Pedal drive kayaks 2024

clayton86 reply :

What's everyone's thoughts on all the new offerings of pedal drive kayaks? Just about every manufacture is offering one. Anything you guys like or dislike about some of the new drive systems?

J Francho reply :

First person that types "peddle" gets a week's suspension, lmao.

I don't have a problem with them, but it's not for me. I have enough stuff to get tangled on. Plus it reminds of those stupid paddle boats everyone had in the 90s that just churned up water, and got in the way.

S. Sass reply :

pedal drive kayaks?

Perfectly fitting for a banana shaped chunk of plastic .

J Francho reply :

They're actually pretty cool.

Turtle135 reply :

The pedal drive trend is an interesting one. The market demand for pedal propulsion must be there. There are a couple of places I fish where "hands free propulsion" would be an asset but most of the time anything below the kayak is just going to get me hung up (weeds, laydowns, river ledge rock). I surveyed all of the kayak offerings on the horizon and decided on a Tarpon 130x. I wanted a kayak that paddles really well. Was looking for more speed over my Ride 115 and a kayak that attains up river better. The Radar from Wilderness Systems does look interesting as it has the pedal option but supposedly is a kayak that still paddles well.

J Francho reply :

Nice rig, Turtle!

bholtzinger14 reply :

I am looking at the Pescador Pilot for my next yak. I will say that the $1799 price tag is one of the main reasons, but watching all the youtube videos on it I dont think I am going to be missing anything the more expensive options have. I just sold my current kayak last week to buy the Pilot when it comes out.

J Francho reply :

On 9/22/2016 at 12:29 AM, bholtzinger14 said:

I am looking at the Pescador Pilot for my next yak. I will say that the $1799 price tag is one of the main reasons, but watching all the youtube videos on it I dont think I am going to be missing anything the more expensive options have. I just sold my current kayak last week to buy the Pilot when it comes out.

Perceptions are usually based off retired WS hulls, so you're looking at a solid boat, at a good price. What boat are you coming from?

bholtzinger14 reply :

On 9/22/2016 at 1:00 AM, J Francho said:

Perceptions are usually based off retired WS hulls, so you're looking at a solid boat, at a good price. What boat are you coming from?

The Pescador Pro 100.

Glenn reply :

Here's a few videos from the new pedal drives offered by various manufacturers...

Darren. reply :

Or if anyone is so inclined there's the H2Pro-Ped.

I came across this a couple years back when looking
for some DIY ideas ... went with my own electric motor
setup.

http://h2proped.com/

J Francho reply :

Never saw that before. Pretty cool.

flyfisher reply :

On 9/22/2016 at 3:25 AM, Darren. said:

Or if anyone is so inclined there's the H2Pro-Ped.

I came across this a couple years back when looking
for some DIY ideas ... went with my own electric motor
setup.

http://h2proped.com/

That one is new to me...

I like pedal drive boats but i am perfectly content with my ATAK. There are a few lakes where having the pedal drive to cover long distances would be nice but not enough to warrant the price tag or upgrading my boat. My next boat will be a more river specific boat.

clayton86 reply :

On 9/22/2016 at 6:47 AM, flyfisher said:

That one is new to me...

I like pedal drive boats but i am perfectly content with my ATAK. There are a few lakes where having the pedal drive to cover long distances would be nice but not enough to warrant the price tag or upgrading my boat. My next boat will be a more river specific boat.

That's kinda where I'm at my ATAK is more then enough and in many cases way to much especially in the small rivers I fish. However I fish a few of the bigger lakes around here and the Great Lakes so I want to upgrade to the radar 135 and then the ATAK 120 for my river boat.

flyfisher reply :

I don't see the ATAK 120 as a good river boat myself but i haven't paddled it. Not maneuverable enough for me. I want to get another coosa at some point for my river jaunts or maybe a cruise.

Darren. reply :

On 9/22/2016 at 2:45 AM, Glenn said:

Here's a few videos from the new pedal drives offered by various manufacturers...

Wow, I did not know Hobie intro'd REVERSE!

That is awesome!! Wonder if this requires a new form for the
drive to fit into, or if it is compatible with today's models?

kjfishman reply :

I like the concept but most of them are $2500 plus, kind of pricey for a plastic boat. And they weigh over 100 lbs so they can be difficult to load and unload for one person.

Darren. reply :

On 9/22/2016 at 8:44 AM, kjfishman said:

I like the concept but most of them are $2500 plus, kind of pricey for a plastic boat. And they weigh over 100 lbs so they can be difficult to load and unload for one person.

Agreed, weighty for sure.

With a truck, loading/unloading is easier for me
at this time...however, $$$, is not anywhere near
a new kayak any time soon.

Scott F reply :

I was talking to a Jackson kayak rep who was showing me a pedal adaptor for a kayak. I saw how easily I could adapt the device for mounting on my personal pontoon. Then I asked the price....$995! For that price, I could get a very nice electric motor that I wouldn't have to pedal! That H2 Pro-Ped shown above was what, $775 plus $100 for shipping. Way too rich for me.

Darren. reply :

On 9/22/2016 at 9:04 AM, Scott F said:

I was talking to a Jackson kayak rep who was showing me a pedal adaptor for a kayak. I saw how easily I could adapt the device for mounting on my personal pontoon. Then I asked the price....$995! For that price, I could get a very nice electric motor that I wouldn't have to pedal! That H2 Pro-Ped shown above was what, $775 plus $100 for shipping. Way too rich for me.

No doubt! This is one of the reasons I went with a
DIY trolling motor setup. And I LOVE it. Beats paddling
or pedaling any day, IMO

J Francho reply :

Peddling pricey pedal propulsion proves perplexing!

Darren. reply :

On 9/22/2016 at 9:46 AM, J Francho said:

Peddling pricey pedal propulsion proves perplexing!

J "Dr. Seuss" Francho pens proverbic post piling P's proving pricey pedals perplex phishermen.

Preytorien reply :

Most of the time I'm fishing in my kayak I'm purposely trying to get places other boats can't go - including a kayak with fins underneath it. I would hit the bottom pretty often with one. Besides, I don't fish anywhere big enough to need a propulsion system. If I were on bigger waters I could see the benefit though.

buzzed bait reply :

i've always seen them as pricey, but nice if you have the money. one day a buddy and i were getting killed by the wind, but we were determined to stay and fish. i probably paddled 20 strokes for every 1 cast. after a while a guy comes through in a Hobie pro angler and is just fishing, fishing, fishing with no problems. couple kicks and he stays right in place whereas my buddy and i were getting man handled by the wind. on that day, i realized just how valuable something like that can be.

i myself have mine fitted to work with a trolling motor too, mostly hands free since it's steering with the foot rests. however, the weight of the battery sucks. i think the weight reduction of the pedal drive is pretty good vs the battery. not to mention, it's a cardio type workout vs the electric motor!

Darren. reply :

On 9/23/2016 at 1:08 AM, buzzed bait said:

i myself have mine fitted to work with a trolling motor too, mostly hands free since it's steering with the foot rests. however, the weight of the battery sucks. i think the weight reduction of the pedal drive is pretty good vs the battery. not to mention, it's a cardio type workout vs the electric motor!

Not sure your needs in terms of distance with your TM, but
I switched from an 85AH battery to a sealed AGM wheelchair
battery from Batteries Plus. Weighs far less than the former,
and I've never run out despite it being a 35AH batt.

Model is a Werker WKDC12-35J

flyfisher reply :

On 9/22/2016 at 7:31 AM, Darren. said:

Wow, I did not know Hobie intro'd REVERSE!

That is awesome!! Wonder if this requires a new form for the
drive to fit into, or if it is compatible with today's models?

that reverse seems gimmicky to me though....while i have yet to fish in a pedal drive kayak i can imagine that the times you want reverse would be when fighting a fish. so i am supposed to take a hand off the rod and pull a cord and get it to flip around, use it in reverse and then land the fish. Seems more like something to say they now have reverse more than anything

Darren. reply :

On 9/23/2016 at 8:05 AM, flyfisher said:

that reverse seems gimmicky to me though....while i have yet to fish in a pedal drive kayak i can imagine that the times you want reverse would be when fighting a fish. so i am supposed to take a hand off the rod and pull a cord and get it to flip around, use it in reverse and then land the fish. Seems more like something to say they now have reverse more than anything

Agree- I've watched other videos and while an "about time" thing
it is still going to require leaning forward and pulling the proverbial
plug.

When I'm fighting a fish I just reach down to my left and turn the
dial box into reverse or whereever, using my feet to steer with my
hand(s) still on the rod/reel fighting the fish.

Sometimes I've had to change between FW and REV quickly and
that's really easy for me with an e-yak, easier with a pedal drive,
likely.

Surely Hobie will eventually create something easier to switch

Reviews by the unsponsored Hobie owners will tell a lot when it is
released.

GetBent reply :

I love my Hobie outback. Hurt my shoulder and sold my wilderness Tarpon 160 which I enjoyed. My outback won't go as shallow but most of the fish I catch aren't in 6" of water so I am ok with that. I find it funny when people say kayaks are expensive. I think boat insurance, fuel, maintenance, financing charges, and everything else is just as expensive. I have owned a couple of boats and I am looking to buy my first bass boat, but I will always appreciate kayaks. I have had some of my best fishing trips in kayaks. Lots of good options out there. Try before you buy and have ideas about the layout you want.

Caliyak reply :

No pedal drive for me. I actually think it defeats the purpose. I bought a kayak, not a boat or bike.

Tracker22 reply :

On 9/24/2016 at 4:26 AM, Caliyak said:

No pedal drive for me. I actually think it defeats the purpose. I bought a kayak, not a boat or bike.

You can't go anywhere without the "purest" chiming in.?

flyfisher reply :

nobody in a plastic sit on top boat is that much of a purist anyways...reminds me of the dry fly only guys that used to frequent the fly shop i used to guide and work out of....they would always be upset when i asked if they knew that the first fly was most likely a streamer or a wetly, not a dry fly

MassYak85 reply :

I like to take my kayak into some really nasty places that a peddle drive would just not be able to take me. I'm sure for open water it's amazing, especially in the wind.

flyfisher reply :

On 9/24/2016 at 10:14 AM, MassYak85 said:

I like to take my kayak into some really nasty places that a peddle drive would just not be able to take me. I'm sure for open water it's amazing, especially in the wind.

I have a few lakes i fish with limited access points and long paddles (4+miles) to get to the water i like to fish and having a pedal drive would be nice to be able to make those trips a little faster but i have yet to break down and get one.

Tracker22 reply :

Just because you have a peddle drive it doesn't mean you have to use it...just like my e-yak, when I get to the thick or shallows, I pull it out of the water and paddle. Best of both worlds.

dwh4784 reply :

My best kayak fishing has come when sitting on top of a patch of dollar pads, basically beaching myself to defeat the wind. The pedal systems wouldn't allow that. And out on open water when hooked into a big fish I've just let them pull me around, slamming into the rocks/shore, etc, not sure I would have the wherewithal to keep that from happening even if I had the option though.

Darren. reply :

I do the same with my setup. In heavy grasses and weeds
I always have to lift my TM up. I tried to get through it once
and had to beach my yak to clean out the wrapped grass.

Caliyak reply :

On 9/24/2016 at 5:04 AM, Tracker22 said:

You can't go anywhere without the "purest" chiming in.?

Nice emoji. They asked for opinions so I gave it. You don't want to hear it, too bad.

Tracker22 reply :

On 9/25/2016 at 5:24 AM, Caliyak said:

Nice emoji. They asked for opinions so I gave it. You don't want to hear it, too bad.

Nanah nanah boo boo I can't hear you! ?

Lighten up cali dude, just picking at ya...?

T-Rick reply :

I love my Hobie Pro Angler and can't imagine not having pedal drive. Like others, if I'm in really shallow water (<18"), I just take the pedals out (10 seconds) and paddle. However, that is pretty rare as the Hobie's will fold up against the hull and allow you to flutter them to move the yak.

clayton86 reply :

after fishing our state championship this past weekend ononeida lake my mind is more then made up on pedal drives. Conditions were crap with high north winds Saturday, federation guys pre fishing and a chicken wing run so speed boats flying by from 1130-3 when we got off the water. Guys with the pedal drives did fine saying in position and fishing where I could cast a few times then spend 5 minutes paddling back some guys barely got a cast in though.

The guy who won it though and the guy I fished with mostly flat out did better because it's hands free you can pedal and cover water fishing the entire time find active fish then stay and fish it. Me I was paddling till I seen something I liked or seen on the map and liked and fished it. Almost as if they were in bass boats you just use the trolling motor using your foot fishing till you find fish then use it to stay and position.

The guy I fished with mostly though got his slot for nationals on Saturday when they added the AOY points so on Sunday we fished together on the last half the day when I was looking for one kicker fish I stayed with the bass boats trying to cull and he trolled around looking for active schools then when he found one he texted me I rushed over to him he left and I fished that school and got the fish I needed to put me in the top three qualifying me for nationals .

For me fishing tournaments I've done 13 so far this season pedal drive is a must have more time fishing less time paddling.

Darren. reply :

Well I just stumbled upon FeelFree's new system that
will fit any 2015 Lure. Is a prototype, but the potential
is pretty awesome:

@J Francho, you'll like this.

Dogmatic reply :

On 9/22/2016 at 7:31 AM, Darren. said:

Wow, I did not know Hobie intro'd REVERSE!

That is awesome!! Wonder if this requires a new form for the
drive to fit into, or if it is compatible with today's models?

They can be fitted into old mirage drive boats, cost around $800 I believe was quoted to me by a rep.

On 9/22/2016 at 11:06 PM, Preytorien said:

Most of the time I'm fishing in my kayak I'm purposely trying to get places other boats can't go - including a kayak with fins underneath it. I would hit the bottom pretty often with one. Besides, I don't fish anywhere big enough to need a propulsion system. If I were on bigger waters I could see the benefit though.

The Hobie can get into some really skinny water, just ask any "Hobiehead". ? ( they use short flutter strokes to keep fins close to boat)

kayl. reply :

A Native Slayer Propel (or Slayer Propel LT) will be my next kayak. Can't beat Native's pedal drive system IMO. Instant reverse and unbeatable customer service in my experience.

I love my current Native Ultimate FX Tandem, but a pedal drive yak will open up some more trolling possibilities for me.

odell015 reply :

I agree with the argument about the purpose of pedal vs non pedal, but until you have fished a tournament in a non-pedal vs pedal you will not truly understand. Pedal yaks have a clear advantage over non-pedal yaks, you cover more water, have hands on your rod longer, and can make more casts. Simple as that. If your going to spend a lot of time on the water and plan on fishing tournaments, get a pedal drive. The extra money sucks but they hold value and can fetch good money on the used boat market. You will not be disappointed.

fishwizzard reply :

For my "fancy" yak I went with a Slayer Propel 10. My reasons were weight (60lb hull weight), small size (I like being able to maneuver in tight areas), and the reverse.

I use the reverse all the time, to help fighting a fish out of cover, to maintain position in the wind, and to maneuver around docks. I keep a 4-part paddle stowed in the hull and have found that between the pedal drive and a small hand paddle, I never need to get it out.

I have a had a few low speed collisions with rocks, branches, and rebar, and so far no damage. I do miss being able to beach myself without pulling the drive, but the benefits have outweighed the downsides so far.

It is more or less a bathtub with rodholders and I suspect as I get more comfortable with kayaking in general I will get a second boat more suited to bigger water, but for now it works for me.

This is from it's maiden voyage, on a weird 60f day last January:

fishwizzard reply :

I do want to add that I am always envious of the Hobie guys and their ability to hold the fins tight to the hull and glide through skinny water. I am not sold on their reverse yet, but I can see the argument for them over the Native for a skinny water boat.

Darren. reply :

On 10/13/2016 at 6:24 AM, Bunnielab said:

I do want to add that I am always envious of the Hobie guys and their ability to hold the fins tight to the hull and glide through skinny water. I am not sold on their reverse yet, but I can see the argument for them over the Native for a skinny water boat.

Agree with the Hobie thoughts. Personally, reverse is a MUST have for me.

I can't imagine not being able to do a hurry-up reverse in the wind when
fighting a fish. Of course I'm using a trolling motor, but to have to reach for
a paddle in those windy conditions is a pain. At least for me it has been.

clayton86 reply :

So if you could create a perfect pedal kayak what would the features be what would your dream pedal kayak be? Instant reverse? Speed? Able to go into skinny water easily? What would make the dream pedal drive kayak in a perfect world.

Turtle135 reply :

On 10/13/2016 at 9:08 PM, clayton86 said:

So if you could create a perfect pedal kayak what would the features be what would your dream pedal kayak be? Instant reverse? Speed? Able to go into skinny water easily? What would make the dream pedal drive kayak in a perfect world.

If the Wilderness Systems Radar Kayaks live up to what has been written about them then those might be close to the perfect pedal drive kayak. Forward and reverse and can also add the electric motor in the other pod. The pedal assembly automatically deploys up at the press of that button. All that and a kayak that supposedly still paddles really well. I guess we will see when those hit the market.

A kayak that still paddled really well on the river and did not have to have anything like a prop or fins below the hull (that would get destroyed by ledge rock). Then having the pedal option for reservoir fishing on those windy days. I could see my wallet getting lighter quickly!

fishwizzard reply :

I would love a drive that kicks up when you hit an obstruction, a reversible rudder control (I want to swap the one on my Slayer, but I have yet to meet someone with long and slim enough arms to help), instant reverse, and some kind of horizontal rod storage without making the boat a huge pig.

I also want a pony.

The pony will also poop green pumpkin w/ red flake senkos.

faygo1979 reply :

Pedal drives really work well in most of the bodies of water and the Hobie drive fins when pushed up against the hull are basically weedless.. I bought an outback a couple years ago mainly for getting through boat traffic on lakes I frequent but once you get used to it. You really won’t go back. Just being able to slowly pedal around and cast is amazingly efficient and I get into any ware that a regular kayak can go because I carry a paddle as well. Now the new drives are all prop based and they are not as weedles or as shallow as the hobie but they do have reverse which works really well.

I was able to fish out of the Predator PDL last weekend with a friend and I have to say that kayak is everything I wish Hobie would do with a kayak. Basically an outback XL. It is faster more stable and the drive kicks up if you hit something as well.

fishwizzard reply :

Another reason I like peddle drives is training and endurance. Paddling a kayak uses a lot of muscle groups that are hard to exercise without a gym or large home machine, while a peddle drive can be simulated by an inexpensive stationary bike.

I don't get out on the water nearly as much as I would like to, so my paddling endurance isnt great, but I can always fit in a few hours a week on the bike, which translates to a much better time on the water.

I sometimes fish with a local yak group, most of who's members are a at least a decade or more older then I. The strength and endurance these old guys have is incredible and it is very embarrassing how much they can out pace me when heading back to the launch.

bholtzinger14 reply :

I sold my yak and I am waiting on the Pescador Pilot to come out. Any idea if the drive kicks up if you hit something? From the youtube videos it does not look like it.

clayton86 reply :

On 10/15/2016 at 12:52 AM, bholtzinger14 said:

I sold my yak and I am waiting on the Pescador Pilot to come out. Any idea if the drive kicks up if you hit something? From the youtube videos it does not look like it.

It does not. It swings forward out of the way to clear the weeds out.

Pedal drive kayaks 2024

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