Never owned a pedal drive yak.. The seats on the HDII 110 and even 130 look really close to the pedals. I'd like the 110 for portability, maneuverability and car top-ability but I'm 6'2" 200lbs. Not worried about weight, I just don't want to be too cramped on this thing.
I've seen 12' yaks and they're just way too big and heavy for my purposes. And I'm just not willing to spend $2k+ for a more reputable pedal drive.
My other option is a better quality 10' paddle only yak. I'm hopingg there's a few 6'+ 110 HDII owners on here that can share their experiences. Thanks guys!
Posted by ISt4yNoid3d
1 Comment
I’m not as tall as you but not very far off either. Don’t think you’ll feel cramped or too close to the pedals. There’s a few things I don’t like about this kayak but I’ve had it for a few years now and it still does a good job.
The lack of instant reverse is what bugs me the most. Whenever I decide to change it, I will go for a prop drive – likely an OldTown. The other thing that annoys me is the seat squeaking while pedaling. Nothing can be done about it. It would also be nice to have the option to raise the seat (2nd position) like the Catch 120 had. And finally, by itself, the seat is very comfortable but if you pedal for a significant amount of time, pushing yourself into the backrest, you will eventually feel it.
Other than that, it’s a pretty decent kayak for the price. It has served me well in lakes, rivers and saltwater inshore fishing over the past few years. I’ve done zero maintenance on it.
Edit: what I like most about it and one of the reasons I chose this model is that it’s light enough that I can car-top it by myself. Most other pedal drive kayaks are heavier. Even if it does not sound like much, 5lbs more weight can make a big difference…