Reviews on Old Town Predator Angler Xl Minn Kota Kayak
Chances are, if you've ever paddled around a lake or downward a river in a canoe or kayak, information technology was likely produced by the fine folks at Quondam Town. They have been manufacturing boats of all shapes and sizes since 1898. Today, instead of forest (though they still brand woods canoes), One-time Boondocks builds their boats from loftier strength and lightweight polyethylene and fiberglass. It'southward this type of innovation that has kept them at the top of the food chain in the world of watersports for nearly 120 years.
The newest innovation from Quondam Town comes in the form of a 13ft, 92lbs, Minn Kota powered, beast of a kayak, they've dubbed the Predator Forty. This kayak is for serious anglers who want to spend less fourth dimension paddling, more time fishing and impressing the hell out of every other angler on the water.
Over the years we idea we'd seen it all… leg drives, foot peddles, fins, but a kayak that is powered by a trolling motor with 45 lbs of thrust? This is something we didn't come across coming!
"Past partnering with the greatest name in trolling motors, and working together on design, nosotros've created non only a ane-of-a-kind watercraft – but an entirely new category in boating," -Luke LaBree, Old Boondocks's Marketing Communications Manager
Recently we were handed the keys (err… condom clips) to a Predator Forty to examination and review ourselves. Having tested our fair share of kayaks in the past, we happily took Old Town up on the offer. We've got a lot to say near this gunkhole, but before nosotros become too far ahead of ourselves, lets have a await at what the Predator Forty has to offer up in terms of features….
Primal Features:
-
Performance Tri-Hull: LT900 polyethylene delivers incredible durability and strength. Tri-Hull blueprint offers superior stability and tracking.
- Sideslip resistant EXO-Ridge Decking: Proprietary textured design ensures you and your gear stay dry and secure.
- Large Bow Hatch w/ Quick Seal Cover: Roomy hatch opening is perfect for gear bags and more. Locks deeply with ane elementary click. Keeps gear secure and dry.
- 6 Mounting Plates: Strategically placed high-forcefulness mounts mean no more drilling into your boat hull. Customize with rod holders, fish finders, slide tracks or GPS.
- Rod Tip Holders & Rod Bungees: Dual-tip holders at the bow brand storing like shooting fish in a barrel. Side-mounted retainers allow for convenient take hold of-and-bandage.
- Molded Paddle Rest: Molded paddle rests permit for a quick placement to free up your hands.
- Scupper Plugs: 8 scupper holes drain away whatsoever h2o that enters the kayak, and include our patented one-way Scupper Valves.
- Dual Tackle Holders: Convenient recessed storage on both sides provides quick access to your gear.
- Stand up-up Assistance: Nylon strap provides added leverage when standing.
- Rudder Organization: Controlled by your feet, turning has never been so easy
Predator XL Review Breakdown
Design:
Built like a Sherman Tank, the Predator Twoscore is one heavy boat. If yous're serious about buying this kayak and hauling it to and from your favorite line-fishing hole on the regular we suggest also investing in a lightweight kayak trailer or loading into the back of a pick-up truck. Monroe and Yakima make fine trailers and yous're probably going to desire one. Weighing in at 92lbs dry, this gunkhole takes two people to maneuver on land. Only that doesn't mean you tin't haul it on your roof rack. In fact, we've already fabricated two trips of over 200 miles with this creature attached to the roof rack of the Jeep and it handled it fine. Pro Tip: About kayak racks aren't rated for more than than 70lbs and so keep that in mind when shopping for roof racks.
Beyond information technology's heft and strength, the Predator XL is as well packed with useful design features. Amid our favorite is the foot controlled rudder arrangement. The rudder is outfitted with a trolly system for quick up/down positioning. When you want to turn the kayak just button right with your correct foot and the boat begins to turn right. Want to go left? Push with your left foot and y'all'll offset gliding to the left. The boat is capable of making some pretty tight turns, and the slower y'all're going the amend information technology can maneuver in tight spots.
Likewise of import to mention is that this kayak is a one-size-fits-all. The seat is broad, super comfy and the foot pegs are highly adjustable to fit people of all heights.
Another blueprint characteristic we savage in love with was, of course, the Minn Kota trolling motor. This is the middle and soul of the Predator XL. With 45lbs of thrust you can cover a lot of water without ever having to paddle. When paired with a deep prison cell marine battery (not included), the Minn Kota motor is good for a whole twenty-four hours of fishing. If you're worried about running low on juice, in that location's no gauge piece of work either. They've fifty-fifty included a battery life indicator so you lot always know how much bombardment is left. In the worse example you lot can ever paddle your butt habitation.
If trolling around isn't your thing, the Predator Forty also can exist ordered with a non-motorized utility console. Which looks much similar the Minn Kota console, but with a flat bottom. They also sell an EXO-Ridge insert, which makes the bottom of the cockpit completely flush. Perfect for fly fishing. Each insert locks into place and is easily interchangeable. We ended up using the Minn Kota or Utility Console the nigh due to the fact they both have dry storage available inside grasp.
If you're a angler who likes to customize your kayak you're going to really love the half-dozen mounting plates surrounding the kayak (4 in the forepart and 2 in the dorsum), which give you the ability to mount whatsoever you desire (rod holders, GoPro mounts, fish finders, etc…) to the boat without havin
g to drill into the hull. All-time of all, if yous want to switch things up you lot can always purchase new plates or motility their position around the kayak. This is a really smart way to offering anglers flexibility and versatility for different types of fishing trips. Nicely done Old Town!
Last only not least, we also really appreciated the amount of leg room and storage infinite this boat provides. With "ClickSeal" dry storage hatches utilized at the front, in the center console and under the seat, this gunkhole has room for a ton of gear and tackle. The front end hatch is the biggest and can hold a lot of gear.
We similar to stow all essentials in the center console (phone, aqua-vu, sunscreen, pliers, etc…) and utilize the under seat storage for other non-essentials. There is also two small storage areas on each side the seat and large pocket in the back of the seat, which is handy for belongings one or 2 plastic tackle boxes.
Overall, this is the finest angler kayak we've ever tested. Information technology was designed with fishing in-mind and it is no slouch on the water. It's got a Minn Kota motor, storage for days, a not-sideslip deck, TWO cup holders and a chair could fall asleep in. Not sure what more we could take asked for.
Maneuverability / Stability:
Using the foot controlled rudder organisation is uncomplicated and intuitive. Like riding a cycle, it simply takes a few passes to go comfortable with. Push right and go right, push left and become left. If you want to go directly keep both feet positioned parallel.
Throughout testing we were actually surprised by how nimble this behemoth was on the water. The large rudder does the task well. If you lot're in the shallows and non using the rudder, the Predator XL becomes little less maneuverable, just this was to be expected. Paddling this boat is a workout, especially in moderate to heavy winds, but it actually tacks pretty nicely. We were actually impressed with the tri-hull design, which keeps the gunkhole tracking on-line.
Pro Tip: When installing your rudder, make sure to NOT tighten the nuts onto the rudder cables too tightly. The cablevision loops should slide on the bolt feely. Tightening them likewise tight can consequence in broken cables due to fatigue… i'm not saying that we did this, but yeah, we did. Now we're installing a new fix of cables. Which turns out isn't so difficult. Just salve yourself the headache!
This is by far the virtually stable kayak we've ever tested. Information technology is no claiming to stand and fish from this gunkhole. The EXO-Ridge decking provides a house, slip-free identify to institute your feet. This is a bully setup for fly angling. If nosotros wanted to capsize the kayak we could accept, only the fact remains that we never did. In over twoscore hours of fishing, trolling and casting we never once felt that this boat was un-stable or was about to flip.
Getting in and out of the kayak is also super easy. Because it's sit-on-summit style gunkhole, you lot can easily slide in and out of the seat in water up to your knees.
Trolling:
This is where the Predator Twoscore stands higher up the competition in my opinion. Like I said earlier, the Minn Kota motor is the heart and soul of this kayak. With 45lbs of thrust y'all tin can reach a cruising speed that tops out at about 6mph in but seconds. The torque is pretty impressive too! I like the fact that you tin can hit many fishing locations along the shore quickly in this gunkhole. I don't like to spend more than a few minutes casting without a bite. So the Predator 40 fitted with the Minn Kota trolling motor works nifty for me. I can pull right into the lilly pads, or near a downward tree and bandage away. When the bite stops, I simply crank up the motor and jump to a new location down the shore. 
Since the gunkhole has forwards AND reverse it'south easy to maneuver your way around without using the paddle.
The forward/contrary punch used to engage the prop is simple to understand and acts just like a dimmer switch. The more you plow the dial to the correct the faster you'll go forward, and the same works for contrary – when you turn the dial to the left. The markings on the dial are nice for trolling. Lately I've been running a Biggie Smalls crank bait in about 8 feet of h2o for bass and pike. I institute that setting the dial in between the 1st and 2nd dots was the butter zone!
When you're in the shallows, coming up on gnaly seaweed or moving the boat on to the beach the Minn Kota console can exist unlocked and adjusted up and out of the water and rests on a kickstand. This is a quick way to protect your motor. Then when you're in deeper water, free of weeds you tin can drop the console back down and lock information technology into place. We were impressed with how like shooting fish in a barrel this is to practise.
To keep you safe from the spinning motor Old Town has outfitted the Predator 40 with two safe clips. 1 that attaches to your PFD and another that attaches to the boat and to the bottom of the panel. So if you fall out the gunkhole will stop. And if you lift the motor up and forget to plow it off it will also cut the power. We highly suggest using both prophylactic clips equally they were intended.
Pro Tip: Located inside the Minn Kota dry hatch is two USB Ports for charging your favorite devices. We used this often for charging a jail cell phone or Aqua-Vu. It's super handy, but does pull a bleed on the main bombardment of the kayak.
Durability:
Crafted from LT900 polyethylene this kayak is built to last a lifetime! The just parts we could see taking the impairment over fourth dimension would be the Minn Kota motor, the prop and the rudder organisation (picket out for rocks, weeds and shallow h2o). Both of these systems have a lot of moving parts, but with a picayune care and time spent understanding the equipment and how it works there's no reason the Predator XL won't keep you running upwards and down the lakes and rivers for a lifetime.
Not to mention the hull and deck of the Predator XL is covered by Old Boondocks'southward LIFETIME warranty.
Value:
Prepare for some sticker shock? Go alee and sit down… alright… okay, here nosotros get – the Predator Xl Minn Kota tops the Busted Wallet charts at a whopping $ii,699.99. Sure there are less expensive angler kayaks on the market place, and believe it or non, in that location are much more expensive kayaks besides. Yeah, $two,699.99 that'southward a lot of money, there's no debating it, but after testing this bad boy for the past month and a one-half nosotros're happy to say, if yous take the extra cash laying around this boat is well worth the asking cost.
When you lot wait at all the options for fishing these days, kayak fishing is one of the best ways to get out on the water quietly and efficiently. It'southward fun and you don't take to pay for gas! Sure you'll have to fork over another $130 – $200 for a solid deep prison cell marine bombardment , if yous don't already have one, and get yourself a trickle charger, but it'south totally worth it to have the newest, coolest and most innovative kayaks on the water.
Exist prepared for other kayakers to ask you a lot of questions every bit you get gilding past them on the water. I usually merely hold my hand up to my ear and say "what? huh? what'due south that, HUH?" and make a beeline for my favorite fishing spot.
Buy Now: $one,899.99 or to learn more, go to: PredatorKayak.com
Predator XL Minn Kota - Kayak Review
The Predator XL is by far the well-nigh innovative kayak on the market this yr. We've yet to test another kayak that is every bit stable, angler-friendly or down right handsome. If y'all're in the market for a high-upkeep angler kayak that is sure to go you on the fish from dominicus upward to night fall, we highly recommend test driving a Predator Forty Minn Kota from Onetime Town. Once you lot do, you might never await back!
The Adept
- Incredibly Durable / Lots of Storage
- The Minn Kota Motor is quick and efficient
- Very Nimble For Its Size
The Not And so Skillful
- Marine Battery Not Included
- Quite Expensive
- At 92lbs, this Kayak is a Monster
Source: https://bustedwallet.com/predator-xl-minn-kota-kayak-review/
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