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I took the new Slayer Propel 10 out this morning for 3.5 hours. It is 3 ft shorter and 27 lbs lighter than the Slayer Propel 13 I bought last year. It is much easier to handle on land (I can lift it by the side handle using just one arm, and walk a short distance). It fits fully inside my Honda Odyssey minivan. This new kayak also has a Propel pedal drive and an elevated seat.
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The conditions were calm, so I was not able to see how it handled in rough seas. But under today's conditions, I was very impressed with the layout, room, ease of movement and turning, and stability. The cockpit area in the SP 10 is essentially the same size as the SP 13. Even at my large height and weight, I felt quite comfortable and not cramped.
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The SP 10 is very stable, at least under the calm conditions I faced today. It offers the same weight capacity (500 lbs) as the SP 13. The rear well and the bow area are shorter than in the SP 13, but the rear of the boat is wider.
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My SP 13 has a rudder, but does not turn sharply. I added a larger aftermarket rudder which greatly improved the turning performance. The SP 10 turns easily and quickly with the standard rudder. I suppose that having less hull weight and less keel length allows the same-sized rudder to work more effectively on the SP 10.
The Propel drive is identical to the one on the SP 13, with the exception that a shorter cross-bar is used. All the mechanical parts are the same. The SP 10 has the latest version of seals that minimize corrosion issues. The SP 10 had very fast response time when I began pedaling. Almost immediately, it was up to speed. On several occasions my casts caught on docks or overhanging trees. I was able to pedal in close, quickly lift the Propel, retrieve my lure, and drop the Propel back down, and back out to resume fishing.
On the way back into Weems Creek I met a friend from the SRRKC who was fishing from his boat. He took a few photos of me in the new kayak.
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I really enjoyed fishing for pickerel today from the SP 10 -- its elevated seat gave good visibility and casting angles, and the easy maneuverability (both forward and reverse) allowed me to position myself wherever I wanted to be. This could become my go-to winter time kayak when I am mainly casting for pickerel.
I was able to troll 4 lines today, but did not hook any fish (I blame it on too many floating leaves that fouled my lures). I suspect that the SP 13 will prove to be a better trolling platform overall, particularly in rough water. But I was definitely impressed with all the features and capabilities offered by this new pocket battleship.
003.jpg
The conditions were calm, so I was not able to see how it handled in rough seas. But under today's conditions, I was very impressed with the layout, room, ease of movement and turning, and stability. The cockpit area in the SP 10 is essentially the same size as the SP 13. Even at my large height and weight, I felt quite comfortable and not cramped.
005.jpg
The SP 10 is very stable, at least under the calm conditions I faced today. It offers the same weight capacity (500 lbs) as the SP 13. The rear well and the bow area are shorter than in the SP 13, but the rear of the boat is wider.
004.jpg
My SP 13 has a rudder, but does not turn sharply. I added a larger aftermarket rudder which greatly improved the turning performance. The SP 10 turns easily and quickly with the standard rudder. I suppose that having less hull weight and less keel length allows the same-sized rudder to work more effectively on the SP 10.
The Propel drive is identical to the one on the SP 13, with the exception that a shorter cross-bar is used. All the mechanical parts are the same. The SP 10 has the latest version of seals that minimize corrosion issues. The SP 10 had very fast response time when I began pedaling. Almost immediately, it was up to speed. On several occasions my casts caught on docks or overhanging trees. I was able to pedal in close, quickly lift the Propel, retrieve my lure, and drop the Propel back down, and back out to resume fishing.
On the way back into Weems Creek I met a friend from the SRRKC who was fishing from his boat. He took a few photos of me in the new kayak.
004_2.jpg 008.jpg
I really enjoyed fishing for pickerel today from the SP 10 -- its elevated seat gave good visibility and casting angles, and the easy maneuverability (both forward and reverse) allowed me to position myself wherever I wanted to be. This could become my go-to winter time kayak when I am mainly casting for pickerel.
I was able to troll 4 lines today, but did not hook any fish (I blame it on too many floating leaves that fouled my lures). I suspect that the SP 13 will prove to be a better trolling platform overall, particularly in rough water. But I was definitely impressed with all the features and capabilities offered by this new pocket battleship.
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