Old Town Sportsman PDL 106 Pedal Fishing Kayak, Ember Camo Review (2026)

Who this kayak is built for

The PDL 106 is Old Town's shorter Sportsman pedal kayak, built for anglers who spend most of their time on ponds, creeks, small rivers and coves rather than big open lakes. At 10 feet 6 inches long and 36 inches wide, it is easier to maneuver in tight spots than the brand's 12 and 13 foot Sportsman models, and light enough by pedal-kayak standards to car-top without a trailer. It suits a solo angler who values maneuverability and easier transport over maximum deck space, including anglers with a smaller vehicle or limited storage. Anyone regularly fishing large, open water where speed and glide matter more than tight turning will likely prefer one of Old Town's longer Sportsman PDL models instead.

Specs and design in plain terms

Old Town's specifications list the PDL 106 with an assembled hull weight of about 76 pounds, a removable pedal console around 18 pounds and a removable seat around 6 pounds, for a total capacity of 450 pounds and a usable capacity of about 356 pounds for paddler and gear. The hull uses what Old Town calls a DoubleU design, intended to glide quietly through the water while still giving a stable, comfortable platform for standing to fish. Like the rest of the Sportsman PDL line, it uses Old Town's PDL Drive, which delivers instant forward and reverse pedaling rather than needing a separate mechanism to back the boat up, a useful feature in narrow creeks where quick repositioning matters. The seat offers strong lumbar support and adjusts along a shuttle track to fit different leg lengths.

Setting it up and living with it

Because the pedal console and seat are removable, most owners break the boat down into hull, console and seat for transport, which keeps each piece manageable even though the assembled hull alone is about 76 pounds. The shorter 10 foot 6 inch length noticeably helps when loading into a smaller car or truck bed compared with a 12 or 13 foot Sportsman model. The DoubleU hull design is meant to reduce paddle-splash noise while pedaling, which matters to anglers targeting spooky fish in clear, shallow water. As with any pedal-drive kayak, rinsing the PDL Drive unit after each outing, especially in muddy or brackish water, helps keep the instant-reverse mechanism working smoothly over time.

Trade-offs and how it compares

Against the longer Sportsman Salty PDL 120, the 106 gives up some deck space and standing stability in exchange for a lighter, more maneuverable hull suited to tight creeks rather than coastal flats. Compared with the Sportsman BigWater PDL 132, built specifically for big lakes and choppy open water, the 106 is far easier to transport but less capable once conditions get rough or a long paddle across open water is required. Against the BKC Brooklyn 12.5 flipper-drive kayak, the PDL 106 costs more but pairs a shorter, easier-to-handle hull with Old Town's instant-reverse PDL Drive, which many anglers consider the more refined pedal mechanism between the two brands.

Verdict and who should pick something else

Choose the Sportsman PDL 106 if you fish mostly small water, value easy transport and want Old Town's instant forward-reverse PDL Drive in the most maneuverable Sportsman hull size. It is a strong pick for creek and pond anglers who do not need maximum deck space. Anglers who fish big lakes or need more standing platform and storage should step up to the Salty PDL 120 or BigWater PDL 132 instead. Budget-conscious buyers who mainly fish calm, small water and do not need Old Town's specific drive system could also compare a lighter-priced pedal kayak from another brand before committing to the PDL 106's premium pricing.

Frequently asked questions