
So I've been fishing out of an inflatable paddle kayak for the last three years, 90% of the time trolling using a small trolling motor. It works great for my situation, I have no logical reason to change things up, but nonetheless I have been eyeing a couple different inflatable pedal kayaks. I figure if all else, I can use a second kayak to try and get some of my buddies into the hobby. And the additional exercise wouldn't hurt me.
The two kayaks that I have been trying to decide between are basically identical, save one has a standard pedal drive with a propeller and the other has a fin-pedal drive: https://www.boatstogo.com/inflatable-pedal-kayak-pk365.asp and https://www.boatstogo.com/12-inflatable-fin-pedal-kayak-fpk365.asp. While I doubt few if anyone here has experience both the particular kayaks I am looking at, I figure there are people who have logged in hours with both "standard" and fin-pedal systems.
I would ask the following:
1) As I said, I am almost always trolling, usually very slow sub-1.5 mph. For this purpose, is one vs. the other very much different in smoothness and noise (assuming proper maintenance)?
2) In terms of maintenance and repair (assuming parts availability), is one system generally more of a hassle vs. the other? I realize that this will be manufacturer-dependent but some generally input would be appreciated. I would expect to be occasionally targeting salmon in salt water, but mostly I fish in lakes/reservoirs.
3) If you have used both systems, which "ergonomics" do you prefer in terms of pedaling? They look like they'd be quite different.
The fin-pedal version that I am looking at has no reverse, but that's not a huge deal for my use-case, or at least I don't think it is. I also typically don't fish shallows so any advantage the fin-pedal might have there isn't a big deal either.
Posted by nyarlathotep2
1 Comment
Both of those are going to be absolute garbage, so any advantages from either drive will be lost.
You’ll most likely spend most of your time attempting to fix whatever is failing or wishing that you bought something else.