USA Made Pedal Drive Fishing Kayaks for Under $2000

[@itsallinyourhead1200]

I've had a passport 12 for three seasons now (this summer will be season 4) and I found it to be everything I need. The accessory tracks are somewhat flimsy (these can be upgraded) and there is a rudder upgrade that helps quite a bit but other than that I've had no complaints. I've managed to attached two downriggers (lake trolls) using Scotty Mount systems and bolting directly onto the kayak, bypassing the track system for stability. With this setup, I've found it stable and comfortable to troll using both downrigger's simultaneously for sockeye salmon in Baker Lake, Wenatchee Lake and even Coho in the Puget Sound. I also find the weight comfortable to throw on my vehicle without fear of throwing out my back etc. (I've had back issues). Anyway, for the price it's a good fishing kayak, I'd recommend it.

[@spiltmilt]

Glad that kayak is working out for you.

[@grothfamilyoutdoors7209]

I have the lightning strike and I can say, after drilling into for mods, it is well made. The plastic is thick and durable. I've had it over 2 years now with no issues. The drive is OK stock but I put on hobie turbo fins which is a lot better.

[@erikmikado6103]

I got into kayak fishing because of you Tyler, 1st year l had a 10foot Pelican, l caught an unbelievable amount of fish out of it, 2022 spring l bought the new 12foot passport, l love it, no qualms, keep up the good work, thanks!

[@kyleoden3015]

I started on a pellican getaway that was surprisingly good for being a sub 1k pedal yak.

[@erikmikado6103]

@@kyleoden3015 I stared on a Pike's run 100 😆😆

[@kyleoden3015]

I picked up a perception crank on sale for 1k at next adventure a few months ago and its been a great yak and big upgrade from my old pelican getaway.

[@panchopachangas4450]

No reverse on the Lightning was the deal breaker for me and went with the Old Towns.

[@jonlobello7151]

After my job is up here I'll be going back to Upper Michigan and will be checking that Wisconsin made Kayak out. A friend of mine back there has the Hobie peddle drives kayaks and loves them.

[@leonardwitucke1]

I really appreciate American made.

[@EvanCooper_b_prepared]

Put a bixpy on the back of that Manta Ray Propel 12 and potentially improve your speed AND turning radius... if only bixpy didn't cost almost as much as the kayak.

[@glpf5]

My first pedal yak was the Compass, great kayak; I used it for 3 years and then upgraded to a PA12 because I wanted to run dual downriggers on it. My wife got the Compass and loves it. I thought the Passports were Hydroformed, not Rotomolded; was this just the first generations (the ones that were white on the bottom and a color on the top)? My first yak was a Native Slayer 12 pro and that was great; would have been awesome with a pedal drive as it was stable, plenty of storage, great for fishing but I can't really paddle and troll....I'm not that coordinated or strong enough to paddle at 1.5-2MPH for 4-hrs. Thanks for the video Tyler.

[@micahgelfand8282]

Thermo formed?

[@NorthWestKayakFishing]

The Passports were Thermoformed until this year (model year 2023). They still are in the European market, the thermoformed ones are manufactured in France so during Covid Hobie was having a supply issues for them as they had to come in on shipping containers so they decided to make a rotomoulded version for the North American market to avoid having to ship them across the pond.

[@glpf5]

@@micahgelfand8282 Lol, I was thinking hyrdoformed aluminum bike frames..

[@pmm422]

Perception Crank

[@spiltmilt]

I mentioned it but a 10’ fishing kayak is fairly limiting

[@kyleoden3015]

Crank is great even in rough weather. Love mine.

[@chubbrock659]

😢inflation is hitting everywhere. LGB. ☹️

[@jamesmundy3127]

What's your opinion on the Bonafide kayaks: p127, ss127 amd ss107. The P127 is a pedal kayak and all three are made in the US. Would appreciate hearing your thoughts. Thanks.,

[@NorthWestKayakFishing]

I love (and sell) Hobies but you have to call them North American made now as they moved the rotomoulding and assembly down to Mexico in the last year.

[@spiltmilt]

I have not heard about this. Which models are being manufactured in Mexico?

[@NorthWestKayakFishing]

@@spiltmilt As far as I know, everything except the inflatables (China), Lynx & Eclipses (France).

[@NorthWestKayakFishing]

Where the make them is I think only 30 mins or so over the border so barely out of the country...

[@NorthWestKayakFishing]

One other note, the Passport 10.5 does not have the transducer plate on the bottom like the 12 does.

[@SevenBrokenBar]

Biden did it!

[@mikesauer7775]

Bi Mart had a cheesy pedal drive kayak for $999 The other day. Not what I was there for,so gave it a glance and walked away. Made of chinesium I'm sure

[@TwoStageTrigger]

The plastic that's used to make kayaks has gone up in price. Part of this is from newer restrictions on oil, such as the fracking bans, and shutting down of the keystone pipeline. This is driving energy and oil prices up, and oil is how we make plastics.

[@spiltmilt]

Actually none of that is true. HDPE has hardly changed in price over the 6 last years. www.statista.com/statistics/1171074/price-high-density-polyethylene-forecast-globally/