacts my ability to fish.

[Jeffrey Walker]

o think i’m going PA 360 12ft

[J Francho]

132 lbs. without any of your gear. You've gone full opposite from the start. You should get some seat time in some boats. That will tell you more about what you like than we can. 

[Jeffrey Walker]

2 hours ago, J Francho said:

132 lbs. without any of your gear. You've gone full opposite from the start. You should get some seat time in some boats. That will tell you more about what you like than we can. 

Arggh.  I know, the lynx would be great but its not gonna last.  I have been reading reports on other sites.