BKC Brooklyn 13.5 Tandem Pedal Fishing Kayak, 2 Person with Dual Flipper Pedal Drives and Rudder Steering Review (2026)

Who this kayak is built for

This is a tandem pedal kayak built for two anglers who both want their hands free for casting, netting or handling a rod while the boat keeps moving. Because each seat has its own flipper-style pedal drive, either paddler can propel the boat, or both can pedal together for more speed, which is different from a tandem where only one person controls momentum. At 13 feet 6 inches and roughly 680 pounds of rated capacity, it suits two adult anglers plus tackle, or a parent and older child fishing together. It is less practical for anyone who fishes solo most of the time or who needs to load a kayak onto a car roof alone, since a boat this long and this heavy favors a truck bed, trailer or dock storage.

Specs and design in plain terms

The hull is roto-molded high-density polyethylene, a material chosen for impact resistance against docks, rocks and oyster beds rather than light weight, and the boat weighs about 82 pounds dry according to Brooklyn Kayak Company's own listing, before pedal drives and seats are installed. Each paddler gets a flipper-style pedal drive, the type that uses a push and pull fin motion rather than a propeller, which tends to shed weeds and grass better in shallow water. A single hand-operated rudder at the stern helps hold a straight line when only one person is pedaling or when wind pushes the hull off course. Three built-in rod holders and two watertight hatches, one ahead of each seat, give each angler their own storage without digging through a shared hatch.

Setting it up and living with it

Because the pedal drives are removable, most owners store them separately from the hull and slot them into the pedal wells at the water's edge rather than carrying the fully rigged boat any distance. Two bungee-secured cargo areas at the bow and stern hold crates, coolers or extra rods without needing bolted-on accessories. Note that paddles are sold separately from this package according to Brooklyn Kayak Company's specification sheet, so budget for that if backup paddle power matters to you. After saltwater trips, rinsing the flipper drives and rudder linkage helps prevent the fins from binding with dried salt or sand, a routine maintenance step common to all pedal-drive kayaks rather than specific to this model.

Trade-offs and how it compares

Against the BKC TK219, a paddle-and-optional-motor tandem from the same brand, the Brooklyn 13.5 trades the TK219's lighter, simpler hull for two independent pedal drives, which means more moving parts to maintain but genuinely hands-free fishing for both paddlers at once. Compared with the Old Town Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL or Pelican River Gorge 130X, both recreational tandem sit-on-tops without pedal drives, the Brooklyn 13.5 costs more and weighs more but delivers a fishing-specific hands-free setup those boats do not offer. Anyone cross-shopping should weigh whether two pedal drives are worth the added weight and upkeep against a simpler paddle tandem that is easier to load solo.

Verdict and who should pick something else

Choose the Brooklyn 13.5 Tandem if two people regularly fish together and want independent hands-free propulsion, generous rod storage and enough rated capacity for gear-heavy trips. The flipper drives and rudder are the features that set it apart from a standard paddle tandem. Skip it if you mostly paddle solo, need to cartop the kayak without help, or want the lightest possible tandem for casual recreational outings rather than fishing, since simpler paddle tandems like the TK219 or a basic recreational tandem will be easier to handle alone. Buyers focused purely on budget should also compare pedal-free tandems, which cost less and have fewer parts to maintain long term.

Frequently asked questions