Perception Pescador Pilot 12 | Sit on Top Fishing Kayak with Pedal Drive | Adjustable Lawn Chair Seat and Tackle Storage Areas | 12'

I've had this kayak for around 2 months now and have been able to take it out on around 5/6 trips. This quick review is a review from what I have experienced so far. It should be noted everyone's experience will differ based on the waters you will fish. I fish freshwater lakes and rivers so this review will be for those waters. I'll review based on some categories:1. Shipping/Assembly.+The kayak arrived quickly and undamaged. I received the kayak about 1 week after placing the order. You will have to make an appointment and be present for the delivery. Must sign for this item.+The kayak arrives with the following: Kayak,Pedal Drive, Bungee for both front and rear storage, Rudder and Gear Track - X2. All items arrived safely and undamaged.+The Pedal Drive is easy to assemble. If more instructions are needed, there is a step by step video on Youtube.-The Rudder assembly, while not difficult, did not come with instructions. This may have been a missed item in my order but it was a slight annoyance. Again, Youtube or Perception's website can assist.2. Pedal Drive / Rudder Operation.+As a huge selling point of this kayak, I feel both systems are outstanding. The pedal drive has allowed me to quickly travel up and down river as well as around lakes. Pedaling is effortless and can be sustained for hours. Times where I had difficulty Pedaling against the current have become times where I fly up river.+The rudder works great in keeping you tracking well. When I am fishing rivers, I was able to stay almost stationary with occasional pedaling. The rudder kept the kayak from drifting one way in the current.-When pedaling for longer duration trips, I have had issues with the nuts which attach the pedals to the drive, coming lose. While this is a small issue, it can be annoying. I also had to tighten the rudder lines when I originally received the kayak. I have had no issues with the rudder since. Solution to both = Keep two Allen Wrenches in your bag, 1 for the Pedals and 1 for rudder adjustments on the fly.+Pedal drive seems to be very well made and durable. I have struck bottom many times (Shallow Rivers) and have not had any damage to the drive or Rudder.****** I saw many people asking the depth required for the drive to work. Based on my experiences, the drive needs around 14'' to 16'' of water to work. Again, some people's results may vary based on weight in the kayak.3. Ease of Use / Additional Features+The ability to transfer from having a lowered drive to flush with the bottom is amazing. It lets me cover ground quickly in deeper water and then explore extremely shallow areas if I wish as well. The process to lift the pedal driver up is easy and can be done in seconds once you get the hang of it.+The Kayak comes with a paddle holder (bungee type) on the side. I have found that my paddle is held securely and can be accessed quickly if needed.+The chair is very comfortable and can be easily adjusted for any height to get the best position to pedal. This is very nice when you decided to anchor and sit for awhile. I am able to stretch my legs and relax.+Front and Rear storage areas offer a large amount of room to work with. Am able to fit fishing bag, cooler and additional items in rear storage alone.-Storage inside hull could use work. The hole is very small and almost impossible to access while on the water.****I have not used the two gear tracks much yet so, no review there.4. Stability+I have had no issues with stability. I am able to move around and access front and rear storage easily without fear of tipping.****It should be noted, I have not tried to stand in this kayak yetFinal Verdict: Overall, I feel like this kayak is exactly what I wanted. For the price, I would buy another one in a heartbeat. The kayak has major positive points and very few negative. Most negative points can be dealt with just by being prepared and taking a few minutes prior to launch. Overall, I would highly recommend this kayak.

Really happy with this purchase. Fast delivery inside my garage and all parts working and new. Kayak Title that it comes with it has the date built July of this year 2021 so some im not experiencing some of the issues from older you tube reviews. Only worry I had was one of the petals arms does not sit fully flush but its so tight and its worked fine after 2 trips out.Very stable and faster than I imagined and the seat is really comfortable for long hours. Sits up high and with added scupper plugs I was dry except for spilled beer. Great purchase imo.

Kayak works great for a tall person like me, 6'5" and 280 pounds. The mounting system for the pedals could be a lot better. It tends to move forward, even though the 4 bolts are tight, which causes it to disengage from the cross bolt that is supposed to hold it in place. That cross bolt has a large plastic end on it, which I constantly kick with my foot when pedaling, causing the plastic end to unscrew and fall off. Easy to put back on, just annoying. Like others have stated, the rod holders, and even the drink holder, are not nearly deep enough, rendering both useless. The seat is comfortable and the rail mount makes it easy to adjust forward and back and it works well. It is HEAVY and requires the purchase of a cart to move it around. Handling on the ground is tough, even for a big person. However, on the water it is smooth. Hard to go straight, you have to constantly adjust the rudder and travel is a slight zig-zag manner. It gets better as you get used to it. The rudder is sufficient, but slow to respond to input and could be larger. Putting it up and down requires it to be placed in the full left turn position and requires substantial pull on the ropes. The propeller is thin and looks weak, but so far has held up well, even after striking it on the bottom a couple of times (sand). The built in rails are long and leave a lot of room for adjustment and placement of accessories. Overall I am happy with my purchase, but there are still many opportunities for improvement.