Pedal powered?
Someone on my "Friends" list has a Hobie. Maybe he'll chime in here shortly. I researched the foot powered yaks again recently, before I bought my last boat, and they have a lot of advantages. I'll probably end up with one eventually. But this time I opted for paddle power. Only downsides of foot power that I can see is price and weight. The Hobies seem to be a little faster with turbo fins, but the prop powered boats have reverse capability. As far as I know, Hobie is the only supplier of fin power but several other manufacturers are now building prop powered boats. I think "Native Watercraft" came up with the prop idea first and, in my humble opinion, their "Slayer Propel 13" is still the only real competition for Hobie. But to each his/her own. You have a LOT more to choose from this year, so do your research before you buy.
Never thought I would own a Kayak and then I purchased a raffle ticket and won a Native Watercraft Pedal Kayak from the Snook Foundation. Their boat have evolved since then and I have not looked at a new one. I won this like the second year they were on the market. Looks more like a canoe and you sit on a very comfortable seat on the bottom of the boat. It has a Shimano pedal system just like a bike and you can pedal forward and reverse. Reverse when fishing has been the best thing about this boat. It is a nice fishing or just cruising boat BUT.......any water it takes on has no place to go and sits in the boat. on a day with some chop coming over the bow you pick up water and once you have about 5 gallons in the boat you need to start bailing or pumping. The more water in the boat the more unstable if becomes as the water will cause the boat to rock in the waves. No scuppers in this type of kayak. A very comfortable boat for all day fishing.
Hobie has a different drive system, no reverse, sits much higher in the water as it is a sit on top kayak, is a much faster boat and has scuppers.
i saw one at academy sport the other day can't remember the brand but was $800. i think so that's a pretty good deal, the draw back i see but could be wrong is when the shaft and propeller is in the water it is no longer a shallow draft boat, my old town vapor can skim across the shallowest spots . i guess that's what i like about yaks and canoes they can go anywhere and even if you get stuck just get out and push off.
the draw back i see but could be wrong is when the shaft and propeller is in the water it is no longer a shallow draft boat, my old town vapor can skim across the shallowest spots .
On the Native Watercraft boats, the propel system is easily removable so, in shallow water, you can take it out and continue on your way with a standard double bladed kayak paddle. You can do the same with the Hobie system as well.
It is a nice fishing or just cruising boat BUT.......any water it takes on has no place to go and sits in the boat. on a day with some chop coming over the bow you pick up water and once you have about 5 gallons in the boat you need to start bailing or pumping
I think they may still produce that model but I doubt they will for much longer. The newer sit on top models produced by Native Watercraft all have scuppers that drain water out as fast as it can come over the bow or the sides.
i've taken a look at the pedal kayaks again and for fishing what a great idea , weather in my canoe or sit in kayak the main thing when trolling or searching is the paddle it's mostly in my lap when casting , on the yak it has recessed grooves for the paddle but always bumping the paddle - actually my opinion sit in kayak aren't very good for fishing from and if you watch fishing shows or look through magazines most are on sit on's .
the yak it has recessed grooves for the paddle but always bumping the paddle
As much as I like the pedal power idea, and I will have a pedal powered boat at someday, I think "paddle bumping" will always be part of my kayaking experience. I wouldn't be on the water without a paddle, even if my primary propulsion were sail, engine, or pedals.
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