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*We have taken it out twice so far and love it **enjoyable.fishing** recommend it only takes 5 mins to inflate. Seats are comfortable, kayak handles well. We love it so far!!*
My first time Kayaking and this Kayak held strong. ruclips.net/user/postUgkx4k5UrhC3v_Y4hIEaXLGvHcN5a5aBmZNB The water got pretty rough as a speed boat zipped by me, and the Kayak withstood it (I expected to be capsized). The Ores are very easy to put together, the pump worked beautifully. the seats are a bit hard to sit in after a while (I recommend sitting on the floor). after reading the reviews I was very scared it'd get a hole in it, the material is very strong and durable. The Air valve may need a small Phillips head screwdriver to adjust, other than that, it's well worth the money!(update)I've gone Kayaking in 3 Lakes and 2 rivers totaling about 40 miles. the kayak had two holes and they patched easily and no other problems can't wait for kayaking season this year!
I will be hopefully getting back into a kayak this year come tax time. I'm torn between a few kayaks. I'm looking at the nucanoe flint, vibe sea ghost 130, and the oldtown sportsman, it would not be a pedal drive or pedal. I'm going strictly paddle this year. Could you do a video on the kayaks around the $1000 mark for folks that are either just getting into kayaks or getting back into them? Not sure how well that will work. But any input on the three would be great.
Chad sounds like a fair review to me. I've been doing a lot of research and I live in a condo and can't have a trailer. I've got the Old Town PDL 106 top on my list. It fits in my SUV and in my one car garage if I store it on its side. Do you have any feed back on that boat?
I didn’t get a chance to try it yet but plan to this year. When the “E” comes into play for Everything Else transportation and storage are the top two factors in that category so with those being major considerations I would say that the Old Town PDL 106 or the Native Slayer Max 10 are both great boats to consider.
I am a VIbe fanboy owning two Mavericks and the Sea Ghost 110. Great customer service and all around great boats! I have also owned in the past Wilderness Ride, Jackson Cusa, Nucanoe Frontier, Old Town Predator and a Lure. At the end of the day, I rock the inflatable Blackfin XL all day along with my Maverick.
It’s funny that you say that, I know people that swear by the Maverick but it just doesn’t seem to get the traction that the Shearwater 125 and Seaghost 130 get.
@@ChadHooverFishing it’s that Larry chair !!!! I can’t tell you how many times either myself or my wife are floating down a river down here in central florida and I hear a passerby whisper to there spouse “wow they look comfortable”. As a former infantrymen it makes it easier to stand up being that high and very comfy. I have been considering the Shearwater but just the kayak. No PD or electric motor. Having a 2.5hp on the Nucanoe as well as electric trolling motor on my lure 11.5 it seems to be too much work. I want to slide my board off, hop on and go!!!!! Fishing pole paddle and fish.
I love my vibe shearwater 125. Its my first fishing kayak but at the price point, customer service and the standard build ins it has you can't go wrong. Very stable kayak and tournament ready.
I think this was a good and fair review - nice work, Chad. Bottom line: most companies, especially those who make their crafts in the USA, have great options. It's never been a better time to be a kayak angler looking for a premium fishing kayak... there is a lot of competition out there these days and it's driving lots of great innovation. For those who are on the market: Although I'd love for you to choose Old Town, I encourage you to choose a brand that produces boats in the USA - it supports jobs, innovation, and domestic industry!
Thanks Ryan. I appreciate you taking the time to watch. Old Town makes some great products and you are right, it has never been a better time to be a kayak angler.
Hey Chad, appreciate the honest review! And like you said a lot of reviews are more like sales ads. I’m in the market to upgrade this year to a pedal or motor powered kayak. My list is down to a Bonafide P127, Native Titan, Native Slayer Max, and the Nucanoe Unlimited. You mentioned molding issues holding the Unlimited back on your list, minus that issue, where would the unlimited have ranked? Also need you in that P127 for a review! Hard to find one of those right now or even the kayak for that matter. Thanks again for all that you do and keep it up!
I’m hoping to get into the Unlimited early this spring and I’m about to head South to really put the P127 through the paces and to start of the three video kayak review process for the season.
What do you think about the Feelfree Lure 13.5 v2 13.5 kayak? How does it compare to your top 10 kayaks 0f 2021? From the videos I have watch it seems like a really nice comfortable, stable kayak. One of the things that appeals to me most is that you can buy the base paddle kayak for around $1,500, and then latter add a peddle drive with out having to buy another model kayak to upgrade. You can also add a motor to the peddle drive system.
I’ve had a feel free life 11.5 and now I’m in the Hobie PA 360. The feelfree kayaks are top notch. Best seat on the market. Hobie I better but the feelfree lure should be top 5 maybe top 3
I just checked them out the other day and wrote specs down on freefeel 11.6 a few days ago also looking at Brooklyn pk11 pedal drive too but I'm still learning this kayak stuff I been going back and forth but trying to stay like$1500 range and under
I use a Bigwater 132 PDL and I haul lobster traps with it. It stands up to epic waves. I also modded a dry pod for a Newport Vessels Nk180 motor. Its an amazing rig!
I love my Hobie Mirage Lynx. Super lightweight, can be fully rigged or minimal setup. Perfect for smaller bodies of water but I know some use it for off shore also.
Not really, I said that I couldn’t locate one to spend time in so I couldn’t really get too much into it if I didn’t have anything to go on other than internet hearsay
Nicely done. Vendor response was cool! I love the PDL 132, but am going to try to Slayer Max 10 to get in places I can't carry my trailer. Be interested to get links to data regarding the Slayer Max since it didn't make it, as well as the Falcon which seems to be a great offer for the money. As always, VERY helpful info shared. Thanks for your time!
I think the biggest issue facing the Slayer Max was it had to go head to head with the Titan and that platform was more well known, more established and it’s a drier ride so it did better overall.
Nice video! I just Bought the 2022 Nucanoe Unlimited. My dealer said all of them took 6 months to come in and the sold all but 4 within a week. Now they got 3!
Mr Hoover, thank you for you time and effort for promoting kayak bass fishing. I don't have a dog in this fight and it was very informative. Due to knee surgery I went with the Greentop Enterprises M12 with the stern trolling motor and pedal steering. What are your thoughts on it? Thanks again
@@ChadHooverFishing Thank you for being honest on that you don't just say something that someone is wanting to hear until you try it and put time in for an honest opinion
Id really like it if you did a review based on size. I don't do tournament fishing. live out of the back of a f150. fish all sorts of creeks and smaller rivers. looking at a 10 or 12 foot pedal kayak. leaning towards the old town PDL due to reliability and ease of removing the drive. Sportsman 106 or 120 but hobie also has a good reliable one in the same price. which one is more versatile. ......as well as i like your other requirements in regards to stability and fishability
I have the vibe shearwater and would have liked to hear your opinion on it, but for some reason you never talked about #10. I am surprised you liked the sea ghost more then the shearwater
Again, this video wasn’t about what I “liked” over the other one. I couldn’t get a Vibe Shearwater from anywhere this year long enough to do a valid review and the only time I got into it was just to do a quick spin when I ran into an angler that owned one at a boat ramp. I didn’t get a good enough “seat time” experience to offer more than what I really did. Also, I honestly don’t like the Vibe Seaghost 130, it feels too cramped to me. That said, I got to use one longer than the Shearwater and it’s a decent performing boat, had surprising stability, it’s more comfortable than I thought it would be and it’s more affordable so it just outsold the others. If this was just based on personal preference I wouldn’t have ranked the Bite as high as I did, I wouldn’t have ranked the NuCanoe as low as I did, there would be at least one FeelFree on the list, maybe even two and the Bonafide RS117 would have 100% have been on the list. But I had to be objective as I could be and hold myself to the standard for judging and the criteria that I established for making the determination.
In fact , if it were just personal opinion, there would have been at least one more Hobie on there, at least one more Native and I would have also have included a Crescent kayak like the LT as well.
Well I can’t really compare the shearwater cause it’s my first kayak, I do like it once I have it on the water just hard to transport. Would you put an x-drive on it or go for a mirage drive I believe the shearwater can use both.
The best kayak for 2021 is the one you own! I can't get one since March of 2021. Lol. I'm new and have never owned one. I borrowed a Pelican and learned what I want and like from it. So I started looking at the Crescent CK1 and yep, no one had/has it. I test paddled their Lite Tackle and love how fast, stable straight it goes. But to this day I can't get into 1. Started looking into the SS127 and yep, no joy. So, enjoy what you got folks.
Yeah, that’s definitely the case in a lot of situations. I have a few that have been on order for quite a while. Hopefully 2022 will be better for most of these situations.
I like it and did a full review video on the 132 models earlier this year with Anthony Winklemen. Again, it could have suffered from the popularity of the Salty and the Topwater.
What are your thoughts if motors are allowed in every tournament, Nucanoe’s with trolling motor. They are super wide. Never personally been on one before though.
@@ChadHooverFishing yea i watched that early today along with some others. That is what made me do a post thanking you on IG to you and your wife, etc…. I was asking your thoughts about Nucanoe as a kayak itself. Should have been more clear on that comment. What do you think of Nucanoe with a trolling motor as an option or not your thing. If i was going to do a trolling motor I would rather have something besides Hobie for that. Motor and paddle at that point. Thanks for replying
My votes on pa12 360! I've been fishing from a Pa12 for 6 yrs now. Upgraded to PA12 360 this past spring. They did have issues with first couple runs of 360 drives, it was the bearing size. Mine has larger bearings in drive & couple other things they changed up as well. I've been fishing my 360 sense early spring 2-3 days a week without issue. It's a beast & I love it! If you're gonna want a trolling motor than I'd save $ & get a different yak but I have no interest in a motor, pedal drive is all I need
I appreciate these videos. I fully agree with your assessment of Native Watercraft. I have the Slayer 12.5 Max and just ordered a rudder from another manufacturer because it kept binding on the hull and caused me to break my steering handle while on the water. Thanks again and Happy New Year.
Great video. Love your reviews. Always know I can trust your opinion as well informed. Somewhat surprised the Native Slayer Max 12.5 didn't displace the Titan.
I had the same thought but perhaps since the Titan is technically more stable it gets the nod even though there are several features in the "everything else" category that are attractive about the Slayer Max.
I was just as surprised as you are. The number one thing that I heard that may have hurt sales of the Slayer Max is that it’s a wetter ride than the Titan.
@@ChadHooverFishing Really? Most people say the Titan takes more water over the bow than the Slayer Max. The Slayer Max kind of has that aircraft carrier style front end that cuts through the waves better than the Titan. I believe the new Bonafide pedal drive has that similar front end as well.
Hope this helps. New to kayak fishing. Still somewhat new to fishing period. Have a basic sit on top kayak and a touring yak. Taking a couple of gear attachments to the sit on top Yak before committing to a PDL in 2022. Cant wait to get some Tennessee fishing!
I hear you Brian. I included links to each product in the description and it takes you to a full blown walk through of each product and videos as well as pictures. I appreciate the feedback and I will be sure to do that when I do this video for 2022.
Good way to start the year off Chad I'm 8n the market for kayak. Should be pulling the trigger in a week or 2. I was hoping to hear the feel free 11.5 make the list. Its that or the bonafide 107 for me
I bought a baseline model Wilderness Systems Recon 120 when they came out in late 2020.I paddle and love the kayak.I bass fish and Catfish and can easily rig for both.I added a couple of gear tracks for different rod holder placement options.Also added an anchor trolly.Beyond that I have remained stock and love this kayak.I am a clumsy 300 pound guy and can stand comfortably on this yak.It's not the fastest kayak to paddle,but paddles with relative ease given the size and wieght.It gets me where I am going and keeps me comfortable and safe.
I was hoping to see the lure on the list as well. I picked up the 11.5 last spring after seeing how easy it was to mount a trolling motor thru the sonar pod. It makes some long trips on Lake Erie much easier.
Good video. I had an Old Town but went back to Hobie. Feel more stable in Hobie but went with standard PA with 180 drive like I use to have to not have problems. If I need to spin in circles Merry Go Round! Haha!!
Just bought Bonafide ss127. Moving Waters Zionsville In. Getting Landing gear put on. What other suggestion do you have for rigging. Mostly pond hopefully lakes and reservoirs fishing
Please come back and let us know. You are the perfect example of what I was talking about. I spoke to hundreds of anglers that said they did what you did and many dealers mirrored that sentiment as well.
hay chad the biggest problem with the 136 old town is that is its way under powerd .to dam slow for what if is, the other thing is the ss127 bonafide kayak, i live in the nature coast on the west side of florida, hudson fl. there is only ONE ss127 that i have ever seen in 3 years and i have that one . I no chad will probiy never answer this but i wouid like to no what you think,
I absolutely love my Nucanoe unlimited. I Even tandem it with my 7yr son with motorguide xi3 kayak trolling motor. Complete open deck where rigging is unlimited.
Mr Hoover what do you think the resale value of a used Old Town sports man PDL 106 with a hummingbird helix 5 side imaging on it? Thanks for the list 🙂.
By in large you get a decent return on the boat but not the accessories, I would consider selling them separately. Start at about 85% of retail for the kayak and negotiate from there. Keep in mind that they are harder to find right now and the buyer would be also saving sales tax.
Thank you so much, I got my kayak now for such a good deal or I would have went with oldtown. Can you tell me anything on the PK11 from Brooklyn Kayak Company? Thats what I have now , can’t find much of any new reviews on it. Again thank you so much.
I don’t have any real experience with them and haven’t seen much of them anywhere I live or travel to. I think they are a Alibaba brand and therefore most of their sells are probably through Ad Buys for direct to consumer selling and at deep discounts at big consumer shows.
I have a sea shost 130 which was my first kayak. It was to small for me b/c I'm a big guy. I currently have a nucanoe frontier 12 & it's perfect for me.
The sportsman 120 pdl has one of the best drives, beyond stable and tracks great. You can even get the 106 pdl version for a few hundred more than the bonafide. Definitely feel like old town pdl is neck and neck with hobie and even more reliable if not the most reliable pedal yak out.
Yeah hopefully ill have the 136 by this spring or mid summer i hope. But for now ill still be working the water with my 10 footer kayak and hopefully get in some kayak tournaments this year.
I'd agree with your ratings, I have the #7 Vibe Seaghost 130 I trailer mine. The Shearwater can use the Hobile pedal drive system, vibe's only knock is the lower mount on the seat, if they offered a higher level seat it would be a Rockstar for beginner fisherman. The Shearwater offers a better seat with options but the factory pedal system needs work..
Be nice to actually hear an updated version to this review after you have actually tried all of these kayaks. And usually if something is so hard to obtain because it's sold out everywhere and usually means probably because it's a really good product.
Definitely want to try out the hobie 360 pa14. So far tried these: old town 106 pdl, 120 pdl, bonafide ss127, autopilot 136…them old towns are legit but bonafide is fast and id imagine easier to paddle vs autopilot
I agree with the seat in the Bonafide. I like the seat in my PA14 but not quite as good. Also have a vibe shearwater and definitely need a cushion for that seat.
If there was a detractor for the Vibe Shearwater is was comfort in my opinion. I didn’t call it out or slam them for it because it is pretty good, it just wasn’t the best on the list overall.
Good list sir! Love my lure 13.5 only downside it is so slow to paddle. My Eddyline Caribbean 12 FS angler is great for the minimalist fishing trips. Paddles amazingly.
I have the ap120 and absolutely love it,can’t really compare it as it’s the first and only kayak I owned but I feel like it does everything I need it to do and more:)
The Slayer 10 Max was new, it will probably pass the Titan or potentially replace it down the road but it didn’t do as well as the Titan this year. I think the 12’ boat is also just a more popular size
My BigRig HdFd is a tournament fisbing machine! Especially with my newport vessels on the stern and drive delete! Talk about deck space and stability! I can shoot a music video going full speed on this demo son!
The Bonafide SS127 is a great kayak, however I would dock it for requiring at least the flex-wings if not the rudder to pedal straight but more so for reliability, and by that I mean that I have to re-glue the seat pads every single time before I go out. Really poor design and I know it's quite a common issue from other users in the Facebook group always complaining about it - many said they blew off on the way to the lake even before they ever got it on the water.
@@ChadHooverFishing The pads that keep the back of the seat from wearing straight through the hull. I used the strongest apoxy I could buy but they never hold.
There's probably a reason the tarpon 120 is not on this list, I'm guessing the seat. If anyone here has paddled one what is your opinions on it compared to other paddle yaks
The Tarpon 120 was a great boat when it came out. The sport has evolved substantially and the Tarpon hasn’t really evolved with it. Again, it’s still a great platform, it’s just not in the top fishing kayaks anymore. It’s also not very widely carried by dealers which leads to even less representation in the sport.
Great video. I really like the criteria, and the acronym to go with them-I think this alone will ease the decision-making process for a lot of people. Would have loved to hear Chad’s criticisms of the Vibe Shearwater. I understand and admire the moral stance on Chinese-made goods, but the Shearwater is a rare example of off-shore manufacturing adding value to the consumer. I was able to get a great platform with a Bixpy for less than $2500. I solo a lot of heavy current creeks, such as the Big Piney, and that motor gives me the opportunity to fish while cruising up stream, then paddle back to the put-in.
@@NYRHM I really like it. By no means am I an expert on fishing kayaks, but I heavily researched them for two years before going with the Shearwater. It tracks really well, is incredibly stable, and is a great overall fishing platform. I frequently do overnights on the river, and it performs very well with a full load. If you have any specific questions, please ask.
I don't have much to go on but I got mine cause it was available and at and at good price. I got a vibe yellowfin 120. I wish it was a little more stable when standing.
That’s how a lot of people got into their first kayak, especially this last two years with availability issues from some brands and increased demand. If it gets you on the water and you are happy with it, then that’s all that really matters.
Good list, Chad. The only exception I'd make would be to eliminate your Jackson nominee. I know its drive has supposedly been improved, maybe a prop change and a few internals. But, I found the drive heavy, sluggish and sort of rough. It felt like the hand crank on a manual ice cream maker . . . if you follow my analogy. It fails miserably compared to Native's pedal drive in terms of feel of operation.
Yeah, and I agree with what you say. It’s ultimately why I didn’t end up sticking with the BlueSky Boatworks. That being said, the numbers didn’t lie and there were a ton of people that got their Flex Drive and had zero issues. It’s kinda similar to the situation with the Hobie 360 Drive. There are people that have had multiple FD drives and all had issues and there are thousands that had no issues. There are lots of people that had issues with the 360 Drive and then there are many, many anglers that never had an issue. There are even a few dealers that sold quite a few Hobie PA 360’s and haven’t had a customer with a single issue.
I didn’t “skip over” it. If I didn’t talk about it there wouldn’t be a discussion about me skipping it, so that doesn’t make sense. On most TOP list videos you talk more about the topic the closer you get to number one. I even said that I would be doing a full review of each of the boats so I will talk more about it then. Sorry if I didn’t go into enough detail for you, but that wasn’t the point of this video.
@@ChadHooverFishing the only way I knew what number ten was on your list was by looking in the video description. It’s the same kayak I have & was curious on your opinion of it but you started off with number 9 & only made mention of a second Vibe boat being in the list when you got to the Sea Ghost. I’ll watch it again in case I missed something but I know I rewound the video & never saw your views on the Shearwater.
I do not know how the Hobie PA 12 180 did not out perform the 360 due to all the mechanical issues with the 360? Everyone I know that bought the 360 has already sold them and gone back to the 180 🤷🏼♂️ Personally I have an OT 120 PDL and it works for me due to limited room for storage over the 132 👊😎
I think you answered part of the question yourself. I lot of people went “back to another Hobie”, but many anglers who’s first experience was with this boat, sold them and went to a different brand because they didn’t have that foundational confidence in the other boats. The other issue that I saw quite a bit was that those same anglers were very vocal to fellow anglers and in turn probably cost Hobie some sales just by word of mouth.
I do agree with on all the kayaks, it took me 6mo to chose a kayak I brought the AP120 because of the spotlock and the affordability but most of all I wanted to concentrate on fishing more and not worry about paddling or steering with my hands and like you said adding a battery is still comes out cheaper
I have a Old Town 120 Auto Pilot and would love to do tournaments but now see that they are not allowed in Tournaments. I’m glad I bought it but I would like to do tournaments but until rules change I’m out. I’m 62 and I like the motor
The Frontier fell out of favor this year for some reason, probably a combination of availability and the new Unlimited. The Kaku is popular in really small areas like Florida and parts of Texas but doesn’t seem to get much traction other places.
the old town is probably the best fishing kayak ive seen but its a huge bummer that my local PA kayak fishing tournaments don't allow motor drives so i cant get it. so its between the natives maxes and bonafide p127. pedals drives are allowed so it makes more sense to go in that direction even tho the old town is the best boat ive ever seen. Had they had a way to drop a pedal drive in that bad boy and take the motor out for tournaments i would be all over that boat. But here we are so it comes down to two boats. don't think i could go wrong with either company. great content.. tight lines bro!
@@ChadHooverFishing defiantly plan on doing so in the future. But traveling less than an hr to local fishing tournaments all summer is a nice luxury. They need to change the rule. Especially since bigger organizations like ones you run and allow motors. At this point I would think they would do everything they could to encourage people to get into this tournaments. The more ppl the better. Got to grow the sport not keep ppl out by these restrictions. But I'll just throw a motor on the p127 😜
i agree that it’s a great platform and it was on my list last year. I think that when they discontinued it for 2022, they stopped pushing it for 2021 and that’s what hurt it for the second half of the year.
Curious how the Bonafide 107 didn't make the cut, unless you lumped it in with the 127. Super stable, affordable, born to be rigged, great creek boat and super comfortable seat. Heck, just having the junk drawer makes it a winner :) - I've had mine for 3 years and still love it.
Because it didn’t make the list. I didn’t “lump It in” it just didn’t have the sales and market penetration to make the list. The SS127 outsells in 20 to 1. The RS117 also canalizes sales from the SS107 as well. It’s a great boat, but it’s just not as popular as the others on the list
@@ChadHooverFishing yes sir, I see that now. I didn't catch it in the recap, just knew I didn't hear about it in the main overview. My fault. I appreciate you working to give an unbiased review!
I was honestly surprised that the Outback didn’t do better than it did. I literally found dealers that had the PA and OT AP on back order for months and had Outbacks in stock that they couldn’t move. I think the Lynx will do really well this coming season and should break into the top 10. The only thing that I think would prevent that from happening is if the Hobie iTrek sales cannibalize some of its sales.
I absolutely agree with your list, especially with affordability being a factor, I have a PA14 and yes someone could argue that you could just put a motorguide on the front, but after it is all said and done you are $8,000 into just the boat and motor if you decide to go that route, I will say though that I would not change my decision to go with the PA14 because the stability of that boat is just impeccable. But if you took affordability out of the equation I believe paired with the motorguide xi3 it would definitely take the number one spot.
I have the Unlimited and predicted it at 8. I am not very experienced with many kayaks but there are certainly some improvements I would suggest. I still like it a lot though .
WOW! I would have thought a FeelFree 13.5 would have made the list. I have been in each of the kayaks you mentioned, and I even disagree with the HPA being #2. By far, the Hobbie is #1 but the FeelFree should have made top 5.
The FeelFree was on the list last year and for whatever reason didn’t do as well this year. The FeelFree Durado was just outside the top ten and would have probably bumped out the Vibe Shearwater but it really came down to availability. Many dealers stated that it just hadn’t sold through as well this year, so again, like I stated, I did a lot of that research to remove as much subjectivity as possible. Had I guessed without doing the research I would have assumed the same thing and would have probably put the FeelFree Lure at somewhere between third and fifth. As far as the the Hobie being number one, if you watch the video and listen I pretty much said that it could have easily have been number one, but a few key factors prevented that from happening for 2021. Just because you’ve been in all the kayaks doesn’t affect the outcome of the results, much like it didn’t for me since I was able to spend time in all of them except the NuCanoe UnLimited (again, as I stated). If this video had been titled My FAVORITE KAYAKS of 2021, then the order and list would have likely been much different.
@@ChadHooverFishing Your favorite kayaks of 2021 list is the one I want to see! I'm really curious where you would rank/compare the topwater 120 to the big water 132
@Chad Hoover Well, the fact you replied, I'm impressed. I met you in Hendersonville a few years back and realized you had a wide span of knowledge on kayak then. Thanks for replying, and I hope to see you on the trail this year. I
The one thing that i believe shouldve taken more of a factor is the lack of rigability in the autopilot. The 6 inch front hatch makes it almost impossible to rig the kayak the way I would want it.
I hear what you are saying, but I also think that the fact that you don’t have to do a lot Of rigging offsets that quite a bit. Out of curiosity, what was it that you couldn’t rig because of the motor? I’ve found that pedal drives are much more of an issue for that than this motor would be. Looking forward to hearing your feedback.
The biggest reason I didn't bite the bullet and buy a Hobie and went with a shearwater for now is that beyond the issues I've seen with the 360 drive. Hobie hasn't addressed a longstanding issue with the hull cracking in the scupper and number one hull issue I've heard from people in person and people online is that the hull cracks where the seat rests on the hull. With such a short hull warranty at that price I just couldn't justify it.
I'd love to see you and some of the other guys that are sponsored and have the means to do some kayak giveaways to give some of us guys that want to get into the kayak fishing world but just don't quite have the means to do so yet an opportunity at starting. Might be pretty cool to have a winner of a giveaway potentially win a tournament. Just my 2 cents. Keep up the great content.
I do them all the time and just announced that I’m giving away an Old Town Autopilot through my CATCG22 Challenge this year and will be adding more and more prizes as well. I also have a giveaway going on right now that has a BONAFIDE kayak as one of the prizes.
Y’all please consider supporting the channel by joining KBF. You get back more than you spend right up front and then benefit all year. Check it out and thanks in advance for the support! JOIN HERE: www.kayakbassfishing.com/join/
Got my free sticker and membership last week. Will become a paying member soon.
*We have taken it out twice so far and love it **enjoyable.fishing** recommend it only takes 5 mins to inflate. Seats are comfortable, kayak handles well. We love it so far!!*
My first time Kayaking and this Kayak held strong. ruclips.net/user/postUgkx4k5UrhC3v_Y4hIEaXLGvHcN5a5aBmZNB The water got pretty rough as a speed boat zipped by me, and the Kayak withstood it (I expected to be capsized). The Ores are very easy to put together, the pump worked beautifully. the seats are a bit hard to sit in after a while (I recommend sitting on the floor). after reading the reviews I was very scared it'd get a hole in it, the material is very strong and durable. The Air valve may need a small Phillips head screwdriver to adjust, other than that, it's well worth the money!(update)I've gone Kayaking in 3 Lakes and 2 rivers totaling about 40 miles. the kayak had two holes and they patched easily and no other problems can't wait for kayaking season this year!
I will be hopefully getting back into a kayak this year come tax time. I'm torn between a few kayaks. I'm looking at the nucanoe flint, vibe sea ghost 130, and the oldtown sportsman, it would not be a pedal drive or pedal. I'm going strictly paddle this year. Could you do a video on the kayaks around the $1000 mark for folks that are either just getting into kayaks or getting back into them? Not sure how well that will work. But any input on the three would be great.
Chad sounds like a fair review to me. I've been doing a lot of research and I live in a condo and can't have a trailer. I've got the Old Town PDL 106 top on my list. It fits in my SUV and in my one car garage if I store it on its side. Do you have any feed back on that boat?
I didn’t get a chance to try it yet but plan to this year. When the “E” comes into play for Everything Else transportation and storage are the top two factors in that category so with those being major considerations I would say that the Old Town PDL 106 or the Native Slayer Max 10 are both great boats to consider.
I am a VIbe fanboy owning two Mavericks and the Sea Ghost 110. Great customer service and all around great boats! I have also owned in the past Wilderness Ride, Jackson Cusa, Nucanoe Frontier, Old Town Predator and a Lure. At the end of the day, I rock the inflatable Blackfin XL all day along with my Maverick.
It’s funny that you say that, I know people that swear by the Maverick but it just doesn’t seem to get the traction that the Shearwater 125 and Seaghost 130 get.
@@ChadHooverFishing it’s that Larry chair !!!! I can’t tell you how many times either myself or my wife are floating down a river down here in central florida and I hear a passerby whisper to there spouse “wow they look comfortable”. As a former infantrymen it makes it easier to stand up being that high and very comfy. I have been considering the Shearwater but just the kayak. No PD or electric motor. Having a 2.5hp on the Nucanoe as well as electric trolling motor on my lure 11.5 it seems to be too much work. I want to slide my board off, hop on and go!!!!! Fishing pole paddle and fish.
That’s what I hate about my shearwater is the damn thing weighs 90lbs, and almost 13feet long it’s just a lot of work getting it to and from home.
I love my vibe shearwater 125. Its my first fishing kayak but at the price point, customer service and the standard build ins it has you can't go wrong. Very stable kayak and tournament ready.
I think this was a good and fair review - nice work, Chad. Bottom line: most companies, especially those who make their crafts in the USA, have great options. It's never been a better time to be a kayak angler looking for a premium fishing kayak... there is a lot of competition out there these days and it's driving lots of great innovation. For those who are on the market: Although I'd love for you to choose Old Town, I encourage you to choose a brand that produces boats in the USA - it supports jobs, innovation, and domestic industry!
Thanks Ryan. I appreciate you taking the time to watch. Old Town makes some great products and you are right, it has never been a better time to be a kayak angler.
Hey Chad, appreciate the honest review! And like you said a lot of reviews are more like sales ads. I’m in the market to upgrade this year to a pedal or motor powered kayak. My list is down to a Bonafide P127, Native Titan, Native Slayer Max, and the Nucanoe Unlimited. You mentioned molding issues holding the Unlimited back on your list, minus that issue, where would the unlimited have ranked? Also need you in that P127 for a review! Hard to find one of those right now or even the kayak for that matter. Thanks again for all that you do and keep it up!
I’m hoping to get into the Unlimited early this spring and I’m about to head South to really put the P127 through the paces and to start of the three video kayak review process for the season.
Thanks for the content! 2 of the ones I'm considering are on your list. I'm looking for one to potentially hunt water fowl on as well.
Heck yeah, it’s a perfect platform
@@ChadHooverFishing The Recon and sportsman 120 are two of the top of my list.
What do you think about the Feelfree Lure 13.5 v2 13.5 kayak? How does it compare to your top 10 kayaks 0f 2021? From the videos I have watch it seems like a really nice comfortable, stable kayak. One of the things that appeals to me most is that you can buy the base paddle kayak for around $1,500, and then latter add a peddle drive with out having to buy another model kayak to upgrade. You can also add a motor to the peddle drive system.
I’ve had a feel free life 11.5 and now I’m in the Hobie PA 360. The feelfree kayaks are top notch. Best seat on the market. Hobie I better but the feelfree lure should be top 5 maybe top 3
Those seats look more comfortable than the seats most people spend all day in.
I just checked them out the other day and wrote specs down on freefeel 11.6 a few days ago also looking at Brooklyn pk11 pedal drive too but I'm still learning this kayak stuff I been going back and forth but trying to stay like$1500 range and under
I use a Bigwater 132 PDL and I haul lobster traps with it. It stands up to epic waves. I also modded a dry pod for a Newport Vessels Nk180 motor. Its an amazing rig!
👍
I love my Hobie Mirage Lynx. Super lightweight, can be fully rigged or minimal setup. Perfect for smaller bodies of water but I know some use it for off shore also.
Yeap, I like that boat for all the same reasons. I even called the concept for the Lynx (and it’s manufacturing) a game changer at ICAST this year.
Happy New Year Chad. Excited for 2022 🍿🍿🍿
Happy New Year to you too CBG
I like the list. I’m hoping to get into an old town autopilot 120 this season. Coming from a old town topwater 120 pdl. Great kayaks.
I’m planning on trying out and reviewing both this year
You won’t regret it, they are awesome
Did you speak on the vibe shearwater in this video? I know you had it listed at #10 but I couldnt find where you spoke about it.
Not really, I said that I couldn’t locate one to spend time in so I couldn’t really get too much into it if I didn’t have anything to go on other than internet hearsay
Nicely done. Vendor response was cool! I love the PDL 132, but am going to try to Slayer Max 10 to get in places I can't carry my trailer. Be interested to get links to data regarding the Slayer Max since it didn't make it, as well as the Falcon which seems to be a great offer for the money. As always, VERY helpful info shared. Thanks for your time!
I think the biggest issue facing the Slayer Max was it had to go head to head with the Titan and that platform was more well known, more established and it’s a drier ride so it did better overall.
Nice video! I just Bought the 2022 Nucanoe Unlimited. My dealer said all of them took 6 months to come in and the sold all but 4 within a week. Now they got 3!
Yeap, that’s been the story with many brands and models
I’m from Australia, love ur voice mate . Really good at telling everyone the pros and cons
Thanks Jackson
What's you opinion on the Kaku Zulu? Seems very very stable.
What do you recommend for fishing Detroit river, I would like one that had easy motor. I was thinking Jonboat 100.
Mr Hoover, thank you for you time and effort for promoting kayak bass fishing. I don't have a dog in this fight and it was very informative. Due to knee surgery I went with the Greentop Enterprises M12 with the stern trolling motor and pedal steering. What are your thoughts on it? Thanks again
I don’t have enough to go on yet to have a fair opinion, but it is on my list of boats to review this year.
@@ChadHooverFishing Thank you for being honest on that you don't just say something that someone is wanting to hear until you try it and put time in for an honest opinion
Id really like it if you did a review based on size. I don't do tournament fishing. live out of the back of a f150. fish all sorts of creeks and smaller rivers. looking at a 10 or 12 foot pedal kayak. leaning towards the old town PDL due to reliability and ease of removing the drive. Sportsman 106 or 120 but hobie also has a good reliable one in the same price. which one is more versatile. ......as well as i like your other requirements in regards to stability and fishability
Done! Just added that to my shoot list
I have the vibe shearwater and would have liked to hear your opinion on it, but for some reason you never talked about #10. I am surprised you liked the sea ghost more then the shearwater
Again, this video wasn’t about what I “liked” over the other one. I couldn’t get a Vibe Shearwater from anywhere this year long enough to do a valid review and the only time I got into it was just to do a quick spin when I ran into an angler that owned one at a boat ramp. I didn’t get a good enough “seat time” experience to offer more than what I really did. Also, I honestly don’t like the Vibe Seaghost 130, it feels too cramped to me. That said, I got to use one longer than the Shearwater and it’s a decent performing boat, had surprising stability, it’s more comfortable than I thought it would be and it’s more affordable so it just outsold the others. If this was just based on personal preference I wouldn’t have ranked the Bite as high as I did, I wouldn’t have ranked the NuCanoe as low as I did, there would be at least one FeelFree on the list, maybe even two and the Bonafide RS117 would have 100% have been on the list. But I had to be objective as I could be and hold myself to the standard for judging and the criteria that I established for making the determination.
In fact , if it were just personal opinion, there would have been at least one more Hobie on there, at least one more Native and I would have also have included a Crescent kayak like the LT as well.
Well I can’t really compare the shearwater cause it’s my first kayak, I do like it once I have it on the water just hard to transport. Would you put an x-drive on it or go for a mirage drive I believe the shearwater can use both.
The best kayak for 2021 is the one you own! I can't get one since March of 2021. Lol. I'm new and have never owned one. I borrowed a Pelican and learned what I want and like from it. So I started looking at the Crescent CK1 and yep, no one had/has it. I test paddled their Lite Tackle and love how fast, stable straight it goes. But to this day I can't get into 1. Started looking into the SS127 and yep, no joy. So, enjoy what you got folks.
Yeah, that’s definitely the case in a lot of situations. I have a few that have been on order for quite a while. Hopefully 2022 will be better for most of these situations.
I would have thought the Oldtown Sportsman 120 PDL would have been on that list for sure. Where do you stand on that platform, Chad?
I like it and did a full review video on the 132 models earlier this year with Anthony Winklemen. Again, it could have suffered from the popularity of the Salty and the Topwater.
ruclips.net/video/vMgxQkg5K8A/видео.html
@@ChadHooverFishing hey Chad, I dont think there is a 132 version. Only the 106 and the 120
What are your thoughts if motors are allowed in every tournament, Nucanoe’s with trolling motor. They are super wide. Never personally been on one before though.
I just discussed that in my video that I did this weekend. Just posted it on the channel here earlier today. Go check it out.
ruclips.net/video/zAaORuUGE5c/видео.html
@@ChadHooverFishing yea i watched that early today along with some others. That is what made me do a post thanking you on IG to you and your wife, etc…. I was asking your thoughts about Nucanoe as a kayak itself. Should have been more clear on that comment. What do you think of Nucanoe with a trolling motor as an option or not your thing. If i was going to do a trolling motor I would rather have something besides Hobie for that. Motor and paddle at that point. Thanks for replying
My votes on pa12 360! I've been fishing from a Pa12 for 6 yrs now. Upgraded to PA12 360 this past spring. They did have issues with first couple runs of 360 drives, it was the bearing size. Mine has larger bearings in drive & couple other things they changed up as well. I've been fishing my 360 sense early spring 2-3 days a week without issue. It's a beast & I love it! If you're gonna want a trolling motor than I'd save $ & get a different yak but I have no interest in a motor, pedal drive is all I need
I appreciate these videos. I fully agree with your assessment of Native Watercraft. I have the Slayer 12.5 Max and just ordered a rudder from another manufacturer because it kept binding on the hull and caused me to break my steering handle while on the water. Thanks again and Happy New Year.
Great video. Love your reviews. Always know I can trust your opinion as well informed. Somewhat surprised the Native Slayer Max 12.5 didn't displace the Titan.
I had the same thought but perhaps since the Titan is technically more stable it gets the nod even though there are several features in the "everything else" category that are attractive about the Slayer Max.
I was just as surprised as you are. The number one thing that I heard that may have hurt sales of the Slayer Max is that it’s a wetter ride than the Titan.
@@ChadHooverFishing Really? Most people say the Titan takes more water over the bow than the Slayer Max. The Slayer Max kind of has that aircraft carrier style front end that cuts through the waves better than the Titan. I believe the new Bonafide pedal drive has that similar front end as well.
Chad thank you for doing this video. I have been debating on getting a kayak this spring when the snow melts. I appreciate your input and videos.
Thank you Jeff
Chad can you discuss fishing in cold weather? Bought my old town topwater 120 back in september. Nervous of taking out while its 30°F
Yes, check out several videos that I’ve done in the past about this and I will try to get another one done soon
Hope this helps. New to kayak fishing. Still somewhat new to fishing period. Have a basic sit on top kayak and a touring yak. Taking a couple of gear attachments to the sit on top Yak before committing to a PDL in 2022. Cant wait to get some Tennessee fishing!
Outback for life
Chad, great review, truly appreciate the time and detail you put into this! Also, good meeting you and the wife at Bridge St the other weekend!
Thanks brother and it was great meeting you as well. We will be back down there more and more
Great, and I believe honest review. I wish there was at least pictures shown to go along with it though.
I hear you Brian. I included links to each product in the description and it takes you to a full blown walk through of each product and videos as well as pictures. I appreciate the feedback and I will be sure to do that when I do this video for 2022.
Good way to start the year off Chad I'm 8n the market for kayak. Should be pulling the trigger in a week or 2. I was hoping to hear the feel free 11.5 make the list. Its that or the bonafide 107 for me
I bought a baseline model Wilderness Systems Recon 120 when they came out in late 2020.I paddle and love the kayak.I bass fish and Catfish and can easily rig for both.I added a couple of gear tracks for different rod holder placement options.Also added an anchor trolly.Beyond that I have remained stock and love this kayak.I am a clumsy 300 pound guy and can stand comfortably on this yak.It's not the fastest kayak to paddle,but paddles with relative ease given the size and wieght.It gets me where I am going and keeps me comfortable and safe.
still digging it? im about to grab one
@@kristopherhansen8768 I am still diggin it.
I was hoping to see the lure on the list as well. I picked up the 11.5 last spring after seeing how easy it was to mount a trolling motor thru the sonar pod. It makes some long trips on Lake Erie much easier.
Good video. I had an Old Town but went back to Hobie. Feel more stable in Hobie but went with standard PA with 180 drive like I use to have to not have problems. If I need to spin in circles Merry Go Round! Haha!!
I love the voice you do for your audience.
Why thank you. That’s the voice of the Knucklehead Knation. Of which, I’m a proud member…… 😜
Just bought Bonafide ss127. Moving Waters Zionsville In. Getting Landing gear put on. What other suggestion do you have for rigging. Mostly pond hopefully lakes and reservoirs fishing
Good luck with the landing gear.
I have a Jackson Bite i paddled all '21 just purchased a Bite FD and hoping it lives up to expectations.
Please come back and let us know. You are the perfect example of what I was talking about. I spoke to hundreds of anglers that said they did what you did and many dealers mirrored that sentiment as well.
Think you got it right Chad. Reliability is huge. I missed 3 tournaments this year because of breakdowns. Keep up the good work!
Thank you Jody.
hay chad the biggest problem with the 136 old town is that is its way under powerd .to dam slow for what if is, the other thing is the ss127 bonafide kayak, i live in the nature coast on the west side of florida, hudson fl. there is only ONE ss127 that i have ever seen in 3 years and i have that one . I no chad will probiy never answer this but i wouid like to no what you think,
I absolutely love my Nucanoe unlimited. I Even tandem it with my 7yr son with motorguide xi3 kayak trolling motor. Complete open deck where rigging is unlimited.
Mr Hoover what do you think the resale value of a used Old Town sports man PDL 106 with a hummingbird helix 5 side imaging on it? Thanks for the list 🙂.
By in large you get a decent return on the boat but not the accessories, I would consider selling them separately. Start at about 85% of retail for the kayak and negotiate from there. Keep in mind that they are harder to find right now and the buyer would be also saving sales tax.
@@ChadHooverFishing Thanks so much on that advice Mr Hoover.🤝🏼😊 I really appreciate it.
Also. Warranty is not transferable to second owner so i feel a little more discount is needed
Thank you so much, I got my kayak now for such a good deal or I would have went with oldtown. Can you tell me anything on the PK11 from Brooklyn Kayak Company? Thats what I have now , can’t find much of any new reviews on it. Again thank you so much.
I don’t have any real experience with them and haven’t seen much of them anywhere I live or travel to. I think they are a Alibaba brand and therefore most of their sells are probably through Ad Buys for direct to consumer selling and at deep discounts at big consumer shows.
Own two Old Town Sportsman MK106. Really enjoy these kayaks.
I have a sea shost 130 which was my first kayak. It was to small for me b/c I'm a big guy. I currently have a nucanoe frontier 12 & it's perfect for me.
Same here. I commented that somewhere else here
Excellent video that I feel will help a lot of people in their decision making. 😉
Thanks brother
The sportsman 120 pdl has one of the best drives, beyond stable and tracks great. You can even get the 106 pdl version for a few hundred more than the bonafide. Definitely feel like old town pdl is neck and neck with hobie and even more reliable if not the most reliable pedal yak out.
I can’t really disagree with that
I will be doing all of these boats myself this year
Love this.. great comparison
Yeah hopefully ill have the 136 by this spring or mid summer i hope. But for now ill still be working the water with my 10 footer kayak and hopefully get in some kayak tournaments this year.
Good luck and hope to see you out there this year.
I'd agree with your ratings, I have the #7 Vibe Seaghost 130 I trailer mine. The Shearwater can use the Hobile pedal drive system, vibe's only knock is the lower mount on the seat, if they offered a higher level seat it would be a Rockstar for beginner fisherman. The Shearwater offers a better seat with options but the factory pedal system needs work..
Be nice to actually hear an updated version to this review after you have actually tried all of these kayaks. And usually if something is so hard to obtain because it's sold out everywhere and usually means probably because it's a really good product.
I plan to do that for sure
What about the bite Vs an Rs117 or the flint?
Definitely want to try out the hobie 360 pa14. So far tried these: old town 106 pdl, 120 pdl, bonafide ss127, autopilot 136…them old towns are legit but bonafide is fast and id imagine easier to paddle vs autopilot
Good vid thanks bud!
Thank you Roaming.
I agree with the seat in the Bonafide. I like the seat in my PA14 but not quite as good. Also have a vibe shearwater and definitely need a cushion for that seat.
If there was a detractor for the Vibe Shearwater is was comfort in my opinion. I didn’t call it out or slam them for it because it is pretty good, it just wasn’t the best on the list overall.
@@ChadHooverFishing absolutely. Nice hull but the wife was sold on the Bonafide after a couple of hours in the shearwater.
Good list sir! Love my lure 13.5 only downside it is so slow to paddle. My Eddyline Caribbean 12 FS angler is great for the minimalist fishing trips. Paddles amazingly.
Wish there was some images/videos of each kayak as you went though the list. Good info though
I put a link to each one in the description, that’s better than just a quick clip in a video. You can go check out each in full detail
@@ChadHooverFishing thanks Chad! God bless
Why didn’t the sportsman PDL (old Topwater) make the list? Curious is all.
I said that in the video. I think it was because the Old Town kayaks competed with themselves and cannibalized their own sales.
I have the ap120 and absolutely love it,can’t really compare it as it’s the first and only kayak I owned but I feel like it does everything I need it to do and more:)
Then that’s honestly all you need and you maybe shouldn’t compare it to others… LOL
There all good as long your catching fish! Kayaks are just fun, just a hoot! Y'all keep slinging them rods!
Amen!!
You checked out the native slayer max 10? The native Titan is sweet but super heavy!!
The Slayer 10 Max was new, it will probably pass the Titan or potentially replace it down the road but it didn’t do as well as the Titan this year. I think the 12’ boat is also just a more popular size
I will be trying out the Slayer 10 Max this year though for sure
Great list setup... I own a PA360 and love it...
I have the hobie PA14 360 2021. So far so good. I don't have any problem with it so far. 👌
My BigRig HdFd is a tournament fisbing machine! Especially with my newport vessels on the stern and drive delete! Talk about deck space and stability! I can shoot a music video going full speed on this demo son!
The Bonafide SS127 is a great kayak, however I would dock it for requiring at least the flex-wings if not the rudder to pedal straight but more so for reliability, and by that I mean that I have to re-glue the seat pads every single time before I go out. Really poor design and I know it's quite a common issue from other users in the Facebook group always complaining about it - many said they blew off on the way to the lake even before they ever got it on the water.
When you say re-glue the seat pads what are you referring to?
@@ChadHooverFishing The pads that keep the back of the seat from wearing straight through the hull. I used the strongest apoxy I could buy but they never hold.
There's probably a reason the tarpon 120 is not on this list, I'm guessing the seat. If anyone here has paddled one what is your opinions on it compared to other paddle yaks
The Tarpon 120 was a great boat when it came out. The sport has evolved substantially and the Tarpon hasn’t really evolved with it. Again, it’s still a great platform, it’s just not in the top fishing kayaks anymore. It’s also not very widely carried by dealers which leads to even less representation in the sport.
Which network is your tv show on in 2022?
Bally Sports
And Realtree 365
Great video. I really like the criteria, and the acronym to go with them-I think this alone will ease the decision-making process for a lot of people.
Would have loved to hear Chad’s criticisms of the Vibe Shearwater. I understand and admire the moral stance on Chinese-made goods, but the Shearwater is a rare example of off-shore manufacturing adding value to the consumer. I was able to get a great platform with a Bixpy for less than $2500.
I solo a lot of heavy current creeks, such as the Big Piney, and that motor gives me the opportunity to fish while cruising up stream, then paddle back to the put-in.
How are you liking it so far? I found this option thanks to you! For the price point with the motor I think I’m going to go this route.
@@NYRHM I really like it. By no means am I an expert on fishing kayaks, but I heavily researched them for two years before going with the Shearwater.
It tracks really well, is incredibly stable, and is a great overall fishing platform. I frequently do overnights on the river, and it performs very well with a full load.
If you have any specific questions, please ask.
I own a Oldtown Sportsman 106MK love it don’t know what I’d do without it hahahahah!!!!
I don't have much to go on but I got mine cause it was available and at and at good price. I got a vibe yellowfin 120. I wish it was a little more stable when standing.
That’s how a lot of people got into their first kayak, especially this last two years with availability issues from some brands and increased demand. If it gets you on the water and you are happy with it, then that’s all that really matters.
Good list, Chad. The only exception I'd make would be to eliminate your Jackson nominee. I know its drive has supposedly been improved, maybe a prop change and a few internals. But, I found the drive heavy, sluggish and sort of rough. It felt like the hand crank on a manual ice cream maker . . . if you follow my analogy. It fails miserably compared to Native's pedal drive in terms of feel of operation.
Yeah, and I agree with what you say. It’s ultimately why I didn’t end up sticking with the BlueSky Boatworks. That being said, the numbers didn’t lie and there were a ton of people that got their Flex Drive and had zero issues. It’s kinda similar to the situation with the Hobie 360 Drive. There are people that have had multiple FD drives and all had issues and there are thousands that had no issues. There are lots of people that had issues with the 360 Drive and then there are many, many anglers that never had an issue. There are even a few dealers that sold quite a few Hobie PA 360’s and haven’t had a customer with a single issue.
RS 117 has been my baby last year. It’s my first kayak and has let me down yet.
I will be spending a LOT more time in it this year
How do you do a top ten list & skip over number ten?
I didn’t “skip over” it. If I didn’t talk about it there wouldn’t be a discussion about me skipping it, so that doesn’t make sense. On most TOP list videos you talk more about the topic the closer you get to number one. I even said that I would be doing a full review of each of the boats so I will talk more about it then. Sorry if I didn’t go into enough detail for you, but that wasn’t the point of this video.
@@ChadHooverFishing the only way I knew what number ten was on your list was by looking in the video description. It’s the same kayak I have & was curious on your opinion of it but you started off with number 9 & only made mention of a second Vibe boat being in the list when you got to the Sea Ghost. I’ll watch it again in case I missed something but I know I rewound the video & never saw your views on the Shearwater.
I do not know how the Hobie PA 12 180 did not out perform the 360 due to all the mechanical issues with the 360? Everyone I know that bought the 360 has already sold them and gone back to the 180 🤷🏼♂️
Personally I have an OT 120 PDL and it works for me due to limited room for storage over the 132 👊😎
I think you answered part of the question yourself. I lot of people went “back to another Hobie”, but many anglers who’s first experience was with this boat, sold them and went to a different brand because they didn’t have that foundational confidence in the other boats. The other issue that I saw quite a bit was that those same anglers were very vocal to fellow anglers and in turn probably cost Hobie some sales just by word of mouth.
I do agree with on all the kayaks, it took me 6mo to chose a kayak I brought the AP120 because of the spotlock and the affordability but most of all I wanted to concentrate on fishing more and not worry about paddling or steering with my hands and like you said adding a battery is still comes out cheaper
I have a Old Town 120 Auto Pilot and would love to do tournaments but now see that they are not allowed in Tournaments. I’m glad I bought it but I would like to do tournaments but until rules change I’m out. I’m 62 and I like the motor
We allow motors in KBF Tournaments. You should also check out the KBF State Challenge Series.
share.fishingchaos.com/tournament/IygLiwB2MjJIvPaFBl4C
Left out the 2 best. Nucanoe frontier 12 and kaku zulu
The Frontier fell out of favor this year for some reason, probably a combination of availability and the new Unlimited. The Kaku is popular in really small areas like Florida and parts of Texas but doesn’t seem to get much traction other places.
I love the NuCanoe with the swivel seat, I own 2 of them. Easy to put any brand trolling motor on, I even have a small gas outboard for them.
The swivel seat was what hooked me. I love it… all day comfortable.
the old town is probably the best fishing kayak ive seen but its a huge bummer that my local PA kayak fishing tournaments don't allow motor drives so i cant get it. so its between the natives maxes and bonafide p127. pedals drives are allowed so it makes more sense to go in that direction even tho the old town is the best boat ive ever seen. Had they had a way to drop a pedal drive in that bad boy and take the motor out for tournaments i would be all over that boat. But here we are so it comes down to two boats. don't think i could go wrong with either company. great content.. tight lines bro!
You could also get it and fish events that allow them 😜
@@ChadHooverFishing defiantly plan on doing so in the future. But traveling less than an hr to local fishing tournaments all summer is a nice luxury. They need to change the rule. Especially since bigger organizations like ones you run and allow motors. At this point I would think they would do everything they could to encourage people to get into this tournaments. The more ppl the better. Got to grow the sport not keep ppl out by these restrictions. But I'll just throw a motor on the p127 😜
The only way they will change is if it affects their attendance. 😜
@@ChadHooverFishing truth 🙌
My Jackson Big Rig 2021 has been good to me.
i agree that it’s a great platform and it was on my list last year. I think that when they discontinued it for 2022, they stopped pushing it for 2021 and that’s what hurt it for the second half of the year.
Curious how the Bonafide 107 didn't make the cut, unless you lumped it in with the 127. Super stable, affordable, born to be rigged, great creek boat and super comfortable seat. Heck, just having the junk drawer makes it a winner :) - I've had mine for 3 years and still love it.
Because it didn’t make the list. I didn’t “lump
It in” it just didn’t have the sales and market penetration to make the list. The SS127 outsells in 20 to 1. The RS117 also canalizes sales from the SS107 as well. It’s a great boat, but it’s just not as popular as the others on the list
I think this video was very grounded non bias :)
Thank you.
I actually just pre-ordered a Vibe Shearwater because of everything I've read and seen about it. I thought for sure it'd be on your list lol
And it was….
@@ChadHooverFishing yes sir, I see that now. I didn't catch it in the recap, just knew I didn't hear about it in the main overview. My fault. I appreciate you working to give an unbiased review!
Good list. I’ll stick with my Outback though. Fills all my needs and was less than $3k.
I was honestly surprised that the Outback didn’t do better than it did. I literally found dealers that had the PA and OT AP on back order for months and had Outbacks in stock that they couldn’t move. I think the Lynx will do really well this coming season and should break into the top 10. The only thing that I think would prevent that from happening is if the Hobie iTrek sales cannibalize some of its sales.
I absolutely agree with your list, especially with affordability being a factor, I have a PA14 and yes someone could argue that you could just put a motorguide on the front, but after it is all said and done you are $8,000 into just the boat and motor if you decide to go that route, I will say though that I would not change my decision to go with the PA14 because the stability of that boat is just impeccable. But if you took affordability out of the equation I believe paired with the motorguide xi3 it would definitely take the number one spot.
Man I need to get back on the water miss my ATAK140 but really looking into Bonafide SS127 calling my name
You been gone for a minute brother…. LOL
@@ChadHooverFishing yeah life and a just turned 5 yr old
I have the Unlimited and predicted it at 8. I am not very experienced with many kayaks but there are certainly some improvements I would suggest. I still like it a lot though .
Hey bud, I sent you a message on FB messenger, not sure if you check that regularly or not? Hope all is well. 👊
I will check it since you told me, otherwise I don’t check it that much.
@@ChadHooverFishing Hey bud, just wanted to follow up here. I'd be happy to hop on the phone or email you as well.
WOW! I would have thought a FeelFree 13.5 would have made the list. I have been in each of the kayaks you mentioned, and I even disagree with the HPA being #2. By far, the Hobbie is #1 but the FeelFree should have made top 5.
The FeelFree was on the list last year and for whatever reason didn’t do as well this year. The FeelFree Durado was just outside the top ten and would have probably bumped out the Vibe Shearwater but it really came down to availability. Many dealers stated that it just hadn’t sold through as well this year, so again, like I stated, I did a lot of that research to remove as much subjectivity as possible. Had I guessed without doing the research I would have assumed the same thing and would have probably put the FeelFree Lure at somewhere between third and fifth.
As far as the the Hobie being number one, if you watch the video and listen I pretty much said that it could have easily have been number one, but a few key factors prevented that from happening for 2021. Just because you’ve been in all the kayaks doesn’t affect the outcome of the results, much like it didn’t for me since I was able to spend time in all of them except the NuCanoe UnLimited (again, as I stated). If this video had been titled My FAVORITE KAYAKS of 2021, then the order and list would have likely been much different.
@@ChadHooverFishing Your favorite kayaks of 2021 list is the one I want to see! I'm really curious where you would rank/compare the topwater 120 to the big water 132
@Chad Hoover Well, the fact you replied, I'm impressed. I met you in Hendersonville a few years back and realized you had a wide span of knowledge on kayak then. Thanks for replying, and I hope to see you on the trail this year.
I
The one thing that i believe shouldve taken more of a factor is the lack of rigability in the autopilot. The 6 inch front hatch makes it almost impossible to rig the kayak the way I would want it.
I hear what you are saying, but I also think that the fact that you don’t have to do a lot
Of rigging offsets that quite a bit. Out of curiosity, what was it that you couldn’t rig because of the motor? I’ve found that pedal drives are much more of an issue for that than this motor would be. Looking forward to hearing your feedback.
U left Bonafide ss107 and the vibe shearwater 120
i didn’t leave them off, they just didn’t rank in the top 10 based on my research.
The biggest reason I didn't bite the bullet and buy a Hobie and went with a shearwater for now is that beyond the issues I've seen with the 360 drive. Hobie hasn't addressed a longstanding issue with the hull cracking in the scupper and number one hull issue I've heard from people in person and people online is that the hull cracks where the seat rests on the hull. With such a short hull warranty at that price I just couldn't justify it.
Reliability, rigability, availability, affordability, I would put the 2021 Outback over most of these kayaks on this list including the 360!
There are a lot I would have loved to just “put on the list”
I just today bought a Bonafide SS127. You are costing me money Chad 🤣
I'd love to see you and some of the other guys that are sponsored and have the means to do some kayak giveaways to give some of us guys that want to get into the kayak fishing world but just don't quite have the means to do so yet an opportunity at starting. Might be pretty cool to have a winner of a giveaway potentially win a tournament. Just my 2 cents. Keep up the great content.
I do them all the time and just announced that I’m giving away an Old Town Autopilot through my CATCG22 Challenge this year and will be adding more and more prizes as well. I also have a giveaway going on right now that has a BONAFIDE kayak as one of the prizes.
www.kayakbassfishing.com/giveaway/
@@ChadHooverFishing i apologize I didn't see those. That's awesome. Thanks for your great work.