Old Town Ocean Kayak Malibu Pedal Kayak, Cinder Review (2026)

Who the Malibu Pedal fits

The Malibu Pedal takes Ocean Kayak's long-running Malibu sit-on-top and adds a pedal drive console, aimed at paddlers who want to explore, cruise or fish casually without the arm fatigue of paddling all day. It suits recreational users first, people who want a stable, easy platform for calm bays, lakes and slow rivers, with light fishing as a secondary use rather than the boat's main purpose. Anglers who plan to fish seriously, running multiple rod holders, electronics and rigging, are better served by Old Town's dedicated Sportsman PDL series, which builds fishing features into the deck from the start rather than adding them to a general recreation hull.

Dimensions, capacity and construction

The Malibu Pedal measures about 12 feet long and 34.5 inches wide, with a single-layer polyethylene hull that Old Town builds for durability rather than the lightest possible weight. The assembled boat weighs about 105 pounds on its own, with the pedal drive console adding about 19 pounds and the removable Element Beach Seat adding about 6 pounds, figures worth knowing since the pedal drive makes this a heavier boat to car-top or load solo compared with a paddle-only Malibu. Old Town rates the kayak for a total weight capacity of 450 pounds, with a usable capacity closer to 345 pounds once the boat, seat and pedal drive weight are accounted for.

Pedal drive and seating

The pedal console drives a rudder-steered propulsion system that lets a paddler cover distance using their legs instead of a paddle, which matters most for anyone planning longer outings or fighting current or wind on open water. The kayak includes rod holders as part of its standard fittings, so light fishing is genuinely usable even though the boat is not built around it the way a dedicated fishing kayak is. The Element Beach Seat sits about 14 inches tall at the seat back and is removable, giving a comfortable, chair-like position for cruising while keeping the option to strip the seat out for storage or a lighter carry.

Where it compares against Old Town's fishing kayaks

Against the Old Town Sportsman PDL line, which is purpose-built for kayak fishing with more rod holders, gear tracks and rigging space, the Malibu Pedal trades those dedicated features for a simpler, more general-purpose recreation hull at a lower cost than the top Sportsman models. Riders who want a boat that handles cruising, light exploring and casual fishing equally well will find the Malibu Pedal a reasonable middle ground, while serious anglers chasing a full fishing rig should expect to add aftermarket accessories or step up to a Sportsman PDL model instead. The pedal drive itself adds real cost over a paddle-only Malibu, a trade-off worth weighing against how often hands-free propulsion actually gets used.

Verdict and how it ranks

Among pedal kayaks in this guide the Malibu Pedal earns a site score of 8.2 out of 10, ranking sixth of seven behind several Old Town Sportsman PDL models built specifically for fishing. Its case is strongest for a recreational paddler who wants pedal-drive convenience for cruising and exploring, with light fishing as a bonus rather than the main goal. Anglers planning to fish seriously and often should look higher up this same guide at the Sportsman PDL 120 or similar dedicated fishing kayaks, which carry more rigging built in for the money.

Frequently asked questions