I seen this kayak today at Walmart and I thought it looked awesome I’ve never fished out of a kayak I almost bought it because the price was right I came home and I decided to watch some reviews on it and I found your page I’m sure glad I didn’t buy it thanks for the info
Don B don't give up on it man they are great budget kayaks. She's right on most of the issues but they are quick fixes out there. I had the same problem with water in the back tank well getting in the hull through the back hatch. I used it the first time without the scupper plugs and had a ton of water inside next time I put the plugs in now I get very little water inside. For some reason with the seat they put a metal bracket on the front but nothing on the back. I used a tie down strap behind the bracket and pulled it tight now I ride in the high position without worry of falling down but I just found a better mod on RUclips that I'll be doing this winter. Yes the tracking suck so I bought a detachable skeg off eBay trimmed it down and glued it to the bottom now the fin slides in and screws in to lock. Now it tracks straight. There's a Facebook page for this kayak you should check it out. If you want something cheap to get on the water it's the best out there for the money. Good luck. 🥃🇺🇸
Don b. I dont know what this lady did or didnt do. I took mine out today in 43 degree waters and I had no issues and oh yea inside the hull was bone fricken dry. Yes the thing is a tank and slow moving but I stood up in it no problem.
@@robertjackson2739 so standing to be able to bow fish, wouldn't be a problem ya think? I don't care about tracking or speed because im putting an airboat unit on it.
I’ve had this kayak for a month and out several times, it is an awesome kayak especially for the price. I’m a big guy and have found this kayak to be really stable and easy to maneuver and would recommend to anyone looking to buy. Also I have had hardly any water in my kayak after many hours of fishing, perhaps you brought all that water on the boat by getting in with waders or running into trees lol
+Nick Veltri thanks for watching & for your comment. I wasn’t wearing waders, not sure why you’d think that. As far as running into trees 😁 you can see in the video that I literally just drifted into it. It wasn’t much of a hit, you know? Anyway, like I said in the video, it just wasn’t the right kayak for me, but I’m glad it is working out for you!!
I honestly never had a drop of water in mine stand up in it all the time love fishing in it the pole holders way upfront as a dumb design. I’ve had mine for about 5years and love it.
Hey Fish Mom, great review but.....as far as water in the back of the boat? Plug the rear scupper plugs. ;-) The high seat position really isn't for paddling. It's for sitting while your fishing. The lower position is for paddling - a low center of gravity is much better for stabilization! Tracking? Buy the available rudder! I have a 14 foot $1200 kayak that wouldn't track straight for nothing! I added a rudder & OMG! Straight as an arrow in crosswinds on a lake! As far as "overall quality"? Hey, it's a stand-up fishing kayak for under 500 smackers. I'm still buying it. :-)
Bryon Perry got it! Honestly, I just didn’t want to put the time & effort into making upgrades to it. Like I say toward the end of the video, it just wasn’t the right boat for me. I know there are lots of people who like it, and that’s cool 👍🏼
I have this kayak and love it. But I bought it already knowing the short comings and I'm a big DIY guy. So it was right up my alley as a budget project.
+Christopher Byrd yep for sure; I even mentioned in the video that if I had the time & inclination to work on it, it could be a fantastic budget option! Ultimately I decided that wasn’t right for me but I’m glad it’s working great for you!
Same here. Got it, love it. It definitely upped my fishing game. I knew about the seat before hand. Had a problem with it once, reached out to KL Outdoors and they are sending a fix out to me. About the flooding, I use Scupper plugs and I don't get any water on my deck. Some in the hull but that is to be expected. Overall its meet my expectations. Fish On... UPDATE: Never heard from KL Outdoors again. They never sent me the parts to fix this problem. I emailed them with a subtle reminder and got no response. Seems like KL Outdoors just doesn't care about their customers or their inferior products. You get what you pay for...
@@MOTOVATOR101 Actually I wouldn't expect to get any water inside the hull. There must be a defect in the seam joining the top to bottom, or where the scupper drains join. Should have had the Kayak replaced or returned. No doubt a kayak destined to be a great deal, but the Manufactured will not improve without constructive criticism.
Thanks for the thorough review. I do think you may have purchased one with a flawed hull or something however. I am a 300lbs guy who's fished from this kayak hundreds of times without getting water in the hull. I like to stay as dry as possible and actually siliconed all of the scupper holes shut and I still stay dry. I don't fish in choppy water though so that may not be a good answer for everyone. The falling seat is super annoying and happens because the plastic is so flexible. I run a small steel cable through the plastic channels to hold it in place. It works well and only costs a few dollars to fix. I agree that the pole holders are in a crappy spot. It might not be an issue for thin people, but it's hard to reach if you have a bit of a beer gut. Overall I have loved mine and it functions as well as others that are a more expensive.
This I thought was a good evaluation of this kayak. I thought I had found my under 500 but after seeing you and what you found. I'm going to keep looking
Glad it was helpful for you-sorry it wasn’t a more positive review, but i felt I needed to be totally honest! Check out Lifetime & Perception kayaks. Both brands make some really great affordable options!
I have the same kayak and have had many of the same issues, including the flooding. I am going to end up trying to relocate the seat further towards the front and plugging most of the scupper holes. I also plan on installing an automatic bildge pump. The seat falling is an issue that I have been faced with. I ended up placing spacers between the seat brackets and the hull..... it helped...eh. I must say that you're review is pretty much spot on. This kayak needs allot of work to bring it to the level of some of the better fishing kayaks, but; I do really like the stability. I live on a river and the power boaters don't like to slow down for people in smaller crafts, so wakes are an issue that this yak does handle rather well. Thank you,can't wait to see your surprise!!
JANIE PLUMPTON thanks so much for your thoughtful and info-packed comment! It’s really a shame that Sundolphin didn’t take the extra couple of steps to make this kayak live up to the promise of how it looks on paper! I really had such high hopes for it. I honestly think if they’d just sealed the hardware, they would have alleviated a huge percentage of the issues I experienced. The seat falling down...they must have just simply cheaped out when deciding not to put the metal plate on both parts of the seat base.
Thank you for your review! My wife and I have two of these. We have trolling motors and navigation/fish finders on them. Our experience with them have been amazing. Highly recommend the kayak from the price and comfort. However, my wife did have the same experience as you did with the seat and oddly she didnt like standing in it as I stand no issues. The seat issue I believe is periodically originating from not seating it right or hull flex which can be due to the rider shift. Once we got caught in some sudden inclement weather and this yak took 2 foot waves like a champ. I do recommend a trolling motor as by the end of the day you are beat...she is a heavy kayak compared to others we had, but she is totally a fantastic vessel.
Jose Rivera thanks so much for that info! Really appreciate it, and I’m thrilled to hear that this boat works well for you (most of the time!). Appreciate you watching. Tight lines & be safe!
Also I've seen over $1000 Hobie kayaks leak from inside the scupper holes from being bored off and into the hull material thus cracking, the 1/4" inch hole is designed to avoid it I would think. In all of the scupper holes on ANY kayak buy smaller plugs and put in PVC tube inside the scupper holes and set with 5200.
I have the BOSS SS version, and have had it for 3 years. I have no issues and nothing broken. I'm over 6'00 and 240, with no stability issues. I've head complaints about the seat collapsing, but I haven't had it once in the years, with LOTS of use, including several consecutive days of fishing 7+ hours at a time.
Well, I just bought this on a whim. I’ve wanted one for years and while looking for Griddle accessories I came across this on clearance for $250. Kind of discouraging but will give it a chance. Thank you for the review.
I don't have any issues with the water in the hull.. but I had the issue with the seat run a couple zip ties around the seat frame and through the bracket that hold the seat it will hold the bracket in place so it can't pop out
Yep, there are a few solutions to the seat issue that I found after I tried out the boat. To be honest though, the water inside the hull was REALLY a big issue to me. The fact that on a calm day on a pond, it got many gallons of water in it for no discernable reason was completely unacceptable. I bought a "better" kayak than my $230 Lifetime because I wanted to go out on the Hudson River and into saltwater. That was SO NOT HAPPENING with this kayak. I returned it two days later to Wal Mart, and bought a kayak I could trust with my life.
Sounds like you got a Friday kayak. I've had zero problems with mine. Sometimes lemons get passed QC. All scuppers should be open. Really strange to see this many problems.
+Joe Kesler good point except 1) I have a 29” inseam lol it’s the rest of me that is short! 2) I returned this kayak 3) I bought a Hobie Outback instead 😀
She seems a bit hard to please with her grading system. Many others have praised this yak. But if you want to stand and have a higher seat, what options do you have at this price?
The Fishing Family well, I have to say I went with the sun dolphin Kingsport 12 and I love it-have never he an issue with the seat, however, it is so heavy that I don’t want to carry it everywhere. I have a dolly, but from dragging it I wore a hole in it in less than a few months and sank just before making shore: lost four good poles and my dignity in the process, but at least it was summer. Hopefully I can fix it
Per your other reply to a comment, seems like you got another plan in the works. My wife is built similar to you. We bought Old Town Topwater Kayaks. Hers is 10’6” and mine is 12’. Zero complaints thus far. Mine was 999 and hers was 899. No idea what your budget is or what exactly you are looking for. Just throwing in my limited kayak experience. We’ve had them on the Potomac River here in MD where there are lots of power boats and wakes to deal with as well as wind. Zero issues getting swamped and our dry storage stays dry. I’ve never had any water lie in my rear deck well either. They are heavy boats, I think mine is 90 pounds. As far as standing and stability, I’ve stood, but it takes concentration and practice. My buddy has an expensive Jackson Kayak and he won’t stand to fish yet. Lol! Just so you don’t get frustrated if standing is an issue for you. Our seats are SOLID! The way they strap in they CANNOT pop from high to low. Good luck on your next one. Hope it works out. I’m working nights this week but if you have any questions by chance about our boats, feel free to ask and I’ll answer as soon as I can.
William Hower thank you!! That’s great info for sure. I’ve heard consistently great things about Old Town and looked at a few today in fact. I think I’ve made a decision but I’m keeping it under wraps until I get it home & set up 😬
The whole seat falling is a deal breaker for me. I live in Louisiana so the heat here will make that plastic really hot and it’ll fall even more often. I think I’m going to purchase the lifetime yukon. Another budget 12’ angler kayak with good features
+John Pearce Yeah honestly I am WAY happier with my $200 Lifetime Tamarack Angler than I was with this $500 Ozark Trail. Just took the Lifetime out on a new lake yesterday, in fact. I can’t stand up in it, the weight capacity is only 275, and I’d never take it into “big water”, but it’s great for lakes & ponds. I’m sure you’ll be well served by the Lifetime Yukon!
The Fishing Family i mainly fish at Toledo bend here in Louisiana which is about 200k acres big. I think the extra size in the Yukon will be worth it. Thanks for your insight!
Rear of the seat popped out of the braces after the first use in about 80deg weather, because the plastic flexed. Shame someone has to look up RUclips videos on how to prevent the sides of the hull from flexing in heat so the seat stays put. It's apparently a pretty common issue. Sun Dolphin/Ozark Trail had enough sense to add a cross brace for the front of the seat, but didn't carry the same to the rear braces. The hatches are no where close to water proof and the "dry bags" are about as useful sandpaper when you're out of TP. it is constructed out of some pretty thin & cheap plastic. I can post a video of the sides of the kayak flexing and collapsing by hand, no added weight, no tools, about 75degrees or so, in a shaded garage all day. Can't return or exchange it because we bought it late last year and just now getting around to using it.
Ohhh man, I am sorry to hear that you ran into that problem with return/exchange. I feel exactly the same way you do about each of the issues you mentioned. I wonder if you called Sundolphin they would do anything for you? Alternately, I mean...maybe you could sell it on Craigslist or Facebook and get some of your money back? People still seem to want this thing, and I have heard that some Walmarts are out of stock on them for a long time.
I found a way to fix it. Cost me about $15 total and a little time. I wasn't expecting much given it came from Walmart. Sad thing is I have a Field & Stream Eagle Talon 120 (Bought it @ Dick's last year) and it was $400, I have had zero issues with it. It's not as wide, so stability is a little iffy, but I haven't flipped it. Just goes to show that $400 from Company A is not on par with $400 from Company B.
Nice video my wife and i are thinking about getting into kayaking I have Parkinson's and she has really bad anxiety about water she can swim we live in Tennessee so no gators or anything here. So over all would you say the whole experience of kayaking is worth pursuing. Thanks for any input to help ease her fear as a woman and mine being disabled.
Darrin8112 hi Darrin, thank you so much for watching, and for your question! I’d say that if you’ve got access to smaller lakes or ponds, they’re a great place to start working on getting over anxieties about water, in a safe way. The biggest thing is to ALWAYS wear your PFD, and keep it fully zipped up. Even if it’s 100 degrees outside. Find one that’s comfortable and doesn’t get in your way or ride up or make you feel smothered. NRS has a very lightweight inflatable one that stays very clear of your face and neck, so that might be worth checking out (it is pricy but if a regular one makes her nervous it’s worth the money). It’s also a good idea to try to find one or two folks in your area who like to kayak fish and might go with you. Last but maybe most importantly, since your wife is anxious and you might need some extra tips too, I’d strongly recommend you look into a beginner’s kayaking technique class to give you both some extra peace of mind. Good luck!!
the water is coming in from the black piece on the bottom of the boat in the back I took mine off and silicone dit and I have no water in the hull any more
Thanks for the review. I can't believe there was so much water in the hull. I'm sure it could be fixed with a gasket and marine goop. It does seem like you paid for what you get. I'm glad Walmart allowed you to return. I wouldn't feel comfortable with that much water in the hull after it's first use. I just got a really good deal on a Sun Dolphin canoe with a bunch of accessories. It looks decent for what I paid for it. I'll take it on it's maiden voyage soon. I hope it works out. I look forward to seeing what your surprise is. I kind of already have an idea of what it is 😉.
+TomyTek Outdoors good luck!! I’m sure if I’d taken the time to seal all the hardware openings & stuff, that would have addressed the issue. But like you said, I just wasn’t comfortable with it. And about the new one, yes I bet you do have an idea 😀🤫🤣
@@TheFishingMommy I will end up giving it to my son or daughter depending upon which one wants it. I also have a journey 12 SS. I now have enough fishing kayaks for the family for us all to go at the same time.
@@TheFishingMommy I Got a Brand New Journey 12 SS from the thrift store by my house never been used slight Dent that I was able to get out with boiling water for $150
Replaces the main load too far back in any kind of boat canoe or kayak or whatever causes the front end to rise and tracking to become an issue. You can either try counterweighting if you have enough weight margin on The Craft, otherwise you need to re-engineer the seat farther forward. Example: if you were loading the canoe, you would put heavy stuff at the bottom light stuff at the top and everything is close to the center of the craft , while allowing for your own weight at the back. If either end is too deep in comparison, the hull track begins to have a tendency to wash out.
I got the same kayak a few months ago and had the same issue with water getting in. I sealed all the hatches with marine sealant, and that helped. Also had the seat problem. So far I that with longer plugs on the ends of the seat tubes. But these are things we shouldn’t have to do. I’m 6’5” and I also don’t care for the front rod holders. This will be my spare yak soon as I’m getting something better.
Rob Campbell thanks for commenting! Haha that’s amazing that you’re so tall and you hate the rod holder placement too 😂 Good luck choosing your upgraded boat!!
I've had the same boat since March of this year I have had a few issuesthe foot pegs were too short for me I am 6 ft 4 360 lb I love the boat for fishing it was a great starter kayak I had to seal the scupper-holes that were drilled but have never had that much water in the all that water on the deck come out from under the seat then scupper plugs with a heavier person let a lot of water in once I figured that out I also have a lad that gets in and out of the boat in the water and still don't have that much water in it I have stood up in the boat it is a little sketchy it is hard for me to sit back down I can't get my legs underneath me to sit back down I have to paddle on my knees to get the bank to where I could switch back to the seat also had to get a memory foam pad for the seat anything much past 3 hours in that seat is
I've never gotten water in the hull of my Ocean Torque Kayak. It's always bone dry. Maybe that submerged tree cracked the hull of the boat. It seems like there should be scupper holes near that rear tank well
+Erick Peterman I checked the hull carefully and it was not cracked. And yes I agree there should definitely be scupper holes near the rear tank well but there aren’t. The scupper hole situation on this kayak is super weird. I’ve never had any water in the hull of my $200 Lifetime Tamarack Angler either..
I have two if these and really enjoy them. My seat was also falling, now I just keep it in the low position and sit on a boat cushion. Comfortable solution. For the rod holders just get mounts to add to the tracks. I don't stand in mine yet, I have just to test and was able to but I'm not a good swimmer lol I have scooted around and kneeled while reaching things without issue. Idk if it works for you to reach your front crate, I've found behind the seat is easiest. I am looking into a cheaper alternative to keep guards because the plastic is cheap, and it certainly does not track well- my previous was a 12 foot future beach sit in which would track straight for a mile comparatively. I might look into adding a skeg. As far as water in the boat, I haven't had an issue you. Btw an anchor is a game changer, I just put a cleat on the top side where it's kind of flat behind the seat, then clip the end of my line to the rear handle. I hope you can enjoy this yak, or can find one you enjoy
+Grizzzly thanks very much! Glad to hear that it works for you! I actually returned this kayak after bailing 10+ gallons of water out of it between the rear tankwell and the actual hull. There was simply no way I was going to risk my life by taking that boat onto the Hudson River or the ocean. No confidence in it after that first trip out. I ended up selling a valuable item I owned and buying a 2019 Hobie Outback instead. Couldn’t be happier!
I own this kayak and the tamarack and imo most honest opinion this one is by far much better very stable for the price of it. And I mean no disrespect but just like any kinda accident things will move! Like your hitting that down timber you can see it was bumped pretty good so the seat moving doesn't shock me! I've hit many down timber and even rocks in shallows and never had my seat move and I weigh in at 225 and I'm 5'9! I still very much consider myself a noob kayaker but I have been at this for 2 years so again no disrespect but I feel alot of your problems are your scared a bit also maybe overwhelm! Now my question did you plug your drain holes aka scupper holes? Because I've never had water come aboard as much as you did!! I truly don't mean any disrespect just speaking from my experience and many others I know who have this yak also and none of us have ever had issues as you Did. And with most affordable yaks your gonna have to possible make some mods! Like my tamarack I had to silicone every possible only section and such. Imo it's a solid yak for the price I choose it over the 3 water big fish 105 10.5" a much more money yak because after trying it the ozarktrail was better Imo. Also those 2 rod holders up front are for when standing you can easily switch rods if you spot a bass and it's not hitting your previous lure yp u can quickly change to the other rod and try some thing. As for those scupper holes unfortunately I agree some aren't all the way drilled out but that's easy fix. But with any kayak under a $1000 you gotta take all steps to make it better silicon everything that may possibly leak! And idk I found thousands of great reviews myself it's a shame you had such a bad experience because with the proper mods it's a great yak for under a $1000
Show me a 12ft kayak that you can reach the front hatch and rod holders. The water in the hull was because you didn't check the screws on the removable skeg on the bottom. The seat slipping from the top is a1 min fix with a piece of rope pulling the braces in ever so slightly. It's a 12ft kayak with a 500lb limit, 2 dry storage, 4 flush mount rod holders and 2 yak attack tracks for 500 dollars instead of 8 or 900. Had mine for 2 years with no problems at all. This isn't an honest review either as I would agree it's probably not built for someone that's 5ft 1.
Kyle Jackson what you said is absolutely an honest review if it’s your experience, just like my review is honest from my perspective 🙂👍🏼 Never heard about a removable skeg on the bottom & none of the literature that came with it suggested that this was a thing. As far as the fix on the seat brackets, since I made this video I’ve seen lots of easy DIY solutions for that particular piece of poor product design. If I had wanted to keep the kayak, I’d definitely have made some adjustments to that bracket. As for a 12 foot kayak where I can reach stuff, my new kayak is 12’9” and I can readily reach the front rod holders and hatch. And I can stand. In fact, I can stand inside the back tankwell if I want to. BUT ...it’s also not exactly a $500 boat. I decided that if I was going out onto a major river or into the ocean, my life was worth spending as much as it took to be as safe and stable as possible. You can see which boat I chose if you check out my newer videos 😀
@@gregmenniges5963 ok, not a skeg, my apologies. A keel protector/guard, whatever you prefer to call it. There is a small black piece about 5 inches long on the bottom that is held in by 2 screws that need silicone around them.
Did you ever find where that loose plug came from? And if the water in hull came from screws around hatch, then you are doing something wrong to get that much water that high. Idk. My tamarac angler with every scupper plugged didnt get near that wet. But who knows. I'm really curious about that loose part though
Jp Lewis I didn’t ever figure it out, mainly because I didn’t try...I returned the thing a day or two later. I’ve never had that kind of issue in my Tamarack Angler either-but I think part of that is because in my opinion, Lifetime just makes a far better product than Sundolphin.
@@TheFishingMommy I wonder if it was an end cap on something of the seat, since it decided to bail out on you. But I'm with you, the tamarac needs just a bit more space and the ability to s yr and would be nice. Aside from that, I love mine
Nope I never even really looked, to be honest. I was just disgusted, lol. I honestly have no clue what was wrong with that kayak, maybe it was defective. I never had more than a touch of water in my Tamarack either!
Enjoyed your video on this kayak, I am poking around the idea of hopping in a kayak for fun, exercise and don't want to spend a ton. This video was very helpful. Subbed your channel, thanks for sharing. -Scott
Bait2Bend thanks very much Scott! I absolutely recommend it as a great, fun way to catch more fish and get exercise! I lost a little over 25 pounds this summer taking mine out 2-3 times a week for 6-8 hours at a time. By the way, as far as entry level kayaks I have had an excellent opinion of the several Perceptions I’ve rented. They’re definitely a bit sturdier than the Lifetime Tamarack Angler, so might be worth checking out some Perception models. Good luck & tight lines!
YPW SQUAD thanks for your comment. The weight limit on this kayak is 500 lbs and although I haven’t weighed myself in a minute, I’m pretty sure I am not that fat :)
@@TheFishingMommy I been using a used cheap Lifetime Cruze sit in 10ft. It's not bad. I want a Tamarack but they are around $350 now if you can find one
Love to see another lady kayak Fisher! I have 3 kayaks and haveprogressed to a peddle kayak. I owned a Sun Dolphin fishing kayak for a few days and took it back!! Never buy a kayak where the top and bottom are molded together. They are light plastic and extremely unstable. I guess ok if you are 90 lbs. Even though they are light to carry, not worth being tippy all the time if you want to fish. Will never buy Sun Dolphin product again. Lots of new, stable, budget kayaks out now. Fish On!
+Julie Brown yes yes yes!!! I do agree with you!! Thanks so much for connecting & commenting-I’m slowly but surely “meeting” a network of fellow female kayak anglers!
I have the same kayak, I love it and fortunately have not had many of the problems you had, besides the front rod holders being kinda useless. I’m 200 lbs and 6ft and can stand and fish or step forward to the front where you had your crate, I do agree that it is a heavy kayak and tracking is not the best though. Glad you were able to return it though and get what fits you. Good video and review!
Austin James thanks for watching & for your comment! Glad it’s working well for you! I may have just gotten a bad one that failed Quality Control, but I honestly just wouldn’t have felt confident taking it out on any bigger water after my experiences that one day.
The tracking problem is a product of the tunnel hull design, as is the lack/loss of speed, and is easily solved with the installation of a $15 skeg from Amazon (same situation with the Pelican Catch series of kayaks!). 10+ gallons of water, though, didn't come into the hull through the hatch flange. That boat had a leak below the waterline, somewhere. Since you inspected the hull for cracks after the contact with the tree, my best guess would be an open seam in one or more of the scupper holes. All that said, your review was straightforward and honest...from the start, you wanted to like that kayak, it just wouldn't let you! In parting, I'd say that if you like the concept of the tunnel hull and its' inherent stability, take a look at the Pelican Catch 120. It's built very similar to the Pro Angler 12, but with better QC and a slightly thicker hull, and it while it's considerably more that the Ozark Trail, it still won't break the bank like some brands can.
+A Santos0226 Well, the water on the deck wasn’t my biggest concern-even though there was a lot of it!! There was at least 5 gallons of water INSIDE the hull of the boat and a cupper plugs would not have prevented that. To be really honest I’d recommend buying the Lifetime Teton (which is about $350) and using the extra $150 on some cool upgrades like a fish finder.
Don B yes!! I’d say try out a Lifetime Tamarack Angler at about $250, or Lifetime Teton Angler at about $320. Both are very solid entry level kayaks that are pretty stable and easy to use, and will give you a good idea of how you like kayak fishing!
Honestly, I think you got a defective kayak. I bought this exact kayak and haven’t had any issues other than the seat, which was a simple fix. Had it not been for the water in the hull would you have kept it?
Definitely a possibility that it was defective! Honestly though I knew I really wanted a Hobie, and having this experience motivated me to get off my butt & sell something expensive to buy one!
Definitely could have been defective! I don’t think I would have kept it anyway though, because I personally didn’t feel that stable or secure to stand in it, plus there was the seat collapse issue (which now I know happens to a LOT of people!), and random parts rolling around. I wanted a kayak in which I could feel safe even in big water like the Hudson River, or the ocean, and this was definitely not it!
I have been drooling over the pro angler every time I go to walmart. I own the Tamarack angler, that I have added alot to, and love it. But after watching this video I think I will pass on the Pro Angler. Thank you for this video!
Don't discredit ALL of the kayaks from Chinamart. I have the Tamarack 100 by Lifetime that I got from Chinamart and this thing is awesome for the price. I've done several mods to mine. Added liquid Rhino liner for foot pads. Added foot pedals. Added outriggers. It tracks great and I can stand up in it. I've plowed into stumps and trees without any damage. I'm 217 pounds and with my gear, It passes the weight limit without my outriggers and it's still very stable. I'm currently looking at the same yak in this video debating on buying it.
I paid $750 for a brand new Feelfree Lure 11.5 from Gander outdoors. Shop around, and you can find amazing kayaks for not much more than these junk sun dolphins. Good video and review though!
Water in the hull = NO GO! UNSAFE!! Quality sounds horrible. My Slayer is bone dry in the hull (not bragging.... just stating a fact). Looked like a fair assessment! Good for you returning it. ooooo can't wait to hear what's coming to the channel!
Old Lady Angler yes the quality was horrible! For sure got what I paid for. I can not wait to unveil the new newness in a week or two!!! 😬😬😬 Your Native really seems rock solid. 👍🏼
@@TheFishingMommy You can win a Slayer or Titan for $25 here. thekayakfishingstore.com/shop/the-hammonton-hornets-kayak-raffle/?fbclid=IwAR3NyO6dgspZYswSpD3M8rscxqbGnqiLg_xSpl_rx4Lgs7zSUd6u7zRzGQM
I have two of these kayaks. The scupper holes beneath the seat let in a lot of water if they do not have scupper plugs. After I installed my plugs I haven’t had anymore trouble with water. The hull gets water in from the deck.
I watched a dozen of reviews on this kayak and this is the only one that had this problem with water getting in the boat. I thank you just got a bad one. Remember you only paid $500 for this. This could also have happened cause You hit somthing. Be glad it wasnt a $1000 boat that you cracked the bottom on.
@@TheFishingMommy Lol. Well I watched a dozen other reviews on this kayak and I have it and all of them love this boat. To each their own. I dsint nor the dozen other owners that I watched disnt feel the same as you. Your actially the only person reviewing this kayak that I have came across that hates it and has negative things to say about it. But theirs always a couple that dont like what everyone else does. Good luck finding a cheap kayak that fits your needs.
@@TheFishingMommy I just bought this KaYAK and have the same issue with water in the hull. I think its a hit or miss thing., guess we bought ones that leak. any idea of a fix to this?
Take the kayak back, I will warn you if you use ratchet straps kayaks can crack when over tightened and it doesn’t take much, the stability problem comes from the water in the hull, all of the bad stuff comes with the water in the kayak, defect for sure
Ive been yak fishing for 10+ years and I disagree with your review. Now people aren't buying this great boat on your experience. Guys take it from me this is a great boat for the money.
@@TheFishingMommy I believe he is talking about that little black plug. I thought the same thing. Would you be a dear and let us know, cause now I'm even more curious lol. Fish On...
Well as you may have noticed, not everyone lives in Socal and conditions vary widely. It's a big world. :) Lots of people stand for kayak fishing, for example sight fishing bedding bass, or sight fishing bonefish or tarpon on salt flats, sight fishing reds or trout on grass flats or marsh, or flipping/pitching bass.
I found you on reddit and subbed, a sub back would be great!. I had the same piece of crap for 1 trip, then promptly returned it due to multiple issues
Hookem in the mouth! I would be concerned about the water in the hull. They do have quality control problem. You should reach out to them . Great 👍 honest review. Way to take that stuff back ! Great video and way to Hookem In The Mouth!
Hahaha did you hear me say that?? I didn't even realize I'd said it until I was editing. Yeah I was really concerned about that water in the hull.. wait til you see what I am replacing it with though!!!
HOOKEM IN THE MOUTH KAYAK FISHING haha yeahhhh! I actually caught 3 but I think I forgot one in editing 🤷🏼♀️ The kayak was most important though. Bless my heart, I was so excited at the beginning of this video hahahaha
robert jackson well she is heavy. But she seems sincere. I almost bought one at Walmart. But the weight of it was more than I expected. I’ve never even sit in a kayak before. But I’ve flipped a couple canoes, and at 58 hrs old and 265pounds. I don’t want to get wet, especially when I’m duck hunting.
LOL you seem nice. I am glad this kayak works for you. For my needs, especially for standing and for taking it on big water, (and at my size) I needed a reliable, well made boat. This ain't it. :)
Hahha Yep, that sums me up--sincere and heavy :) LOL Thanks for the comment, you're right on that this is not a stable platform for anyone who's not a skinny minny. I am very happy with my Hobie Outback.
Haha thanks for your comment & the view! I don’t actually make videos anymore, and certainly never did it to make money when I was recording videos! Anyway, appreciate you watching.
Daniel O'Connor did that look like a hard hit to you, or did that look like a kayak drifting into a branch? I was there and can tell you, it was definitely the latter.
@@TheFishingMommy it did look a bit hard as you were still moving at a decent clip for the water 3 mph x 300+ lbs of gear and kayak and yourself = a subtly harder hit than one might imagine.
@@TheFishingMommy that being said the seat issue has been reported by most on this yak. There are a few good videos on work arounds. I will let you know how mine does after this week.
Daniel O'Connor good luck! I didn’t post this video to bash this boat/manufacturer, and you can even see how I was excited about it in the beginning. But I certainly had a terrible impression of it, for all of the multiple reasons you see here. By the way, there was definitely not 300 lbs in the boat nor was I going anything close to 3mph. I routinely use my Garmin to tell me my speed and I’m pretty familiar with what 3mph feels like in a yak. I guess it’s possible that me + gear PLUS the kayak might have been close to 300 but even that’s a stretch. I’ve lost weight since then but even still... 😅
@@TheFishingMommy Definitely not referring to your weight :-) that would be the pot calling out the kettle. I am six foot 313 lbs myself. The hit on the tree may have been exxagerated by the camera angle as well. What your review did show very well is while this kayak is stable it's definitely not built for speed. That being the case I am thinking of adding pontoons to mine to make it something I can stand on. I appreciate the review. I will let you know how the maiden voyage goes for me.
Very good real world review👍 My family has owned 11 kayaks in all and I can say the best budget kayaks we have found are made by Perception. They have very good build quality for reasonable prices. I personally use an Ascend H12 which they call a hybrid kayak because you sit in it but it is more open like a sit on top. It is more work to paddle but I love everything else about it. My wife and kids fish out of Perception Swifty 9.5 kayaks. They are a true sit in but they paddle great and are very light weight and surprisingly stable. I think for the money, Perception is a tough brand to beat. Looking forward to seeing what you end up with.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
I seen this kayak today at Walmart and I thought it looked awesome I’ve never fished out of a kayak I almost bought it because the price was right I came home and I decided to watch some reviews on it and I found your page I’m sure glad I didn’t buy it thanks for the info
Don B thanks so much for letting me know, I’m glad I could save you from having a potentially bad experience!!
Don B don't give up on it man they are great budget kayaks. She's right on most of the issues but they are quick fixes out there. I had the same problem with water in the back tank well getting in the hull through the back hatch. I used it the first time without the scupper plugs and had a ton of water inside next time I put the plugs in now I get very little water inside. For some reason with the seat they put a metal bracket on the front but nothing on the back. I used a tie down strap behind the bracket and pulled it tight now I ride in the high position without worry of falling down but I just found a better mod on RUclips that I'll be doing this winter. Yes the tracking suck so I bought a detachable skeg off eBay trimmed it down and glued it to the bottom now the fin slides in and screws in to lock. Now it tracks straight. There's a Facebook page for this kayak you should check it out. If you want something cheap to get on the water it's the best out there for the money. Good luck. 🥃🇺🇸
Don b. I dont know what this lady did or didnt do. I took mine out today in 43 degree waters and I had no issues and oh yea inside the hull was bone fricken dry. Yes the thing is a tank and slow moving but I stood up in it no problem.
its a great kayak. watch other reviews as well. this isnt very accurate
@@robertjackson2739 so standing to be able to bow fish, wouldn't be a problem ya think? I don't care about tracking or speed because im putting an airboat unit on it.
I’ve had this kayak for a month and out several times, it is an awesome kayak especially for the price. I’m a big guy and have found this kayak to be really stable and easy to maneuver and would recommend to anyone looking to buy. Also I have had hardly any water in my kayak after many hours of fishing, perhaps you brought all that water on the boat by getting in with waders or running into trees lol
+Nick Veltri thanks for watching & for your comment.
I wasn’t wearing waders, not sure why you’d think that.
As far as running into trees 😁 you can see in the video that I literally just drifted into it. It wasn’t much of a hit, you know?
Anyway, like I said in the video, it just wasn’t the right kayak for me, but I’m glad it is working out for you!!
Did you get a lot of water in yours?
I got 0 water in mine
@@TheFishingMommy drifted into it? you kept paddling into it.
I honestly never had a drop of water in mine stand up in it all the time love fishing in it the pole holders way upfront as a dumb design. I’ve had mine for about 5years and love it.
Hey Fish Mom, great review but.....as far as water in the back of the boat? Plug the rear scupper plugs. ;-) The high seat position really isn't for paddling. It's for sitting while your fishing. The lower position is for paddling - a low center of gravity is much better for stabilization! Tracking? Buy the available rudder! I have a 14 foot $1200 kayak that wouldn't track straight for nothing! I added a rudder & OMG! Straight as an arrow in crosswinds on a lake! As far as "overall quality"? Hey, it's a stand-up fishing kayak for under 500 smackers. I'm still buying it. :-)
Mark Thomas its a badass kayak, im gonna add a rudder, motor and outriggers and turn it into a damn tank.
yes the back part of the seat needs the same bracket like the front
i also added some out riggers plus i sealed everything with marine sealed
Bryon Perry got it! Honestly, I just didn’t want to put the time & effort into making upgrades to it.
Like I say toward the end of the video, it just wasn’t the right boat for me. I know there are lots of people who like it, and that’s cool 👍🏼
I have this kayak and love it. But I bought it already knowing the short comings and I'm a big DIY guy. So it was right up my alley as a budget project.
+Christopher Byrd yep for sure; I even mentioned in the video that if I had the time & inclination to work on it, it could be a fantastic budget option!
Ultimately I decided that wasn’t right for me but I’m glad it’s working great for you!
Same here. Got it, love it. It definitely upped my fishing game. I knew about the seat before hand. Had a problem with it once, reached out to KL Outdoors and they are sending a fix out to me. About the flooding, I use Scupper plugs and I don't get any water on my deck. Some in the hull but that is to be expected. Overall its meet my expectations.
Fish On...
UPDATE:
Never heard from KL Outdoors again.
They never sent me the parts to fix this problem. I emailed them with a subtle reminder and got no response.
Seems like KL Outdoors just doesn't care about their customers or their inferior products.
You get what you pay for...
@@MOTOVATOR101 what diy stuff did you add too it? Also how do you avoid getting water in the hull?
@@MOTOVATOR101 Actually I wouldn't expect to get any water inside the hull. There must be a defect in the seam joining the top to bottom, or where the scupper drains join. Should have had the Kayak replaced or returned. No doubt a kayak destined to be a great deal, but the Manufactured will not improve without constructive criticism.
Thanks for the thorough review. I do think you may have purchased one with a flawed hull or something however. I am a 300lbs guy who's fished from this kayak hundreds of times without getting water in the hull. I like to stay as dry as possible and actually siliconed all of the scupper holes shut and I still stay dry. I don't fish in choppy water though so that may not be a good answer for everyone. The falling seat is super annoying and happens because the plastic is so flexible. I run a small steel cable through the plastic channels to hold it in place. It works well and only costs a few dollars to fix. I agree that the pole holders are in a crappy spot. It might not be an issue for thin people, but it's hard to reach if you have a bit of a beer gut. Overall I have loved mine and it functions as well as others that are a more expensive.
Maybe! I just know that it was not a good fit for what I wanted.
This I thought was a good evaluation of this kayak. I thought I had found my under 500 but after seeing you and what you found. I'm going to keep looking
Glad it was helpful for you-sorry it wasn’t a more positive review, but i felt I needed to be totally honest!
Check out Lifetime & Perception kayaks. Both brands make some really great affordable options!
I have the same kayak and have had many of the same issues, including the flooding. I am going to end up trying to relocate the seat further towards the front and plugging most of the scupper holes. I also plan on installing an automatic bildge pump. The seat falling is an issue that I have been faced with. I ended up placing spacers between the seat brackets and the hull..... it helped...eh.
I must say that you're review is pretty much spot on. This kayak needs allot of work to bring it to the level of some of the better fishing kayaks, but; I do really like the stability. I live on a river and the power boaters don't like to slow down for people in smaller crafts, so wakes are an issue that this yak does handle rather well.
Thank you,can't wait to see your surprise!!
JANIE PLUMPTON thanks so much for your thoughtful and info-packed comment!
It’s really a shame that Sundolphin didn’t take the extra couple of steps to make this kayak live up to the promise of how it looks on paper! I really had such high hopes for it. I honestly think if they’d just sealed the hardware, they would have alleviated a huge percentage of the issues I experienced. The seat falling down...they must have just simply cheaped out when deciding not to put the metal plate on both parts of the seat base.
Thank you for your review! My wife and I have two of these. We have trolling motors and navigation/fish finders on them. Our experience with them have been amazing. Highly recommend the kayak from the price and comfort. However, my wife did have the same experience as you did with the seat and oddly she didnt like standing in it as I stand no issues. The seat issue I believe is periodically originating from not seating it right or hull flex which can be due to the rider shift. Once we got caught in some sudden inclement weather and this yak took 2 foot waves like a champ. I do recommend a trolling motor as by the end of the day you are beat...she is a heavy kayak compared to others we had, but she is totally a fantastic vessel.
Jose Rivera thanks so much for that info! Really appreciate it, and I’m thrilled to hear that this boat works well for you (most of the time!). Appreciate you watching. Tight lines & be safe!
Also I've seen over $1000 Hobie kayaks leak from inside the scupper holes from being bored off and into the hull material thus cracking, the 1/4" inch hole is designed to avoid it I would think. In all of the scupper holes on ANY kayak buy smaller plugs and put in PVC tube inside the scupper holes and set with 5200.
I’ve never seen a $1000 Hobie, but regardless: I personally don’t believe people should be expected to use a kayak that’s unsafe without modification.
im 6'2 250lbs and i stand up very well in the kayak, i have the sun dolphin model and its super comfy, super stable, and well worth the money
I just bought one yesterday I can’t wait to see how it is on the water....I’m a big guy and needed a bigger kayak
I have the BOSS SS version, and have had it for 3 years. I have no issues and nothing broken. I'm over 6'00 and 240, with no stability issues. I've head complaints about the seat collapsing, but I haven't had it once in the years, with LOTS of use, including several consecutive days of fishing 7+ hours at a time.
Hope it’s working out great for you!
Well, I just bought this on a whim. I’ve wanted one for years and while looking for Griddle accessories I came across this on clearance for $250. Kind of discouraging but will give it a chance. Thank you for the review.
Its a great kayak i have the sun dolphin journey 12 too and id take the pro angler over it any day, many possible upgrades coming.
$250 for the kayak😂😂😂😂 Damm good deal !!!
I went and sealed the holes before I hit the water. And had no problem.
how did you seal the holes, im getting one in the next week or so
@@christopherbrown3352 silicone
Good idea! I would have done that if I had decided to keep it, but it just was not right for me.
I don't have any issues with the water in the hull.. but I had the issue with the seat run a couple zip ties around the seat frame and through the bracket that hold the seat it will hold the bracket in place so it can't pop out
Yep, there are a few solutions to the seat issue that I found after I tried out the boat. To be honest though, the water inside the hull was REALLY a big issue to me. The fact that on a calm day on a pond, it got many gallons of water in it for no discernable reason was completely unacceptable. I bought a "better" kayak than my $230 Lifetime because I wanted to go out on the Hudson River and into saltwater. That was SO NOT HAPPENING with this kayak. I returned it two days later to Wal Mart, and bought a kayak I could trust with my life.
Wish I had seen your review before I bought mine. Figured out about the scupper plugs quick.
Hey hope it’s helpful and you have fun!
Thank you for your honesty.. Appreciated
Glad you liked the video, thanks so much for watching!
@@TheFishingMommy im glad i came across your CHANNEL.
Im a woman channel as well. Look forward to some more videos.. Have a great week
Sounds like you got a Friday kayak. I've had zero problems with mine. Sometimes lemons get passed QC. All scuppers should be open. Really strange to see this many problems.
you might want to adjust your foot rests up to your short legs and that might stop you from flinging forward so easily when you bump into something
+Joe Kesler good point except 1) I have a 29” inseam lol it’s the rest of me that is short! 2) I returned this kayak 3) I bought a Hobie Outback instead 😀
She seems a bit hard to please with her grading system. Many others have praised this yak. But if you want to stand and have a higher seat, what options do you have at this price?
‘She’ is definitely hard to please 😃
Honestly, you’re probably exactly right: at this price point there are not likely a lot of other options.
The Fishing Family well, I have to say I went with the sun dolphin Kingsport 12 and I love it-have never he an issue with the seat, however, it is so heavy that I don’t want to carry it everywhere. I have a dolly, but from dragging it I wore a hole in it in less than a few months and sank just before making shore: lost four good poles and my dignity in the process, but at least it was summer. Hopefully I can fix it
@@lt.pickles6383 OMG!! That sounds actually pretty awful. Glad you’re okay, but I’m sorry you lost your gear.
Great video, keep up the great work! Also I noticed you have the jon b rigged October bracelet, wish he wouldn’t have stopped making them, real nice
Haha you noticed that! I love those. He's my favorite Googan :)
Great review!!! Very in depth!!! And great fishing!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Per your other reply to a comment, seems like you got another plan in the works. My wife is built similar to you. We bought Old Town Topwater Kayaks. Hers is 10’6” and mine is 12’. Zero complaints thus far. Mine was 999 and hers was 899. No idea what your budget is or what exactly you are looking for. Just throwing in my limited kayak experience. We’ve had them on the Potomac River here in MD where there are lots of power boats and wakes to deal with as well as wind. Zero issues getting swamped and our dry storage stays dry. I’ve never had any water lie in my rear deck well either. They are heavy boats, I think mine is 90 pounds. As far as standing and stability, I’ve stood, but it takes concentration and practice. My buddy has an expensive Jackson Kayak and he won’t stand to fish yet. Lol! Just so you don’t get frustrated if standing is an issue for you. Our seats are SOLID! The way they strap in they CANNOT pop from high to low. Good luck on your next one. Hope it works out. I’m working nights this week but if you have any questions by chance about our boats, feel free to ask and I’ll answer as soon as I can.
William Hower thank you!! That’s great info for sure. I’ve heard consistently great things about Old Town and looked at a few today in fact.
I think I’ve made a decision but I’m keeping it under wraps until I get it home & set up 😬
Well good luck! I hope the next one isn’t a lemon. Lol
William Hower haha, thanks-me too! Big time!
Parts floating around loose? Was that a drain plug? Probably why there was lots of water.
That makes sense, but no. I checked!
The whole seat falling is a deal breaker for me. I live in Louisiana so the heat here will make that plastic really hot and it’ll fall even more often. I think I’m going to purchase the lifetime yukon. Another budget 12’ angler kayak with good features
+John Pearce Yeah honestly I am WAY happier with my $200 Lifetime Tamarack Angler than I was with this $500 Ozark Trail. Just took the Lifetime out on a new lake yesterday, in fact. I can’t stand up in it, the weight capacity is only 275, and I’d never take it into “big water”, but it’s great for lakes & ponds.
I’m sure you’ll be well served by the Lifetime Yukon!
The Fishing Family i mainly fish at Toledo bend here in Louisiana which is about 200k acres big. I think the extra size in the Yukon will be worth it. Thanks for your insight!
+John Pearce oh for sure! Good luck with it & tight lines! 🎣
Rear of the seat popped out of the braces after the first use in about 80deg weather, because the plastic flexed. Shame someone has to look up RUclips videos on how to prevent the sides of the hull from flexing in heat so the seat stays put. It's apparently a pretty common issue. Sun Dolphin/Ozark Trail had enough sense to add a cross brace for the front of the seat, but didn't carry the same to the rear braces. The hatches are no where close to water proof and the "dry bags" are about as useful sandpaper when you're out of TP. it is constructed out of some pretty thin & cheap plastic. I can post a video of the sides of the kayak flexing and collapsing by hand, no added weight, no tools, about 75degrees or so, in a shaded garage all day. Can't return or exchange it because we bought it late last year and just now getting around to using it.
Ohhh man, I am sorry to hear that you ran into that problem with return/exchange. I feel exactly the same way you do about each of the issues you mentioned.
I wonder if you called Sundolphin they would do anything for you? Alternately, I mean...maybe you could sell it on Craigslist or Facebook and get some of your money back? People still seem to want this thing, and I have heard that some Walmarts are out of stock on them for a long time.
I found a way to fix it. Cost me about $15 total and a little time. I wasn't expecting much given it came from Walmart. Sad thing is I have a Field & Stream Eagle Talon 120 (Bought it @ Dick's last year) and it was $400, I have had zero issues with it. It's not as wide, so stability is a little iffy, but I haven't flipped it. Just goes to show that $400 from Company A is not on par with $400 from Company B.
Mark Basham absolutely! You nailed it.
Nice video my wife and i are thinking about getting into kayaking I have Parkinson's and she has really bad anxiety about water she can swim we live in Tennessee so no gators or anything here. So over all would you say the whole experience of kayaking is worth pursuing. Thanks for any input to help ease her fear as a woman and mine being disabled.
Darrin8112 hi Darrin, thank you so much for watching, and for your question!
I’d say that if you’ve got access to smaller lakes or ponds, they’re a great place to start working on getting over anxieties about water, in a safe way. The biggest thing is to ALWAYS wear your PFD, and keep it fully zipped up. Even if it’s 100 degrees outside. Find one that’s comfortable and doesn’t get in your way or ride up or make you feel smothered. NRS has a very lightweight inflatable one that stays very clear of your face and neck, so that might be worth checking out (it is pricy but if a regular one makes her nervous it’s worth the money). It’s also a good idea to try to find one or two folks in your area who like to kayak fish and might go with you. Last but maybe most importantly, since your wife is anxious and you might need some extra tips too, I’d strongly recommend you look into a beginner’s kayaking technique class to give you both some extra peace of mind.
Good luck!!
the water is coming in from the black piece on the bottom of the boat in the back I took mine off and silicone dit and I have no water in the hull any more
Terry Johnson ah got it, thanks!
I just decided to return the boat because that was only one of the many issues I had with it.
Thanks for the review. I can't believe there was so much water in the hull. I'm sure it could be fixed with a gasket and marine goop. It does seem like you paid for what you get. I'm glad Walmart allowed you to return. I wouldn't feel comfortable with that much water in the hull after it's first use. I just got a really good deal on a Sun Dolphin canoe with a bunch of accessories. It looks decent for what I paid for it. I'll take it on it's maiden voyage soon. I hope it works out. I look forward to seeing what your surprise is. I kind of already have an idea of what it is 😉.
+TomyTek Outdoors good luck!! I’m sure if I’d taken the time to seal all the hardware openings & stuff, that would have addressed the issue. But like you said, I just wasn’t comfortable with it.
And about the new one, yes I bet you do have an idea 😀🤫🤣
I fixed the seat issue with mine and then I went out and bought a Wilderness Systems ATAK 120 and couldn't be happier
+Greg Menniges nice!! I’ve heard good things about the ATAK but never tried one. Congrats on a great boat! What did you do with the Ozark Trail one?
@@TheFishingMommy I will end up giving it to my son or daughter depending upon which one wants it. I also have a journey 12 SS. I now have enough fishing kayaks for the family for us all to go at the same time.
+Greg Menniges oh that’s awesome! We only have 2 so far but I have a feeling there are more to come 😀 my kids LOVE kayaks!
@@TheFishingMommy I Got a Brand New Journey 12 SS from the thrift store by my house never been used slight Dent that I was able to get out with boiling water for $150
@@TheFishingMommy also check thrift stores and pawn shops
Replaces the main load too far back in any kind of boat canoe or kayak or whatever causes the front end to rise and tracking to become an issue. You can either try counterweighting if you have enough weight margin on The Craft, otherwise you need to re-engineer the seat farther forward.
Example: if you were loading the canoe, you would put heavy stuff at the bottom light stuff at the top and everything is close to the center of the craft , while allowing for your own weight at the back.
If either end is too deep in comparison, the hull track begins to have a tendency to wash out.
That makes a lot of sense, thanks very much! I think honestly there is just a lot of stuff going on with this kayak that makes it...not great.
I got the same kayak a few months ago and had the same issue with water getting in. I sealed all the hatches with marine sealant, and that helped. Also had the seat problem. So far I that with longer plugs on the ends of the seat tubes.
But these are things we shouldn’t have to do.
I’m 6’5” and I also don’t care for the front rod holders.
This will be my spare yak soon as I’m getting something better.
Rob Campbell thanks for commenting! Haha that’s amazing that you’re so tall and you hate the rod holder placement too 😂
Good luck choosing your upgraded boat!!
The Fishing Family going out tomorrow on the Ozark Trail to try my first ever fish finder. But I’m interested in the Vibe Sea Ghost 130.
Thank for this review !!! you saved me some big $$$ . Thanks keep putting out awesome videos!!!
Happy it helped! Appreciate your comment very much!
I've had the same boat since March of this year I have had a few issuesthe foot pegs were too short for me I am 6 ft 4 360 lb I love the boat for fishing it was a great starter kayak I had to seal the scupper-holes that were drilled but have never had that much water in the all that water on the deck come out from under the seat then scupper plugs with a heavier person let a lot of water in once I figured that out I also have a lad that gets in and out of the boat in the water and still don't have that much water in it I have stood up in the boat it is a little sketchy it is hard for me to sit back down I can't get my legs underneath me to sit back down I have to paddle on my knees to get the bank to where I could switch back to the seat also had to get a memory foam pad for the seat anything much past 3 hours in that seat is
+hungry hippo glad it works well for you overall!
Did you figure out where you got all the water in the hull from? I've had this yak for a CPL years now and have never got water in the hull.
No, I actually returned it to Walmart the next day. I suspect it was all the unsealed screw holes, but I don’t know.
I've never gotten water in the hull of my Ocean Torque Kayak. It's always bone dry. Maybe that submerged tree cracked the hull of the boat. It seems like there should be scupper holes near that rear tank well
+Erick Peterman I checked the hull carefully and it was not cracked. And yes I agree there should definitely be scupper holes near the rear tank well but there aren’t. The scupper hole situation on this kayak is super weird.
I’ve never had any water in the hull of my $200 Lifetime Tamarack Angler either..
I have two if these and really enjoy them. My seat was also falling, now I just keep it in the low position and sit on a boat cushion. Comfortable solution. For the rod holders just get mounts to add to the tracks. I don't stand in mine yet, I have just to test and was able to but I'm not a good swimmer lol I have scooted around and kneeled while reaching things without issue. Idk if it works for you to reach your front crate, I've found behind the seat is easiest. I am looking into a cheaper alternative to keep guards because the plastic is cheap, and it certainly does not track well- my previous was a 12 foot future beach sit in which would track straight for a mile comparatively. I might look into adding a skeg. As far as water in the boat, I haven't had an issue you. Btw an anchor is a game changer, I just put a cleat on the top side where it's kind of flat behind the seat, then clip the end of my line to the rear handle. I hope you can enjoy this yak, or can find one you enjoy
+Grizzzly thanks very much! Glad to hear that it works for you! I actually returned this kayak after bailing 10+ gallons of water out of it between the rear tankwell and the actual hull. There was simply no way I was going to risk my life by taking that boat onto the Hudson River or the ocean. No confidence in it after that first trip out.
I ended up selling a valuable item I owned and buying a 2019 Hobie Outback instead. Couldn’t be happier!
3:55 user error
built for demolition derby Well, I guess I need my kayak to be built for a demolition derby! That’s why I bought a Hobie 😀
@@TheFishingMommy I've saw with this kayak, I believe the plastic heats up and the seat collapses, I plan to keep it in the low setting on hot days😂
I own this kayak and the tamarack and imo most honest opinion this one is by far much better very stable for the price of it. And I mean no disrespect but just like any kinda accident things will move! Like your hitting that down timber you can see it was bumped pretty good so the seat moving doesn't shock me! I've hit many down timber and even rocks in shallows and never had my seat move and I weigh in at 225 and I'm 5'9! I still very much consider myself a noob kayaker but I have been at this for 2 years so again no disrespect but I feel alot of your problems are your scared a bit also maybe overwhelm! Now my question did you plug your drain holes aka scupper holes? Because I've never had water come aboard as much as you did!! I truly don't mean any disrespect just speaking from my experience and many others I know who have this yak also and none of us have ever had issues as you Did. And with most affordable yaks your gonna have to possible make some mods! Like my tamarack I had to silicone every possible only section and such. Imo it's a solid yak for the price I choose it over the 3 water big fish 105 10.5" a much more money yak because after trying it the ozarktrail was better Imo. Also those 2 rod holders up front are for when standing you can easily switch rods if you spot a bass and it's not hitting your previous lure yp u can quickly change to the other rod and try some thing. As for those scupper holes unfortunately I agree some aren't all the way drilled out but that's easy fix. But with any kayak under a $1000 you gotta take all steps to make it better silicon everything that may possibly leak! And idk I found thousands of great reviews myself it's a shame you had such a bad experience because with the proper mods it's a great yak for under a $1000
Show me a 12ft kayak that you can reach the front hatch and rod holders. The water in the hull was because you didn't check the screws on the removable skeg on the bottom. The seat slipping from the top is a1 min fix with a piece of rope pulling the braces in ever so slightly. It's a 12ft kayak with a 500lb limit, 2 dry storage, 4 flush mount rod holders and 2 yak attack tracks for 500 dollars instead of 8 or 900. Had mine for 2 years with no problems at all. This isn't an honest review either as I would agree it's probably not built for someone that's 5ft 1.
Kyle Jackson what you said is absolutely an honest review if it’s your experience, just like my review is honest from my perspective 🙂👍🏼
Never heard about a removable skeg on the bottom & none of the literature that came with it suggested that this was a thing. As far as the fix on the seat brackets, since I made this video I’ve seen lots of easy DIY solutions for that particular piece of poor product design. If I had wanted to keep the kayak, I’d definitely have made some adjustments to that bracket.
As for a 12 foot kayak where I can reach stuff, my new kayak is 12’9” and I can readily reach the front rod holders and hatch. And I can stand. In fact, I can stand inside the back tankwell if I want to. BUT ...it’s also not exactly a $500 boat. I decided that if I was going out onto a major river or into the ocean, my life was worth spending as much as it took to be as safe and stable as possible. You can see which boat I chose if you check out my newer videos 😀
There is no removable skeg on the bottom of that kayak
@@gregmenniges5963 ok, not a skeg, my apologies. A keel protector/guard, whatever you prefer to call it. There is a small black piece about 5 inches long on the bottom that is held in by 2 screws that need silicone around them.
My Pelican kayak hull does not leak.
neither does my lifetime or my perception (or my hobie).
You can never go wrong with a 3 Waters big fish kayaks
Never tried one!
Did you ever find where that loose plug came from? And if the water in hull came from screws around hatch, then you are doing something wrong to get that much water that high. Idk. My tamarac angler with every scupper plugged didnt get near that wet. But who knows. I'm really curious about that loose part though
Jp Lewis I didn’t ever figure it out, mainly because I didn’t try...I returned the thing a day or two later. I’ve never had that kind of issue in my Tamarack Angler either-but I think part of that is because in my opinion, Lifetime just makes a far better product than Sundolphin.
@@TheFishingMommy I wonder if it was an end cap on something of the seat, since it decided to bail out on you. But I'm with you, the tamarac needs just a bit more space and the ability to s yr and would be nice. Aside from that, I love mine
Nope I never even really looked, to be honest. I was just disgusted, lol. I honestly have no clue what was wrong with that kayak, maybe it was defective.
I never had more than a touch of water in my Tamarack either!
Enjoyed your video on this kayak, I am poking around the idea of hopping in a kayak for fun, exercise and don't want to spend a ton. This video was very helpful. Subbed your channel, thanks for sharing. -Scott
Bait2Bend thanks very much Scott! I absolutely recommend it as a great, fun way to catch more fish and get exercise! I lost a little over 25 pounds this summer taking mine out 2-3 times a week for 6-8 hours at a time.
By the way, as far as entry level kayaks I have had an excellent opinion of the several Perceptions I’ve rented. They’re definitely a bit sturdier than the Lifetime Tamarack Angler, so might be worth checking out some Perception models.
Good luck & tight lines!
How much did you weigh when recording? I’d like to know if my weight will be supported.
Probably about 200 lbs (!).
@@TheFishingMommy thank you.
@@rocksinsocks787 no problem-I’ve seen a lot of reviews on it from men who are much bigger too
Hope u know there is a weight limit
YPW SQUAD thanks for your comment. The weight limit on this kayak is 500 lbs and although I haven’t weighed myself in a minute, I’m pretty sure I am not that fat :)
I suggest the lifetime Yukon 116 Angler I love it lifetime makes very good low budget kayaks God's love
I agree that Lifetime makes great kayaks! I have a Tamarack Angler 100 that's rock solid and I think I paid $230 for it.
@@TheFishingMommy I been using a used cheap Lifetime Cruze sit in 10ft. It's not bad. I want a Tamarack but they are around $350 now if you can find one
Yeah kayaks are a lot more expensive right now than they used to be, but there are still occasionally good deals if you get lucky!
Love to see another lady kayak Fisher! I have 3 kayaks and haveprogressed to a peddle kayak. I owned a Sun Dolphin fishing kayak for a few days and took it back!! Never buy a kayak where the top and bottom are molded together. They are light plastic and extremely unstable. I guess ok if you are 90 lbs. Even though they are light to carry, not worth being tippy all the time if you want to fish. Will never buy Sun Dolphin product again. Lots of new, stable, budget kayaks out now. Fish On!
+Julie Brown yes yes yes!!! I do agree with you!!
Thanks so much for connecting & commenting-I’m slowly but surely “meeting” a network of fellow female kayak anglers!
Good for you taking it back. $500.00 is a lot to pay for a lot of problems.
Thanks-I agree!
I have the same kayak, I love it and fortunately have not had many of the problems you had, besides the front rod holders being kinda useless. I’m 200 lbs and 6ft and can stand and fish or step forward to the front where you had your crate, I do agree that it is a heavy kayak and tracking is not the best though. Glad you were able to return it though and get what fits you. Good video and review!
Austin James thanks for watching & for your comment! Glad it’s working well for you! I may have just gotten a bad one that failed Quality Control, but I honestly just wouldn’t have felt confident taking it out on any bigger water after my experiences that one day.
The tracking problem is a product of the tunnel hull design, as is the lack/loss of speed, and is easily solved with the installation of a $15 skeg from Amazon (same situation with the Pelican Catch series of kayaks!). 10+ gallons of water, though, didn't come into the hull through the hatch flange. That boat had a leak below the waterline, somewhere. Since you inspected the hull for cracks after the contact with the tree, my best guess would be an open seam in one or more of the scupper holes. All that said, your review was straightforward and honest...from the start, you wanted to like that kayak, it just wouldn't let you! In parting, I'd say that if you like the concept of the tunnel hull and its' inherent stability, take a look at the Pelican Catch 120. It's built very similar to the Pro Angler 12, but with better QC and a slightly thicker hull, and it while it's considerably more that the Ozark Trail, it still won't break the bank like some brands can.
I was thinking about getting this kayak but my question is even if u use scupper stoppers it still leaks
+A Santos0226 Well, the water on the deck wasn’t my biggest concern-even though there was a lot of it!!
There was at least 5 gallons of water INSIDE the hull of the boat and a cupper plugs would not have prevented that.
To be really honest I’d recommend buying the Lifetime Teton (which is about $350) and using the extra $150 on some cool upgrades like a fish finder.
The Fishing Family oh wow that’s not good I will look in to lifetime then thank you
+A Santos0226 good luck!
bass fish for 40 years never fished out of a kayak anybody suggest one to start with
Don B yes!! I’d say try out a Lifetime Tamarack Angler at about $250, or Lifetime Teton Angler at about $320. Both are very solid entry level kayaks that are pretty stable and easy to use, and will give you a good idea of how you like kayak fishing!
Be aware weight limit on that tamarack is only 275, so if your close to that it's gonna ride real low
Kyle Jackson that’s true, definitely best for calm waters if you’re anywhere above maybe 195 lbs
Honestly, I think you got a defective kayak. I bought this exact kayak and haven’t had any issues other than the seat, which was a simple fix. Had it not been for the water in the hull would you have kept it?
Definitely a possibility that it was defective! Honestly though I knew I really wanted a Hobie, and having this experience motivated me to get off my butt & sell something expensive to buy one!
Definitely could have been defective!
I don’t think I would have kept it anyway though, because I personally didn’t feel that stable or secure to stand in it, plus there was the seat collapse issue (which now I know happens to a LOT of people!), and random parts rolling around. I wanted a kayak in which I could feel safe even in big water like the Hudson River, or the ocean, and this was definitely not it!
Awesome! Looks good to me!
I have been drooling over the pro angler every time I go to walmart. I own the Tamarack angler, that I have added alot to, and love it. But after watching this video I think I will pass on the Pro Angler. Thank you for this video!
+Audioeeze good choice! Happy the video was helpful for you! Honestly I really love my Tamarack :)
@@TheFishingMommy I love mine too. Think i'll keep it for awhile, lol.
You missed out. It's a great kayak.
Thanks for sharing the information, just gave your channel my support
Much appreciated--you're awesome!
Standing in it is okay side to side but it will go forward and reverse hard to Stand up without holding strap
+JohnandLarissa Turner I agree, standing was not that easy for me!
watching this is making me wish it was warm enough here in Washington to hit the lakes
TERRY LEON-GUERRERO man me too! It’s still in the 40s here in NY. And raining all the time. Can’t wait for spring!
That kayak looked horrible thanks for the review i am sticking with ascend 128t. But i love the 2 pictures on the wall of all the types of fish...
Michael Anderson haha thanks! Those posters are my favorites, my kids think they’re really fun too! Tight lines on your Ascend 12t 👍🏼
Good review, I've thought about grabbing a Walmart yak occasionally...won't now. Thanks for the sub and keep it up👍
Don't discredit ALL of the kayaks from Chinamart. I have the Tamarack 100 by Lifetime that I got from Chinamart and this thing is awesome for the price. I've done several mods to mine. Added liquid Rhino liner for foot pads. Added foot pedals. Added outriggers. It tracks great and I can stand up in it. I've plowed into stumps and trees without any damage. I'm 217 pounds and with my gear, It passes the weight limit without my outriggers and it's still very stable. I'm currently looking at the same yak in this video debating on buying it.
@@Pr0ph3cy-k5z
Do it!! I love it!!
I paid $750 for a brand new Feelfree Lure 11.5 from Gander outdoors. Shop around, and you can find amazing kayaks for not much more than these junk sun dolphins. Good video and review though!
+Ha why in you’re absolutely right, there are lots of good kayaks out there at many different price points!
This is not one of them in my opinion lol
Water in the hull = NO GO! UNSAFE!! Quality sounds horrible. My Slayer is bone dry in the hull (not bragging.... just stating a fact). Looked like a fair assessment! Good for you returning it. ooooo can't wait to hear what's coming to the channel!
Old Lady Angler yes the quality was horrible! For sure got what I paid for.
I can not wait to unveil the new newness in a week or two!!! 😬😬😬
Your Native really seems rock solid. 👍🏼
@@TheFishingMommy You can win a Slayer or Titan for $25 here. thekayakfishingstore.com/shop/the-hammonton-hornets-kayak-raffle/?fbclid=IwAR3NyO6dgspZYswSpD3M8rscxqbGnqiLg_xSpl_rx4Lgs7zSUd6u7zRzGQM
@@troynangle8758 the water was *INSIDE* the hull. Scupper plugs won't stop leaks.
i have the same yak and have never had water in the hull 🤷♂️
I have two of these kayaks. The scupper holes beneath the seat let in a lot of water if they do not have scupper plugs. After I installed my plugs I haven’t had anymore trouble with water. The hull gets water in from the deck.
i have the same boat and thats what happen to mind
Man I saw that! Not good :/
If got one and was out about an hour sunk
Oh no!
I watched a dozen of reviews on this kayak and this is the only one that had this problem with water getting in the boat. I thank you just got a bad one. Remember you only paid $500 for this. This could also have happened cause You hit somthing. Be glad it wasnt a $1000 boat that you cracked the bottom on.
Nope, no cracks. I checked very thoroughly. But that wasn’t the only issue I had with this kayak, not at all!
@@TheFishingMommy Lol. Well I watched a dozen other reviews on this kayak and I have it and all of them love this boat. To each their own. I dsint nor the dozen other owners that I watched disnt feel the same as you. Your actially the only person reviewing this kayak that I have came across that hates it and has negative things to say about it. But theirs always a couple that dont like what everyone else does. Good luck finding a cheap kayak that fits your needs.
I had same issue I silicones the scupper holes
So stands for super sinker....
nice good old review .
Thanks!
Nice catches!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it :)
Use scpper plug !!!!!
Robert Veith the much bigger problem was the water inside the hull.
@@TheFishingMommy I just bought this KaYAK and have the same issue with water in the hull. I think its a hit or miss thing., guess we bought ones that leak. any idea of a fix to this?
Thanks for the review. I saw it yesterday loved it but you made me not lose my money
It's a great budgey kayak. Her review is trash.
Haha thanks for the view, my dude.
Less music in future videos. Review videos get ruined with the obnoxious music and drowns out your talking, which is what we are here for
Thanks for the comment, I’ll definitely take it into consideration!
Thanks for the feedback; I’ll try to do better with that!
I can’t hear a word you’re saying because of the music
Take the kayak back, I will warn you if you use ratchet straps kayaks can crack when over tightened and it doesn’t take much, the stability problem comes from the water in the hull, all of the bad stuff comes with the water in the kayak, defect for sure
Ted Gaddy yep I did take it back. I ended up choosing a Hobie Outback instead!
Ive been yak fishing for 10+ years and I disagree with your review. Now people aren't buying this great boat on your experience. Guys take it from me this is a great boat for the money.
Thanks for sharing your opinion!
no thats from your seat
Bryon Perry the water in the hull? Or the water in the tank well?
@@TheFishingMommy I believe he is talking about that little black plug. I thought the same thing.
Would you be a dear and let us know, cause now I'm even more curious lol.
Fish On...
this is why i invest in high end recreational ocean kayaks and just mod the shit outa them for cheap
also who would even want to stand for kayak fishing? that whole concept is really only good for flat water which is pretty rare at least in socal
Well as you may have noticed, not everyone lives in Socal and conditions vary widely. It's a big world. :) Lots of people stand for kayak fishing, for example sight fishing bedding bass, or sight fishing bonefish or tarpon on salt flats, sight fishing reds or trout on grass flats or marsh, or flipping/pitching bass.
I found you on reddit and subbed, a sub back would be great!. I had the same piece of crap for 1 trip, then promptly returned it due to multiple issues
+Bass Fishing Maine with Mike Proscia haha yeppppp!
Thanks for the sub, I’ll sub back now!
products that are made in the USA suppose to be good quality..
+Bartholomew Alexis Yeah I was really hoping it would be!
Great review! Awesome looking boat - a shame it's so defective.
Bear Grylls thanks for watching! Yes as I mentioned at the very end, I did return it & I got a full refund.
Wow, what a disappointment. Taking on water like that for a new kayak. I'd take it back.
Saw it for 499 in academy. wanna get a kayak for my wife. Scratch this one off the list.
Makes me like my perception striker even more
Yep unfortunately I have to agree, this one is not worth the money in my opinion.
Hookem in the mouth! I would be concerned about the water in the hull. They do have quality control problem. You should reach out to them . Great 👍 honest review. Way to take that stuff back ! Great video and way to Hookem In The Mouth!
Hahaha did you hear me say that?? I didn't even realize I'd said it until I was editing. Yeah I was really concerned about that water in the hull.. wait til you see what I am replacing it with though!!!
The Fishing Family yep I did ! You caught two one with salad 🥗. Lol 😂 can’t wait 😊
HOOKEM IN THE MOUTH KAYAK FISHING haha yeahhhh! I actually caught 3 but I think I forgot one in editing 🤷🏼♀️ The kayak was most important though.
Bless my heart, I was so excited at the beginning of this video hahahaha
HOOKEM IN THE MOUTH :)
ToasterWaffle you know the deal that’s how we do it!
Well done, you have a very lucky husband
Also seat is weak check out my reviews on my channel
Pescador pro 12 all day every day. Spend more stay alive.
J P that’s a good one too! Actually I guess I plan to live FOREVER, because after I returned this one, I bought a brand new 2019 Hobie Outback 😂
Pond? That's a fn lake lol
It’s a little lake :)
Thankyou for exposing the quality problems. Won’t be buying now
Saving more money
She's an idiot I have it and I don't have near any of the issues. Yes it has some flaws but I take mine out with no water issues.
robert jackson well she is heavy. But she seems sincere. I almost bought one at Walmart. But the weight of it was more than I expected. I’ve never even sit in a kayak before. But I’ve flipped a couple canoes, and at 58 hrs old and 265pounds. I don’t want to get wet, especially when I’m duck hunting.
LOL you seem nice. I am glad this kayak works for you. For my needs, especially for standing and for taking it on big water, (and at my size) I needed a reliable, well made boat. This ain't it. :)
Hahha Yep, that sums me up--sincere and heavy :) LOL Thanks for the comment, you're right on that this is not a stable platform for anyone who's not a skinny minny. I am very happy with my Hobie Outback.
🤣
Omg. Yes, there is a seat problem. And a fix for it. Fairly bad video. You really need to find another way to make money. Very lame
Haha thanks for your comment & the view! I don’t actually make videos anymore, and certainly never did it to make money when I was recording videos! Anyway, appreciate you watching.
For basically no reason...other than hitting a tree LOL.
Daniel O'Connor did that look like a hard hit to you, or did that look like a kayak drifting into a branch?
I was there and can tell you, it was definitely the latter.
@@TheFishingMommy it did look a bit hard as you were still moving at a decent clip for the water 3 mph x 300+ lbs of gear and kayak and yourself = a subtly harder hit than one might imagine.
@@TheFishingMommy that being said the seat issue has been reported by most on this yak. There are a few good videos on work arounds. I will let you know how mine does after this week.
Daniel O'Connor good luck! I didn’t post this video to bash this boat/manufacturer, and you can even see how I was excited about it in the beginning. But I certainly had a terrible impression of it, for all of the multiple reasons you see here.
By the way, there was definitely not 300 lbs in the boat nor was I going anything close to 3mph. I routinely use my Garmin to tell me my speed and I’m pretty familiar with what 3mph feels like in a yak.
I guess it’s possible that me + gear PLUS the kayak might have been close to 300 but even that’s a stretch. I’ve lost weight since then but even still... 😅
@@TheFishingMommy Definitely not referring to your weight :-) that would be the pot calling out the kettle. I am six foot 313 lbs myself. The hit on the tree may have been exxagerated by the camera angle as well. What your review did show very well is while this kayak is stable it's definitely not built for speed. That being the case I am thinking of adding pontoons to mine to make it something I can stand on. I appreciate the review. I will let you know how the maiden voyage goes for me.
Thank you young lady I will not buy it.
Good choice ;)
Very good real world review👍
My family has owned 11 kayaks in all and I can say the best budget kayaks we have found are made by Perception. They have very good build quality for reasonable prices. I personally use an Ascend H12 which they call a hybrid kayak because you sit in it but it is more open like a sit on top. It is more work to paddle but I love everything else about it. My wife and kids fish out of Perception Swifty 9.5 kayaks. They are a true sit in but they paddle great and are very light weight and surprisingly stable. I think for the money, Perception is a tough brand to beat.
Looking forward to seeing what you end up with.
The Fishing Hobby thanks so much! I’ve heard great things about Perception for sure, especially relative to their price tier!