BKC Brooklyn 12.5 Pedal Fishing Kayak, Flipper Drive, Sit-on-Top, 550 lb Capacity Review (2026)

Who this kayak is built for

This is a solo sit-on-top pedal kayak for anglers who fish ponds, marshes, flats or grassy shorelines where a propeller drive would constantly snag weeds. Brooklyn Kayak Company built the flipper drive specifically around a push-pull fin motion that sheds vegetation better than a spinning propeller, which is the main reason to pick this model over the brand's propeller-drive Pro version. At roughly 12.5 feet and a 550 pound capacity, it suits one angler carrying a fair amount of gear, tackle and a cooler, rather than a tandem crew. Paddlers who mostly fish open, deep water without much vegetation may get more top speed from a propeller-drive model instead, since flipper drives generally trade some efficiency for weed clearance.

Specs and design in plain terms

According to Brooklyn Kayak Company's own listing, the hull is about 12 feet 6 inches long, 35 inches wide and 16 inches tall, with a dry weight around 82 pounds and a 550 pound capacity for paddler and gear combined. The hull is roto-molded, single-piece, high-density polyethylene, the standard durable material for fishing kayaks that take regular contact with docks and rocks. The flipper drive itself is removable and, per the manufacturer, is also compatible with an optional propeller drive or trolling motor upgrade if an owner later wants more speed. The package includes five rod holders, two watertight hatches, two accessory mounting plates, eight scupper plugs to control water in the cockpit, bungee tie-down points, a paddle park and a pedal console with a built-in cup holder.

Setting it up and living with it

Because the drive is removable, most owners store it separately from the hull and insert it into the pedal well once the kayak is on the water, which keeps the fins from dragging on the ground during transport. The eight scupper plugs let an owner choose between a self-bailing open-scupper setup for wet conditions or plugged scuppers for a drier ride in calm water. After fishing in mud, brackish water or saltwater, rinsing the flipper fins and pedal linkage helps prevent grit from binding the mechanism, a routine step for any pedal-drive kayak. At 82 pounds dry before the drive and gear are added, most owners use a kayak cart for anything beyond a short carry from a nearby car or truck bed.

Trade-offs and how it compares

Against the Old Town Sportsman PDL 120, which uses Old Town's own instant forward-reverse PDL drive, the Brooklyn 12.5 flipper model costs less but is generally viewed as a simpler, less refined pedal mechanism, a common trade-off between BKC and Old Town pedal kayaks. Compared with the Old Town Sportsman PDL 106, a shorter and lighter pedal kayak built for tight creeks and ponds, the Brooklyn 12.5 offers more deck space and capacity at the cost of extra length and weight to transport. Buyers should weigh how much they value Old Town's more established pedal-drive reputation against the Brooklyn's lower price and weed-shedding flipper design before deciding between the two brands.

Verdict and who should pick something else

Choose the Brooklyn 12.5 flipper model if you fish shallow, vegetated water regularly and want a pedal kayak that resists weed fouling better than a propeller, along with solid rod storage and a 550 pound capacity for one angler. It is a reasonable value pick against pricier propeller and Old Town PDL kayaks. Anglers who fish mostly deep, open water without much vegetation may prefer a propeller-drive version, including Brooklyn's own Pro model, for better efficiency. Paddlers who need the smallest, lightest pedal kayak for tight creeks should compare the shorter Old Town Sportsman PDL 106 instead of this 12.5 foot hull.

Frequently asked questions