Gear Review: Old Town Sportsman BigWater ePDL+ 132

WHAT IS IT?

Old Town Sportsman BigWater ePDL+ 132

WHAT SETS IT APART?

Old Town earned the ICAST Best Watercraft award with its new Sportsman BigWater ePDL+ 132 Pedal Assist Fishing Craft. Made for larger bodies of water, rivers or anywhere the kayak angler may need some extra propulsion power, this innovative model comes equipped with Old Town’s patented ePDL+ drive system fully integrated into the redesigned Sportsman BigWater 132 hull. With a compact 36-volt lithium-ion battery powering the pedal drive system, the new model offers manual pedal propulsion, power-assisted pedal and fully motorized cruise control. 

HOW DO I USE IT?

Available in Ember, Marsh and the all-new Steel Camo, the Sportsman BigWater ePDL+ 132 includes EVA foam floor pads and upgraded breathable seats for all-day comfort and support, a forward-facing rod holder and a branded tacklebox. Full-length accessory tracks paired with intuitive storage options allow full customization, while enhanced upgrades such as a wider stern tank well, larger cup holders and an improved offset shallow water anchor mount optimize convenience.

HOW MUCH?

$5,999.99

MORE INFORMATION:

Oldtownwatercraft.Johnsonoutdoors.com

ANGLER’S INSIGHT:

The very nature of kayak fishing — the seemingly boundless exploration potentia — often pulls us ever farther. Prudent trip planning sets the general game plan, but chasing a bite “just a little farther” can leave the pedal or paddle kayaker with a little more of a return trip than anticipated. Throw a stiff wind, heavy current and/or tides into the equation and that return trip — possibly against the flow — could prove exhausting. 

What’s nice about this new model is that it offers up to five levels of power assistance. When anglers want to take a break from pedaling altogether, they can engage cruise control and rely on the motor. With intuitive keys and a polarized sunglass-friendly display on the drive, anglers can view the level of power-assisted pedal or battery power consumption.