As such, it does not have reverse and the fins don’t kick up on impact like they do on Hobie’s newer drives. This fin-based drive is similar to Hobie’s original Mirage drive. Vibe Shearwater 125 uses Vibe’s X-Drive pedal drive. It has a mesh cover to help keep your stuff in place. They have bungees to secure the tackle boxes so they don’t go anywhere.įinally, there is a plastic tray under the seat for more tackle. There are also recesses for up to four 3600 tackle boxes next to the seat. In addition to the bow tank well that we already talked about, you get the usual tank well at the rear, complete with adjustable bungees. Vibe Shearwater 125 lets you store quite a lot of gear. You can store up to four rods this way on the Shearwater. If you need to break through the surf or if you fish near (or under) trees, it makes sense to store your rods horizontally. They are tilted back, which is useful for trolling and in general for keeping the rods out of the way. Vibe Shearwater 125 has four flush-mount rod holders behind the seat. And yes, you can remove the seat and use it as a beach chair. The seat also slides fore and aft on gear tracks so that you can trim the boat for best weight distribution or adjust your pedalling position when using the X-Drive. Not enough? With the optional Summit Perch ($89.99), you can fold the seat down, and there’s a flat platform on the back that you can sit or even stand on (now that’s a vantage point for sight fishing!). For starters, it has as many as four positions (high upright, high reclined, low upright, low reclined). The Vibe Summit seat is also a big thing. (Well, it’s not that simple since you also need to install the steering handle and reconnect the cables from the rudder which is normally controlled via the footrests. Install the pedal drive pod, pop in Vibe’s X-Drive unit, and free your hands for fishing. The third configuration is, obviously, the pedal drive. It is a large watertight storage locker with a small bungee cord on top and a magnetic lure retainer. Just remove the base pod and pop in the optional Versa Pod ($79.99). If you want a central console, you can have it. The clean deck is perfect for fly fishing. Vibe says this cover can support 200 lbs of weight, so don’t worry about stepping on it and cracking the plastic. It sits flush with the deck and has the same soft paddling on the top, which creates a clutter-free open deck space. The kayak comes standard with a flat cover they call the Base Pod. RELATED: Best Sit On Top Kayaks: Reviews and Buying Guide In a bid to maximize the versatility of the Shearwater, Vibe came up with a deck design that supports three different configurations. Well done!įurther back, and it gets really interesting. No drilling into the hull, no wires to mess with, no worries about your equipment getting stolen or damaged in transport. Mount the transducer on the bottom (it has preinstalled brass inserts for the mounting bolts), install the head unit on the top (you’ll have to drill into the cover), throw the battery and the cables inside, and you’re all set. Moving back, there is a removable, watertight fishfinder pod similar to what we’ve seen on FeelFree Moken 12.5 V2 and some other FeelFree models. Strictly speaking, they do not protect the rod tips like tube-style rod tip protectors on some other models do, they just help to keep your rods in place when you store them horizontally. There are also two rod tip protectors on the sides. This is useful when you need to quickly stow your paddle somewhere but still have it at hand. Next, there is a bow tank well with a soft cover that has an integrated paddle park. These handles proved to be durable and reliable, so you shouldn’t have any problems lifting the kayak. On the bow, there’s a rigid plastic carrying handle similar to what Vibe now puts on most of their models. Let’s walk through the features front to back. FeaturesĪs noted above, Vibe attempted to jam as many features as possible into the Shearwater so that you don’t have to compromise. Even if you only load the kayak to about 70 percent of its maximum capacity (which is recommended for better performance and a drier ride), you still have 300 lbs of available capacity, which is sufficient for most average-sized adults with a reasonable amount of fishing gear. The maximum capacity is 475 lbs (215 kg), which is more than decent, even for big guys and gals out there. At 82 lbs (37 kg), it is relatively lightweight for a fishing kayak of this size, and you should be able to cartop it if you use the right technique and the right kayak rack. It’s a big boat, but not to the extent of becoming unmanageable. RELATED: 15 Best Pedal Kayaks for 2023: Reviewed and Rated + Buying Guide Size, Weight, Capacity
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