I've had the same kayak for two years with more use in freshwater than you but I do take the time to wash, rinse, clean and grease, and its amazing how much more pristine mine looks. Demonstrates just how critical maintenance is.

@MDLRFishing

2 жыл бұрын

From day one I never baby the kayaks that are given to the channel. I fish them hard and show what they’re capable of handling. The viewers can take comfort in knowing that my kayak wasn’t shown much love. It took a beating and still kept me on the fish. And after years of neglect it’s still fully functional. They can go into a purchase knowing that what they’re about to buy was either built to last or not. I agree wholeheartedly, a little preventive maintenance will keep this kayak pristine for years.

@ukr4ever

2 жыл бұрын

@@MDLRFishing Really appreciate the job, as a person who spent years thinking about buying one, this is exactly the video and opinion that will allow me to make the right decision.

@shlomojesus971

2 жыл бұрын

@@MDLRFishing I appreciate you showing us how these kayaks holdup to frequent use.

@danfish4life249

2 жыл бұрын

@@MDLRFishing I'm much more interested in seeing what these kayaks can take under extreme use. Taking great care and using them a lot less won't show me what they can take only what proper maintenance can do. I know that already.

Maybe the real issue is you not washing the salt water off your gear. I cannot imagine what your reels look like.

In basic training in the military, one of the trainees said to the drill sergeant, "Why do we have to clean our gun every time, we're only going to shoot it again tomorrow." The drill sgt. replied, "You wipe your butt don't you?" Considering how much you use it and comparing that to the average fisherman, I would say that Kayak is phenomenal. You really should at least rinse it down when you get home, if you're fishing in salt water. Enough of grandpa telling you what to do. That was and excellent, informative and honest video that is greatly appreciated. Great job.

Thanks for another great video! Your videos are one of the reasons I purchased my AP 120 a little over a year ago as my retirement present. I am running a 100ah Battle Born battery with Garmin Live Scope set up and in my opinion the combination is the ultimate as far as a kayak set up. So far I have had zero issues with my AP 120 and find the stability second to none so I always feel safe while fishing alone (I only fish fresh water) and the 100ah is additional piece of mind to get you through the day. I was already using a kayak trailer so the additional weight of the AP 120 over my previous pedal kayak did not change anything as far as convenience. I have zero regrets in spending the money for the AP 120, stability, spot lock, comfort, usable space and reliability are key to a good days fishing.

What a great review… I love how informative and honest it was. Well done Mark!

@MDLRFishing

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks William!

Thanks for the thorough, honest review. The price tag is definitely a sticker shocker at first. But as someone who owns a budget pdl (which I do like though), I can see how the thoughtfully engineered benefits of the old town is worth it. I don’t plan on buying a new yak anytime soon. But if I do, I think old town would get my money.

Great review / one thing I know for sure ,you don`t pull punches always an honest review.

I own a 136 and have never regretted my purchase. It is a beast and gets me out on the water with relative ease. It is a life changer in my opinion. I am 54 and still have no real issue launching and loading out of my pickup. Once on the water is where the magic begins. Changing setups when moving spots while foot steering is an incredible benefit. Spot Lock is such an incredible feature. Cannot say enough about this platform.

I would absolutely love to have one...but with that being said, between the kayak, battery, fish finder..id be just as well off buying a small bass boat. at least my whole family could enjoy it vs just me with the kayak. Great video.

@xNevlosx

2 жыл бұрын

Bought one, used it for 6 months and that's exactly why I sold it.

@bassdojo3925

2 жыл бұрын

Just the amount of time to set up and take down discourages me from owning one. I like to walk around on my deck of my bass boat. I can drop it in the water and take it out and park it.... done. I like that kayaks can go in really shallow water but my boat I can go anywhere they can't go on a river. Up ... down ... in a flash. I drop my boat in 9.9 lakes all the time and just use the trolling motor. It's slow but I can bring my lunch, friends, and have a livewell that i can take an end of day photo of our trophy catch(es)! Thanks for the great assessment and reflection.

@jasonroberson171

2 жыл бұрын

I would say for the amount of money invested in some of these kayaks that, yes you could buy a small bass boat but at the same time with a kayak you don’t have to put gas in it to go fishing and you don’t have to spend money on maintenance of the engine either. There are advantages and disadvantages of both.

@freshlysaltedfishing8500

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah and no buying a small new bass boat (trust me you do not want to buy a used one) and fitting it with the same or equal gear you would still be out more than 10k most yaks cam fit on a truck bed but you need to buy a trailer for a bass boat.

@xNevlosx

2 жыл бұрын

@@freshlysaltedfishing8500 It's not fun loading a kayak in and out of a truck that weighs as much as the autopilot 120. It depends on what you are looking for, I have kids so the kayak was a dumb purchase. It's great for smaller lakes.

I've had the exact same autopilot for just over a year now and it's been through absolute hell. I wouldn't get rid of it for anything, it's my pride and joy

@stevehogan8829

Жыл бұрын

I'm at 3 years and I'm right with you Andrew. I don't baby mine, I only rinse itt occasionally, I do put die electic on all the connections and I do spray the shaft and prop pin with CRC Marine Corrosion spray. IT's fantastic. I just changed my prop again as I was topping out at 3.0 - 3.2. Will see if that makes a difference but not till Dec.

I own the 12' version of this Kayak- purchased Jan 2021 so I've had it through 1 year of use. I started kayak fishing in 2015 & used 2 different kayaks before- so I paddled, then peddled, now trolling. Yes. I would buy it again without blinking. It's comfortable, stable, and really hands free. The pros are many. I have 2 cons with this boat: 1. It's expensive initially (although after purchasing I haven't had to spend a dollar for maintenance or repair.) #2 It's HEAVY. I have to use a trailer to a boat ramp to get it in the water. There's no lifting, carrying, or even carting this beast. It's just a compromise I've accepted. On the occasion that I want to fish in back waters, or places that have no ramp nearby where I carry to bank or riprap, I use my wife's 60 pound kayak... Then I spend most of the time wishing I was in the autopilot instead, lol!

I really thought you were going to say you don’t clean it because you wanna see how it holds up when it isn’t taken care of, however you were completely truthful. Which is amazing to hear. This vid is old but i only now stumbled upon ur channel as I only recently got in kayaking.

@MDLRFishing

Ай бұрын

Welcome to the channel. 🤙

Thanks for the review of the old town as always great detail on all your videos. I have to say kayaks are getting to heavy would like to see manufacturers come out with an ultralight sturdy pedal kayak that I can move around with ease in the 65lb to 75lb weight class but with the similar features but without a crazy price tag. For me it’s all about light weight and a kayak I can pick up and throw in the back of my truck an go without wasting to much time going and coming.

@damnitman1969

2 жыл бұрын

Hobie passport

I own the old town 106 with the built in trolling motor. I paid 2500 for it and 400 for lithium battery. I love it, the best fishing platform I’ve ever used. I highly recommend either of them. I fish the coast of NC ever chance I get and I do clean it from time to time. No issues with wiring or any malfunctions what so ever in 2 years. Might need new prop, dang oyster beds. Fish on gentleman !!!!!

Love my Hobie Outback, especially at 85lbs. A kayak at 152lbs is now just simply a small boat. Not car topping that beast or moving across a beach. Those grossly overweight “boats” limit your launch options drastically. My buddy has a Hobie Pro Angler 14 and will only go out if he has someone to help launch it if not at a boat ramp. How easy would it be to overturn a flipped over Sportsman Autopilot. They may be stable but they can capsize. Happened to me when I had a crack in my seat on my Ocean Kayak 4.3 Ultra on was on Lake Erie 1.5 miles out. Not to mention if your far off shore in big water and the motor fails your definitely not paddling that pig back in. I will say Johnson Outdoors kayaks stand behind there products and they sent me a new 2020 Trident 15 for a replacement. I guess it’s all situation dependent what body of water your taking it on. My outback doesn’t take on any water and is stable and fast in very sketchy conditions on Lake Erie. HOBIE 🤘🏻💪🏼!!

I think one of the positives of having to register my kayak is, if i fall out and my kayak gets away from me, the coast guard can look up my kayak number and know that I’m missing. I always registered my kayak # with my two way radio. So if i hit the distress button, they know it’s me and can try to locate me. Hopefully I’ll never need it but i feel it’s an additional safety feature. Thanks for the video. 👍🏽

Thanks, man! your videos are great, I watched you when you went to Panama the very first time! Great vids! I personally prefer Revo, nice and fast kayak without lots of drag and things to bring with you to the water. I now looking at Brooklyn kayakas, those are super cheap and light, wanna try one of those.

I enjoy your channel and, yes, I do own the exact same kayak. Your job is to take products to their extreme and that helps all of us. I have found cleaning the kayak thoroughly when I return from an outing. That eliminates the corrosion issue - even with the connector plugs. I pull my prop off and check for any damage to the pin. I grease it with axle grease so no need to hammer pin out of shaft. So, for those of us that fish 1 w-3 times a week, the Old Town performs extremely well. I also use ReBel Lithium battery for around $500. Bottom line ,great channel and seeing you use the Autopilot keeps me aware of what I need to do to for the kayak to perform better. Keep it up!

@jwjonetx

2 жыл бұрын

That’s a 50 amp hour battery I assume? What kind of usage are you getting out of it and how is it holding up as far as power storage?

@edwiatt2194

2 жыл бұрын

@@jwjonetx sorry, forgot to add - it is 100ah

@CaptainSteve73

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the info, Ed, on how you maintain your kayak. These are serious kayaks that require a serious investment in money and time. If someone doesn’t want to do that, that’s their decision. I also have a Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160. It’s a great boat that requires little maintenance. Buy what works for you, your budget, your time, and your type of fishing. I appreciate the care you give to your kayak. My OT 136 should be delivered in a month. I can hardly wait.

MDLR Fishing-Straight talk with Mark! Could be a regular feature. Maybe once a month review tackle, rods and reels, kayaks, trolling motors etc. It's hard to find an honest and complete review like this. Your the best Mark keep it up.

I’ve recently purchased the OT AP 120 in blue. I’ve only taken it out a 3 times so far so still new condition, I can see why you don’t wash it down every time it’s time consuming for sure. I installed the anchor wizard on mine for that just in case of emergency situation and hope to never have to use it. The one thing I don’t like is for the rivers I fish it need a motor with more thrust it doesn’t do well in a moderate to heavy current. Other than that I really enjoy the hands free fishing, tight lines

Thanks for the honest review. Man I wish it was at a lower price point.

Love your channel. You’re content is awesome and I really enjoyed your review today and your other videos on this channel. I think I’ve watched pretty much every video on the autopilot so much so that my wife just told me to stop torturing myself and just buy it already so I did a couple months ago. Had it on the water a couple of times so far but winter arrived so waiting for the spring to really get out and put it through its paces. Definitely the best fishing kayak imo. Love it so far! Thanks

I have the sportsman 106 MK and love it. Might pick up an auto pilot 120 if they ever come out with a version 2.

Yup. 120AP owner here and it definitely changed the kayak fishing world. I would’ve never dreamed of fishing king salmon out of a kayak let alone being as easy as it is with the trolling motor. Definitely worth the investment.

Great review thanks

Thanks for the review. I’ve been watching your channel for quite awhile now. As you said in your video, I’d agree that you don’t show much TLC for your kayak. My only hate about my AutoPilot 120 is the WEIGHT. Too heavy. I mean 150-200 lb. depending on your rig is just to heavy for a kayak.

@SSHitMan

2 жыл бұрын

The weight made it a no-go for me. I don't have a truck and a trailer isn't possible where I go so I have to cartop it on my Jeep. The 68lb Hobie Compass fit my needs much better.

@czwest7845

2 жыл бұрын

@@SSHitMan I agree with you 100% thats why i am looking at the Hobie Lynx 45-60 lBS . I only take 2 rods and some plastics when i fish local bays!~

@ETuss713

2 жыл бұрын

@@czwest7845 yes. This is the new direction of the market. Hobie is leading the way in this. Its a cycle. I bet in the next 2 years every company will have an answer to Hobies lynx, compass, and passport.

@sampierson402

2 жыл бұрын

thats why I sold my 120. And it/s bulky, doesnt paddle well even with a long paddle. for me... I have a new camo outback now. It's better for me.

@h.carrasco8658

2 жыл бұрын

Definitely agree, yes it's a beast on the water but Damm it's heavy, have to pass up alot of good fishing spots that require cart topping it to get it's bottoms wet! Plus havnt found any good carts that make it easy for that. I bought the Ctug and for the price it's completely garbage. On the hunt for a stable and reliable cart that can go into the scupper hole to prevent falling off or getting stuck due to the weight of this boat, but cant seem to find one that will fit . Other than that I love everything else about this boat!

Nice review! Good thing about lithium batteries. The price is getting better. I just picked up two 100AH Chins batteries for 309.99 each on amazon. They sell 50AH also.

I've had mine for 18 months but I baby mine. Rinse after every use and spray all metal components with wd40. It still performs like new and I have to force myself to use my 20 ft boat and my other kaku kayak. I love it and don't regret buying it.

Personally the 120 and 136 were just to much for me! The 106 is the perfect price point and sweet spot, only downside is of course it’s not as big and also doesn’t have spot lock but honestly for the cons you avoid, the 106 is an absolute gem at its price point 🔥🔥 very maneuverable and just simpler. Great review sir!

@stevehogan8829

Жыл бұрын

I've got a 120 but I agree. JC at Rad Reeling has a 10' with minn kota and loved it. Someone stole his years back.

New Subscriber....Great Video. Very thorough and informative.

@MDLRFishing

2 жыл бұрын

Welcome to the channel!

Great honest review.

That's a great kayak I love your fishing shows keep up the great work 👍 yup me and the wife has a 14' Jon boat 15hp runs 20 mph with both of us and all the gear....

@johnperrone3907

2 жыл бұрын

How much did your Jon boat cost you???

@jettercool

2 жыл бұрын

But with that kayak you can reach places that a Jon boat can’t. That’s the difference

@BobBohner4851

2 жыл бұрын

In 3’ waves my 120 days let’s go and I’m dry. Wouldn’t a jon boat sink?

The AP120 is my first Kayak. I am 60 years old and yes for me it's heavy for me to lift onto my truck bed, especially on inclined ramps. So I made a ramp with a small winch. Now I like it even more. Great Kayak.

My goodness, I was born and raised in Texas. Salt + Texas sun will eventually ruin a 16 pound anvil! The fact it lasted a year without good post-use maintenance is pretty amazing. Wiring in $65,000 flats boats will go south in a hurry without maintenance on the Texas coast. I have a Sportsman 120 PDL, not the Autopilot version but again, I don't see how Hobie can charge more for a peddle kayak (the Hobie Pro Angler 12 @ MSRP $5299) than Old Town charges for the 12 foot autopilot version (MSRP $4000) is beyond me. It's a no brainer.

Damn jealous...full time KZreadr...great video. I've got the PA14 the deck space is what sets it apart from the other kayaks.

@MDLRFishing

Жыл бұрын

As long as you enjoy it that’s all that matters 👍

I bought my first kayak ever last summer, old town MK106, the autopilot was a bit out of my budget. Either way, this kayak is amazing, I’m ready to take it out on the Colorado waters again! Great video! 9:35

Great review. I was about to make the purchase on something like this but I would of needed to finance it, so I just financed a boat instead. If you got the cash for something like this, go for it.

I bought the regular Powered By Minn Kota model. It’s been a lot of fun but if I could do it all over again, I’d get this model for the spot lock. There are so many times I wish I could sit in one spot without an anchor.

I have seen the old Town kayak like this one. A few guys on KZread use the old Town kayak like this one rave about the kayak and how it handles. I have seen this kayak used on the ocean and the KZread guys just love it because it handles so good and motor moves you around no more pedaling. The guys say this is the kayak to buy.

Great review I think it's great you abused it to give honest review I hate sugar coated reviews

Interesting information. I have mobility issues and can't sit low, so I got an 8 ft Pond Prowler and raised the seat of it's swivel for easier up and down. It goes through 6 to 8 inch water if there's no weeds or stumps. It handles about like a troller motor attached to an inner tube. Changing the troller direction is a constant thing. In a slight breeze I'm like a sail and the boat goes in a different direction every time the wind changes. Maybe the 10 ft model would beat the handling of the 8 ft length. I prefer fishing from the boat's front. It's stable enough for me to stand to fisn, but hard for me to navigate past the swivel the seat for access to access the back of the boat. It's easy to transport and launch and load onto my tiny trailer. Maybe, by adding rod brackets I could gear up for different fishing rods and poles during the same water time so I can change to fishing for different species if one isn't biting. To me the biggest con is that to get rain water out the water must be dipped or the boat tilted to pour water out OR drill the boat and add a typical drain plug. I'm not confortable drilling for that. IF I buy another boat it'll likely be a jon boat.

@MDLRFishing

Жыл бұрын

Whatever works keep doing it 👍

I have the 136 AP, Dakota lithium 100 ah battery. I love mine. I use it twice a week in Oregon inlet. Hummingbird 1198c side scan sonar on a 18 ah Dakota lithium battery. Now, it's expensive yes, but you are not even coming close to that price with a Jon boat of the same quality. Just an engine alone that is halfway decent is gonna run ya 6 grand and the hull another 4 and here's the key thing. Noise, and the Jon boat can sink more easily. You also get a hell of a rough ride near inlets in a Jon boat because you have more speed and have to deal with the big waves from the charters. I catch all the same fish everyone else does in boats 10 to 20 times the cost of mine and more often than not I catch fish and they zero out riding around looking for fish. Now I can not go out the inlet and fish for tuna and dolphin but redfish and specs are fine eating fish to me. Sometimes cobia come in the inlet sound side. Anyhow, it's an amazing kayak and honestly, cheap for what you are getting. Comparably, you would be talking 15 k for a Jon boat, set up with spot lock and everything.

Definitely agree with your assessment even though I've not had the problems you faced because I'm in Michigan and my yak doesn't see salt water. I have the 136 and my top speed is about 3.7 mph on lead acid marine battery. The best thing is I got it on clearance at Cabela's because it had a few scrapes due to shipping but only paid 2500 out the door. Which is the price of a pdl model. I'm 240 lbs and this thing is super stable in the water. So I didn't get it free but I definitely didn't over pay for it. The only thing I'd like to do is go lithium. But like you said that's about a grand. But I still get 8 to 10 hours of use on a regular marine battery. Love your honest reviews but I stopped using my 18 ft bass boat because this thing is so easy to launch but in bad weather I do miss the gas motor in a storm to get back to shore quickly. Other than that I really love it.

@jddarby007

2 жыл бұрын

It's very telling that a lot of people that own a bass boat and Autopilot prefer taking out the Autopilot.

Very informative!

I got lucky bought mine it was used once from a KZreadr like yourself which got it free for promotion for $2,500 with no battery but did have a paddle. Then bought 100AH Dakota with charger close to $900. And bought a new Lowrance 7 reveal from a friend for $200. I have a Hobie PA12 as well which I can say is a lot easier to haul and unload etc.

Hello Mark! Great review buddy. I own the AP136 for 2 years now and love it! I agree with you about it being really heavy therefore I also purchased a trailer and made some modifications to it. Again great reviews and as always I enjoy your videos! Take care and be safe buddy!

@danbragg6398

2 жыл бұрын

Hey Jessie I agree that the old town auto pilot 136 is extremely heavy. I also built a modified trailer. I launch it just like a boat and I love it. Everyone I see at the boat ramp makes great comments about the kayak. Dan

My god your blessed brother getting a free old town kayak for a couple reviw videos 👏🏽 beautiful Godbless and Fish On!!!

@MDLRFishing

5 ай бұрын

Thanks 👍

Thank you for this video. When you added this to your arsenal, I thought that is my “grail kayak.” It’s major selling point to me being I would no longer have to deal with adjusting my anchor trolley attached to either a drift anchor, stake out pole, or traditional anchor with the chain and zip tie technique. I could… just fish.

Good video…only advantage for me over pedal drive is the anchor feature of using a trolling motor. The weight is also big deal for me.

I think the spot lock feature makes this kayak so awesome! The price is steep, but I have almost the same $ in my Outback. I'm still patiently waiting for Hobie to drop the Outback 360. Great video!

@czwest7845

2 жыл бұрын

Don't think that will happen with outback and 360. They claim a safety issue not wide enough and will not build in fear of law suits?

@jwestfishing3229

2 жыл бұрын

@@czwest7845 first I've heard of it. I was just wishfully thinking. Thanks for letting me know!

How comfortable is the seat? This is a very good video and well worth watching!

i have the old town sportsman 106 mk and i just love it. i made myself a crane with an electric winch to lift my kayak and swing it into my truck. the crane goes at the end of a bumper i also made. i'm 51yo ,so no more heavy lifting for me..:)

I watched your video and change from ap 106 > ap120, I hv had it since June 21 and hv not gotten wet. From the past registration to finding a 4kayak trailer to haul it since to heavy to load on the top of suv. But this is the year to travel, learn, and play. What I didn't hear is any recommend of keel guard. I have made modifications but want to get wet soon. Now have to learn how to back up a trailer

Hello Mark, your channel is awesome! I have an Autopilot 136 and so far I love taking it out. The biggest issue I have is that I'm using a T-bar bed extender. I'm contemplating getting a trailer since it's tough getting it back on the truck from a boat ramp or shore. Any suggestions on a trailer with a crank?

@darkside2329

2 жыл бұрын

The Yakima Eazy Rider trailer is an awesome dual bed trailer (with options for lots of great accessories - the Yakima rod pod is amazing btw - you could easily attach a crank to it.

Sounds good, sounds like a solid kayak.

Picked up an AP136… my only complaint it’s how heavy it is.. other than that.. it is fantastic. Super satisfied ripping lips in it!

Thanks for the opinion. I know you use you put it through and I was waiting on this video after a few years into it. After a long thought process I was considering selling my pro angler to purchase that one.I think there is a clear winner now.

Thanks for sharing your experience. The pros definitely out weigh the cons with this kayak. Where will I find the video of bypassing the built in electrical connections? I searched, but no luck.

I too also hate the fact that the vessel itself weighs a ton alone without the battery. I bought my kayak, and recently just purchased another battery. It is currently running on Lead acid battery. I just purchased a lithium battery. Unfortunately, when it comes to lithium batteries. There always going to expensive. I used race RC card so I am well aware. I think the advantage of having this kayak or a kayak is less maintenance in the long run. I do love my AutoPilot 120 also….I do not get it out there as much as I would like to. Good review of the product.

Thank you for your review. I am convinced this is a great product and want one! I fish small rivers close to me and like the hands free features. can I pedal in shallow waters with out breaking the pedals? In late summer the river often gets so shallow that I drag bottom on rocks. Lastly, I think I would like a class on how to use fish finders and just read in Bassmaster mag about forward facing technology. Is this available in this Kayak? How could I go about really learning to use that? Thanks in advance for your response. Joe McIntyre

I have the 136 with no regrets. Though i am considering a small outboard for it just to get me to my fishing spots.

@garywest2250

2 жыл бұрын

lol

When will minn kota come out with a kayak spot lock trolling motor like Motorguide did with the xi3?

I have the Old Town Sportman 106 pdl and I love it. The minn koda would of been nice but that weight was just not for me. I fish a lot of ponds and places without ramps. I couldn’t do that with this, that said when I have a ramp and a big body of water I always think about having two old towns 😆

Hi Mark thanks for putting this video together. I always appreciate the effort that you put into your videos. I love the spot lock feature of this kayak! So I was thinking of possibly picking up this model either this year or maybe next year, but I keep thinking about what would it be like if I lose power 3-4 miles off shore or even being 5-6 miles away from my launch area along the coast? So I keep returning to the though of just buying a Bixby to drop into the drive well of my PA12. If I lose power I could always drop the mirage drive back into the well and peddle on. My friend picked up a larger pedal drive Old Town and he pretty much likes it better than his 2017 Outback. I have to admit that his boat peddles very fast, and it’s pretty impressive to see it cut right through the waves. Do you see yourself returning to fish San Diego bay anytime this year?

@edwiatt2194

2 жыл бұрын

With the lithium battery I have gone over 8 miles on a charge with plenty of juice left. The Bluetooth battery manager on my iPhone helps me watch power drain. Always remember, if you are done with your 8 mile adventure, you still have to get back to launch site. At 4mph, it is a 2 hour commute. Paddling is not that difficult either for a big kayak.

Great review. Have you ever tried the kaku zulu? If so what are your thoughts on it.

Really good review. It’s nice to see a really honest review on these kayaks

I own AP120. Love it, love it....just wish I had more time to use it but that should soon change for me. Pulls leadcore like a champ. It does everything a larger fishing boat with an outboard will do, except get quickly from point A to point B. I get such a kick fishing from it. There are virtually no other kayak fisherman where I am so I am a novelty to the large boat fisherman. I always have other boats pulling along side me to ask questions about my rig. Yes, it is heavy though and my back is not what is used to be so I have on order a trailer from On the Water Innovations. I cannot wait for that. Yes, it is a very expensive kayak but you can dump a lot more money into a full size fishing boat. It is excellent for those people who don't have a lot of space to store a larger boat. No, it's not for everyone but it has its place and there is nothing else like it.

@kylelundy7870

2 жыл бұрын

I also have boaters pull up to me curious about having a Minkota trolling motor on a kayak. It's 20 questions everytime.

Getting my old town together now. Would love for you to take me in the marsh to learn some things

I thought about getting one when they came out but ended up in a jet ski. Jet ski fishing is a whole other system of fishing because I cant go shallow but I find it was better for me

Mines going over a year just fine. I'm only a weekend warrior however. I use for salt and freshwater.

These kayaks look good, love the upgrades. I use a 2021 Native slayer propel 10.

I had one..it is too expensive, I traded mine for a triple wide 16ft jon boat that came with trolling motor and a 25hp outboard...insane... my only gripe is how slow they were

Very thorough and well presented. I bought a new kayak this year and looked at the autopilot but for the number of days I fish ( still working at 66) I though it was a little dear for me. Although that GPS anchoring feature would be nice. I did buy an Old Town though . The Sportsman 106 PDL. At my age I kind of figured my ability to stand in a kayak is limited if even possible. There I would always be seated and able to pedal. The PDL works really well and the single handle rudder control is quick and easy and doesn’t really interfere with my fishing. I can attest as to the quality of construction , the ease of use. Old town answered a couple of pre purchase and post purchase questions quickly and thoroughly. Although mine is only a a couple of months old I am pleased to see how well it has held up in some harsh conditions. I use mine in fresh water in multiple water bodies so i need to wash it every time to prevent the spread of invasives.

Great video. We bought both of our Hobie Kayaks from Mariner Sails in Dallas, Texas.

I own the d Town Sportsman 106 with Minn Kota. I sometimes wish i had paid the extra for the ipilot, but then I keep catching big reds. Once my motor dies, I will find a way to wire up an ipilot on it.

This by far is the best purchase I’ve made in fishing gear as of yet. I have the 136 model and yes, it is a tank. But the actual hands free aspect of this kayak is what sets it above the rest. I bought one last year and got a full season on it. It is equipped with a 100ah lithium battery (highly recommended). Not once have I ran out of power. Even on a 2 day camping trip of using it all day. Not one issue with power. I’ve invested in deck, navigation and running board lights for night time, Along with a Garmin F.finder and a few other bells and whistles. If you can stomach the price, the investment will payoff in less work on the water, the ability to focus solely on fishing, and the stability is unbelievable. Even in choppy waters. Invest in a good trailer too. Did I mention this thing is a TANK? Also a major conversation piece when out on the water, lots of people are curious about it.

@timmanis2000

2 жыл бұрын

What kind of trailer do you suggest?

@dmytrekbrown4821

2 жыл бұрын

@@timmanis2000 I've decided to get an On the Waters Innovations custom trailer. But they can be super pricey. Well built and specific to your needs, but get ready to open that wallet up. The wait on these are on avg 3-4 months is what I was told. I fell in love with mines. Right now I have the 136 AP on a RightOn trailer. I rigged it out with PVC pipes covered in a ASTRO Turf wrap for bunks. I added some extras like retractable straps, a small winch for those steep extractions out of the water (that 136 AP is a TANK, loaded or not). This trailer is light and low enough yet sturdy for me. It serves the purpose for what I NEED, and gets me out there safe and fast.

I have the 136 auto pilot..yes about $6k+ once you get battery and fish finder, a cart, and support that connects to my tow hitch. I have had it for 2 years. I mainly troll with it. Pro: I'm 5"11, and 230ish lbs. I can stick another adult in the back and go fishing. Hands free, I can just troll and just do something else in the meanwhile. Most of the time I just take in the scene while the boat does its thing. Ease of control when its in the water. Either with your remote or your feet. Or both to turn on a dime. I can stand and its still supper stable, even with the kayak going full speed. Enough room in the back where my ten year old can just fall a sleep is a small lawn chair while I fish. Cons: Heavy!!! You will not launch this thing by yourself just anywhere you need a part of it in the water to help with the weight. It's way easier to launch without the battery and motor and install them after its in the water. 99% of the time I launch from boat ramps unless there's a location where my truck can be backed up to the edge of the water. You need a kart to move it around. If its centered on they kayak it not heavy. All in all I would still have bought it, knowing what I know now. I love the versatility that this kayak has. I can easily load the back of my truck and just go.

The honest opinion is huge. That price tag though! $6k and you’ve got one hell of a Jon.

i got this kayak in my basement right now it finally came in yet here in new york i am enjoying the ice fishing right now :D looking forward to getting to use this do you think this kayak could support a small down rig?

I agree going to have to that to my 136 wiring sucks

Great review and spot on. The heavy part is the worst for me, my 106MK weighs over 100lbs. without the motor. That's why it's been sitting in my shack for a year and half collecting dust-lol

@jettercool

2 жыл бұрын

Mine is a 106 MK and I’m pretty sure it doesn’t weigh over 100 without the motor. Its heavy yeah but not that heavy

@CrazyCranker

2 жыл бұрын

@@jettercool Go look at the specs on their website. My arms know it weighs that much too!

@jettercool

2 жыл бұрын

@@CrazyCranker 121 lbs with everything on. The motor alone is 17 lbs. No motor means 104 and minus the seat and battery box I calculated about 94lbs to carry only the hull. Yeah! I looked at the specs

@jettercool

2 жыл бұрын

@@CrazyCranker kzread.info/dash/bejne/naR6mqSMoJi_qrg.html

@CrazyCranker

2 жыл бұрын

@@jettercool Cool man, tell my arms that-lol!

Great review! BTW Hobie 360 (no motor) starts at $5600....

The i-pilot motor with spot-lock is the heart of this boat. You could get a job boat but to add the same trolling motor you’re looking at about 2 grand plus for that motor.

@MDLRFishing

Жыл бұрын

Hopefully you’re not trying to get through narrow back marsh ditches and fish in 4” of water.

Love my Old Town PL 120 peddle

Very honest Mark. I believe the real biggest deal breaker is the battery price for those lithium’s. These are pretty darn good kayaks and we need more companies competing to bring the prices down. That plastic toughness you brought up with OldTown, Hobie need to listen here.

@edwarddavis1920

2 жыл бұрын

I have a Amped 60 ah deep cycle battery 12 v lifepo4 lithium battery that I use on my Kaku Zulu with 30 thrust trolling motor the problem I have had with it is one of the leads ran hot and melted next to the connection its says fully charged should get 8 hours I guess that's on minimum speed it with charger was $540

As Kayaks become more full featured and add traditional boat amenities to them, Im going the opposite route now. Im not a youtuber so my needs are different. I enjoy loading mine on my overland trailer and discovering new areas while also fishing our Tx coast. For this, lighter and simpler is better. The Hobie compass or even the Passport 12 is where Im moving towards.

You forgot about the cup holders not draining water. That’s what i hate about my 106MK

Wait a minute, you are only getting 4.1 mph? I have the Auto Pilot 136 and I can get 5 mph on calm water. I fish fresh water IDK if that makes a difference. Great video, I love my kayak as well. I still love my cheaper kayak too for just paddling around but for sure the Auto Pilot is amazing for fishing.

I went the 2020 Hobie PA 12 route as my first kayak. My rational was because I came across a great deal on a used PA12 360,...just as I was about to pull the trigger on an Outback. I've since rigged it out,...to include a Torqeedo 1103 (....bought used). The only think I'd hope for is for it to be about 40-lbs or more lighter, but hey, it isn't. When I'm no longer able to lift it into the vehicle,...or no longer desire to deal with its weight,...I'll simply down grade to something lighter,...perhaps an Outback! But! It'll still be fully rigged... Happy Yak'n ~ Oorah!

Like the potential ability to use this for "offshore" bass fishing and not worry about positioning when casting on a spot. Major trouble with traditional kayaks.

@MDLRFishing

Жыл бұрын

Most definitely

I couldn’t spend that much on a yak. Like you said I’d just get a flat bottom aluminum boat with a 25 mercury on it snd be good to go and have more room

I'm probably more in shape than most, but 3-4 mph is my just normal pace in a compass traveling without a pile of effort on non-turbo fins. 4mph+ is achievable for an hour straight with some effort. 5mph+ is a full sprint. Just so folks have some context. 3-4 mph is a lot of work in a paddle craft without pedaling, unless you're running a super skinny hull. Now if we're talking a Hobie Adventure or revo 13, good luck ever keeping up. Those things are easily capable of out pacing any other kayak. I've seen an adventure top out at 10mph at a sprint. A buddy maintains 5mph easily in a Revo 13.

I have the old town auto pilot 136 and I am in love with it. And because it is heavy I built a trailer for it so I could back it into a boat ramp to load and unload.

I have the 106 powered by Minnkoda because I watch you. I love it! The auto pilot would be nice but it’s is a little out of my budget and I didn’t need the 12ft kayak. Thank you!!

@tryingtogetthere1653

2 жыл бұрын

I feel the same and plan to upgrade to the auto pilot one day. The 106 is everything u can dream of in a kayak. Only thing I want is the spot lock and auto pilot. Wit that being said far as the spot lock I'm so good wit my 106 I can keep it in place by jus adjusting speed and using foot control. I want the auto pilot bad. But I'm thinking of jus taking my 106 and getting it upgraded wit high end fish finers live scope and the high end batteries. My 100 auto zone battery last all day and had it for like 2 years now but I want at least to high and batteries so I can go long ways and keep power and all my stuff working

@stevemarshall2324

2 жыл бұрын

@@tryingtogetthere1653 I agree. Auto pilot would be nice! I don’t want a 12 ft kayak though. Wish they would offer the 106 with a auto pilot. I have good lithium batteries.

I own one and I clean it every other week, dialectric grease on all connectors. A quick wipe down on every trip. It's like anything else, take care of it and it will take care of you

The longer I kayak the more I learn towards less is more. When I see a kayak with so much stuff on it & it has to have a trailer or it takes forever to set it up before getting on water. It doesn't make to much sense to me.. The autopilot was designed to have trolling motor doesn't have bunch cable's or hardware hanging off back or sides. I would like to try one out. I would have to try a demo one because idk anyone owns one. It's amazing how far kayak stuff has came. I'm curious where it will be in another 5-10 yrs.

Ima buy one soon great job

@MDLRFishing

2 жыл бұрын

You’ll enjoy every minute of it on the water!

Man, I was so hoping that you were going to give me some reasons to not want to buy this. Dammit man!

I think people get into kayaking either for the budget or the health (exercising), and once they grow out if it, they don't realize and do weird things to push the boundaries. Sportsman could be one example like that. Getting into kayaking and then spending a thousand plus dollars for a lithium battery to extend the range without adding weight is crazy. With five or six grans you can create a light weight skiff which would give you unlimited range, decent speed, and a ton more fishability than a kayak without necessarily sacrificing the shallow water capabilities.

@penguin12902

2 жыл бұрын

Agree. Once you've exceeded $3000 in a kayak you should probably be buying an actual boat, unless you're kayaking for the exercise of course!

@caseydangar1193

2 жыл бұрын

No. I own a full size bass boat and several smaller boats and I can go places on my old town that none of them can go. It fits a function that only an owner can understand. Not to mention the portability. I can load it up in my ranger pickup and drive anywhere. It allows me to access electric only lakes also which is huge. Im not a kayaker. Im a fisherman. So a paddle kayak isn't gonna work for me. But these old town kayaks really are like a tiny bass boat.

@christophershoe9642

2 жыл бұрын

Let me come at this at a different angle. I, too, have spent well over $2000 on my kayak.....perception outlaw 11.5 with motorguide xi3, Dakota lithium 12v 100ah, anchor wizard, Bluetooth yak power, garmin 9" fish finder....and more. I was an idiot in my earlier life and lost my license. Can't get it back for awhile. My wife cannot tow a boat, nor would I want to be on a boat that I couldn't dock and leave when needed. But, a kayak, we can take. Motor, battery are on quick connects, simple as getting yak off car, mount and plug motor, mount and plug battery, good to go👍🏻. Different strokes for different folks

@penguin12902

2 жыл бұрын

@@christophershoe9642 How do you haul it? I'm only 130 lbs and I'm not sure I could roof rack a kayak myself. You're probably a strong young guy. I agree if you have other reasons for a kayak it totally makes sense, but from a pure financial sense it might not.

@christophershoe9642

2 жыл бұрын

@Penguin1290 The perception 11.5 outlaw is very light for its size. Plus, since I need a driver, I also usually have some extra hands around 😉. Plus, even if everything fails, I'm still a kayak, and I'd rather be in a kayak with paddles, than a boat with paddles with the same issues. To each their own👍🏻

I like the Frankenstein usage 😀

@MDLRFishing

Жыл бұрын

🤙