Excellent review, very detailed. I've one of the Reloads too, in a Wasp colour scheme! Have it over a year now and it gets plenty of use in irelands lakes and on our coasts!! Enjoy your paddling!!
Excellent video and review! Thank you very much for taking the time to do this!! I live about 2000km away from my closest viking store so impossible to see in the flesh, your review really helped!! I just ordered the wasp coloured version, should be here in about 3 weeks, at just over AU$4000 it wasnt cheap but figured i may as well get all the extras to save further waiting in the future. Thanks again😉
+David Harland Geez, that is a lot cash, but I'm pretty sure you will be happy with your purchase. I've already forgotten exactly how much I spent on mine, but had another great morning out fishing today.
Excellent Movie thanks for a great review I was dithering whether to buy or not. Great analysis you have me convinced Im going to order today. I sooo wish my garage was as tidy and well organised as yours. Great review on the ceiling storage too I have lots of other kayaks too so great to see how the ceiling storage works for you.
+Steve Walker Hi Steve, thanks for taking the time to comment. Glad you found the review helpful. I think I should talk to Viking about a commission / finders fee ! Good luck out there.
Thanks for the excellent review! As a fellow engineer, I found your comments very fair and honest. My son and I own a tackle shop along the Northern California coast and hope to be adding these to our lineup of kayaks in the near future. Your review was extremely helpful. With our Danish names, how could we not carry this line?
Hello! I just bought a profish 400... waiting for it..... But seeing this video... I think I have to buy the reload also... Very good video my friend!! Congrats!!
Thanks for the comment Nelson, yep, still got the reload, still loving it a few years later. Definitely feel like I'm not taking it out often enough! The PF400 is also an excellent kayak, I think they are a fair bit lighter than the reload!
Awesome, yes, I love being able to go out by myself, show up at the water, no hassles with parking a trailer and in the water and fishing in a few minutes! Nothing like a sunrise paddle!
Great Video, I wanted to ask you if the fishing in NZ is mostly offshore? so you probable run into deep water rather quick I would guess?, I am in the Texas Coast where we have plenty of marsh, but we can get out on the surf out 2-3 miles, so I wanted to also know if you have ever tried the Viking in Shallow Water?
Hi Andy, most of my fishing over the past few years have been inside a harbor, so my usually fishing depth would be between 5m and 20m (15 to 65 feet) That is considered reasonably shallow, not sure what you think of as shallow water. I would be quite keen to do an offshore trip some day, but the coast nearest to me is good for surfing, so I would have to build up some courage first before taking them on in the viking !
I read that the material is not too strong(that’s why is lighter) like a regular (heavier stronger material) ....i can’t remember the exact names of the material ... I believe that if in shallow waters and hit rocks, it may damaged the kayak seriously ... I believe Viking kayak is more of an off shore fishing kayak machine than shallow waters ... I would love to buy one just for offshore fishing
Hi, is there a reason you can't use the bracket that comes with the lowrance fishfinder? Is there a specific place you need to drill/screw the bracket so you dont get water flooding the tackle pod? Great review of the Reload - helped me decide to buy one. Cheers
Hi Alex, yeah, from memory, the bracket that comes with the FF is designed to fit on the side of a boat, so not suitable for mounting in the cavity in the pod. I still have my reload and still use it regularly and it is still great, certainly happy to recommend it.
@@successfulengineer Hi, thanks for the reply. I have since bought and fixed the transducer to my Reload using the bracket that come with my lowrance Hook Reveal. Works great!
Looks like a nice rig. Not to be crude, but as a person who's been hit with a case of "the squirts" while out and about, I imagine the center tackle pod could be removed and you could use the center void as a toilet? I'm an inland fisherman and can make a run for the woods. You can't do that three miles out in saltwater unless you just jump off the boat.
+angel castillo Thanks for the comment, weather is just turning perfect for fishing around here at the moment, can't wait to get out on the water again.
+rollingwthhomies Hi there, when I installed the FF, I was wondering whether it was worth doing a video. In the end I decided not to, because there wasn't very much to add to the instruction on the Viking Kayaks website: www.vikingkayaks.co.nz/kayaking+info/how+to/fish+finder+-+tackle+pod%2C+reload+%26+gt I used the installation kit sold by Viking and it worked very well. Was a bit pricey, so you could probably make up something very similar for a few dollars less. Let me know if there are any bits you're having trouble with, happy to help where I can. Cheers
+Travis7919 Hi there, I started with a couple of smaller kayaks that are not that relevant to the Viking, but my previous kayak was a OK Prowler Elite 4.5, compared to that, the reload definitely has better primary stability and pretty much identical speed. We've only recently started getting the Trident's from America here in NZ, but they are essentially identical to our older Prowler Ultra series as far as I know. I've only paddled the Prowler Ultra 4.3 in good conditions and would say that stability and speed wise it was very similar to the Reload. The reason I ended up going with the reload was really just the reload pod fish finder system and the layout of the storage.
Excellent review, very detailed. I've one of the Reloads too, in a Wasp colour scheme! Have it over a year now and it gets plenty of use in irelands lakes and on our coasts!! Enjoy your paddling!!
Excellent video and review! Thank you very much for taking the time to do this!! I live about 2000km away from my closest viking store so impossible to see in the flesh, your review really helped!! I just ordered the wasp coloured version, should be here in about 3 weeks, at just over AU$4000 it wasnt cheap but figured i may as well get all the extras to save further waiting in the future. Thanks again😉
+David Harland Geez, that is a lot cash, but I'm pretty sure you will be happy with your purchase. I've already forgotten exactly how much I spent on mine, but had another great morning out fishing today.
+David Harland mate you will be very pleased with your purchase..should be arriving at your door anyday!
+Paddle Guy can't wait mate! Thanks very much👍😉
Very good, comprehensive review. Definitely my next Kayak, thank you. 👍🎣🐟
Thanks for the comment Mark, yep, still got the Reload, few years down the track now, still using it regularly, still loving it.
Excellent Movie thanks for a great review I was dithering whether to buy or not. Great analysis you have me convinced Im going to order today. I sooo wish my garage was as tidy and well organised as yours. Great review on the ceiling storage too I have lots of other kayaks too so great to see how the ceiling storage works for you.
+Steve Walker Hi Steve, thanks for taking the time to comment. Glad you found the review helpful. I think I should talk to Viking about a commission / finders fee ! Good luck out there.
Thanks for the excellent review! As a fellow engineer, I found your comments very fair and honest. My son and I own a tackle shop along the Northern California coast and hope to be adding these to our lineup of kayaks in the near future. Your review was extremely helpful. With our Danish names, how could we not carry this line?
Hello! I just bought a profish 400... waiting for it.....
But seeing this video... I think I have to buy the reload also...
Very good video my friend!!
Congrats!!
Thanks for the comment Nelson, yep, still got the reload, still loving it a few years later. Definitely feel like I'm not taking it out often enough! The PF400 is also an excellent kayak, I think they are a fair bit lighter than the reload!
Thanks you this was a great honest review. I'm in the market for a kayak and this was very helpful
Hi there, thanks for the comment, its been a few years now and I still have the Viking, still in as-new condition and still working great.
Brilliant Review
outstanding in depth and informative from a real world review and experience
looking to get one of these cant wait...
Thanks for the positive comment! Can't wait for the weather to warm up here so I can hit the water again. Haven't had fresh fish in months!!
Great video, very thorough and balanced. Thank you!
Thanks for your comment. Only wish I had more time for fishing!
Sold my boat went out on my son's small kayak loved it getting one soon
Awesome, yes, I love being able to go out by myself, show up at the water, no hassles with parking a trailer and in the water and fishing in a few minutes! Nothing like a sunrise paddle!
Use the gulp bait jar spot on your pod .for sitting an empty jar for your weights and bits storage.
For sure, good call!
Great Video, I wanted to ask you if the fishing in NZ is mostly offshore? so you probable run into deep water rather quick I would guess?, I am in the Texas Coast where we have plenty of marsh, but we can get out on the surf out 2-3 miles, so I wanted to also know if you have ever tried the Viking in Shallow Water?
Hi Andy, most of my fishing over the past few years have been inside a harbor, so my usually fishing depth would be between 5m and 20m (15 to 65 feet) That is considered reasonably shallow, not sure what you think of as shallow water. I would be quite keen to do an offshore trip some day, but the coast nearest to me is good for surfing, so I would have to build up some courage first before taking them on in the viking !
Shallow water between 3 to 10 feet?? Maybe shallower at 1-2 feet also. Is this able to be out that shallow?
I read that the material is not too strong(that’s why is lighter) like a regular (heavier stronger material) ....i can’t remember the exact names of the material ... I believe that if in shallow waters and hit rocks, it may damaged the kayak seriously ... I believe Viking kayak is more of an off shore fishing kayak machine than shallow waters ... I would love to buy one just for offshore fishing
good in depth review. cheers
Great review, thank you!
Hi, is there a reason you can't use the bracket that comes with the lowrance fishfinder? Is there a specific place you need to drill/screw the bracket so you dont get water flooding the tackle pod?
Great review of the Reload - helped me decide to buy one. Cheers
Hi Alex, yeah, from memory, the bracket that comes with the FF is designed to fit on the side of a boat, so not suitable for mounting in the cavity in the pod. I still have my reload and still use it regularly and it is still great, certainly happy to recommend it.
@@successfulengineer Hi, thanks for the reply. I have since bought and fixed the transducer to my Reload using the bracket that come with my lowrance Hook Reveal. Works great!
Great review. Thanks for the info. What hoist did you use and where did you get it from. Thanks
Thanks for the comment, sorry, I bought that hoist years ago, can't remember the brand, but it was just bought from our local version of Ebay here.
Looks like a nice rig. Not to be crude, but as a person who's been hit with a case of "the squirts" while out and about, I imagine the center tackle pod could be removed and you could use the center void as a toilet? I'm an inland fisherman and can make a run for the woods. You can't do that three miles out in saltwater unless you just jump off the boat.
Haha, you are actually not the first person I've talked to that has suggested something along that line!
Great review and nice (and tidy) man cave! :-)
Thanks Martin, appreciate the feedback :) still paddling the reload and still a very happy camper.
Thank you for the review is the rated weight with or without the pod?
Hi, this was from quite a long time ago, but from memory the weight was without the pod.
great review
+angel castillo Thanks for the comment, weather is just turning perfect for fishing around here at the moment, can't wait to get out on the water again.
can you make a video on how you installed the fish finder and transducer
+rollingwthhomies Hi there, when I installed the FF, I was wondering whether it was worth doing a video. In the end I decided not to, because there wasn't very much to add to the instruction on the Viking Kayaks website:
www.vikingkayaks.co.nz/kayaking+info/how+to/fish+finder+-+tackle+pod%2C+reload+%26+gt
I used the installation kit sold by Viking and it worked very well. Was a bit pricey, so you could probably make up something very similar for a few dollars less. Let me know if there are any bits you're having trouble with, happy to help where I can. Cheers
Hi! What were your previous kayaks? What are you comparing to? Did you have a chance to paddle Ocean Kayak Trident?
+Travis7919 Hi there, I started with a couple of smaller kayaks that are not that relevant to the Viking, but my previous kayak was a OK Prowler Elite 4.5, compared to that, the reload definitely has better primary stability and pretty much identical speed. We've only recently started getting the Trident's from America here in NZ, but they are essentially identical to our older Prowler Ultra series as far as I know. I've only paddled the Prowler Ultra 4.3 in good conditions and would say that stability and speed wise it was very similar to the Reload. The reason I ended up going with the reload was really just the reload pod fish finder system and the layout of the storage.
Waiting for my tax, getting one for my camping adventures
You won't be sorry, mine is still going great
@@successfulengineer was wondering if you could do a video on how to pack it for camping. Please
Your garage is too clean...
Ha! only for the few minutes this video was shot!
Ha! only for the few minutes this video was shot!