REVIEW: Pelican Catch 110 HDII Pedal Kayak
- Randy Reek, The Great Out There
- a few seconds ago
- 3 min read
Pelican Catch 110 HDII: The MOST affordable and versatile pedal and PADDLE kayak you can buy!
I recently purchased the Pelican Catch 110 HDII pedal kayak. Why? It is the MOST versatile, all-around fishing and touring kayak!
I LOVE the efficiency of PEDAL kayaks over traditional PADDLE kayaks. The FIRST time I tried the Pelican pedal kayak was AMAZING. Most fishing kayaks are heavy. Pelican kayaks are not rotomolded but formed from two pieces of thermoformed, multilayered polyethylene. The result is a lighter, yet stiffer and more abrasion resistant hull.
The lighter 67-pound Pelican kayak is more responsive than those weighing 90 pounds or more! Its hard, sleek tunnel hull has a better glide.
But my main objective was hands-free PEDALING. You need to use one hand to occasionally steer via the remote rudder handle. But you can troll, reel in your lines, tie on baits, etc. while pedaling! You can also pedal while fighting a fish, steering the kayak into the wind or away from snags.
When you try a pedal kayak, it is IMMEDIATELY obvious that your legs are stronger than your arms! My "seat of the pants" estimate is that pedaling is at least TWICE as efficient - meaning you can go much farther. Actually, using half the energy might translate into increasing your range by FOUR times - or more!
But there are MANY more advantages of the Pelican Catch 110 HDII fishing kayak!
Because of the lighter weight, I can load and unload the Catch 110 on the roof rack of my truck by myself! Plastic fishing kayaks are HEAVY - with many weighing over 100 pounds! There is NO WAY the average angler can cartop a heavy rotomolded fishing kayak.
With the fin drive removed, I can easily carry this kayak to the waterside. Add a set of portage wheels and you can roll it - with all of your fishing gear - from your vehicle to the landing or down a rough trail to a remote lake.
Despite the light weight, the Pelican Catch 110 has a 350-pound capacity!
This high capacity is important for safety while fishing. But I also use my sit-on-top "fishing" kayak for river paddling. The hard and stiff hull is more abrasion-resistant than softer rotomolded kayaks. This was crucial because I needed a kayak that I could PADDLE in shallow rocks (with the fin drive removed), including Class 1 whitewater! Note: you can plug the opening for the fin drive with sections of pool noodle for paddling!
My Pelican Catch 110 HDII is an all-around paddling and pedaling, lake, river, fishing, cruising, and camping kayak.
Here is a video that demonstrates the Pelican Catch 110 HDII on the water:
Side note: The Pelican HDII drive is an adaptation of the fin pedal drive invented by Hobie Kayaks over a decade ago. This Hobie Mirage drive remains the standard for durability and efficiency. Now that the patent has expired, Pelican and other manufacturers have developed their own version - much to the benefit of consumers. The complete Pelican Catch pedal kayak PACKAGE now sells for roughly HALF the price of the original Hobie models!
Have you tried a Pelican pedal kayak yet? There are MANY advantages over the heavier, less versatile plastic versions! Leave your comments below. Then subscribe to the GreatOutThere.online blog for more kayak and outdoor content!
Would you like to own this Pelican Catch 110 HDII pedal kayak? The current retail price is $1,299.00 at BassPro - but this model is in high demand and short supply. I currently have ONE very lightly used model for sale at the BARGAIN PRICE of only $1,000.00 - a savings of $300.00.
This kayak has only been on the water TWICE! I also have the Catch 130 model - and bought the 110 as a spare for friends and family - but it is just gathering dust! I'm selling it at a $300 discount - my LOSS, your GAIN!
The pickup location is Marshfield, Wisconsin. But I can also deliver to the Canoecopia Show in Madison, WI on March 14th - IF paid in advance!