@BarryP So let me put my experience here buying a Manta so others know what they're getting in to. There is a happy ending but I went through a lot of effort and frustration. Ordered the white one from Walmart, shipped from Utah and arrived to Northern Virginia 9 days later on Friday, 8/16. I was checking on my neighbors fish tanks when it arrived, walked up to the truck getting ready to leave, manta on my front walkway. Asked the delivery guys if they needed a signature or if i needed to inspect it, they said No and drove off. The front end obviously took a major hit in shipping. There was a giant crease, the lifetime logo plate was crumpled, front carry handle was missing, one of the carry handle brackets was hanging by one screw, the front rod holders weren't attached, the bars on the seat were scratched up, there were multiple gouges on the hull and the motor mount was missing. Too much damage and problems, so I returned it to my local walmart in Leesburg. My buddy Beau found a Manta at Tractor Supply in Fredericksburg. I bought it online and called them. Asked the guy to take a look and make sure it was undamaged before I drove the 90 minutes to pick it up. He said it looked fine, went there Saturday (yesterday, 8/17). It was standing upright, looked OK except one minor dent. When they pulled it off the rack, i noticed that one wheel assembly, the shroud and wheel, were gone. The other shroud was mangled and the wheel was missing. Manager said he'd discount it, offered $500 (retail is 700 at TS). I came back with $450, he said Done and effectively refunded me $250. When i got home it occured to me, my Walmart had the one i returned, and the only thing that wasn't damaged was the wheel assemblies. I went back, and found the dude that helped me Friday. He checked with his manager and she said he could take the parts off for me. Gave him a screwdriver and needle nosed pliers, 10 minutes later he handed me the wheel assemblies. Went home and installed them, used silicone sealant to sure up the threaded grommets since they're obviously a weak point. Along the way i noticed the motor mount is broken and the basket for the front hatch is missing. Calling Lifetime tomorrow to see if they'll make it right. At the end of the day, i now have an intact Manta for $450. RE: rod holders, took mine apart and the outer ones that stick out, I took a chisel and shaved off the index point, rotated them to match the other and sealed everything back up. Worked perfectly. Love the kayak, gonna get it wet next weekend, but for those trying to hunt it down beware. Walmart can't seem to ship them properly and TS can't stock them. Lifetime has really botched this up the way they made them exclusive to only these two retailers. And with all the shipping problems, I dont know why they dont just ship it without the wheel assemblies attached and have the customer install them. The reviews at Walmart and on Lifetime's website are full of wheel assembly issues. Check you soon Barry, thanks for this series!
@barryp after quite the ordeal between Walmart and Tractor Supply, I finally got my Manta, same as yours. I got the risers you go over in this video, they don't really sit down in the rear nicely. Have you noticed that and if so, any issues? Im much bigger tham you, 6'2", 250lbs, i just don't want to cause any cracks in the seat mount using these. You talked with my buddy Beau, we'll try to get out on the Potomac before the weather goes away!
I haven't had any issues with the slight differences in the plastics. That particular riser kit is AWESOME, as you can spin them and eliminate the rise on the rear, lowering your center of gravity for sketchy areas. If you have specific concerns about them not fitting perfectly, you could use a sander to get them in 100%, but polyethylene generally doesn't break in the way you're concerned with.
@@BarryP thanks for the reply Barry! I bought another set for my Teton and they fit fine, I'll trim these up a little to fit them and get them installed. Not sure I'm going to install the front risers, really just want my butt to sit higher. I had a very interesting purchase experience with my Manta. I'm going to jump forward to your latest availability update and comment about how it went down for me. Lifetime has really screwed up here.
@@ri-jm5tn I've been on the struggle bus, myself, with the psoriatic variety for the past month or so. I literally feel your pain. We need better access to existing therapies. Some of them work like magic, but are upward of $10k/month. It's ridiculous.
@@BarryP Sorry to hear. I'm on a ton of pills $ aee $14k per injection therapy which fortunately is covered. They tell me that long covid is responsible for some chronic issues, but symptoms are very similar to RA, so who knows? Hope you're back on the river soon!
This is actually an area with a controlled flow from upstream reservoir discharge. It is on the low side, as the last couple of years have been pretty lean rain-wise.
It's remarkably easy to stay calm in this yak, but the rule applies in every yak. If you get hung up like that on the nose, let it settle into its upstream position and allow it to free (if it doesn't need any help). Be aware of downstream obstacles and turn accordingly, and get the heck out of there. The cool thing about the short, blunt and relatively heavy Manta is that it's super easy to turn, as you saw. This is definitely going to be my daily driver.
Love to buy one as a lighter weight alternative to my 12' Kayak But, only place I can find them in stock is Walmart and only if it's shipped to my home and I can not pick up the Kayak at Walmart so I can inspect the Kayak before I take ownership How is Wallmarts shipping an undamaged kayak?
Walmart's policy insists that you be home when it's delivered, so the buyer can inspect shipped items like kayaks... but they have been known to just drop it and drive away. If that was the case and the kayak arrives damaged, you have a very strong case that THEY actually broke their own policy and owe you a replacement or refund. They need to allow you to inspect it and accept delivery. I haven't heard any horror stories about Manta deliveries from WM, but I suppose it's possible. If you decide to do so, pay close attention to the condition of the wheel skeg assemblies. Those seem to be the most vulnerable part in the shipping process. Another suggestion is to pick a zip code of a family member or friend and see if it's available at their local Tractor Supply. Bear in mind that the Blue colorway is a TSC exclusive, and that the GREY colorway is a WM exclusive. Let us know if you have any other questions. It's an awesome kayak, and is worth the hassle it takes to get one in your hands. My "Swift Water" video drops at 6pm ET this evening.
PFD's???? Tethers?? Spare retractable paddle? I am a complete kayaking novice (1st year less than 10 outings) so pardon me if my ignorance is showing but everything in my kayak is tethered (three poles, 2 tackle boxes, paddle, and pliers) and I wear my PFD at all times and I have a spare collapsible paddle securely stored And I have a hand powered bilge pump as well But my kayak is 12' and has a 550lb weight capacity also I have always been a very capable very confident swimmer since a little boy Swimming is my favorite exercise use to swim over a mile a day in an Olympic sized pool and while acting foolishly as a younger man I came as close to drowning as is humanly possible not once but twice both times wasn't waring a PFD But I also do not kayak on rivers only smaller lakes Two of my friends were fishing on the IL section of the Kankakee river when it was at a higher level not flooding but up a few feet and moving vary fast they dropped anchor incorrectly considering the stronger current and increased volume of water flow and ended up sinking thier 16' John boat One had on a PFD one didn't they both had one hellova time getting to shore fighting the swift current My friend without a PFD was hanging onto to a flotation cushion and openly admitted if he hadn't grabbed thay cushion at the last possible moment as the boat sunk he would've absolutely drowned as so exhausted was he when he reached shore he had not the strength to stand and walk to shore he had to crawl and only with the help of strangers who saw him struggling and helped him was he able to get out of the river Swift moving rivers are no joke and can become very dangerous very quickly Iiterlly will not go on or in the water without a PFD now
- For me, MD law requires that you have a PFD onboard for each person onboard during the warmer months in the Potomac watershed (wear requirements kick in in the colder months). They just have to be on the boat... at least here. I don't generally wear on my smaller-water rivers, but I ALWAYS do on lakes and ponds. If I can't have half of my body standing above water, I wear. That is my rule. Make sure you're within the law where you are. I, personally, don't bother fishing rivers that are in a particularly "high" stage. The fishing tends to suck and it's a LOT of work in a yak. - I don't worry about tethers too much, as I've been doing this a while now, but had a fairly expensive loss, here (the paddle retails $150). Lesson learned, and I will absolutely tether the paddle in water like that, from now on, every time. - If the paddle is tethered to the yak, there's no need for an emergency paddle (save someone else in your party losing theirs). - This yak is an on-top and self-drains via it's scuppers. No need for a pump... ever. The Manta drains very quickly, too. If you were to get this yak, for your small lake/pond purpose, most of the possible problems you mentioned are eliminated by it's design and stability. As long as you have a PFD on and your paddle leashed, everything else is replaceable in the highly unlikely scenario that you're even able to flip this remarkably agile, wide monster of a kayak. I have a swift water video dropping today (at 6pm ET) that should alleviate any concerns about this yak's stability. I beat the absolute crap out of the Manta in the swift stuff, and was never concerned about it tipping (even with my seat risers that raise the center of gravity). Its primary stability is outstanding, yet is very easy to move in current. This is the only yak of its kind, and I absolutely love it, so far.
I would remind everyone that Tractor Supply and Walmart are THE ONLY authorized dealers for the Manta Angler, and would strongly advise to not buy "new" from anyone else, in order to avoid warranty issues on an otherwise awesome 5 year warranty that only kicks in if you buy from an authorized dealer. Sorry, Ryan. Facts!
@@BarryP so far do you like the manta? I really wanna upgrade to a more stable kayak than my tamarack. Unlike the yukon it has 2 seat adjustments and it's longer but not as wide
I have been inspired by your manta reviews. I drove to Bloomsburg PA to get a manta (over 3 hours away) after receiving a broken one from Walmart. I have already installed lighting and built my own rear mounted transom I am thinking of trying to market. Went today and got it registered in NY and I'm really excited to hit the lake!
Yeah, was hurtin' for a few seconds. That's why we hung around to make sure he didn't show any signs of concussion. I clipped out about 15 minutes of him talking about the fishing before we left.
Hello Barry, your videos are great. The Manta is back at Tractor Supply and Walmart. We can get them shipped from Walmart in North New Jersey. It's also available in-store in Newton, NJ.
Yep. People have been reporting that they are able to get ahold of them. Walmart's availability seems a lot better than TSC's, but things will improve over time. Thank you for the compliment! I truly appreciate it!
I think your wiring on your batteries is wrong. when you hook up the red one side, you need to hook the black up on the other battery that way when you’re drawing the power, you’re drawing equally through both batteries also when you’re charging the way that you have it hooked up it’s charging one battery then the other, so if you change the wiring, it will charge them equally and it works the same way with solar if you have an array of batteries, you start your positive at one end and then you start the negative from the other end so it feeds equally through all your batteries👍
Everything you said is wrong. What you proposed would be a 24v presentation, not a 12v presentation , as required in this project. I'm not going to argue with someone that doesn't understand parallel vs series or how voltage and charging works. I've been doing low volt stuff for 30 years (as a professional). Go fry your own stuff and start fires, but don't profess to me and my viewers your complete lack of understanding about how electricity works. Folks, ignore this know-nothing know-it-all. He'd present a 600v "array" to a 120v system, and try to blame the equipment mfgs for him burning down his own house. And before you say it, I'm not angry, I'm just protecting my viewers from your lack of knowledge and the bravado that accompanied said lack of knowledge. You are the epitome of the Dunning-Kruger effect. Thanks for watching!
Had a Teton 100 as my 1st YAK, 3.5” seat riser made it super tippy. Watching that Manatee in action, you really need to add a rudder or true skeg. It walks so much while being paddled. Fat Sally as she is you will kill yourself getting from A to B expending extra effort.
Not as they are. The four holders, themselves, are identical. They fit into a bump-out that is part of the actual kayak mold. So any one of the four holders is going to orient the exact same way in any one of the four spots. Also, that doesn't solve the high, vertical, tree-grabbing angle. They could be modified, and that may be okay for some, but not for me (with the camera setup).
I'm happy to hear it was helpful! Be sure to check out my video from today that expands upon why this is an even better riser kit than I originally thought (link won't work until 08-02-24 at 5pm ET... 10 min from now): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LydX7Vt9zXs.html
I almost got the Plume, but after watching a handful of reviews i decided to skip it. Between the lack of guides needs more guides and the locking nut for the reel it was an easy decision. Chose the Mavllos Delicacy instead and paired it up with a Seasir Commando reel the combo was little over $50. The lowest entry point for BFS, going to film some videos on my channel showcasing $50, $100, $150, $250, $300, combo's in bfs gets you and if it's even worth splurging the extra bucks. My buddy has anywhere from $500-1000 bfs combo's so I have already tried the best of the best i want to see what the budget market is looking like.
I’d remove those flush mounts and install new ones and you could line them up whatever direction you want. Also, I rarely take a rod longer than 6’ when I’m on the rivers. Never longer than 6’6”. Definitely keeps those rod tips safe. Or safer at least.
You'll better understand the rationale if you check out this vid to see the inner workings of the rod holder assembly. It is very specific to this kayak and its molds: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rIcXfiyFJ-U.htmlsi=eVUp-Z8DKq-9X1nQ&t=257 Also, with the placement of them, there would be nothing that I could do to keep the inner pair out of my camera shot, which would not only be annoying to me, but those that view the videos. 🙃
Good job on paddling. My opinion, i would put rod holders on a milk crate. 2nd off I don't consider the Manta a white water river kayak. Being blow molded be careful and always wear a PFD. I need one of those paddle leashes.
I don't consider it a whitewater yak, either. LOL However, for me, a kayak has to be able to get through Class I and II to get to the honey holes. I'll put the leash in the description. It's $6.
@BarryP Awesome! A lot of the small creeks have deep holes full of smallmouth here in Ohio. I'm usually traveling to northern Ohio for largemouth, walleye, and perch in the lakes. Good job on the rapids. The Bonafide RVR is probably the best for fast rivers but it also 3x the cost of the Manta 😆
@BarryP Awesome, I saw those RVR at the Ohio Expo, they are sick. You want a quality kayak ,but at what cost? Look at the Hobies , they are way overpriced. The Lifetimes are affordable and have thicker walls than the Acsends. I like my Lifetime Tamarack Pro but going to upgrade to a Native Slayer propel 10 do the pedal drive. Still expensive. $2299
Awesome, man. I'm taking a couple of mental notes for mine. The river I go on in PA is very wide and shallow in spots. So there's some small rapids. Locking them in place is smart. I nearly lost a spinning rod this spring, but luckily, it's bright red and fell out in a shallow spot so I could reach out and grab it. I like the rod holder idea behind. I would have a small plastic tote on mine for food, clothes, etc. for overnight camping, so I may just use the center rod holder behind the seat. Though I am thinking up some ideas on how to fix the 2 outer rod holders so they don't stick out so much. I wonder if using a small umbrella for shade would get in the way of the rods. Hmmm going to have to experiment with mine when I get it.
We could distance-colab on that. I know you haven't had a great look at that holder assembly yet, but it should be fairly easy to modify to "point" the outer holders. You'll see what I'm talking about when you take it apart. I just don't like the high vertical-ish angle of any of rear holders. I'm a skinny water guy and "high" or "wide" always spells trouble. LOL
It actually was one of your finer moments. You composed yourself perfectly after being sent into a situation that even makes me nervous. You nailed it.
I like the orange for gnarly. I regard it as a necessary inclusion in stretches like that. It's TERRIBLE for video. It draws a lot of attention away from the catch. I have another 250cm Kerco in all black, and with the riser mod, should be just fine for paddling the easily maneuverable, wide monster that is the Manta. This yak is amazingly agile. I'm loving it!
Barry why don't you use some springs at the bottom of those rod holders to put pressure again the locking mechanism? 4 tenth scale RC car springs might work.
That's a great idea! I don't necessarily see the kit "play" as problematic (yet). I intend to remove the actual holders during high-speed transport and keep the mounts in place. The way the holders fit the mounts is a little odd, but once you set the track mounts in place, you can insert any holder into any of the mounts and they will basically be pre-set. One of the things that stood out to me for these kits was the ease of keeping them secure in gnarly water if anything goes sideways (literally). They are cheaper than the name brands, and while the play is a little annoying, it's super quick getting the rods out of a "locked" position from the holders. Your idea eliminates the play, but I'd be a little worried about losing the springs when I remove the holders from the mounts for transport. If I kept the holders in place, this would work quite well, but adds about a 6" clearance to the Jeep. Thank you, @MrUCL. I'll definitely keep it in mind if I see any issues, down the road.
Thanks for a great video Barry! I'm sorry about loosing the paddle and having to cut your trip short. I actually think I like the fact that the outside rod holders turn the rods into outriggers. That way I can go trolling when I'm on a lake and the two lines will be far apart from each other. I just won't put rods in them if I'm not doing that, they can go on the rod holders of my crate. Question: How about the front rod holders? How do those work?
Agreed, and that may be the intention. It's awful for skinny water with current, though. The front holders aim a little bit forward and out... pretty suitable for outrigging, as well. That's why the angle of the rear outer holders doesn't really make a whole lot of sense. The nice thing about this mod is that you can completely customize not only the vertical angle (which is REALLY high on all holders on this yak), but also the horizontal angle and direction. The big issue with the rear outer holders is that it's super easy to smack your stored rods with the paddle at any time that you do any serious paddling. They are basically useless, to me.
@@SalvadorFrieri If you're using them for trolling on lakes/ponds, you should be fine. If you're in current, you may end up smacking the rods occasionally with the paddle blades.
Thinking about picking one of these up used ($200) for my kid (12yo)... I have the Tamarack Pro 103. I'm quickly realizing what a great value that Tamarack is.... (removable framed seat, adjustable feet rests, double uni tracks, carry handles, unitrack fishing rod holder.... Basically everything you are upgrading for $415 But, $200 seems like a good starting point to get some of those mods for him. The size is perfect for him and glad you reported how well it tracked. Thanks for the review and ideas for mods!
It's a great yak for what you're looking for. It'll also teach the kid about balance, as it's not the most forgiving yak if you take it too far to one side or the other.. One or two tips and it will likely never happen again.
They do. Links below. But bear in mind that they are not available for direct shipping, and are not intended to be. This yak is a Tractor Supply and Walmart (shipping only) exclusive. TSC Version: www.lifetime.com/lifetime-91302-angler-kayak Walmart Version: www.lifetime.com/lifetime-91319-manta-angler-kayak
For the record, my channel was not-yet monetized when this video launched. This is more about context and solution. Because the context is; "If you screw this up, it can literally kill you. Here's the solution." You have to understand the why, before the how. That's how people learn. I'm sorry that I wasted your time.
Nice bass! Say, what size reel/brand are you using? Just got the Berkley C-Series at Walmart for $7. . That's right, $7! Never tried crappie fishing but I'm about to!
I ordered mine from Walmart and got it in around a week shipped from UT to MI. There wasnt much of an issie but they used Pilot Air Services which has some pretty poor reviews. They delivered mine relatively seamlessly with very little to no damage, however the mine did NOT come with a paddle, just as a heads up to those looking.
That's interesting! While the paddle isn't mentioned on either website, I did see an "unboxing" of the walmart version from Your Outdoor Adventures where he cut the plastic wrap and there was indeed a paddle. It's an aluminum 240cm. You might want to go with something in the 250-260cm range anyway. 240 is a tad short for a 38" beam.
I'm going to get one of these now. I was looking at the hullavator but that's just not in my budget right now. Much thanks from a scrawny middle aged woman!
