Old Town, one of America’s favorite canoe and kayak brands for over 125 years, is giving anglers something to smile about this year. The angler-favorite Sportsman Line is getting upgraded with the addition of two new models, the PDL 120 PRO and the ePDL+ 120 PRO, which offer more fishing-friendly features and layout, with multiple propulsion options.
New Sportsman Models Make The Most of a Fan-Favorite
“The PDL 120 adds features that anglers were looking for, while maintaining the easy-to-handle size that made them a favorite,” says Ryan Lilly, Old Town’s Content Marketing Manager. “There’s new propulsion options, easy rigging for trolling motors and electronics, and even more usable storage.”
The newest offerings in the Sportsman line make the most out of a familiar layout. Old Town’s engineers took feedback from customers, pro-staffers, and product engineers when they retooled the angler-favorite hulls to make them even more user-friendly. The Sportsman PDL 120 PRO and ePDL+ 120 PRO features an overhauled interior that increases customization potential with the addition of ample rails, provides plenty of storage with redesigned wells, and enhances interior space while maintaining the existing PDL 120 footprint.
Power It Up
Both the PDL 120 PRO and ePDL+ 120 PRO offer hands-free propulsion via a pedal drive, but the ePDL+ 120 PRO adds a motor and battery pack to augment your leg muscles, offering far greater range than you could accomplish on your own. It has manual pedal operation, power-assisted pedal, and a fully-motorized cruise control option that lets you concentrate completely on fishing. We tested the ePDL+ system last summer in an Old Town Sportsman BigWater ePDL+ 132, fishing for striped bass on the Maine coast, and found it to be extremely effective.
The drive is easy to use and install, and comes internally wired with kill switches, and includes a 36V 20AH lithium-ion battery and charger. Both the manual and powered drives are fully sealed, so they can be used in saltwater without worry.
Steering is accomplished with an ergonomic mechanism positioned near the user’s hand. Turning the knob maneuvers the rudder and allows for easy course adjustment. There’s also a locking mechanism that keeps the rudder in place for casting or trolling along a fixed heading.
Universal Bow Mount Trolling Motor Ready
“I’m able to install and remove my Minn Kota trolling motor quickly and easily,” says Lilly. “I don’t need to drill any holes, and rigging is simple. You can put a trolling motor and take it off in minutes, depending on your needs.”
Anglers have more electrified propulsion options in addition to the ePDL+ system. The bow on both the PDL 120 PRO and ePDL+ 120 PRO includes a four hole insert pattern for easy installation of your favorite trolling motor. There’s also plenty of room for batteries in the enlarged bow hatch, or in the enlarged rear tankwell.
The stern also features a pair of mounting holes that can be used for a Power Pole or other shallow water anchor system. This lets anglers use a pair of SWAs to stay exactly where they want to be. It also gives them the option to place a single anchor pin on whatever side they prefer for their fishing style.
Plenty of Customization Options
“We added even more rail space to make it easy to mount electronics and other accessories,” says Lilly. “I like to keep my forward-facing sonar unit close, so I can adjust it easily. But the long rail lets you push it further away. And we reinforced the rail to hold even the largest screens steady.”
All told, there’s 150 inches of usable space on the aluminum rails for whatever accessories you need. A universal transducer mount allows easy mounting without drilling through the hull. Rigging is accomplished without a drill as well, thanks to built-in through-hull wiring ports.
Ample Storage
”Old Town’s engineers redesigned the bow hatch,” says Lilly. “They made it larger, so you can reach in there to grab stuff, pull wires, or whatever else you need to. You can even get your shoulders in.”
The large bow hatch isn’t the only place to stash stuff on the new ‘yaks. The stern has an oversized tankwell that swallows up an impressive amount of gear, and features metal loops for battery tie downs. There’s also plenty of space in the cockpit, as the redesigned interior provides more space.
Three flush mount rod holders let anglers stash rods upright and ready. But if you want to keep rods down and out of the way, you can stash up to four of them horizontally right next to the seat. And speaking of the seat, it’s also been redesigned for greater comfort and adjustability.
Specs
PDL 120 PRO
Length: 12 foot
Width: 36 inches
Hull Weight: 106 pounds
Assembled Boat Weight: 131 pounds
Total Weight Capacity: 565 pounds
Usable Weight Capacity: 420 pounds
Seat Weight: 6 pounds
Drive Weight: 19 pounds
ePDL + 120 PRO
Length: 12 foot
Width: 36 inches
Hull Weight: 107 pounds
Assembled Boat Weight: 153 pounds
Total Weight Capacity: 561 pounds
Usable Weight Capacity: 395 pounds
Seat Weight: 6 pounds
Drive Weight: 31 pounds
Battery: 36V, 20Ah lithium-ion battery
Average Battery Life While in Cruise Control Mode (1)
Cruise 1 Runtime (2): 46 hours
Cruise 3 Runtime (2): 23 hours
Cruise 5 Runtime (2): 3 hours
- New, fully charged battery on flat water with a moderate load. Your run time might vary.
- Cruise speeds 1-5, where 1 is slowest and 5 is fastest
Both PRO models are available in two exclusive new colors: Sierra and Storm.
New Rec Boats
There are some new non-fishing-specific products coming from Old Town in the form of three additions to the company’s Ocean Kayak line, but that doesn’t mean you can’t fish from these sit-on-top kayaks that keep your hands free for casting, working a camera, or anything else you want to do on the water. The new models features expanded propulsion options, including pedal, power-assisted pedal, and motorized drives.
Old Town Ocean Kayak Malibu ePDL+ 120
This 12-foot watercraft is designed for various environments and adventures thanks to the on-board ePDL+ drive technology adopted from the award-winning Old Town Sportsman BigWater ePDL+ 132 fishing craft. Users can seamlessly switch between manual, power-assisted, or fully motorized cruise control options.
Old Town Ocean Kayak Malibu Pedal T
You don’t always want to spend your time on the water alone. The new Malibu Pedal T kayak from Old Town is a tandem pedal watercraft fully equipped with two instant forward and reverse PDL drives. This spacious model is based on the Ocean Kayak line of sit-on-top ‘yaks.
Old Town Ocean Kayak Sonata 106 MK
The all-new Sonata 106 MK is a motorized 10-foot 6-inch watercraft featuring a fully integrated 45-pound-thrust Minn Kota motor, wireless Bluetooth speakers, and fun LED cockpit lighting for kicking back on the water. It is controlled with an intuitive forward and reverse throttle and an adjustable foot brace steering system for hands-free maneuverability.
