Hands-free kayaking is the newest trend in the world of kayak fishing. The top brands in the industry are making serious efforts to improve their products and offer newer, better methods for propulsion systems. If you’re looking for a new pedal kayak, it can be tough to determine just what quality characteristics and performance capabilities you should be looking for.
Pedal kayaks are priced a bit higher than the traditional paddle kayaks that you’re probably used to. We’ve compiled this list of what you should look for and pay close attention to in your search for a solid pedal kayak in today’s kayak industry.
Material and Design
As with any other type of boat or kayak, one of the first, and most important, items you should consider is just how strong and durable the boat is from bow to stern. The hull design and the specific construction material that the kayak is made of will be arguably more important than any other characteristic the product has.
Most companies today build kayaks using rotomolded plastic material. However, there are some brands who still use fiberglass or even composite materials, which are a bit outdated compared to rotomolded products.
Rotomolded kayaks are undoubtedly stronger and more durable than any other type of material companies use to build kayaks out of. It is also much heavier than fiberglass or composite material, making it harder to maneuver on the water, as well as more difficult to handle out of the water. This is usually a major concern for users who have to car-top their kayak or find themselves having to lift it up or carry it across significant distances to their launch site.
If you are mostly concerned with having a kayak that’s very easy to handle out of the water, you should strongly consider going with an inflatable kayak. These are typically more expensive than most other styles or builds, but will guarantee that you won’t find yourself struggling with a large, heavy kayak that you have to carry or drag to your chosen launch site.
Pedal System Design
Like any other item in the kayak industry, there are different designs and builds of pedal systems that present their own set of advantages or disadvantages. There are two main styles of pedal propulsion systems in the kayak industry today. One of these works using a propeller system that’s known as a rotational pedal kayak while the other operates using a set of fins that is referred to as a push pedal system.
The rotational pedal system requires the user to pedal their feet in the same way you would with a bicycle. The internal gears work to crank the propeller, which then propels the kayak in a very efficient manner. This system is great for reaching high speeds and maintaining those speeds in both calm or choppy water.
The push pedal system was first pioneered by Hobie kayaks and is actually based on the movement of a manatee’s fins and how the animal uses a simple back-and-forth motion to propel themselves forward or back. This system is less ideal if you’re concerned with reaching high speeds and can require that you work a little harder to maneuver the kayak. However, the push pedal system is quite a bit lighter than a rotational pedal system.
Stability
One of the greatest concerns anyone has in relation to kayak fishing is the overall stability of the boat. Many of the top brands in the industry have come a long way in improving their hull design and creating kayaks that are more capable of delivering primary stability that keeps you afloat and comfortable while you’re on the water.
Most pedal system kayaks are built with a wider frame than their traditional paddle-driven counterparts. This means you’ll get better overall stability from them by design, but you also need to be aware of whether the kayak is advertised as having more primary or secondary stability.
Primary stability refers to the hull’s design that places most of the weight on the center of the kayak and reduces the potential that you’ll tip very far to one side or the other, However, if you do happen to tip very far to the left or right without much secondary stability, you can expect to take a spill into the water, most likely.
Secondary stability refers to the hull design that is meant to compensate for any weight placed on either side of the kayak when you lean to one side or the other. A kayak with a high amount of secondary stability will feel a bit more wobbly initially, but will be better equipped to stop you from tipping over if you lean too far to one side.
If you’re just getting started, it’s better to go with a kayak that offers plenty of primary stability as this will feel much more comfortable and prevent you from rocking back and forth too far in rough or choppy water.
Features
As with any other type of kayak, it’s important that you pay close attention to the different types of features the boat offers before making your purchase. If you plan to do a good bit of fishing from your kayak, you’ll want to have things like rod holders, gear tracks, and plenty of space around the boat to store your tackle box and gear crate. It’s also very useful to know whether or not your kayak offers easy installation of electronic equipment.
Be aware of how much dry storage the kayak has in order to account for any additional gear you have that you’ll want to keep totally dry and out of the elements. These dry storage hatches are also good places to store anything else that is of value.
Performance
Make sure that the kayak you’re considering will deliver a solid level of performance in terms of tracking and maneuverability on the water. Learning to control a kayak without using a paddle will take some getting used to and there are a few brands that make it easier than others for anglers to adjust.
Be aware of whether or not your kayak features an easy-to-use rudder system, as well as a simple steering mechanism that can easily be manipulated with one hand, or your feet. If the kayak is very hard to turn or requires that you put your fishing rod down to turn and maneuver the boat, it might not be worth shelling out the extra money to purchase the pedal-driven kayak.
Conclusion
Using a pedal system kayak will undoubtedly take some time to get used to if you’re more accustomed to using a traditional paddle kayak. Be sure to thoroughly read through any information, reviews and feedback from users before you purchase your kayak.
Once you narrow down the selections to a few kayaks that you like and that have the features and capabilities you’re looking for, be aware that learning to use a pedal system kayak does take some time to get used to and might require you to make a few practice runs with it before you’ll feel fully confident and comfortable in your kayak.