Old Town Sportsman Salty PDL 120 Pedal Fishing Kayak, Marsh Camo Review (2026)

Who this kayak is built for

The Salty PDL 120 is built for a solo angler who fishes coastal flats, marshes and inshore water where hands-free pedaling and quick boat control matter more than raw speed. At about 12 feet long and 34.5 inches wide, it is sized for stability while standing to sight-fish or cast, a common need on shallow saltwater flats. The Salty branding signals Old Town markets this version for coastal and inshore use rather than freshwater lakes, though the core hull and PDL drive are shared with the brand's other Sportsman PDL models. It suits an angler who already knows they want a pedal kayak and is willing to pay Old Town's premium pricing for the brand's established drive system, rather than a first-time buyer on a tight budget.

Specs and design in plain terms

Old Town's own specifications list the Salty PDL 120 at roughly 12 feet long and 34.5 inches wide, with an assembled hull weight around 104 pounds, a removable pedal console adding about 19 pounds and a removable seat adding about 6 pounds. Total weight capacity is listed at 450 pounds, with a usable capacity of about 346 pounds for the paddler and gear once the boat's own weight is accounted for. The hull is single-layer polyethylene, and the standout feature is Old Town's PDL Drive, which gives instant forward and reverse pedaling rather than requiring a separate reverse mechanism, a genuine convenience when backing off a shallow flat or repositioning near structure. The seat has adjustable leg length along a shuttle track and one forward plus two rear-facing rod holders round out the fishing layout, along with two 18 inch accessory tracks on the forward hull.

Setting it up and living with it

Because the pedal console and seat are removable, many owners carry the hull and drive separately rather than hauling the fully rigged boat, which helps manage the roughly 104 pound hull weight. The PDL Drive's instant reverse is the feature owners lean on most in tight inshore spots, letting an angler back away from a mangrove or dock without pulling the drive and paddling. Since this version is aimed at saltwater and coastal use, rinsing the drive unit, cables and any exposed hardware after each trip matters more here than on a strictly freshwater kayak, since salt residue accelerates wear on moving parts. The 18 inch accessory tracks on the forward hull let anglers add rod holders, electronics mounts or a crate without drilling into the hull.

Trade-offs and how it compares

Against the BKC Brooklyn 12.5 with flipper drive, the Salty PDL 120 costs more but offers Old Town's instant forward-reverse PDL system, generally regarded as a more refined mechanism than BKC's flipper drive, at the cost of lower usable capacity in exchange for that convenience. Compared with the shorter Sportsman PDL 106, the 120 offers more stability and deck space for standing to fish, while the 106 turns tighter in creeks and small ponds. Against the longer Sportsman BigWater PDL 132, built for open water and chop, the 120 is easier to transport and better suited to protected flats and inshore water than big open bays.

Verdict and who should pick something else

Choose the Salty PDL 120 if you fish saltwater flats, marshes or inshore water solo and want Old Town's instant forward-reverse pedal drive along with a stable stand-up casting platform. It is a premium-priced boat, so it suits an angler who has decided pedal propulsion is worth the investment. Budget-focused anglers, or those who mostly fish freshwater ponds without needing saltwater-oriented branding, may find a BKC pedal kayak or the standard freshwater Sportsman PDL 120 a better value. Anglers who fish tight, narrow creeks more than open flats should also compare the shorter Sportsman PDL 106 for its easier maneuvering in confined water.

Frequently asked questions