I agree with you on the seat. I have emailed Old Town and advised them they need to upgrade the seat on the Topwater to the seat they include on the Predator which is way more comfortable.
I bought a $15 office chair lumbar pad and the seat is perfect now. I know the seat is the weakest point on this line but really try out a lumbar pad. It puts your hips forward just enough to adjust the seat straighter and then you dont hit the back bar and get lower back support. For the cost savings over the Outback you can buy a crate, some rod holders and a decent paddle.
Nice boat, I think overall the outback has more stuff going for it but not worth the extra $1000 depending where you buy it for me. Now I see why you asked about the white foam thingie 😜
Old Town makes killer boats and a great to deal with when it comes to warranties and customer service. Our kayak shop was a rep for them (Johnson Outdoors) for 3 years, awesome company to work with. Great video man
Here's why I like the Hobie better: 1) Much more / better storage & organization, 2) I can do a 1/8th pedal stroke in shallow water and keep moving without having to pull up or raise the fins/prop, 3) I can glide through weeds without them getting twisted up in a prop, 4) Although expensive, the accessory options for a Hobie are top quality and innovative.
ArbitraryLifestyle yep, mirage drive is definitely a winner in weeds or grass. I don’t miss the organization of the Outback and feel the Topwater has enough and is a bit more roomy. Definitely miss the dual rudder control but instant reverse makes up for that. The Hobie just isn’t $800 better.
Man your killing me. When I get a camera for filming I will send a picture. I bought another boat after this video. Love the videos. Love the outdoors. Keep living! Ty
I am curious about everyone's gripe about the seat. I bought the non pedal 120 last year and I absolutely love it. I have had no issues what so ever with the seat. I can't imagine they changed the seat on this year's model.
Sweet kayak for sure, the peddles and rudder control is really nice , to bad the seat hurts your back and sounds like lots of storage. love kayak fishing just went down the little Muskegon and caught some nice Rainbow trout last weekend atb john
Awesome video man. That was a good review you did of the kayak. I am looking to upgrade to a pedal drive kayak. The only problem is that I need to upgrade the pedals to a wider pedal because I have big very very wide feet sz15 6 EEEEEE with very fat wide toe that is equally straight across making it for a very very wide foot. My foot is 6 1/2 inch wide from my big toe to my little toe. Do you think those pedals are wide enough a foot this wide? I also like your Crocs that you was wearing. I used to have a black pair like those I had to cut a spot out on the toe box for two of my toes to hang out because of it being so wide. It look very funny but they were so comfortable to wear. Trying to see if I can get me a pair for Christmas. Thank you for sharing this video you did a very good job.
Awesome job Ben ! Really liking old town yaks. Hobie is top notch but this is a lotta yak for the money. Also maybe I missed you mentioning this...warranty on Oldtown is lifetime on hull and 5 years on peddle drive. Dont think anyone else comes close
I am curious how you find it in really rough weather in comparison to the Outback? I find tough conditions are when the new Outback really shines, as I’ve had two situations where it has turned very ugly and the Outback just never feels wrong-footed.
The wet ride of the Hobie Outback , nose low and the cable reverse were the main reasons I bought the TW 106 & my PDL. One thing few reviewers mention is the cost of drive repair, the PDL prop is $5.99 and the Mirage drive will start at $50.00 if you are lucky.
Cultura Kayak Fishing Yeh, but the water that comes into the Topwater when you are forward on the seat and you pull the drive turns me off it unfortunately, The Outback does take water over the nose hitting heavy chop, but it also makes it safer when running through waves. I never get water inside mine, but some of the first batch with a single seal certainly did.
Nice review. I think that one con can could be fixed with a seat cushion. I think this boat has the Outback beat by the lifetime hull warranty. The organization features can be overcome with add on accessories. I think the Sportsman 120 PDL has a better seat and also some added tracks in the rear. It looks like the same hull design.
Im torn between this kayak, the outback and the predator old town. Out of these 3 which one is the fastest and most stable?? I plan on using it in the open ocean out up to 5 miles offshore to some islands so I need speed and stability. Thank you man great video!
Haven’t used the predator but I think that one is not quite as wide. I prefer this over the Outback. Speed is about the same. Hull design on the Predator and Outback may be better for Ocean though.
This boat isnt quite as fast as the outback or the predator but it is amazingly stable even in big seas. There are videos of people getting it to flip. Insane how hard they had to try. Aliex Folgueira has a good one to check out.
yep the old is better. have 3 of them now. hobie over priced. good boat. but value matters as well. love the old town. you cant beat them. and the redal drive is way better and wont break like the hobie
What i dont like about PD is that when you take your foot off the PD, it continues to rotate until you stop moving. So if i want to rest for a few stokes, then start up again,,you have to concentrate on where those pedals are located. that would become frustrating in the long run when you stop and start. its like riding a bike that does not have coasting capabilities. Then you have to deal with the grass and weeds getting caught up in the FD, This is just my opinion.
@@livingsurvival thank you, much appreciated. Do you take it apart and find weeds tangled up? I guess ill have to contact old town, molding or seal must be off
I agree with you on the seat. I have emailed Old Town and advised them they need to upgrade the seat on the Topwater to the seat they include on the Predator which is way more comfortable.
I bought a $15 office chair lumbar pad and the seat is perfect now. I know the seat is the weakest point on this line but really try out a lumbar pad. It puts your hips forward just enough to adjust the seat straighter and then you dont hit the back bar and get lower back support. For the cost savings over the Outback you can buy a crate, some rod holders and a decent paddle.
Nice boat, I think overall the outback has more stuff going for it but not worth the extra $1000 depending where you buy it for me. Now I see why you asked about the white foam thingie 😜
Another Amazing Aliex Comment 😎👍👍 You said it Perfectly
Old Town makes killer boats and a great to deal with when it comes to warranties and customer service. Our kayak shop was a rep for them (Johnson Outdoors) for 3 years, awesome company to work with.
Great video man
The fact that the Topwater can even be compared to the Hobie Outback at a fraction of the cost speaks to the overall value of the Topwater.
Agreed
Here's why I like the Hobie better: 1) Much more / better storage & organization, 2) I can do a 1/8th pedal stroke in shallow water and keep moving without having to pull up or raise the fins/prop, 3) I can glide through weeds without them getting twisted up in a prop, 4) Although expensive, the accessory options for a Hobie are top quality and innovative.
ArbitraryLifestyle yep, mirage drive is definitely a winner in weeds or grass. I don’t miss the organization of the Outback and feel the Topwater has enough and is a bit more roomy. Definitely miss the dual rudder control but instant reverse makes up for that. The Hobie just isn’t $800 better.
@@livingsurvival Agreed Ben 👍👍
Great Review Ben . The New Predator 2020 Seat will fit in the 120 PDL at it cost around $180 And it's way better then the 120's Seat 👍
was just looking to find out how much it costed
@@martellparks1450 $160-$180
I have the same one, I’m obsessed with it
Man your killing me. When I get a camera for filming I will send a picture. I bought another boat after this video. Love the videos. Love the outdoors. Keep living! Ty
I just bought one cant wait for spring!
I am curious about everyone's gripe about the seat. I bought the non pedal 120 last year and I absolutely love it. I have had no issues what so ever with the seat. I can't imagine they changed the seat on this year's model.
Sweet kayak for sure, the peddles and rudder control is really nice , to bad the seat hurts your back
and sounds like lots of storage. love kayak fishing just went down the little Muskegon and caught some nice Rainbow trout last weekend
atb john
the mi woodsman I watched the video. Good times.
@@livingsurvival v
I got the autopilot 120. Still waiting. Bought in April, now being told june 15th ... I hope
Awesome video man. That was a good review you did of the kayak. I am looking to upgrade to a pedal drive kayak. The only problem is that I need to upgrade the pedals to a wider pedal because I have big very very wide feet sz15 6 EEEEEE with very fat wide toe that is equally straight across making it for a very very wide foot. My foot is 6 1/2 inch wide from my big toe to my little toe. Do you think those pedals are wide enough a foot this wide? I also like your Crocs that you was wearing. I used to have a black pair like those I had to cut a spot out on the toe box for two of my toes to hang out because of it being so wide. It look very funny but they were so comfortable to wear. Trying to see if I can get me a pair for Christmas. Thank you for sharing this video you did a very good job.
Awesome job Ben ! Really liking old town yaks. Hobie is top notch but this is a lotta yak for the money. Also maybe I missed you mentioning this...warranty on Oldtown is lifetime on hull and 5 years on peddle drive. Dont think anyone else comes close
Thanks for making the video, very informative. How tall are you? I'm 6-2 and always worry about tipping due to my height...
You’ll lose your balance before the boat tips you.
I am curious how you find it in really rough weather in comparison to the Outback? I find tough conditions are when the new Outback really shines, as I’ve had two situations where it has turned very ugly and the Outback just never feels wrong-footed.
Outback is more nose heavy and takes on water more than the Topwater.
The wet ride of the Hobie Outback , nose low and the cable reverse were the main reasons I bought the TW 106 & my PDL.
One thing few reviewers mention is the cost of drive repair, the PDL prop is $5.99 and the Mirage drive will start at $50.00 if you are lucky.
Cultura Kayak Fishing Yeh, but the water that comes into the Topwater when you are forward on the seat and you pull the drive turns me off it unfortunately, The Outback does take water over the nose hitting heavy chop, but it also makes it safer when running through waves. I never get water inside mine, but some of the first batch with a single seal certainly did.
Great boat. Thanks for the review and information. Tough decision I have
What’s your opinion after all this time? Been thinking of selling my outback for a pdl 120 but not sure it’s a hard decision
I like the PDL better but both great platforms.
Nice review. I think that one con can could be fixed with a seat cushion. I think this boat has the Outback beat by the lifetime hull warranty. The organization features can be overcome with add on accessories. I think the Sportsman 120 PDL has a better seat and also some added tracks in the rear. It looks like the same hull design.
Yes they upgraded the seat and added tracks in rear.
Nice kayak I'm looking for one and you can't buy them anywhere and you can't order one for this year I hate covid
Do you prefer the circular or kick motion for propulsion?
How is car topping this boat? Does it feel cumbersome to load?
I did it. Pretty easy.
Fantastic review, thanks for posting. Now I want one :-)
love my non pedal 120 great for bad water.
Im torn between this kayak, the outback and the predator old town. Out of these 3 which one is the fastest and most stable?? I plan on using it in the open ocean out up to 5 miles offshore to some islands so I need speed and stability. Thank you man great video!
Haven’t used the predator but I think that one is not quite as wide. I prefer this over the Outback. Speed is about the same. Hull design on the Predator and Outback may be better for Ocean though.
Really cool 😎 set up ☝
I'm planning on doing offshore fishing, how does it hold up to large swells and wind? Thanks
This boat isnt quite as fast as the outback or the predator but it is amazingly stable even in big seas. There are videos of people getting it to flip. Insane how hard they had to try. Aliex Folgueira has a good one to check out.
Great video brudda
Great review Ben. Trying to decide between the top water PDL and the Predator PDL still.
Loving the Topwater.
Strange, i am right handed but hold the rod with my right and operate the reel with my left.
Usually for casting a rod its opposite
yep the old is better. have 3 of them now. hobie over priced. good boat. but value matters as well. love the old town. you cant beat them. and the redal drive is way better and wont break like the hobie
Love it.
What i dont like about PD is that when you take your foot off the PD, it continues to rotate until you stop moving. So if i want to rest for a few stokes, then start up again,,you have to concentrate on where those pedals are located. that would become frustrating in the long run when you stop and start. its like riding a bike that does not have coasting capabilities. Then you have to deal with the grass and weeds getting caught up in the FD, This is just my opinion.
Why take your feet off? My feet are almost always on the pedals and you can coast just fine.
Does water come in around where the PDL is?
Is the PDL stiff even after miles of use?
Im having these issues and its very frustrating
No water and yes it’s still tight. I clean the prop several times a month.
@@livingsurvival thank you, much appreciated. Do you take it apart and find weeds tangled up? I guess ill have to contact old town, molding or seal must be off
@@livingsurvival when in locked position, is the half moon locking mechanism perpendicular or horizontal to pdl opening?
Excelente! No skip no leg 🎿 🦵