Pedal-drive kayaks are great for fishing since you can keep your hands free while still moving. In the Chesapeake Bay region, Hobies dominate the pedal-drive market. They have had pedal-drive offerings for many years and have thousands of devoted followers. Hobie has several other larger tandem pedal-drive models too -- they are not considered in the comparison below.
Native Watercraft also offers several pedal-drive models and offers the ability to move in both forward and reverse. Native has an older model (Mariner) that is no longer available as a new product. Native will introduce a pedal-drive version of its Ultimate FX in 2016. Neither the Mariner nor the Ultimate FX Propel are considered in the comparison below.
In much the same fashion as pickup truck owners loving their own brand and shunning competing brands (for example, the cartoon stickers showing a nasty boy peeing on the logo of a competing brand), the pedal-drive market is very polarized. In this post I want to provide some basic specifications on size (length, weight, weight capacity) to allow an objective comparison of those features. The specifications were taken from each company's website. Note that fitted weight means the weight of the hull without the seat or pedal drive. Fully rigged weight includes those two items. For many of us, weight is a very important criterion for handling on land, transporting in or on your vehicle, and storing at home.
I own three Native kayaks and often fish with Hobie owners. All pedal-drive models are good fishing machines, particularly for trolling. Yet each model offers its own pros and cons. I am not going to go into specific features of each, nor am I going to discuss price. Potential buyers are advised to check out these things before making a decision.
Native Watercraft also offers several pedal-drive models and offers the ability to move in both forward and reverse. Native has an older model (Mariner) that is no longer available as a new product. Native will introduce a pedal-drive version of its Ultimate FX in 2016. Neither the Mariner nor the Ultimate FX Propel are considered in the comparison below.
In much the same fashion as pickup truck owners loving their own brand and shunning competing brands (for example, the cartoon stickers showing a nasty boy peeing on the logo of a competing brand), the pedal-drive market is very polarized. In this post I want to provide some basic specifications on size (length, weight, weight capacity) to allow an objective comparison of those features. The specifications were taken from each company's website. Note that fitted weight means the weight of the hull without the seat or pedal drive. Fully rigged weight includes those two items. For many of us, weight is a very important criterion for handling on land, transporting in or on your vehicle, and storing at home.
I own three Native kayaks and often fish with Hobie owners. All pedal-drive models are good fishing machines, particularly for trolling. Yet each model offers its own pros and cons. I am not going to go into specific features of each, nor am I going to discuss price. Potential buyers are advised to check out these things before making a decision.
Model | Length | Fitted Weight (lbs) | Fully Rigged Weight (lbs) | Capacity (lbs) | Width (inches) |
Hobie Revo 11 | 11''6" | 64 | 81 | 275 | 29 |
Hobie Revo 13 | 13'5" | 70.5 | 88 | 350 | 28.5 |
Hobie Outback | 12'1" | 81 | 99 | 400 | 33 |
Hobie Pro Angler 12 | 12' | 105 | 129.5 | 500 | 36 |
Hobie Pro Angler 14 | 13'8" | 120.5 | 145.5 | 600 | 38 |
Native Slayer Propel 10 | 10' | 59 | 78 | 400 | 34 |
Native Slayer Propel 13 | 13'2" | 85 | 104 | 400 | 33 |
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