Pelican Pedal Catch 130 Hydryve Kayak Review

PELICAN’s The Catch 130 Hydryve Sit-On-Top Angler Kayak is a 12’6″ rudder-controlled kayak. It is made with RAM-X Premium, a multi-layer polyethylene with an advanced resin, making it lighter, more rigid, and more durable than standard polyethylene.

Pros: Pelican Catch 130 Hydryve

The Catch 130 Hydryve Sit-On-Top Kayak is highly rated online, and users are quick to comment on its size and comfort. The ERGOCAST G2 seating system provides comfort for even the longest outings, garnering approval especially from users with chronic back pain. The famous tunnel hull design provides for extra stability on top of the water, allowing for a relaxing and safe trip, even if the water gets a little bit rough.

The preinstalled gear track allows the driver to bring whatever they need, and keeps it all easily accessible, even with the kayak’s 12’6″ body. The forward-facing rod holders make changing out lures easier. There’s also plenty of tank and well space for extra provisions. This is a feature we absolutely love because storage within a pedal kayak is always a challenge due to the size of the pedal drive.

Users applaud the quality and durability of the RAM-X Premium polyethylene shell, and especially the affordable price when compared to kayaks of similar quality. Users report the tough shell withstanding even heavy usage in everything from lakes and rivers to shallow ocean water. Despite its toughness, it remains lightweight at only 78 lbs. The ergonomic handles make it an easy trek for the lone angler. This weight is especially nice as pedal kayaks are notoriously difficult to transport.

PELICAN’s pedal drive and rudder controls operate more easily in a current or headwind than a traditional paddle, allowing anglers to reach many places that might have otherwise been impassable, all for a fraction of the price of a big name pedal drive. The pedals allow the driver freedom to use their hands even as they continue to maneuver the kayak through shallow water or around aquatic plants.

The anti-slip carpet gives users excellent support and a secure grip for climbing into or out of the kayak, as well as for fishing from a standing position.

PELICAN will repair or replace the hull should it fail during its lifetime due to poor quality in materials or workmanship. All accessories that come pre-assembled with this product are guaranteed for one year. PELICAN also offers a 30 day full refund for customers not satisfied with their product. Customers may return their unused product, no questions asked, for a full refund.

Cons: Pelican Catch 130 Hydryve

Despite a highly satisfied customer base, no pedal kayak is perfect. As it comes with a pedal drive, The Catch 130 Hydryve Sit-On-Top Angler Kayak does not come with a paddle. Believe it or not, some pedal customers do want a paddle! A few users reported that the pedal drive system cables were damaged within the first few uses.

The handles and some of the fittings for accessories are riveted, and some users reported leaking through the rivets. Users have reported success in sealing these with silicone, and many say they had no problem after giving the kayak a once-over and making sure the drive is tightened down before taking it out on the water. The ERGOCAST G2 seating system, while lauded for its comfort, is not movable and must stay fixed on the kayak.

Perfect Fit

This kayak is perfect for anglers looking for a new or better way to fish. Useful for freshwater or saltwater fishing, the gear track, and extra tank well space can fit a variety of equipment for a variety of trips. The anti-slip carpet and 425 lb weight capacity make it possible to fish from a sitting or standing position. Ergonomic carrying handles make its 78 lb body weight that much easier and more efficient to transport.

In short: this pedal kayak is made for those who want to fish, and fish frequently, from their pedal kayaks.

This kayak is also perfect for those that love to relax. While The Catch 130 Hydryve Sit-On-Top Angler Kayak’s primary intended purpose may be fishing, the comfortable ERGOCAST G2 seating system and extra stability offered by its tunnel hull design make it a comfortable ride for casual aquatic travel as well.

Users have enjoyed everything from shallow sea shark fishing to simply traveling canals and inland waterways at their leisure. PELICAN’s pedal drive technology and rudder controls make handling the vessel easy, even if you’re pedaling into the wind, against the current, or in and out of aquatic plants.

This kayak is perfect for people who find most kayaks painful or unusable. Users report having taken The Catch Hydryve out for 5+ hours with no soreness, including users with chronic back pain. We especially applaud Pelican here for making sure that the pedal kayak causes no back issues at all. We’ve found that many manufacturers do not put as much emphasis as necessary on comfort. As anyone who has been on a kayak can tell you, comfort is an important factor!

Final Verdict

With quality, technology, and durability rivaling that of much more expensive products, The Catch 130 Hydryve Sit-On-Top Angler Kayak is a great bang for your buck. Plenty of room, the comfortable ERGOCAST G2 seating system, and the Hydryve pedal system and rudder control allow anglers to easily and efficiently pedal out to a brand new spot so they can spend their days doing what really matters… putting in hours and miles out on the water.

If you are looking for the best pedal kayak for fishing, then you would be hard-pressed to miss this one. We think Pelican Pedal Kayaks are some of the best in the business.

See you on the water!

Robert Walker has been a Kayak enthusiast for over a decade. He's owned several different Kayak's, but only recently got into Pedal Kayaks in the last few years. This website is Robert's way of sharing his passion for Pedal Kayak's with the world.