20 Best Boats For Choppy Water (2023 Update)

well the price is good , i had the boat sins a year know. lets see , i will say the good thing first then the things i think need improve . well first of all this boat got some space , woow i love the space it have i can now fit a cooler in the back ouh i can fit all my gear at the back no problems, cooler fishing lures and fishing gear + a small continuer with some things in it like light ad list goos on an on , then the factory fishing rood holder one of the best things about it , the handle is helpful. the siting positions is not that bad but you need something to set on it if you stay a long time in the boat. good thing that it coms with to motor mount , the material got some advantage and dis advancing .. it's though but it's hard to stick something on it or to modify . NOW LITS SEE BAD THINGS , no drain plugs so if you ben to some high waters you will have some hard time , the boat is not stabile as i wanted but some foam in the sides fixed it 50% , the sets had no back support 🙁 . i would love to have 3 person in it ,, come on it's a 12 foot , but the thing is when the 3 person set the boat be come front heavy so waves gets in . so i would love to see this thing fixed , amm the max lode you can have in is 190 kg , i had a 8 foot and it got the same max lode !! last ting this thing is heavy so don't think that you can lode it on a car by your self.. do i recommend it? well yes i do but if you only can live with the dis advantage by the way this boat is a good boat to modify be your own , EXTRA INFO. i use this boat with a 2.5 mercury and the fastest i got with 2 person on board is 6 or 7 KM/H lights are addable if thy work by batteries ( using bicycles lights green and red) floor is not confortabil to set on so get something to bot behind your back and under you , this way you will stay longer in the sea , good way to add to the confortabil level is to install cop holder. (not much work ). you may need a jet ski trailer to move it essayer. GO AND HAVE FUN 🙂Omar111

My Brother and I bought this boat last summer. We love it. However we are currently looking for a good option for a seat other than the built in bench, can get quite uncomfortable long hours sitting on the bench. Other than that we love it.Jeremy

Only had it out once. Worked fine for two of us. Would give it higher score but have no idea of durability or length of lifetime.Actual purchaser

I gave it 5 stars because the value is great. I payed $636.00 new from academy sports. It’s better than every kayak on the market. It’s strong and water proof, fishes two people with plenty of room for extras. High weight capacity. Pelican can do better: 1 piece 12 foot boat Forged Ram X four times the thickness, widen the hull, extend and make flush the front water contact areas. include a carpeted floor, lighten the boat using spray in foam for buoyancy. Include hull protectors, and pelican decals with updated logo. How about calling the boat something that makes sense, Pelican Bass Raider 12X. Storage compartments, coolers, live wells, rails, rod holders, elaborate carbon fiber reinforced hull and motor mount design, integrated remote controlled trolling motor, with options from the factory! Comfortable, adjustable noise free seats. Your customers like to customize these types of vessels. Give them options to choose from the factory! The 10e is a good boat but it’s not good enough. It’s not near good enough, you pry won’t negotiate wider more efficient pickup beds to keep that luxury without sacrificing the increased size capacities. Don’t even get me started on the waste of space storage crap on the 10e. You are going to stand there designing a boat with the word bass on it and not include these things? Let’s kick it up a notch Pelican, my gosh! Shock the nation.Lazy B

I bought this boat 4 months ago. Super stable and easy to maneuver. I've had 2 people and too much gear and we both were swiveling around and sliding chairs for ideal comfort. Chairs have pockets to put maps,, flare gun,, bug spray,, flashlights, etc….. The modifications are only limited to your imagination. Lots of on-line groups. This boat is difficult to locate because it's popularity has skyrocketed. Tournaments with just these boats are being formed. I put a Motirglide 3xi on mine so fabricated a small deck in front. Slips through the water quiet and smooth. Lite weight so one person can unload. I suggest a padding for the floor in case you enjoy barefooting it.Pelican Commander

Waited a long time to find this boat new or used.
Bought the 10e NXT online BassProShop while hunting the internet for one over a year and lucked out .
Worth the wait , extremely stable , I'm 220 lbs , and my son 160lbs , battery 70lbs ,trolling motor , all our gear and this boat never wavered. Lots of fun , felt safe at all times.
Built very sturdy , pontoon style ,and the RamX plastic body , rubber bumper around the two parts of the boat is not an issue as you might have read or heard online .
I own a 8e also which is 6 yrs old and the RamX body , the rubber bumper and the two halves of our 8e six year old boat is solid .
I highly recommend the Pelican Bass Raider 10e NXT and the 8e also.
Fun to modify , and the 10e is safe for 2 fishermen and the 8e great for a solo fisherman.james fulginiti

Eco Fishing Shop provided excellent advice, the best price and delivery options. It was worth the wait and kayak arrived in estimated time and in good condition. The Sportsman 106 has plenty of space and storage for what I want. The chair is comfortable but I still may considers adding risers. This is my first PDL system so still getting used to it vs paddle power. I do find the PDL easy to engage and use especially while fishing. Some kind of carrying cart is beneficial for loading and unloading. This kayak is extremely stable and easy to get in and out of. I own three other kayaks for different water experiences. I’m 70 yrs young and figure this 106 PDL will be my go to for the lake I live on. It provides good exercise and fishing capabilities. I do recommend Eco Fishing Shop and Old Town for product and sales!John Z.

As an owner of a 2020 predator PDL, I was familiar with the PDL drive and loved the versatility of forward and reverse motion of the kayak. I wanted something smaller to just throw in the back of my pickup and go. The PDL 106 fit the bill for me perfectly. The shorter length coupled with the weight savings from the longer PDL make it much easier to load and unload. At 6’3” 250lbs I was worried that The 106 might take on a lot of water and considering they only include 2 scupper plugs I was a little worried. Turns out I didn’t need any scuppers and only had water standing on the deck when I stood to fish. So far very pleased with my purchase!Tim S.

I have to confess, I'm not a fisherman. But this boat will surely meet my requirements. I'm an active 80-year-old who likes to spend a lot of time outdoors, but COPD now limits my exertion level. I have biked and kayaked most of my adult life and now with e-bikes and e-kayaks I still can with a little assist from the battery. Eco Fishing Shop was very helpful with the purchase and shipping, answered all my questions. Kayak arrived undamaged last week as planned and is now set up to explore hundreds of remote lakes and ponds after ice-out in the spring. There is an extra space on the trailer for when my wife discovers how much fun this adventure is going to be and wants an MK106 of her own.David V.

My first ever kayaks. Simon and Andy in Edmonton helped me gear up my Sportsman 132 and my wife's Sportsman 120. These are so stable, so easy to manage. Old Town makes an amazing PDL kayak. I think the best of any out there. I was lucky to research them and found these. AQOutdoors is the only place to buy a kayak. They helped me set up my kayaks for fishing with Yackatack and Wilderness rigging. 2nd trip out, my wife is fishing because she feels so stable in her kayak. Awesome. Why did I wait so long to do this? It is such fun. Every person we pedal (not paddle) by they say I want one like that. AQOutdoors…well how did I find them. Luckily I Googled pedal kayaks and their site came up. They are the pro's when it comes to kayaks. Even the white water crazy stuff the young paddlers go for. Not me , I'll stick to cruising along fishing . Awesome.Ernie

Smooth order and delivery process – right at about 2 weeks but I did pick up at shipping terminal. the kayak is my first pedal kayak and my 3rd overall. I used an Ocean Kayak Big Game II and a Native Slayer 14.5 before this one. The pedal drive on this boat is amazing. The first time I took it out I did about 6 miles on the Ohio River. I was worried about how I would take to the pedaling recumbent motion. I will admit that I wasn't in the best shape and I did have to stop and take my legs of the pedals every so often, made several seat adjustments – which are super easy on this boat by the way. By about halfway through my trip, I was feeling more comfortable and leisurely pace was no problem and it was even feeling comfortable resting feet on the pedals – which is a good sign I had reached a good seat adjustment. The seat is higher than any other boats I've used and I think it helps make the pedaling more comfortable in terms of motion range. Other things – the seat is very comfortable, rudder works well, boat can move quickly if you pedal it with a good pace. Very happy with it so farKevin

I was in the market for an Old Town BigWater 132 pdl. Most of the sellers online were stating that it would possibly be the end of March for availability. I talked to a customer service representative at Eco Fishing Shop and he told me that hopefully they would have some by late January or February. I ordered mine on the 4th of January, It shipped on the 22nd of January. I received it yesterday on the 16th of February. An amazing job was done wrapping it and preparing it for shipping. The company that delivered it was called FragilPak and they were also top notch. The gentleman who delivered it helped me carry it inside the garage and he let me look it over to inspect for damage. The kayak is in perfect condition. I highly recommend Eco Fishing. The new kayak is awesome and I can't wait to try it out. I already own a TopWater 106 pdl so I have confidence that the new one will be just as good. Thank you Old Town, Eco Fishing and FragilPak.Daniel J.

Been out twice so far and the boat held up very well, even in choppy waters. Just need to control speed accordingly. Very easy to set up. The pressure pump is a MUST have. Boat so firm you would never know it was inflatable. Chop slaps up on the bottom of the hull but not to any extreme or annoyance. Needed a heavier anchor then the one I was sold to prevent drifting. Canopy is nice but one can not fish effectively from the rear seat with the canopy up. Buy more scotty mounting kits. The boat only brings two, one forward one aft. The forward is for the anchor and the aft serves no purpose in my opinion. I would also buy a tarp to lay on the ground to protect your boat when filling it up. The dolly for single person deployment is also a MUST. This boat gets heavy when fully loaded.feall30

We were looking for a way for me to get on the water without buying another hard kayak. This really fills the need. The Driftsun Rover 220 is big enough for both of us and our dog with any gear we want to take along, and I can take it out by myself also. We found that we were in a better paddling position when we sat on square flotation devices, and hubby added his inflatable lumbar support from his fishing kayak. Using the rudder we were happy to take it on a 4 mile first outing without any problems. So glad we tried my sister's to know this is was what we wanted. The customer service has been amazing! Will use you for any of our future needs.Jana V.

Took my new inflatable kayak out for a shakedown paddle at a local lake. I was impressed by how easy it was to inflate. Lots of people recommend the electric pump but I think it took maybe 3 minutes of hand pumping to fill it up. You have to kind of finesse the sequence of pumping the floor and the sides otherwise you can get an uneven final shape, but that is easily fixed by deflating the floor a little, making sure it is under the sides evenly, then re-inflating. The kayak is super stable, tracks beautifully and the seats are comfortable. I kept it inflated on the roof on the drive home. It has held its pressure for a week now in the garage. Really well put together and everything it said it would be. Very happy!Chris G.

I've used this kayak a couple of times to introduce individuals with spinal cord injuries to the sport of whitewater kayaking. The velcro strips on the floor allows closed cell foam to be added easily to the boat to custom fit the seating to the individual. The multiple hooks on the top of the tubes provide options for adding more lateral support as well. While I don't think the designers considered this use for the boat, it works well for this purpose. It would be even better for adaptation if the boat depth was more than 13 inches. When the floor is fully inflated the seat depth isn't quite as much as I would like for adaptation.j

My boyfriend loves to fish, I got this boat for him and he loves it. He said it is very easy to carry back and forth from his truck. He also said it has great quality for it to be inflatable, he absolutely loves it.Keeda

I love the portability and ease of use of this raft. Rowing takes a little bit of a learning curve. One of my oar holders has already split (but is still functional), but it's plastic and I assume you can always order another one.matt

Amazing pedal drive kayak, very stable and it handles pretty good in rough water. The seat is comfortable, I really love it!Anonymous

Fantastic kayak. I've had numerous big name kayaks, and this one is everything I was hoping for. Stable and maneuverable; an awesome fishing kayak. By far my favorite kayak I've owned.Anonymous

Bought a couple of Intex Challenger K2 kayaks last year to dip my toe in the water on kayaking in general. Am totally hooked, so this year I decided to upgrade. I bought the Advanced Elements DS-XLT from AirKayaks and am very happy with the craft and my purchase experience. I wrote a very detailed review but for some reason AirKayaks hasn't posted it. They said it was flagged by their auto-review process and they never followed up even though I have reached out a couple of times. Which is too bad, bc I like to do detailed reviews! Short summary is that I love it and recommend it, and you can only get it from AirKayaks. I love all their reviews, guides, etc. The only con is weight…fully loaded (boat, paddle, pump) the bag weighs a good amount, and when the boat comes in from the water the inner lining can be pretty wet and it adds a few pounds. I wanted a second kayak so I bought the Deschutes 110. Knew it wouldn't perform like the AE but it's much, much lighter and much easier to dry, so I thought it would be a good second option, and I figured it would be an upgrade over the Intex. It's better than the AE in terms of ease of setup and ease of drying and storing by a good margin, but the AE is much better on the water. But compared to the Intex, believe it or not, I'd recommend the Intex. The Deschutes is absolutely not worth the price difference compared to the Intex. It's 6X more expensive, but it's not 6X better. -It's comparable tracking-wise and speed-wise. -It's MUCH easier to dry. The Intex is surprisingly labor intensive to dry and pack up. -It's stiffer and more comfortable. The seat is quite nice. -I like the foot bar. I don't think it's designed to be a foot bar, but I'm just the right height for it to be a foot bar. -It doesn't look like a toy. Sorry Intex, but your boat looks like a toy. Where I am EXTREMELY disappointed is it's durability. I took it out once on flat water, a location I have paddled a dozen times in my Intex and a half dozen times in my AE, and never had a problem. So after that first and only paddle on the CT River, I deflated the craft, brought it home, inflated it and left it to dry overnight, and when I returned in the morning one side had deflated. So I inspected and I found a very small hole…call it the size of a pencil tip. Bigger than a needle, but small enough that I didn't notice any deflation while I was paddling. I do not remember any impacts while I was paddling, and the leak was very, very slow, so I don't know if it was there when I purchased or if I hit something while paddling bc it stayed inflated while I was on the water. In either case, I'm now unhappy with the purchase. While I did patch it with the included patching kit, I am very worried that it's easy to puncture. To be clear, I'm not worried the patch will leak…I put a big piece of material on and a LOT of glue. I'm worried in general that it's easy to puncture. It popped after one trip! One! Frankly, based on how much patching material came with the craft, I am worried that Aquaglide knows it's durability challenges as well! There's a ton of material in there. I pinged AirKayaks to ask about a possible return and we went back and forth a little; they asked for a picture and asked a couple questions, but they stopped answering so I think I am stuck. I will say again that I don't know if it happened while I was paddling. It's 100% possible. But because I didn't feel any impact and I didn't seem to run into anything, I'm worried that it doesn't take a significant bump to pop it. Feels like if I run into or graze anything it's a patch job. So I am very concerned about any future excursions. Where can I even paddle where there isn't some danger of something under the surface? I actually bought the craft for my family to use while I use my AE; I don't think I am comfortable putting them in the craft. I don't want it to puncture while they are on the water. Too scary. So basically a tough $600+ lesson.Mike F.

PROS: 1) Easy to transport. I put the kayak, skeg, seat, wave deflector insert, repair kit, collapsible paddle, foot pump, paddle leash, small bilge pump and paddling gloves in the included backpack style carry bag. Add a pdf and small dry bag and you're set to go. It fits in almost any car trunk and weighs about 30 lbs fully packed. 2) Easy to assemble. Pump up 3 tubes, attach the seat and skeg, insert the wave deflector and it's ready to go. 3) Easy to paddle. Light and maneuverable, it's fast for an inflatable of it's short length. Good in calm, flat waters. 4) Easy to maintain. No inflatable floor means you don't have to remove the floor to completely dry the kayak before storing. Drys quickly and is easy to store. CONS: You will get wet if in anything other than fairly calm water. I have paddled this boat in a variety of waters ranging from Lake Ontario, several of the Finger Lakes, the Genessee River, and various canals and creeks. Some friends gifted me a small bilge pump after watching me paddle with the kayak half filled with water. Good exercise, but not recommended. The low freeboard allows waves to come over the front and side of the boat if there is a serious chop or wake from inconsiderate power boaters. Do not try to launch this boat in surf or serious whitewater – it will swamp. Once swamped it is difficult to empty – there is only one drainage hole in the rear of the boat. Nevertheless, I am extremely happy with this kayak, and if you use it understanding its limitations, you will be too.Kirk

I bought this kayak on Saturday to paddle around the lakes and gentle rivers in my area. I really excited about the purchase and looking forward to my time on the water. I took it on its inaugural trip, and it was unpleasant at best and potentially dangerous at works. Immediately I noticed it didn't track and every paddle stroke made the tip of the kayak veer. After I made it across the slow lake, I couldn't figure out why the return across the lake took forever as I was going with wind to my back. When I got out, I noticed that the kayak lost at least 1/3rd of its air in all chambers. Clearly air leaked out of the seams. Luckily I was in a lake and could have gotten myself to shore and not on a moving body of water. Don't buy this!Miems2021

Great customer service! They responded back quickly as I am sure there may be so many customers with questions and the overwhelming of these kayaks becoming so popular. The wait was well worth it as it gave me time to decide what accessories I wanted to get. I only had the AP 120 out once for six hours that only felt as if it was one hour ( had to get grandchildren from school) I would had been out for ten hours. Now I am waiting for a trailer to come because I am fifty one years old and with all the accessories I have it is too heavy to load. Awesome job to Old Town for such a fine kayak.Ronald H.

Had it on the water for the first time this weekend. Really enjoyed it! I am not used to having so much room on the deck. It took a little getting used to the iPilot remote but now I feel like I have it mastered. The spot lock was incredible! I sat in position whiile I changed the leader on the fly rod and did not have to worry about getting blown across the lake. It was very relaxing! It is heavy but I actually move it around better han the Big Tuna I had previously. Not a problem at all. Absolutely love it!!Scott

I have a paddle version of the AP 120 that’s $3000 less. This is for my wife. What can I say? It’s a $4000 boat. It’s orange and has an electric motor. It’s heavy. It is a $4000 kayak. The $1000 wasn’t good enough. The $2000 kayak wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t going to spend $3000 on one that wasn’t going to meet the expectations my wife had placed on the purchase. I paid $4000 for a kayak. It’s a $4000 boat.Paid4kforkayak

I seldom give 5 stars unless I have been using the product long enough to be that enthusiastic. However, I only purchased my boat a month ago and have only assembled and disassembled it. It will be spring before it hits the water. From what I can tell, it appears to be well made, and the components are of good quality. Pumping the boat up with the foot pump would be brutal. The foot pump really should be considered a backup incase your electric inflator isn't working. I found my Milwaukee junior leaf blower works excellent, extremely fast fill, but it won't deliver full recommended pressure. But sitting in the sun will probably finish the job. Really looking forward to putting it on the water. I think it will do everything the manufacturer claims it will.timd1111

Service was great at Appomattox River Company. Odered on wed and Kayak was delivered the following Monday in perfect shape.. Took it it out the next weekend and was very happy with the comfort and stability. It was a liitle slower than my old fishing kayak but I expected that since it is heavier and wider. For the price and quality compared to many of the other fishing kayaks I looked at I feel it was a great value.Gary H.

Great fishing platform with plenty of room for gear and mods. Very stable allowing you to cast and set hook while standing if that is what you want. If that's not important to you get something narrower. Hull is 35" across and paddles like a barge. ok when alone but if paddling with group you will work to keep up.boat review

My Outlaw 11.5 Fishing kayak is a great purchase and a great price. Its not a fast paddle but a very stable fishing kayak that tracks well. Plenty of room to mod out and still stand and set the hook. I've only been on small lakes and ponds so far but should be fine on large lakes and streams with small rapids.Coachc

I love my pungo 120. Mine is from before skid plates. I have had to repair the rear fin. Love floating all day. Best ride and very stable. I can ride comfortably all day. Love mine so getting another.Ellen Schlie

Called and happened to reach the owner Bob, who patiently answered all my questions. Picked up my kayak that afternoon and met him by chance at a store where I stopped on my way home. Surprised by a stranger asking about it on the roof of my car; it was Bob thanking me for purchasing from him! Down-to-earth, honest guy. Travis, salesperson at the store, also answered my questions in a friendly, engaged and knowledgeable way. All around wonderful buying experience from a local store. Well worth the 2+ hour drive to and from my home. Highly recommend.Trent S.

We’ve had a few different kayaks and the Pungo 120 is, by far, the most comfortable. It’s easy to maneuver, tracks well, and we love the deck feature. The easily adjustable foot pegs have been an unexpected bonus as is the cockpit padding for your legs. Our only complaint, our rear hatches aren’t sealed properly. I thought it may have just been mine, but my husband's is the same. We’re on week two of a six week cross-country trip, so dealing with warranty stipulations is a hassle. Kind of disappointing with new (not cheap) kayaks.Cookie Davis

I bought my first one 22 years ago at that it was advertised as the toughest duck boat on the market, i chose it over a fiberglass pirouge due to its durabilty and features, for the next 22 years, i put it to the test duck hunting and fishing. Its been dragged behind a atv, thrown in the truck , loaded down with 2 grown hunters and all the gear, made hundreds of trips hunting and bass fishing and maintaining duck blinds hauling brush, you name it and it did it . I was most impressed one freezing north Louisiana morning when i hit a log in the dark and went overboard, after i was able to climb back in over the side of the boat and it did not turn over , I'm 230 lbs and had water logged clothing and this boat is extremely stable. But after 22 years it developed a small crack in the bottom, nothing major , i still use but i liked it so much i just bought a new one, plus i paid $100.00 less for this one than i did for the first one, i bought the add on motor mount , its ok for a very small trolling motor but the weight of the motor eventually cracked the side of the boat where it attaches, i then built a bracket and have the motor on the rear handle, its a bit of reach to steer it but its much more durable. Once you have one of these boats you just cant do without it . A bargain at $599.00Duckdawg

I just received it this morning. It is what I expected it to be except the the scrapes, scratches n gouge. Contact customer support and all was taken care of. The CS people from academy are freakin awesome. Give me at least a month for a quality review so I can float this in some water so I can chase fish n ducks.Chris in Superior Az

There is a women work in front desk & she is very rude towards there customers. Every time I called to talk to someone about text support none is available. All they give you ru around & I don’t recommend this place who don’t care about there customers. I will return my stuff back to them .Sara Khan

Outstanding value and has held up better than expected. Construction is top quality. Easy to inflate and de-flate. Do suggest a carry dolly when inflated. Having a flat bottom takes a little getting used to for handling. A trolling motor is great and mounting is easy.Sonia

This is an awesome kayak and is so much more stable than a regular kayak. With all of the open room it easily allows you to layout very nicely when needed for concealment or shooting and then sit more upright for paddling or setting up decoys. The multiple foot rest stops keeps you at just the right angle for any position desired. I was able to step into the kayak when launching and it didn't want to tip over like some many others because of the catamaran style bottom, plus it didn't want to tip sideways when you lean way over one side to retrieve items. The rear hatch is quite large and allows for storing extra gear without getting it wet, but it is a bit hard to access from inside the kayak and the hatch does not have a hinge of any kind so you have to be careful lifting it off to access items. Although I did not purchase this for it's intended use of a waterfowling / hunting kayak like it's intended I can tell that as a past avid Duck hunter this would have been great to use. I actually bought it to gain access to the underside of my boathouse and dock so I can easily do repairs to the beams, electrical, water pipes, etc. when needed. I have tried several different small boats from Flat Bottom Jon Boats to kayaks to pelican boats, all 10' and under to get around with and none of them have given me the stability, room, and narrowness that this offers. Now I can easily paddle around, lay back and glide under the dock to gain access and then be able to sit upright and do my repairs with my tools and not be worrying about it tipping over when stretching out one side. So far this is the perfect Kayak for multiple tasking as I require and I can sill use it to Duck hunting anytime.Dutchtexan

I hunt a large lake where the water level fluctuates making it difficult to use permanent ground blinds. This kayak is perfect because it’s low profile, easily concealable, lightweight and incredibly stable. My layout blind fits perfectly inside. Ducks won’t know you’re there until it’s way too late!Duckwhacker

The Phantom Duck Boat is a must have for real duck hunters who like to get in tight, low profile, and where the ducks want to be. I have over 20 of them and won't hunt without using them. They hold everything; dog, decoys, fast grass, gun, kit, and you son or daughter. And I've never been able to sink one, even with heavy loads and taking on water. If you're a serious water fowler, this boat is a must have.Annandale

There is a women work in front desk & she is very rude towards there customers. Every time I called to talk to someone about text support none is available. All they give you ru around & I don’t recommend this place who don’t care about there customers. I will return my stuff back to them .Sara Khan

Outstanding value and has held up better than expected. Construction is top quality. Easy to inflate and de-flate. Do suggest a carry dolly when inflated. Having a flat bottom takes a little getting used to for handling. A trolling motor is great and mounting is easy.Sonia

At first I thought this was great for me. But it started to have minor issues by my second time out (fins underneath bending, pin connectors breaking). By my fifth or sixth time out my steering "cable" (they show a metal cable in their videos but it's actually just string) snapped in the middle of Lake Champlain for no reason. Turns out it was only held in the steering handle by a basic overhand knot. I called customer service and they said they were sending me a replacement steering system but they just sent new string. The steering system has 3 industrial rubber seals on it and they didn't send instructions or solvent to remove them and replace the string. Didn't respond when I asked for instructions and it's clear someone cannot properly make the replacement themselves. I complained again and now they say they're sending me a full steering system. But I REALLY regret spending the money on this instead of a hard pedal kayak as the pros are not close to outweighing the cons. I thought it would be easier to travel with but having had it for 6 months it would be easier to just roof rack a hard kayak. It also takes much longer to set up than advertised. Projected times must be based on inflation time and not actually attaching/setting up the component parts and accessories.Jesse S.

Portability – 4 stars. PITA for packing it back up (have watched all videos and read all material) Paddling 4 stars — tracks pretty good. Ability to get in and out without falling the water — 5 stars. Seat — not impressed 1 star. Very difficult to adjust for shorter women to be able to use the pedal equipment comfortably. Seat back keeps coming out of the track. Customer service was not much help in offering suggestions for the seat. We are left to our own research to make the seat better. For what we spent, expected more. Quality of kayak materials – 5 stars. Love the rudder when using the paddle.Connie B.

We also wanted to love this “kayak” but it’s more like a paddle board. It floats above the water making it difficult in several ways – – hard to maneuver – Doesn’t track well – Is too easily blown around by even the smallest amount of wind. – The seat us so high that it’s hard to reach the water with the paddle. – Extendable paddle is long enough but heavy and awkward to use. – Aero doesn’t move throygh the water quickly. Slow as molasses. – Really heavy in general We haven’t tried the pedal drive but don’t really want to. We expected a kayak to respond like a kayak. Didn’t realize it’s just a paddle board with higher sides. Very disappointed in the design and ease of use. The company’s 30 day return policy should be more flexible or they should be more clear on the actual intended use of their products and try harder to work with customers towards resolutions of design flaws and issues like these.Peter

First off; the team at Eco Fishing was great. I got a good price and good service. The advice on rod holder, fish finder, and mounting gear was very good but I found once I unwrapped the boat and accessories, that the configuration was a little clunky with my round base mount Striker. Also, I did not realize that the transducer mount still might result in screws into the plastic hull. Currently working with the Eco team on a different solution and they are equally helpful. I may end up with some extra parts that I didn't need, but that's all part of the learning experience, and still good value. I definitely recommend this company and I am likely to buy another kayak from them as well as accessories in the near future.Stew S.

Love this kayak!!! I had previously owned and used other kayaks to fish out of that did not touch the stability of this model. Being able to stand up and cast without a crazy balancing act is awesome. The PDL drive is very useful when getting on a spot and needing to reverse pedal so not to drift into the area you want to fish. Your not going to break any speed records but it does move out at a good clip and im not a fit skinny kid. The dry storage is absolutely awesome and is abundant. Unlike several kayaks I looked at, this model not only has a built in mounting bracket for your fish finder puck, but it is recessed far enough to keep it protected underneath from getting scratched up. A family member bought the salty model and was seriously disappointed by the storage and the mounting bracket.CaptnJT

I love this yak! I mainly use it in the rivers and lakes of central Florida but have launched it from the beach on the Atlantic side. The boat is really stable but there are a few things I would change.

1.) The boat would be perfect if the deck space were 6-10” wider. Hobie kills the Old Town on deck space.
2.) The hatches are useless. I have the 136 wired up with all YakPower lights and wiring. The YakPower battery box does not fit in the middle hatch and a stand alone battery barely fits. Thus, the YakPower battery box takes up precious space in the stern cargo area.
3.) The bottom hull design has a lot of recessed areas. Whenever water makes its way in the hull, it is damn near impossible to get it out.
4.) The deck has a slight tilt to the stern of the boat. This forces the water that comes in the scupper holes to collect at my feet right below the seat. Also, what is up with all these scupper holes!?!?
5.) It would be cool if Old Town had more accessories like Hobie. I know they aren’t tying to be like Hobie but this yak has some serious potential.

The boat is awesome and knowing what I know now, I would still make this purchase. I sold my bass boat for this thing and I don’t regret it. The bass boat was too much and a paddle yak was not enough. This thing is awesome!Will Busick