Kayak Bass Fishing!

Awesome fish! You need to get some sort of pedal drive or motor drive unit so you can reach those spots again!


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If that Helix drive didn't cost so dang much I would be all over it! At 2000 bucks its hard to justify when I would rather pedal than motor anyway....  I was a little bummed after I sold my Lure 13.5 and then saw Feelfree came out with a pedal/motor drive that retrofits into the Lure kayaks. I really dig the Wilderness Systems kayaks but was irritated they couldn't make a pedal drive retrofit into the ATAK's or Threshers, forcing customers to buy another kayak for pedal power. Oh well...

I might look into making a motor mount for the ATAK 120 using the power poll mounting surfaces for a small minnkota. I think it could be done for under a few hundred trolling motor included. I don't see myself using a motor much so that would make more sense than the Helix drive for me. Then like you said once in a while use it to make the trek to some far off honey holes.

Awesome fish! You need to get some sort of pedal drive or motor drive unit so you can reach those spots again!


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If that Helix drive didn't cost so dang much I would be all over it! At 2000 bucks its hard to justify when I would rather pedal than motor anyway....  I was a little bummed after I sold my Lure 13.5 and then saw Feelfree came out with a pedal/motor drive that retrofits into the Lure kayaks. I really dig the Wilderness Systems kayaks but was irritated they couldn't make a pedal drive retrofit into the ATAK's or Threshers, forcing customers to buy another kayak for pedal power. Oh well...

I might look into making a motor mount for the ATAK 120 using the power poll mounting surfaces for a small minnkota. I think it could be done for under a few hundred trolling motor included. I don't see myself using a motor much so that would make more sense than the Helix drive for me. Then like you said once in a while use it to make the trek to some far off honey holes.

It is spendy that is true! I too was disappointed that the Helix PD wasn't able to go in older kayaks... but I was actually explained why they did it and it makes sense. Pedal kayaks need a different hull design in order to be efficient. Think of it like this... you can put an outboard on a drift boat, and it will work, but the hull isn't designed for it. Apparently the new radar has been designed around the propulsion. I don't know how that differs from other manufacturers... but it seems like they have put more thought into it. Won't really know until they are released and compared with other manufacturers I guess.

By the way... anyone looking for ATAK 120's right away let me know... they are in route to the NW right now.


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How efficient a hull is once a propulsion system has been added probably didn't have much to do with not making retrofits available.

Hobie found out the hard way early on that the transfer and displacement of the torque applied and produced can cause hull failure at the mounts without additional supports.

A bunch of warranty claims on kayaks already sold for the opportunity to sell an accessory for which the kayak wasn't specifically designed likely was not worth the ri$k. Don't ever take points off the scoreboard.

Yeah that's my take too. Although I think it has a lot more to do with people pushing on the drive with their feet than the propulsion of the drive itself. I see people all the time pushing on both pedals at the same time to brace or position themselves. (See also drive arm failure.)

Also everyone dogs on Hobie's plastic, but I wonder if it's softer than competitors because it needs to give more in the drive well to keep from cracking? That's my theory anyway. Also my gut tells me that Hobie uses more UV protectors in their plastic than some of the other manufacturers (not arguing this is good or bad, it's just my hunch).

EDIT: If anyone cares what I'm basing those comments on, I mostly have experience with 3 brands. Based on my experience I would rate Ocean Kayak's plastic as the best - it's hard, it doesn't scratch very easily, and it holds up to abuse well, but the color isn't as deep (I've owned 2 OK boats). I've owned 2 Wilderness Systems boats too, and I would rate them 2nd tier. They seem fine, are somewhat more susceptible to scratching than the OK boats, and the plastic isn't very visually pleasing (flat, not shiny, not deep color). We've had 3 Hobies now, and the plastic seems the softest of the 3, has the deepest color, is the shiniest, and is the most susceptible to scratching. Also Hobie plastic is the only one where I've had the permanent Pro-Cure stains (it might just be the red color, I don't know).

Sorry, back to bass fishing.

I plan on checking the 120's soon. I was just at next adventure talking to CJ about them.

I understand what you're talking about with the hull design. I like paddling more than other types of propulsion at this point. The Radar does interest me a little after finding out they tried to design a bull that would be efficient for both paddle and peddle. But I still am liking the looks of the ATAK 120 most.

I plan on checking the 120's soon. I was just at next adventure talking to CJ about them.

I understand what you're talking about with the hull design. I like paddling more than other types of propulsion at this point. The Radar does interest me a little after finding out they tried to design a bull that would be efficient for both paddle and peddle. But I still am liking the looks of the ATAK 120 most.

I have a meeting with CJ this afternoon I will let you know if they are in today!


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Man I would love to get into a day of catching smallies like that!