Sit on top fishing kayak

joshmb1982

Anyone have one? What is it and what modifications have you done?

Rocky Raab

I've fished from a 14' Hobie Pro Angler for 6+ years now. Lots of mods, such as adding a fishfinder, anchor trolley, added rod holders, GPS, raised the seat 3", compass, and maybe a few more minor ones I can't recall. It's a fishing machine. Pedal drive allows me to comfortably troll at up to 3 mph, cruise at 4, or just crawl along silently and hands free.

Sit on top is the best for fishing. Higher sight line lets you sight fish better, it's a lot easier to get on and off, or stand and cast. More above and below deck room, too. And they are self-baling.

gruntled

I was about to buy one when I started thinking about how much of a problem I have standing up with my bad knee. I have to wonder if I could get into or out of one. That one pictured with the higher seat might be a solution.

joshmb1982

Looks like most of the better sit on top kayaks ha e a 2 or three position seat. Some even fold back to give you something to lean on when standing.

I've been looking at either a vibe seaghost 130, or three waters big fish 120. Both have adjustable seats, appear to be very stable, and have a ton of features.

Rocky Raab

Some cheap sit-ons have nothing but a pad and a sling for a seat back. You sit with your legs straight out in front of you, and it's agony in a few minutes. The better ones have chair-like seats, and the best ones have adjustable chairs. I added wooden risers to my seat to make it more comfortable and to make it easier to stand up.

There are now three or four companies offering pedal drive kayaks. Some are better than others but even the worst is miles ahead of having to paddle, especially for anglers. The only place where paddling is best is in moving water where you do not want to risk hitting an object with the drive unit and getting flipped over.

RobOz

Jackson makes a good fish setup.

joshmb1982

I just watched a video on YouTube where they compared 3 pedal drive kayaks. A Hobie, a Jackson, and something else. All three had some kind of mechanism that if the propeller underneath hit something it just popped up into the kayake like you were removing it for travel.

Those kayaks can run upwords of $2,000-$3,000 though. I'm not that serious of a kayaker.

JimmyJack

We use a similiar Hobie for setting crab pot in the Sound. It is a dandy stable boat,,

Rocky Raab

Josh, a Hobie doesn't use a propeller. And the units with that pop-up feature only work if you hit something head on. Get sideways in a current when you hit something, and you are going over right now. The feature is intended to protect the drive unit in shallow flat water. No pedal drive should be used in moving water.