I was wondering if anyone had an opinion on the Hoodoo Impulse fin drive vs. the Seastream 120 PD which is a prop?  I live in Minnesota and a lot of the lakes are covered in slop and weedy this time of year.  I will say that I am looking at these two, as my budget is 1500ish.  I have a boat so I don't want to go super crazy and get a Hobie or anything.  I am looking for something that I can put into waters that I can't take my boat into.  So far, I am honestly torn on better mobility through grass vs. being able to pedal in reverse. (I don't believe the hoodoo fin drive has reverse)  Any insight or opinions would be greatly appreciated!

 

https://www.hoodoosports.com/collections/kayaks/products/hoodoo-impulse-120-dual-drive-kayak?variant=33216359104589

 

https://www.seastreamkayaks.com/products/angler-120-pd

I looked at some Hoodoos (and others) when I was comparing kayaks last year and I ultimately bought the Seastream Angler 120 PD and I have zero regrets with my purchase. I did an initial review of it here on BR and recently followed up with additional thoughts after having it for one year.

 

You're going to want something with instant reverse. One of the best things about my Seastream is I can bump the rudder and jog the pedals to keep my kayak positioned or even in place WHILE I am fishing. Wind and chop don't bother me much at all.

 

The first time or two out there it might seem like a pain, but within a few trips you don't even think about those things as you keep the craft positioned. It becomes second nature, like riding a bike.

 

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the Seastream.

that Hoodoo looks like a Hobie.  I use  my reverse on my Hobie.  mostly for me getting too excited and coming into a fishing spot hot.  I need to slow it down before I plow into the spot I am casting to.  if I was a calmer more patient human, I wouldn't need it quite so often.  if I hit a spot, I tend to do tight u-turns and come back around for a second or third cast.

 

weeds.  there is no better.  I can glide over most weeds with a shallow "flutter kick".  I am so confident in weeds I sometimes let my drive bury itself into the weeds as an impromptu anchor or spot lock.  then when I want out, I lift my drive out and stuff it back in to untangle and flutter kick out.  

 

last weekend I left my buddy in his Native 10.5 in the dust.  I just kicked to a distant island.  I look back for Ray and I see him paddling with paddles (the horrors).  I went back and asked if his drive broke or something.  he said it was weed-bound.  I didn't even notice the weed bed I lead him thru.  opps.  

30 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

that Hoodoo looks like a Hobie.  I use  my reverse on my Hobie.  mostly for me getting too excited and coming into a fishing spot hot.  I need to slow it down before I plow into the spot I am casting to.  if I was a calmer more patient human, I wouldn't need it quite so often.  if I hit a spot, I tend to do tight u-turns and come back around for a second or third cast.

 

weeds.  there is no better.  I can glide over most weeds with a shallow "flutter kick".  I am so confident in weeds I sometimes let my drive bury itself into the weeds as an impromptu anchor or spot lock.  then when I want out, I lift my drive out and stuff it back in to untangle and flutter kick out.  

 

last weekend I left my buddy in his Native 10.5 in the dust.  I just kicked to a distant island.  I look back for Ray and I see him paddling with paddles (the horrors).  I went back and asked if his drive broke or something.  he said it was weed-bound.  I didn't even notice the weed bed I lead him thru.  opps.  

So your vote is for the fin drive then?

Just now, ChadwickGoesFishing said:

So your vote is for the fin drive then?

yea.  admittedly it is what I started with and what I grew accustomed to.  

Never heard of Hoodoo.  I have a Hobie (fin) and a Native (pedal).  I prefer the Hobie.

  Noting in that paragraph should be construed to mean that I think a Hoodoo is better than Seastream.  

Koz has been down on the Hobie reverse for a long time.  I am not.  And I don't recall ever hearing a Hobie owner say they don't like the pull cable reverse.  Would it be nice to be able to switch to reverse without the cable?  Sure, I suppose.  Would I swap fins for prop to get it?  Not a chance.

1 minute ago, Choporoz said:

Never heard of Hoodoo.  I have a Hobie (fin) and a Native (pedal).  I prefer the Hobie.

  Noting in that paragraph should be construed to mean that I think a Hoodoo is better than Seastream.  

Koz has been down on the Hobie reverse for a long time.  I am not.  And I don't recall ever hearing a Hobie owner say they don't like the pull cable reverse.  Would it be nice to be able to switch to reverse without the cable?  Sure, I suppose.  Would I swap fins for prop to get it?  Not a chance.

And I appreciate that. I think one of the biggest thing I am considering, reverse or not is how it handles through grass and weeds.  The lakes up here in Minnesota, at least around me are super overgrown right now.  I worry half of my  time will be spend picking out grass from the prop. 

Again, I am not familiar with Hoodoo, but my Hobie will pedal through emergent weeds or pads.  The Native will not.  However, it isn't all that difficult to pull the drive up on either and just paddle or push.