Versatile Pedal Kayaks at a VALUE Price: Meet the Old Town Sportsman Salty PDL and 106 PDL

If you are in tune at all with the paddle sports world, there’s a good chance you have heard about the pedal kayak revolution taking place within the industry. Like all new technology in most fields, at first the pedal kayak customer base was a small but dedicated group of mostly kayak anglers. The pedals were an incredible draw when it came to being able to fish hands free and to cover maximum distance while still using the kayak as your fishing platform. If you are a casual paddler, maybe the price of those pedal driven kayaks was a bit off-putting, which is understandable given that certain companies price them at over $3,000. However, recent financial challenges in our country have combined with industry competition to create an explosion of interest in pedal kayaks. And here’s the thing: it’s not just kayak fishermen buying up these boats. Nearly every major kayak company has come out with some version of a pedal kayak, and that competition has in turn driven prices down. It’s the perfect storm, and there has never been a better time to get into one of these kayaks. The Old Town Salty PDL and 106 PDL are fantastic entry level pedal kayaks and come at a very manageable cost.

While they do provide excellent platforms from which to fish, the Salty PDL and 106 PDL are also affordable enough for casual weekenders who want to cover some distance on their favorite local river or explore some intriguing, off-in-the-distance islands on a larger lake. Coming in at roughly $1,900, the Salty PDL is also at home in the inshore saltwater scene. It is designed to cut through small waves and is supremely maneuverable, so if you want to try ocean kayaking but desire the added stability that a typical, narrow ocean kayak can’t provide, the Salty PDL is perfect. At about $2,000, the 106 PDL offers stability, storage, and durability. Both kayaks boast the low-maintenance PDL drive, which has a 10:1 gear ratio and automatic reverse. The Salty PDL is a bit longer at 12 feet, while the 106 PDL is 10.5 feet. Both can cover tremendous distances with little effort, and have the storage space you need to set up a paddle-in campsite, pack a picnic lunch for an island day trip, or carry enough tackle to spend a bunch of hours out casting for your favorite catch.

The beauty of these kayaks is that you’re not going to be breaking the bank in order to dip your toes into the pedal kayak pool. If you want to spend a morning casually paddling some ocean bays with your partner or kids, these kayaks make that trip even more enjoyable while still providing exercise and the sense of adventure that we as kayakers crave. No longer do you have to decide whether to get a pedal kayak based strictly on your status as an angler: these kayaks are for all, anglers and recreational paddlers, families, dogs (there’s space!), and everyone in between. Gain the pedal kayak advantage without sacrificing your savings account. Sound appealing? Stop by Black Hall Outfitters in Old Lyme, Connecticut, or give us a call at 860-434-9680 and we will get you out in a demo boat and on the water before the next tide turns!