Old Town Sportsman BigWater PDL 132 Review
Are E Pedal Kayaks Worth the Price?
Answer: We think New Old Town Electric Pedal Assist Kayak Will be a Game Changer for Cape Cod fisherman!
If you're looking for a fishing kayak that can get you to your spot quickly and easily, without all the paddling, then you need the Old Town Sportsman Bigwater PDL 132. This sit-on-top pedal kayak is perfect for those who want to spend their time fishing, not paddling. With instant forward and reverse, it's easy to maneuver around your spot, and with the stability and precision boat control, you can stay there as long as you like. The award-winning PDL Drive is reliable and easy-to-use, so you can focus on what's important - catching fish!
Rough water can make kayak fishing a whole bunch of no fun, but the Old Town BigWater PDL 132 provides tons of stability, even for taller folks. And with the E pedal drive, fishing in tougher conditions is a breeze.
As anyone that fishes Cape Cod knows , it’s that weather can be unpredictable. With the Old Town BigWater PDL 132, you can kayak fish even when conditions are less than perfect.
Many of the cheap kayaks you would find in a big box store lack the strength to tolerate rough or very windy conditions. And you don’t want to learn this when you’re fighting a big fish and trying to balancing your kayak.
Most kayaks work fine for fishing when the water is perfectly calm, but add even a hint of wind, and fishing becomes more a struggle for balance rather than a good time.
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We have tested these kayaks out on Town Cove on a breezy afternoon and we were impressed with how well this kayak negotiated the choppy water and stiff current. In calmer waters, we found speeds of up to 5mph were easily achievable.
The Old Town BigWater PDL 132 has the hull size to withstand reasonably rugged waters, so you can focus on fishing instead of trying to stay afloat. Ample storage and tackle accessories like the gear tracks should appeal to serious anglers, and the instant forward or reverse pedal drive makes operating this kayak in big water a piece of cake.
Old Town Sportsman BigWater PDL 132: Review
BigWater PDL 132: Specs
Length: 13 ft., 2 in.
Width: 34 in.
Weight: 86 lbs.
Total weight capacity: 425 lbs.
Includes rod holders and accessory tracks
Dry storage
Adjustable seat
Center bow hatch
Lifetime hull warranty
Testing the Old Town BigWater PDL 132
A month or two ago, We spent a day trolling Town Cove in Orleans for late season / holdover Stripers. The amazing PDL drive system made it super simple to drive the kayak while rigging up my Thomas and Thomas fly rod, while the forward and rear mounted rod holders kept my Daiwa Tatula conventional setup out of my way while pedaling.
Town Cove is , by kayaking standards, a big body of water; far too large to cover easily in a traditional kayak if you factor in the ever present wind and current. However, we found the PDL drive system on the BigWater made it easy to cover vast expanses of water, and its 13’2” length helps maintain a respectable speed. Because of the shallow draft, I was also able to get into some really shallow, warmer water coves that stripers really like this time of the year.
Because I was trolling, I obviously needed to stay moving. Even after 4+ hours of pedaling in choppy conditions and trying to maintain a steady trolling pace, my legs weren’t even close to tired. . If you’re new to pedal drive kayaks, you’ll be happy to discover that pedaling on the bigger water bodies becomes old hat after a few hours of practice.
The weather conditions during my fishing trip were not exactly perfect(but, typical for Cape Cod), but the BigWater’s weight and well engineered tri-hull design took the rough water with no real difficulty. It never felt tippy even though we got rocked around a bit,however, this design doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t get sprayed, so dress appropriately in spring and fall if it's choppy. But, you are kayak fishing, and you are likely to get some spray in any kayak.
This is a great day excursion boat option because of the pedal drive...particularly if your conditioning and endurance is not at an elite level.
At this size and weight, this real becomes a BOAT.
At just over 13 feet and just under 100 pounds, this kayak might be difficult toget on top of your car all by yourself and , realistically, needs a trailer if you don’t have an easy way to lift into your truck bed . The Goose Hummock has a full selection of carts and carry assist items in stock to help with transportation of kayaks in this category.
If you are an all day fishing sort of person, the BigWater’s super efficient pedal drive system, storage, and comfortable chair make it very comfortable to fish from morning until evening. It is super simple to install your fish finder or other marine electronics with the substantial and well done built-in accessory tracks.
Storage under the seat and at the bow and stern provide plenty of space for tackle and extra layers. And the dry storage in the sealed bow hatch is very convenient. The BigWater will hold just about as much gear as you need.
One drawback on many kayaks is that the seat can become uncomfortable if you fish for long durations , but we bet you will love this seat. The fully adjustable Element seat is outrageously comfortable( and breathable so it doesn't get all sweaty on the hotter fishing trips).
If you are worried about the speed of this kayak and making quicker stops, don't. The instant reverse feature makes it simple and quick to avoid speed drifting into obstructions or shoreline when you’re busy netting your fish. Just pedal backward a couple of cranks and the kayak quickly goes into reverse mode. For a bigger kayak , kayak, its controls and hull design make it slick and agile to paddle...er, pedal.
Whether you’re fishing coastal waters or variable conditions, the BigWater’s well thought design and engineering puts the focus more on fishing and less on controlling the boat.
If you fish, you will love this kayak.
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