Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL vs Native Slayer Max 12.5 | Which One Is Better?

Are you trying decide between the Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 and the Native Slayer 12.5 Max? In this video I'm doing a side-by-side comparison of these two great fishing kayaks. I'll let you know which one is better in the following areas:
- Pricing
- Easiest to transport
- Stability
- Maneuverability
- Storage space
- Pedal drive
- Comfort
- Rigging
If you have questions about something I covered or something I missed, please add them in the comments below.
▬▬ Navarre Kayak Fishing specializes in Old Town parts ▬▬
Website - navarrekayakfishing.com/
Facebook - / navarrekayakfishing
Instagram - / navarrekayakfishing
ADDITIONAL LINKS and CONTACT Info
▬▬ Follow Me ▬▬
Facebook → / thekayakwarrior
Instagram → / thekayakwarrior
▬▬ Website ▬▬
Official Website → thekayakwarrior.com
Consider Donating → bit.ly/2VyMqdt
▬▬ For product trials contact me @ ▬▬
[e-mail]

[@Peter-zg3em]

loving the feedback. honest and relevant.

[@davidmurphy9671]

Looking for my first pedal drive kayak, very informative and thorough video, thanks!

[@ASDFCH]

Great comparison. I appreciate you taking the time to put this together. Helps me out a lot with my shopping decision.

[@TheKayakWarrior]

I’m glad it helped and thanks for watching!

[@EMS-do5bb]

Great video. Love your honest comparison, and very informative.

[@TheKayakWarrior]

Thank you!

[@larrycoyle3536]

very informative. I have a slayer propel 14. Basic hull characteristics have not changed much accept for a sharper bow on the max series.Still love it. Front storage large and very assessable. Upgrades bring it on par with the Max except the bow but better storage. thanks for the comparison video.

[@davidpickens6063]

Been looking at Kayaks for a while now . The way you describe each is great . Been sold on Old town pdl 120 for a while . After listening to you explain the 120 I believe I am going to get one . Thanks buddy .

[@TheKayakWarrior]

You’re welcome, I’m glad it helped! Thanks for watching!

[@Steady_Stick]

Nice job on the comparison video!

[@TheKayakWarrior]

Thank you!

[@citonelson]

Thank you again for the excellent comparison. Soon after watching this I ended up going with the Native slayer max 10. My biggest worry was sitting water coming in especially up in the northeast, but luckily solved my issue. If you push them in from the middle after they are in you can feel it sealing up and I haven't had issues with water since. I also got one with the older rudder but worked a deal for the new drop rudder and it make a huge difference (along with a Berley Pro handle).

[@TheKayakWarrior]

Very nice to hear! I’m glad the video helped!

[@jessehoward5208]

Great comparison video!

[@TheKayakWarrior]

Thank you!

[@erikjensen6503]

Thanks for sharing! I just picked up two 12' paddle boats but i definitely see pedal drive in the near future and the old town is budget friendly in my area

[@TheKayakWarrior]

You can find good ones on Facebook marketplace or OfferUp at a good price, hope you find one.

[@OutdoorMishaps]

Good video bud. Sitting at home with COVID and watching your videos is a real blessing. I have a 120pdl like you and completely agree about the tracs... For the price it should have QUALITY tracs all over it.

[@TheKayakWarrior]

Praying for a speedy recovery!

[@OutdoorMishaps]

@@TheKayakWarrior thank you! Prayers are needed, and appreciated!

[@d-money5976]

Thanks.....think the Slayer is the way to go..... Now just need to figure color

[@medeiros3610]

Great video. Thank you 👍

[@TheKayakWarrior]

Thanks for watching!

[@kenappleby8481]

Great comparison video! I've had the 120 PDL for about 4 years now and will pick up with Slayer 12.5 tomorrow. I agree with every point you made. Biggest thing that is going to bug me on the Slayer is pulling that drive up...

[@TheKayakWarrior]

Yes, pulling the drive has definitely made a difference, especially when I go over an unexpected oyster bed.

[@seanthompson7592]

Great review!!!!

[@TheKayakWarrior]

Thank you for watching!

[@thehonfleur]

Great review

[@TheKayakWarrior]

Thanks!

[@Bummer450]

Very good comparison video from an owner's perspective kudos to you well done sir 👏 btw you forgot to mention another mayor selling point to go for the Old Town their pedal drive Floats!! if accidentally falls in the water gives you enough time to recover it instead of sinking to the bottom 👍

[@TheKayakWarrior]

The Native Slayer Max is the same, my wife flipped hers and it stayed high in the water.

[@citonelson]

I’ve been researching fishing kayak’s for a couple weeks and this is one of the best unbiased videos. I was leaning towards Native but have me thinking about Old town some. One thing I’m not sure about Old town is if I get a trolling motor getting splashed with the pedal drive up. Native has a foam insert you can put in. Thank you!

[@TheKayakWarrior]

Thank you for watching! Check out Navarre Kayak Fishing, they have an insert for the Old Town as well navarrekayakfishing.com/shop/old-town-drive-inserts/

[@citonelson]

@@TheKayakWarrior I have been keeping you and this insert in mind. 1) I ended up getting the Native Slayer Max 10 because I'm primarily onshore and gives the most accessories with all the tracks. Plus it fits nicely in my minivan with the ability to view out the side nicely. I think I shared already, but I can attest from my 6 hour day yesterday that once you push the scupper plugs in further they seal up nicely with no water . I'm thankful because it was sub 50 in the early morning. 2) I just got the Newport NK180 on Amazon for Prime day ($799) and noticed in their install video water coming through the drive box on the demo at the end of their video. So having me look into this from this video really saved me figuring it out my maiden voyage during colder weather.

[@TheKayakWarrior]

@@citonelson that is awesome and congratulations!

[@user-il7rp7qe3n]

Thank you Warrior. I'm getting closer to deciding what direction to go. Would love to see someone talk about the kind of options available for each and how durable and reliable they are. May He keep you as well.

[@TheKayakWarrior]

They thing is they are both reliable and durable, I would say go some place where you can test them both in the water. If you live close to St. Petersburg, FL there is a store called Bill Jackson's and they have a pond out back just for that purpose.

[@user-il7rp7qe3n]

Apologies, I didn't state my query well. I was wondering about evaluating the add on stuff. For example, the power anchor; always work as it should? On the longer camera poles, do they bend the tracks, or do they wobble in a way that impacts your images? Things like that. Your response was so quick, thank you.@@TheKayakWarrior

[@TheKayakWarrior]

@@user-il7rp7qe3n not sure about the power anchor pole, but I have friends that have them on both models and no complaints. I’ll says the track mount on the Native is sturdier because of the design and the fact it uses think aluminum. The tracks on the Old Town are plastic, which means they may flex a little more. I haven’t had an issues, but I don’t use a tall pole so not 100% sure.

[@jsib84]

Spot on man. I have the slayer max 12.5 and my wife has the old town 106 pdl. I like the old town pdl drive better better as far as deployment into the water and pulling it up once you hit shallow water. The rudder of the old town is also better in my opinion than the slayer max. Tracking on the water is more work on the slayer. With all those said though, i rig out my slayer with much more than my wife does on her old town and i have the rails and space to do so, old town is very limited (stock) on where and how much you can rig on the boat. I also feel the native has a more convenient layout for storage, and a dedicated battery box for fish finder or trolling motor give native the edge. Tossing gear inside the oldtown hull storage and theb trying to retreive it while on the water can sometimes be impossible. Both are great boats though and very fishable, stable and enjoyable. Both have places where the design or functionality could be improved but dont make them a horrible boat. Great video! Thanks

[@TheKayakWarrior]

Well said! What part of the country are you in?

[@albertharden1628]

Thanks for the comparison video I’m researching to find a stable kayak have a injured knee and foot

[@TheKayakWarrior]

Thanks for watching! Either one are great kayaks, I am loving my Old Town a little better though.

[@jonathonloehr8575]

Excellent video

[@TheKayakWarrior]

Thank you very much!

[@nofx21081]

The newest slayer max 12.5 model as the spring blade rudder. I also believe the seat is on tracks and I believe there are also some more upgrades made to the newer version that make it a much better vessel if you ask me. I’m just a biased native owner.

[@TheKayakWarrior]

I was too, until I got the Old Town

[@dwag303]

Hey great video sir! Do either of the pedal drives offer a slot to hook your net into , for easy access ??

[@TheKayakWarrior]

Not natively, but I added a YakAttack RotoGrip Paddle Holder (amzn.to/3ME1r5B) to my Native drive. Thank you for watching!

[@FishYourHeartOut]

I'll keep my sportsmen 120 PDL!!

[@txmexnittro]

Awesome comparison on 2 kayaks I've been looking at! I'm new and have never own a kayak, so I'm looking and doing research!! I also love all the awesome rails Native has to offer, but don't mind adding to the OT PDL!!! The OT PDL looks BIGGER & THICKER, but which one performs better in the water??

[@TheKayakWarrior]

I’m definitely happier with the OT, dryer and more stable ride, especially in rougher water.

[@krb0461]

Great comparison video and I'm still torn. I would love a super smooth drive but the Old Town has so many upsides, too.

[@TheKayakWarrior]

The Old Town is smooth and I’m really loving it

[@RadReelingFishing]

I like this type of comparison video. It's good to see the small differences that might make a difference to the angler choosing their kayak. I think you said your wife flipped the Old Town Sportsman, but your hand is on the Native Slayer. Wasn't it the slayer she flipped?

[@TheKayakWarrior]

You are correct JC! Thanks for catching that!

[@toolsnthings5539]

good review next time show some on the water footage of each

[@JZReeling]

Love it 👍

[@luisspearhead]

great video comparison.... How about the Speed ...on choppy waters ....is there one faster than the other....????

[@TheKayakWarrior]

I think the Native Slayer cuts through the waves faster, but the Old Town is slightly better in rough waves when not moving.

[@jerryfaircloth]

Does the slayer pedal drive float like the old town ones in case you drop it in or it disconnects during a capsizing event? I've only capsized once, and that was my dogs fault, in my sportsman and it did not disconnect but its reassuring to know it would float just in case. Nice review you did, hopefully it helps a lot of folks decide.

[@TheKayakWarrior]

It floats the same as the Old Town. My wife tipped hers over, but was able to continue fishing the rest of the day

[@AlfredMorganOutdoors]

CNY people selling old towns for like 1500 with pdl its kinda nice.

[@mkoic11]

@The Kayak Warrior if you had to get rid of one of those two, which one would you keep?

[@TheKayakWarrior]

I kept the Old Town Sportsman and sold the Native Slayer.

[@runnikee6986]

I’m considering a Sportsman 120 PDL. I’ll be using it 50/50 for casually cruising our rivers for exercise and for fishing. What is the shallowest water you would say it can go in before needing to raise the drive? How difficulty is it to paddle if I were to need to paddle through shallow areas of the river?

[@TheKayakWarrior]

I have to raise mine up at 1.3 feet (on my fish finder) and it’s not difficult at all to paddle.

[@runnikee6986]

@@TheKayakWarrior Thank you for the information and fast reply! I’ve enjoyed your videos and they’re helping me make a decision. I’ve looked at used kayaks and the Hobies just seem to get rough as time goes on but I’ve heard the Old Town PDL systems are bulletproof.

[@TheKayakWarrior]

@@runnikee6986 I hope you find the right one!

[@runnikee6986]

@@TheKayakWarrior That makes two of us.

[@Baccarat8091]

Thank you for your videos I have a question I am new to kayaking I am from Miami My question is can I kayak everywhere or only in permitted places

[@TheKayakWarrior]

Pretty much anywhere except places that say no fishing. Keep in mind the limitations of your kayak and your experience level. I don’t recommend going offshore or fast moving water until you’re comfortable with your kayak.

[@Baccarat8091]

@@TheKayakWarrior thanks u

[@TheKayakWarrior]

@@Baccarat8091 you’re welcome

[@jasonogle6602]

Which one do you think would do better going down a shallow river with the pedal drive removed completely.

[@TheKayakWarrior]

In my opinion, the Old Town Sportsman. The deployment and removing the drive is much easier and less cumbersome than the Native. Thanks for watching!

[@BK-rq2zt]

Rigability is totally a word!😂

[@moreesetaylor872]

"Believe it or not that 2 inches makes a difference!!!"...Too easy!!....Giggity!!

[@topolos123]

I thought the rudder in the slayer max springs down.

[@TheKayakWarrior]

Not that model

[@miamiwax5504]

The warranty with the drive is the biggest issue if you buy a used kayak

[@BERTRAND85O]

Would love to collab with you one day man

[@TheKayakWarrior]

Let’s do it!

[@BERTRAND85O]

@@TheKayakWarrior what part of Florida?

[@TheKayakWarrior]

@@BERTRAND85O Tampa

[@BERTRAND85O]

Not too far. I’m in Panama City

[@TheKayakWarrior]

@@BERTRAND85O I’ve always wanted to fish in the Panhandle

[@rooster8633]

which one is faster ?

[@TheKayakWarrior]

The Native Slayer seems to be slightly faster

[@jujubeans2002]

which one is faster???

[@TheKayakWarrior]

The Slayer Max, but only slightly

[@manny4491]

This is a new model! kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5DaoKCamq1sqck

[@OutdoorMishaps]

No way would I buy that. If I spend that kind of dough I'm getting an AP120... spot lock and the whole 9.