The Lifetime Manta Angler: Ep. 4 - I Found a VERY Minor Flaw... For Some Of Us

In this video, we get the new Lifetime Manta Angler ( model 91302, model 91350 ) onto the North Branch Potomac River for some swift water testing of this fishing kayak. The kayak did wonderfully on the swifter water that we were able to hit. But unfortunately, our trip was cut short when a couple of mistakes were made. I did, however, find a minor flaw that really only applies to those that plan to take this kayak into swifter skinny water. I tell the story of what happened and make a modification that eliminates the flaw, and actually makes the kayak even better than it already is.
Parts list to come!
At only 10ft in length, this kayak is actually a bit of a monster, with a 38" beam and a weight of 79.9lbs. It is a Tractor Supply (model 91302) exclusive in this variation, but Walmart is also marketing another variation (model 91350) that is available for shipping. It is not currently available directly through Lifetime. In the fourth episode of this series, we add a couple more components to improve the already awesome Manta.
In the next episode, with a likely release of Sunday, Aug 4, 2024, we will better cover swift-water performance and figure out what else the kayak might need to become a daily driver.
Tentative Calendar For Episodes In This Series:
Ep 1: An Overview - June 18,2024
Ep 2: On-Water Performance - June 23, 2024
Ep 3: Basic Modifications - July 7 or 8, 2024
Ep 4: More Mods - likely July 28, 2024
Ep 5: Swift Water - Tentative (likely Aug 4-5, 2024)
Ep 6: Transportation (because of the odd shape) - Tentative
Ep 7: Final Impressions - Tentative
Links to the Kayak:
Lifetime Official: www.lifetime.c...
Tractor Supply: www.tractorsup...
Walmart: www.walmart.co...
Rod Holders and Tracks: www.amazon.com...
Kerco Angler Carbon Fiber Paddle: www.amazon.com...
Rod Leash: www.amazon.com...
Manta Angle Playlist (THIS SERIES): • The Lifetime Manta
The Perception Outlaw Playlist: • The Perception Outlaw:...
The Pelican Mist Playlist: • The Pelican Mist
Music: DJ Williams - A Kiss For Amanda (Creator Music Library)
Ignore these tags:
lifetime, life, time, fishing, kayak, rivers, lakes, ponds, manta, tractor, supply, walmart, angler,

[@All_is_Outdoors]

Nice Mod! Thanks for sharing!

[@BarryP]

Thank you, AiO!

[@DarrinBoggs-jh1vp]

I’d remove those flush mounts and install new ones and you could line them up whatever direction you want. Also, I rarely take a rod longer than 6’ when I’m on the rivers. Never longer than 6’6”. Definitely keeps those rod tips safe. Or safer at least.

[@BarryP]

You'll better understand the rationale if you check out this vid to see the inner workings of the rod holder assembly. It is very specific to this kayak and its molds: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHrGiZmfrqt9Y7csi=eVUp-Z8DKq-9X1nQ&t=257 Also, with the placement of them, there would be nothing that I could do to keep the inner pair out of my camera shot, which would not only be annoying to me, but those that view the videos. 🙃

[@riverratfishing]

Nice video. Good information. Sucks you lost you paddle, but I like the orange.

[@BarryP]

I like the orange for gnarly. I regard it as a necessary inclusion in stretches like that. It's TERRIBLE for video. It draws a lot of attention away from the catch. I have another 250cm Kerco in all black, and with the riser mod, should be just fine for paddling the easily maneuverable, wide monster that is the Manta. This yak is amazingly agile. I'm loving it!

[@lowlifeangler]

Good job on paddling. My opinion, i would put rod holders on a milk crate. 2nd off I don't consider the Manta a white water river kayak. Being blow molded be careful and always wear a PFD. I need one of those paddle leashes.

[@BarryP]

I don't consider it a whitewater yak, either. LOL However, for me, a kayak has to be able to get through Class I and II to get to the honey holes. I'll put the leash in the description. It's $6.

[@lowlifeangler]

@BarryP Awesome! A lot of the small creeks have deep holes full of smallmouth here in Ohio. I'm usually traveling to northern Ohio for largemouth, walleye, and perch in the lakes. Good job on the rapids. The Bonafide RVR is probably the best for fast rivers but it also 3x the cost of the Manta 😆

[@BarryP]

@@lowlifeangler My buddy, @OnlyFins has a RVR. We are hoping to get together this season and swap yaks to compare.

[@lowlifeangler]

@BarryP Awesome, I saw those RVR at the Ohio Expo, they are sick. You want a quality kayak ,but at what cost? Look at the Hobies , they are way overpriced. The Lifetimes are affordable and have thicker walls than the Acsends. I like my Lifetime Tamarack Pro but going to upgrade to a Native Slayer propel 10 do the pedal drive. Still expensive. $2299

[@SalvadorFrieri]

Thanks for a great video Barry! I'm sorry about loosing the paddle and having to cut your trip short. I actually think I like the fact that the outside rod holders turn the rods into outriggers. That way I can go trolling when I'm on a lake and the two lines will be far apart from each other. I just won't put rods in them if I'm not doing that, they can go on the rod holders of my crate. Question: How about the front rod holders? How do those work?

[@BarryP]

Agreed, and that may be the intention. It's awful for skinny water with current, though. The front holders aim a little bit forward and out... pretty suitable for outrigging, as well. That's why the angle of the rear outer holders doesn't really make a whole lot of sense. The nice thing about this mod is that you can completely customize not only the vertical angle (which is REALLY high on all holders on this yak), but also the horizontal angle and direction. The big issue with the rear outer holders is that it's super easy to smack your stored rods with the paddle at any time that you do any serious paddling. They are basically useless, to me.

[@SalvadorFrieri]

@@BarryP I understand. Do you think the front rod holders keep the rods forward enough for it not to be an issue while paddling?

[@BarryP]

@@SalvadorFrieri Shoot me an email to [e-mail] and I'll send you a photo of what it looks like.

[@BarryP]

@@SalvadorFrieri If you're using them for trolling on lakes/ponds, you should be fine. If you're in current, you may end up smacking the rods occasionally with the paddle blades.

[@MrUCL]

Barry why don't you use some springs at the bottom of those rod holders to put pressure again the locking mechanism? 4 tenth scale RC car springs might work.

[@BarryP]

That's a great idea! I don't necessarily see the kit "play" as problematic (yet). I intend to remove the actual holders during high-speed transport and keep the mounts in place. The way the holders fit the mounts is a little odd, but once you set the track mounts in place, you can insert any holder into any of the mounts and they will basically be pre-set. One of the things that stood out to me for these kits was the ease of keeping them secure in gnarly water if anything goes sideways (literally). They are cheaper than the name brands, and while the play is a little annoying, it's super quick getting the rods out of a "locked" position from the holders. Your idea eliminates the play, but I'd be a little worried about losing the springs when I remove the holders from the mounts for transport. If I kept the holders in place, this would work quite well, but adds about a 6" clearance to the Jeep. Thank you, @MrUCL. I'll definitely keep it in mind if I see any issues, down the road.

[@Ohio_Hobbies_Guy]

Awesome, man. I'm taking a couple of mental notes for mine. The river I go on in PA is very wide and shallow in spots. So there's some small rapids. Locking them in place is smart. I nearly lost a spinning rod this spring, but luckily, it's bright red and fell out in a shallow spot so I could reach out and grab it. I like the rod holder idea behind. I would have a small plastic tote on mine for food, clothes, etc. for overnight camping, so I may just use the center rod holder behind the seat. Though I am thinking up some ideas on how to fix the 2 outer rod holders so they don't stick out so much. I wonder if using a small umbrella for shade would get in the way of the rods. Hmmm going to have to experiment with mine when I get it.

[@BarryP]

We could distance-colab on that. I know you haven't had a great look at that holder assembly yet, but it should be fairly easy to modify to "point" the outer holders. You'll see what I'm talking about when you take it apart. I just don't like the high vertical-ish angle of any of rear holders. I'm a skinny water guy and "high" or "wide" always spells trouble. LOL

[@beausoter1763]

Where do you keep your cooler of beer though?!?! Kidding of course, kind of.

[@BarryP]

Hahahaha! Look at the thumbnail. You'll see it! LOL

[@arthurdirindinjr1792]

PFD's???? Tethers?? Spare retractable paddle? I am a complete kayaking novice (1st year less than 10 outings) so pardon me if my ignorance is showing but everything in my kayak is tethered (three poles, 2 tackle boxes, paddle, and pliers) and I wear my PFD at all times and I have a spare collapsible paddle securely stored And I have a hand powered bilge pump as well But my kayak is 12' and has a 550lb weight capacity also I have always been a very capable very confident swimmer since a little boy Swimming is my favorite exercise use to swim over a mile a day in an Olympic sized pool and while acting foolishly as a younger man I came as close to drowning as is humanly possible not once but twice both times wasn't waring a PFD But I also do not kayak on rivers only smaller lakes Two of my friends were fishing on the IL section of the Kankakee river when it was at a higher level not flooding but up a few feet and moving vary fast they dropped anchor incorrectly considering the stronger current and increased volume of water flow and ended up sinking thier 16' John boat One had on a PFD one didn't they both had one hellova time getting to shore fighting the swift current My friend without a PFD was hanging onto to a flotation cushion and openly admitted if he hadn't grabbed thay cushion at the last possible moment as the boat sunk he would've absolutely drowned as so exhausted was he when he reached shore he had not the strength to stand and walk to shore he had to crawl and only with the help of strangers who saw him struggling and helped him was he able to get out of the river Swift moving rivers are no joke and can become very dangerous very quickly Iiterlly will not go on or in the water without a PFD now

[@BarryP]

- For me, MD law requires that you have a PFD onboard for each person onboard during the warmer months in the Potomac watershed (wear requirements kick in in the colder months). They just have to be on the boat... at least here. I don't generally wear on my smaller-water rivers, but I ALWAYS do on lakes and ponds. If I can't have half of my body standing above water, I wear. That is my rule. Make sure you're within the law where you are. I, personally, don't bother fishing rivers that are in a particularly "high" stage. The fishing tends to suck and it's a LOT of work in a yak. - I don't worry about tethers too much, as I've been doing this a while now, but had a fairly expensive loss, here (the paddle retails $150). Lesson learned, and I will absolutely tether the paddle in water like that, from now on, every time. - If the paddle is tethered to the yak, there's no need for an emergency paddle (save someone else in your party losing theirs). - This yak is an on-top and self-drains via it's scuppers. No need for a pump... ever. The Manta drains very quickly, too. If you were to get this yak, for your small lake/pond purpose, most of the possible problems you mentioned are eliminated by it's design and stability. As long as you have a PFD on and your paddle leashed, everything else is replaceable in the highly unlikely scenario that you're even able to flip this remarkably agile, wide monster of a kayak. I have a swift water video dropping today (at 6pm ET) that should alleviate any concerns about this yak's stability. I beat the absolute crap out of the Manta in the swift stuff, and was never concerned about it tipping (even with my seat risers that raise the center of gravity). Its primary stability is outstanding, yet is very easy to move in current. This is the only yak of its kind, and I absolutely love it, so far.

[@mikeoz01]

What if you changed left to right would poles point inward?

[@BarryP]

Not as they are. The four holders, themselves, are identical. They fit into a bump-out that is part of the actual kayak mold. So any one of the four holders is going to orient the exact same way in any one of the four spots. Also, that doesn't solve the high, vertical, tree-grabbing angle. They could be modified, and that may be okay for some, but not for me (with the camera setup).

[@valeriesheppard8202]

Not my finest moment.

[@BarryP]

It actually was one of your finer moments. You composed yourself perfectly after being sent into a situation that even makes me nervous. You nailed it.

[@leethebee1560]

not a flaw, get a milk crate,

[@BarryP]

For?