Why are pedal kayaks so heavy?

I have seen more people go away from the heavy kayaks like an Outback than the other way around.

On my list of pedal kayaks, there are only two kayaks which weigh less than the Outback.  So the Outback is actually pretty light for a pedal kayak.

Hobie Compass,  all the Revos still made, and the Passport models are lighter. 

As others have said the demand for big stable boats for small water is higher than that for ocean trollers and the current crop of medium boats (i.e. the new Outback) seem to do a good job of balancing stability, capacity and speed.  Also, I would have to guess the reinforcement needed to support the drive and the forces exerted on it adds up.  I mean finding a 12'+ paddle SOT under 60 lbs isnt really that common, at least without going higher end.

I'd also guess the main factor comes down to the extra rigidity and internal bracing required for the peddle drive and power poles. As others have mentioned, many of the models are bass boats designed for shallow, flat water, where stand up fishing and power pole usage is the intent.

I recently went over most of the top contenders myself and narrowed it down to a Hobie Compass (68 lbs w/o drive; $2.3-2.5k); Hobie Passport 12 (73 lbs w/o drive; $1.7k) and Old Town Sportsman Salty 120 (79 lbs w/o seat and drive; $1.9k).

Really liked the compass but couldn't justify the extra $600, seeing their shorter hull and drive warranty and the numerous scary Hobie hull crack threads. Ended up ordering a Salty, which shows up later this week. I car top, so weight is a major factor for me.

Kayak manufacturers are making pedal fishing kayaks heavier because anglers prioritize stability, durability, and advanced features over weight. Wider hulls, reinforced materials, and built-in mounts for electronics and accessories all contribute to the added bulk. While lightweight options like the Hobie Lynx exist, they often lack the depth and structure needed for rough waters, making them less suitable for ocean and big lake fishing. Some anglers looking for a lighter alternative have even turned to SUP stand up paddle boards for certain fishing conditions, though they lack the efficiency of a pedal drive. A balance between weight and functionality is crucial, but there’s definitely a demand for lighter pedal kayaks with advanced features like a 360 drive or GPS spot lock trolling motor. Hopefully, manufacturers will listen and find innovative ways to reduce weight without sacrificing performance.

we need to bring back the 14-17 ft. offshore SOT. My T15 only weighed about 75 lbs.

Might be a good endeavor for a younger entrepreneur who fishes the ocean and understands what's needed.

Pacific Kayak Co., anyone ?

we need to bring back the 14-17 ft. offshore SOT....

https://stealthkayaks.com/

But I'd love to see a domestic option!

Oh how funnily fortuitous your reply is...

I also found this just a few minutes ago

https://liquidsurfandsail.com/man-o-war-149-tandem-kayak/?sku=IVKMOW149T-TE&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAh6y9BhBREiwApBLHC442CYARSScKAXVEfKNacMcssrzLsdahjK8HNzxyWg5IuBOvg5FsPRoCcEwQAvD_BwE

Now that there is a jet ski powered kayak, I think the days of roof racks are now complete.  Lol!  Seriously just by a jet ski and go off shore. IMHO tournament fishing is killing this sport, and I think this may be the year we look and say "we jumped the shark tank" when that model came out.   Used to be we built or adopted things to work on kayaks. Now we need a yak for every application out there. As for weight my 18 foot Stealth is a ballet dancer next to a Hobie anything.

we need to bring back the 14-17 ft. offshore SOT....

https://stealthkayaks.com/

But I'd love to see a domestic option!

I think Swell makes both a 14 and a 16 foot models.  Dan, from Headwaters Kayak near Sacramento, tested the Swell 14, Eddyline Caribbean 14, Wilderness Tarpon 14, and the Stellar S-14S .  Now, because I paddle a Stealth, I am biased towards the Stellar 14; it just looks like a rocket on the water. The negative on Stellar--not one iota of anything fishing-wise on it. First, you would have to find a dealer, then order it, you would spend a lot of money to get it, then modify for your likes and there goes your 34 pounds of weight. But the swell got good overall marks.

we need to bring back the 14-17 ft. offshore SOT....

https://stealthkayaks.com/

But I'd love to see a domestic option!

I think Swell makes both a 14 and a 16 foot models.  Dan, from Headwaters Kayak near Sacramento, tested the Swell 14, Eddyline Caribbean 14, Wilderness Tarpon 14, and the Stellar S-14S .  Now, because I paddle a Stealth, I am biased towards the Stellar 14; it just looks like a rocket on the water. The negative on Stellar--not one iota of anything fishing-wise on it. First, you would have to find a dealer, then order it, you would spend a lot of money to get it, then modify for your likes and there goes your 34 pounds of weight. But the swell got good overall marks.

I bought the Swell Scupper 14 -- I don't use it. It's 10lbs over the advertised weight (mine is 74lbs, was advertised as 64lbs when I bought it) and lacks the center hatch present on my Stealth Fisha 500. So in my books it's less fishable and more ungainly than the Stealth.

Swell could do a cool thing and I wish them the best but I do regret spending ~1500 on my Scupper 14.