You hit the nail right on the head. Old Town came out with the ePDL which is cool, but not what most anglers want. I think a lot of us want some form of Autopilot that can be pedaled. I think it could be done with a setup similar to the Hobie 360 drive attached to an Autopilot motor. Old Town and a lot of other manufacturers are trying to drive the market instead of responding to it. A Bigwater PDL with an easily attached motor would have been a better choice for them to release. For those of us who care about weight, I would have liked to see a Salty with a motor mount.
Thanks for the feedback, Nick. I was one of the people on the team that worked with Shane to design the Titan X 12.5. You are nailing all the thoughts we had about this build. We wanted to build a watercraft that was designed with motors in mind, first and foremost. But we also wanted to make sure it had a pedal drive. The mounting plates to save drilling into the kayak was such a hit on the Slayer MAX series, we definitely wanted to expand that with the two motor mounts. It will be a big, heavy kayak, no doubt. Not for everyone, but exactly what the kayak bass anglers were looking for.
Ordered my 12.5 yesterday. Already have the Titan 10.5 with a 1.8 Newport on the back (Great rig, by the way!), and just wanted something I can carry ALL my gear on and still have room to spare. Between Greg B. and others "injecting their Input" into the designs, Native finally listened to what WE really WANTED. Good Job, Native (now get busy and get mine TO me!). Haha!
I agree with you. Native listened to the market and consumers and designed the Titan X around it compared to the new Old Town release. I've been stayong away from looking at PDL kayaks but what the Titan X offers is difficult to pass up. I'm mainly looking for a kayak to motorize but the pedals would be a great option. The plug and play is perfect with this kayak
I think it’s a pretty sweet platform that will replace a ton of kayaks. There are so many kayaks that people have rigged to work and this system is really going to make the rigging part much easier and the options are endless.
Nick, everything you said is spot on. This is the most perfect fishing kayak ever made, and it's not even close. It has just about everything I can think of that I want/need on my $3500 fishing kayak, and matches a list I once posted of how a fishing kayak should be made. It should basically put every other fishing kayak out of business in the PDL space, including that overpriced hobie nonsense. If you want a bass/inshore fishing kayak, and this fits in your budget, there are no other logical choices, unless you want a lightweight stripped-down river kayak. If they are smart, once it sells out faster than they can make them, (And it will) they should lower the price and CRUSH the competition until they follow suit or die off. This is how fishing kayaks should be made. This is the top model. Below this should be models just like it but with less of these specific features, broken down into cheaper and cheaper price categories until you get down to the lightweight paddle only version. Choose what fits your budget and needs. OT's ePDL garbage ripoff should not, and hopefully won't, sell at all. They need to learn to follow the market and customer feedback on what the customer wants, or get out of the fishing kayak business entirely. It's amazing they ever stumbled onto the Minn Kota spotlock idea, and actually made it happen.
I think, The Titan will bring about the most change in kayak design! The last thing this big was built in tracks that you could mount your stuff on! Seems small but rigging the Titan will be so much cheaper and easier in the long run!
Nice job w/ the video, Nick - agree 💯. Also, just received and installed your BW 132 PDL stern mount for a trolling motor - perfect fit, great quality 👍👍
@NavarreKayakFisshing the native seems like a really good kayak investment even for new kayak anglers. one thing i have not really seen is how this kayak would do in the ocean/ offshore.
@@NavarreKayakFishing very interesting the native line of kayaks seem to be heading in the right direction but just have not seen much on people who want to take it through the surf or deep sea.
You are spot on Nick ! I have a 106 MK that I equipped with a Xi3 because of the spot lock feature but also because it can be outfitted with a super weedless prop and the motor can be raised to better go through the weeds . I also have an AP 120 that I keep at my Daughters house in Tarpon Springs Florida . I love both Kayaks but would trade or sell both for the model your talking about. It’s an ingenious thought out kayak and as you so rightly stated is exactly what kayak fisherman want. The 40” width will definitely complement the 360 degree seat which is another great feature.
I cant wait one big thing i love about it is the width its going to be super stable,,that the big thing with me is stability,,plus being able to spin around from front to back two major things cant wait
I know you're a big Old Town guy. What are your thoughts on this v. Old Town PDL 120 for inshore and bay fishing and how it will handle small waves? I'll primarily fish inland for largemouth but will do some saltwater from time time to time. I know the Bigwater is better in that application, but I value the stability for the majority of my fishing v. the ability to take on big waves. I can't find any videos or discussions of people using the Titan X in saltwater. I really love the seat on this thing!
The 120pdl is more than capable of getting the job done inshore and will serve you fine for the occasional offshore trip. The only reason I don’t use one myself in those situations is I like the extra length for cutting through water a bit easier.
I'm with you. I wouldn't want a Titan or TitanX without a trolling motor, it's big and heavy and I imagine I'd be pedaling 1mph everywhere and needing extra space to turn. I wish it had a more open layout too like a Pro Angler or Knarr.
Super thoughts and i think right on. Can you comment on trolling motor incl spot lock, fish finder integration vs price, quality and warranty quality support? It’s a bunch of all but needed with this JonYak. :-). Thanks as always.
Nick, Appreciate your thoughts. I have been a big supporter of your work and QOL upgrades you have made to my Old Town. I have seen you dabble in some hobie’s, is there any chance you would look into some products on this boat in the future? I’ll probably be making the switch next year to the titan X and would love some Navarre upgrades on it.
The only innovation left now is for Newport Vessels to figure out how to make their rear drive motor have it's own spot lock feature while also being capable of real time steering or still mechanically steerable for fast traveling to fishing spots. Then we can finally ditch the huge, ugly, heavy, bow mount trolling motors and their batteries for 1 rear motor that does it all and it's larger battery. Personally, I don't see the point of a bow mount at all with my NK 180 rear motor and PDL drive, plus anchor system, it's all you really need, I've fished in still water, and rivers/creeks, works amazing as is, and is cheaper, faster, lighter, and more energy efficient than a spot lock bow mount setup.
Ill tell you this seat, is just perfect for my fishing spot, i have a place where i have to walk 0.8 miles out on a reef to get to the hotspot, when the tide current runs, i cast over it with a linethru bait, and let it move over the hotspot, i will have to make a sidecast in a kayak, and this one makes it more enjoyable, and safe. The weight, im 51 old an go to the gym, no problem. :-)
I can’t say for sure. I prefer to go places without ramps and the weight is a big concern of mine. It’s just not something I think I would use and the trolling motor spooks fish.
I don’t want a trolling motor but at some point, having a bixpy or Newport motor just to get to areas quicker would be great. Then just pedal and fish. Atleast that’s the plan I have. Hope your doing good man.
I love the direction Native steered the industry towards. The multi propulsion ready options is exactly what was wanted. However this first iteration is really tailored towards bass fishing in my opinion. That’s fine for now but someone now needs to develop a boat for the other many styles of use. For many of us here in the PNW we fish big powerful river’s, smaller creek’s, lakes, bay’s, and the big pond. We target shark, ling cod, Salmon, Steelhead, Sturgeon, and many other species. Another thing we do is hunt duck, deer, and elk. So factoring all of these disciplines can be tricky with one kayak. The Titan x 12.5 is simply to big and heavy for this application. The 10.6 is too short. I have been wondering how the Titan would handle the big pond but nobody seems to want to answer that question at Native. Again because it’s a bass boat.
should have won best of show. Ive got a 12.5 on pre order and theres about 3 more people that are jumping onboard with the truckload Im setting up from Texas to here
For great lakes salmon trolling good luck prying my oldtown predator from my grip. I have a big boat it i want to fish from a boat I love no worrying about the extra hassle and stess adding a motor to a yak. Love my predator and would never switch unless my knees give out.
If Native was listening the pedal drive would be an option! By their own admission they state... "There is no question, electronics and motorization is the name of the game. The Titan X sets a new standard in powered kayak versatility" and yet they mandate their pedal drive?????
give them some credit on their website promotional video they call it a BOAT. is it space age cool yes -- functional yes a true "platform" yes - except for hilarious attempt to wheel it fully rigged as shown..... lol! Even i know better. Not surprisingly there is no designated mount for 3hp kicker on the back - the last vestige of kayaking DNA left . will i trade my ap 130 for it... no do not want to have trailer for plastic anything
Well, those are my thoughts and I look forward to reading yours below!
You hit the nail right on the head. Old Town came out with the ePDL which is cool, but not what most anglers want. I think a lot of us want some form of Autopilot that can be pedaled. I think it could be done with a setup similar to the Hobie 360 drive attached to an Autopilot motor. Old Town and a lot of other manufacturers are trying to drive the market instead of responding to it. A Bigwater PDL with an easily attached motor would have been a better choice for them to release. For those of us who care about weight, I would have liked to see a Salty with a motor mount.
The good news - next year they will all release a completely new batch of ideas. Well, hopefully.
Thanks for the feedback, Nick. I was one of the people on the team that worked with Shane to design the Titan X 12.5. You are nailing all the thoughts we had about this build. We wanted to build a watercraft that was designed with motors in mind, first and foremost. But we also wanted to make sure it had a pedal drive. The mounting plates to save drilling into the kayak was such a hit on the Slayer MAX series, we definitely wanted to expand that with the two motor mounts. It will be a big, heavy kayak, no doubt. Not for everyone, but exactly what the kayak bass anglers were looking for.
Would you by any chance know if Native has shipped any TitanX 12.5 yet?
Ordered my 12.5 yesterday. Already have the Titan 10.5 with a 1.8 Newport on the back (Great rig, by the way!), and just wanted something I can carry ALL my gear on and still have room to spare.
Between Greg B. and others "injecting their Input" into the designs, Native finally listened to what WE really WANTED. Good Job, Native (now get busy and get mine TO me!). Haha!
Glad to hear things are progressing. Day by day, project by project. Stay positive!
I agree with you. Native listened to the market and consumers and designed the Titan X around it compared to the new Old Town release. I've been stayong away from looking at PDL kayaks but what the Titan X offers is difficult to pass up. I'm mainly looking for a kayak to motorize but the pedals would be a great option. The plug and play is perfect with this kayak
Agreed. It has potential to work for a ton of different needs/interest.
Cheaper than the AP, Knarr, Outback, and the PA.
Slayer Max + Titan = Titan X
My dream kayak!
I think it’s a pretty sweet platform that will replace a ton of kayaks. There are so many kayaks that people have rigged to work and this system is really going to make the rigging part much easier and the options are endless.
Nick, everything you said is spot on.
This is the most perfect fishing kayak ever made, and it's not even close.
It has just about everything I can think of that I want/need on my $3500 fishing kayak, and matches a list I once posted of how a fishing kayak should be made.
It should basically put every other fishing kayak out of business in the PDL space, including that overpriced hobie nonsense.
If you want a bass/inshore fishing kayak, and this fits in your budget, there are no other logical choices, unless you want a lightweight stripped-down river kayak.
If they are smart, once it sells out faster than they can make them, (And it will) they should lower the price and CRUSH the competition until they follow suit or die off.
This is how fishing kayaks should be made.
This is the top model.
Below this should be models just like it but with less of these specific features, broken down into cheaper and cheaper price categories until you get down to the lightweight paddle only version.
Choose what fits your budget and needs.
OT's ePDL garbage ripoff should not, and hopefully won't, sell at all.
They need to learn to follow the market and customer feedback on what the customer wants, or get out of the fishing kayak business entirely.
It's amazing they ever stumbled onto the Minn Kota spotlock idea, and actually made it happen.
I think, The Titan will bring about the most change in kayak design! The last thing this big was built in tracks that you could mount your stuff on! Seems small but rigging the Titan will be so much cheaper and easier in the long run!
We will see how many manufactures jump on the same idea path.
Nice job w/ the video, Nick - agree 💯. Also, just received and installed your BW 132 PDL stern mount for a trolling motor - perfect fit, great quality 👍👍
Excellent news. I’m glad it worked out. What are you going to mount to it?
@@NavarreKayakFishing Bixpy J2
@NavarreKayakFisshing the native seems like a really good kayak investment even for new kayak anglers. one thing i have not really seen is how this kayak would do in the ocean/ offshore.
It’s a bit to big to get across the beach in my opinion.
@@NavarreKayakFishing very interesting the native line of kayaks seem to be heading in the right direction but just have not seen much on people who want to take it through the surf or deep sea.
You are spot on Nick ! I have a 106 MK that I equipped with a Xi3 because of the spot lock feature but also because it can be outfitted with a super weedless prop and the motor can be raised to better go through the weeds . I also have an AP 120 that I keep at my Daughters house in Tarpon Springs Florida . I love both Kayaks but would trade or sell both for the model your talking about. It’s an ingenious thought out kayak and as you so rightly stated is exactly what kayak fisherman want. The 40” width will definitely complement the 360 degree seat which is another great feature.
I think it’s going to replace a lot of kayaks in the near future. The rigging possibilities are endless.
I cant wait one big thing i love about it is the width its going to be super stable,,that the big thing with me is stability,,plus being able to spin around from front to back two major things cant wait
I know you're a big Old Town guy. What are your thoughts on this v. Old Town PDL 120 for inshore and bay fishing and how it will handle small waves? I'll primarily fish inland for largemouth but will do some saltwater from time time to time. I know the Bigwater is better in that application, but I value the stability for the majority of my fishing v. the ability to take on big waves. I can't find any videos or discussions of people using the Titan X in saltwater. I really love the seat on this thing!
The 120pdl is more than capable of getting the job done inshore and will serve you fine for the occasional offshore trip. The only reason I don’t use one myself in those situations is I like the extra length for cutting through water a bit easier.
You're definitely right about kayak manufacturers not listening to the market.
They don’t often listen but I think the products are in development for years so they may have something to do with it.
I'm with you. I wouldn't want a Titan or TitanX without a trolling motor, it's big and heavy and I imagine I'd be pedaling 1mph everywhere and needing extra space to turn. I wish it had a more open layout too like a Pro Angler or Knarr.
I'm more interested in the 10'5 version. Goes into production in October. :)
I look forward to seeing how that version performs on the water.
Super thoughts and i think right on. Can you comment on trolling motor incl spot lock, fish finder integration vs price, quality and warranty quality support? It’s a bunch of all but needed with this JonYak. :-). Thanks as always.
We might be able to make that happen on the near future.
Nick,
Appreciate your thoughts. I have been a big supporter of your work and QOL upgrades you have made to my Old Town. I have seen you dabble in some hobie’s, is there any chance you would look into some products on this boat in the future?
I’ll probably be making the switch next year to the titan X and would love some Navarre upgrades on it.
Tim, we might get our hands on one to tinker around with. It’s a good looking platform.
Great video!
Thanks Colsen. I hope you’re doing well.
Any thoughts on the use ofbiylt in the Ocean? I'm just not seeing videos on that cause most seem to be buying the big Natives for fresh water
It’s a big kayak to get across the beach and in my opinion there are better options for going off of the beach.
I haven’t seen one but it sounds awesome.
It does look like a pretty functional platform.
The only innovation left now is for Newport Vessels to figure out how to make their rear drive motor have it's own spot lock feature while also being capable of real time steering or still mechanically steerable for fast traveling to fishing spots.
Then we can finally ditch the huge, ugly, heavy, bow mount trolling motors and their batteries for 1 rear motor that does it all and it's larger battery.
Personally, I don't see the point of a bow mount at all with my NK 180 rear motor and PDL drive, plus anchor system, it's all you really need, I've fished in still water, and rivers/creeks, works amazing as is, and is cheaper, faster, lighter, and more energy efficient than a spot lock bow mount setup.
Ill tell you this seat, is just perfect for my fishing spot, i have a place where i have to walk 0.8 miles out on a reef to get to the hotspot, when the tide current runs, i cast over it with a linethru bait, and let it move over the hotspot, i will have to make a sidecast in a kayak, and this one makes it more enjoyable, and safe. The weight, im 51 old an go to the gym, no problem. :-)
Sounds like you’ll be out there rigged up and catching fish in no time.
Have any of you received the new Titan X yet? I have one on order and they r telling me shipping is delayed?
How do you feel about it for inshore? It’s definitely a bass fisherman’s dream. I think it’s legit for sure
I can’t say for sure. I prefer to go places without ramps and the weight is a big concern of mine. It’s just not something I think I would use and the trolling motor spooks fish.
I don’t want a trolling motor but at some point, having a bixpy or Newport motor just to get to areas quicker would be great. Then just pedal and fish. Atleast that’s the plan I have. Hope your doing good man.
I love the direction Native steered the industry towards. The multi propulsion ready options is exactly what was wanted. However this first iteration is really tailored towards bass fishing in my opinion. That’s fine for now but someone now needs to develop a boat for the other many styles of use. For many of us here in the PNW we fish big powerful river’s, smaller creek’s, lakes, bay’s, and the big pond. We target shark, ling cod, Salmon, Steelhead, Sturgeon, and many other species. Another thing we do is hunt duck, deer, and elk. So factoring all of these disciplines can be tricky with one kayak. The Titan x 12.5 is simply to big and heavy for this application. The 10.6 is too short. I have been wondering how the Titan would handle the big pond but nobody seems to want to answer that question at Native. Again because it’s a bass boat.
should have won best of show. Ive got a 12.5 on pre order and theres about 3 more people that are jumping onboard with the truckload Im setting up from Texas to here
I agree.
For great lakes salmon trolling good luck prying my oldtown predator from my grip. I have a big boat it i want to fish from a boat I love no worrying about the extra hassle and stess adding a motor to a yak. Love my predator and would never switch unless my knees give out.
It is a great kayak.
Aw man... I wish my Native had a swivel seat.
That swivel seat is going to be pretty sweet.
If Native was listening the pedal drive would be an option! By their own admission they state... "There is no question, electronics and motorization is the name of the game. The Titan X sets a new standard in powered kayak versatility" and yet they mandate their pedal drive?????
A massive plastic boat with a swivel seat and a trolling motor mounted in the front. rEvOluTiOnArY 😂
Hahahaha. It is massive. At the end of the day I’m buying a job boat before this and you’ll never have to worry about a keel guard.
Pond prowler 8, $625. Or this with the option to pedal for $3800.
Sold my native titan 12 and got a pro angler 14…. Native is a much better made kayak I feel like I made a mistake…
It could be time to sell the PA and get the X.
It could be time to sell the PA and get the X.
give them some credit on their website promotional video they call it a BOAT. is it space age cool yes -- functional yes a true "platform"
yes - except for hilarious attempt to wheel it fully rigged as shown..... lol! Even i know better. Not surprisingly there is no designated mount for 3hp kicker on the back - the last vestige of kayaking DNA left . will i trade my ap 130 for it... no do not want to have trailer for plastic anything
Oh ya trying to push that thing on those wheels with every gadget known to man installed would not be fun!!