So I've been looking at getting either the titan x or the jackson knarr, there are things I've seen I like about both but stability is a big factor for myself, any thoughts between the two?
Wanted to THANK YOU for all the informative videos you put out but especially this one. I own the Unlimited for the last 4 months but was never really happy with it. The getting-out-of-your-seat was too tippy for me (68 years old). I always had to use an assist strap. A few other reasons also why I didn’t care for it. Anyway, I saw the Titan X12 in a showroom and my jaw dropped at this sleek beauty. Your video showed how, when you stood, there was barely a wobble. I was able to demo that Titan X yesterday and even with a strong wind, I stood without any assistance and NO WOBBLE! Besides all the other great features the boat has, this no wobble is the most important. I traded my Unlimited in and made the deal 30’ later. Thanks again for the information. I am MUCH happier with this kayak.
Thanks for the on-water review after the previous ones. You've just confirmed my thoughts that this kayak is likely to be my upgrade this winter/spring. Thanks again.
Great review. I didn't expect that boat to turn on a dime, at almost 13ft. I couldn't even hear the PDL drive. Definitely, ready to be rigged, however you like, and feel safe, and comfortable. The 360 seat is awesome. They really made a great boat, and it's priced right.💯 🛶 🎣
I Love actually seeing the X on the water, it really puts things into perspective. I was planning on upgrading my Seaghost 130 (my first yak) to the PA14 360 this spring. But after seeing the X at Icast I had a feeling it was the direction I was leaning towards. Your review sand walk through videos have sealed the deal. I have horrible balance due to messed up feet, I tried a PA this year and was thrilled that I could stand, hearing you say you "don't have sea legs" made me feel seen lol. I am Definity going to order an X before spring, with extra money to play with for accessories, as opposed to another 2-3 grand for a PA. Great video! I do need to find a jet ski Trailor though since I roof toped my SeaGhost, which was a huge pain anyway.
You answered a lot of questions that I've been thinking about where I would use. It is on lake Ontario and lake Erie fishing for salmon and steelhead and on a Niagara River fishing for lake trout and walleye and was showing how stable it is which is really important when you're on those big legs and the one video you showed where you can get the $99 motor mount and replace the propel drive and put your own trolling motor down through the center. There is an absolute dream cuz I could take and hook that up with a 55 lb thrush trolling motor down through the middle was 100 amp hour battery and behind me. Then put a a 50 hour up in the front and connect the two together parallel and I could troll all. Dan, damn near all night. Long fishing for you know salmon when they come in in the spring and the fall and we get browns up here out of lake Ontario that actually look like football especially the males. When they're ready to start milk, you know fertilizing the eggs. They get the big hook nose. I really appreciate this video. Thank you very much. I just came across to you scrolling through with RU-vid about this kayak and you are very informative and honest about your opinions about the kayak. Thank you very much
thank you for the good review. I owned a non pedal driven native in the past, what i sold two years ago. I considered buying a Hobie next year as they seam to be the best ones. but somehow I like native, and this seems to be a good one. I have similar physics to you. Now I need to research and compare even more 😜 greetings from Austria 👋
Great video! Thanks for the information. You have helped me a lot with my choices. I was about to go with either the Bite FD or the Slayer Max 12.5. But I was leary because I also wanted that stairstep elevated seat you talked about so I could peddle in a more ergonomic position. The 360 seat is also a game changer. It opens up the back of the kayak without standing. I was toying with getting a tiller Lund. But I think the ability to power this kayak later on also makes me want to stay with kayaking as I get older. I think electric propulsion in the next few years is going to get more powerful, diverse and enticing with all the battery R&D going on now.
Thanks for a great review....I have never really considered anything other than the PA14 or the AP136 from Old Town...this one is making me think! Really enjoy your work...
There is nothing to think about, this kayak blows everything else on the market away, worldwide. I bought an OT 120 PDL thats now like 2+ years old and I had had buyers remorse from like the 3rd time out. All because it was NOT designed by someone who knows anything about fishing, or fishing kayaks, or what a fishermen needs/wants in a tiny boat. The Native Titan X literally has it all, it's completely modular and designed ready to bolt on every major accessory, you could want, add what you want, or don't, your choice. Then to top it off; It's fast enough on PDL. It turns tight enough. It's extremely laterally stable. It's well made. It has a good warranty. It has a great, trouble free, self-serviceable PDL. It has a high, comfortable, 360 swivel seat. It literally ticks every box for any serious/experienced freshwater fishermen. Just go order it, bet my life you won't regret it. (Unless you just can't handle lugging big heavy kayaks around)
It is a great platform for sure but its not perfect of course. The weight of the kayak is its biggest drawback BUT if that is not an issue then its a tremendous value
You confirmed everything I have been saying since the unveiling of this kayak. It is the first properly designed fishing kayak that literally has everything you need to bass fish, or any freshwater fishing. Everything else on the market has various short comings, and most of them really seem like they were designed by a person that does not fish and is just imagining what a fishermen would want/need. This machine is perfect, if is "A fishing machine". I predict this puts every other brand out of business or forces them to copy all the same features which will be too little too late. This thing is phenomenal, full stop.
The swivel seat is a HUGE deal, if you have ever tried to reach something in the crate behind you without having to try to stand up, then figure out how to turn around, then lean over the seat backwards, its life changing. Especially if your a bigger guy, reaching behind you by twisting slightly is all but impossible in a fixed seat. What makes the Titan X the best fishing kayak bar none, is the fact it has all the other stuff an angler wants, plus access panels, and built in areas for front and rear motors and poles (little to no drilling or cutting ever needed), then ices the cake with the swivel seat. No other kayak has all the basics, plus these final features, except this one, and it comes in 2 sizes. It's game over for every other brand on the market.
Thanks for the review! Looks smooth but too big of a kayak for me. I have a Slayer 10 max and love it, still wish that the Slayer 10 max and TitanX 10.5 would have a baby together, it’d be perfect. Another improvement Native needs to work on is colors. Very inconsistent coloration from one boat to the next, some are more striped and some are a mixed haze of the colors. I have grey goose and like it but wish the hidden oak didn’t have such pronounced tan areas that are almost white. Would rather have the olive/black/brown only.
Well that's basically what these kayaks are. They are a good mix between the Titan 10.5 and the Slayer Max 10. They take a few features from each as well as adding some new features. The Titan x does come in a 10.5 version
@@thebeardedpaddler This has to be the one real negative to this otherwise perfect fishing machine. It should come standard with a front locking seat, no question. But I guess they need add on's to sell us.
Thanks for the review. You answered a lot of my questions. You mentioned the speed at one point in the 4+ mph range. Was that at an average pedal effort (whatever that is?) or doing a sprint run? What was your average speed at an effortless pace? I like the pedal drive for exercise and envision a bow-mount motor for fishing & spot lock. I don’t really want or need a stern-mount motor. Thanks again.
It was a pretty good effort. I can push it closer to 5mph. But the speed is there for a prop style drive. This is the perfect setup for a bow mount as well
I can do about 3.7 all day on my OT PDL. I don’t really care about sprint speed at 71 years old. I have a nice trailer and like kayak fishing for the type of fishing I do and the exercise. Now I have to decide between the 12.5 and slightly lighter 10.5. Looking forward to your future videos. 😊
well done,could you possibly due a video on trailers for bigger kayas like this and others,if you haven't already. i'm thinking about converting a jet ski trailer for this kayak(beast :) )
Greatly appreciate this and the previous video on the Titan X. I’m new to the kayak side of fishing. Sold my glass boat a while back, but would like to get back into fishing tournaments. Do you plan on any side by side and/or on the water comparison video(s)? To my knowledge, I can’t try out different kayaks at the lake before purchasing where I’m located. Nearest Native dealer is a couple hours away…
I have a 13.5 Titan now. If you have been on the original titan, how does the stability compare to the Titan X? Just as I told my wife that the Titan 13.5 was my forever kayak (because of the stability), the Titan X was released the next day. And I fell in love!
Thanks for adding a con for Native snubbing left handers. Updating this year and had planned on a Titan X 12.5 until I realized they only support right handed fishermen. Now my only choices are Hobie or Old Town AP’s.
@@thebeardedpaddler Thanks! I’m now considering either an Unlimited w/Xi3 and rudder, or an 136AP. Having had my fill with bow mount trolling motors after 40 years in bass boats the Old Town is far more appealing. Easy prop change and cleaning right from the seat, and no worries running over logs. I’d like to have the ability to switch between motor and pedals. Seems like Native would have partnered with one of the trolling motor companies to imitate OT with a motor pod you could swap for the propel drive, or that OT would offer a PDL pod for the AP. Must be greed preventing simple solutions. Thanks your reply. I like your channel and find the content far more thoughtful and detailed than others.
Not greed. It's way more efficient have the motor on the bow. And it also gives people more options. The OT Autopilot costs a lot more than a Nucanoe Unlimited or a Bonafide PWR129 rigged up with a trolling motor and the motor is more powerful at 55lb than the AP at 45
@@thebeardedpaddler I did like your videos on the 129 and intend to find one I can water trial. They are right on the money with no motor and foot steering. BYW, I understand the efficiency of bow versus mid-ship, but my experience with bow mounts on my bass boats reminded me of how many times I was cleaning weeds, fishing line and other debris out by removing the prop. Easy to do on my Ranger, but not so much on a kayak without beaching the boat. Also had plenty of bow mount shaft and motor damage from collision with objects underwater. Mid-ship mount just kicks up out of the way.
Great review and channel. The Titan X has some great features to be sure. What is the official usable weight capacity though? Based on the typical calc (Capacity - Fully Rigged Weight) the answer is 328 lbs which isn't much when considering all the stuff you can put on the yak. What exactly does Native include in their Fully Rigged Weight number? Have reached out to Native on both of those items more than once and gotten zero replies. Thought maybe someone out there might know.
This is a very good question. Native does NOT include the kayak weight in the weight capacity so you are correct in the "usable" weight capacity. With the scupper plugs in you can assume you gain most of that back like Nucanoe does. That being said, there is no official word on "usable" capacity on the Titan X but I'm assuming it's the same thing as the rest of the lineup
Depends on what your needs and limitations are. It is heavy at 172lbs. But it is the most stable kayak I've ever been in maneuvers very well. Thanks for watching!
As a 6'1" 255lb guy who hates almost everything about his OT 120 PDL, the Titan X is the perfect fishing kayak, you will not regret it, it's better than anything else on the market without question. The only thing more stable for huge guys are Nucanoe hulls, but their drive sucks. Also guys bigger than you and me have no business in a kayak, their excessive weight makes them unstable, I wish I could lose 50lbs because the boat would be even better. (and I need to)
It doesn't lock but the swivel is very stiff. This keeps it from freely spinning. They do have a swivel lock that can be applied that has a lever you can pull to unlock
1st off, thanks for the great content and reviews!! Ok..I am just about to purchase a new yak and i was going with the Jackson Knarr...but now, everyone is saying to stay away from it, what happened to this great yak that made everyone turn away from it?? Im confused, and no one really says what is wrong w it...i pretty much thought that was going to be my yak ...Now, i see this bad boy and this looks to be my new yak!! Just confused on what happened to the Knarr...any help would be greatful...thanks again!!!!!
The Knarr had some issues with sagging in the deck in the first issued line. In 2023 they shipped with foam blocking underneath to give more rigidity to it. I love the Mark IV drive and many were turned off because it didn't have the same stability as a BigRig....BUT.....I like that it handles better than the BigRig. I think the $4200 price tag hurt it more than anything.
I HATE lugging my heavy OT 120 PDL in and out of the water. This kayak is only slightly heavier so it's the same. But once your on the water it makes up for that. In this perfect machine I would forget all about the hassles of transport and launch, forever.
Great video! What happens to the prop and drive under the kayak when you hit a stump or unexpected rock? Does it move up at all, maybe like the Hobie 360 XR? Thanks
Are you saying that the Hobie Mirage drive system is faster than Propel Prop drive systems? Is that just common knowledge anyway? Also,any idea what they did to take care of the water on floor problem? I really didnt get a good look at whether or not you were taking in any water from the pedal drive well. I just sold my 2022 Hobie PA12 cause I wanted a better situation for mounting a bow mount XI3 so your work here is very important for me and I really appreciate it. Did you trailer the Native to the lake on PVC bunks or pickup truck? I did see your under hull short video and was trying to decide on whether to leave my PVC bunks in that I used for my Hobie. Sorry for all the questions. Good Day
Hobies will be faster. The prop drives are more convenient for instant reverse. The deck behind the drive is sloped more toward the scupper holes for better drainage. I also feel the weight distribution is more even which may prevent a lot of that as well
Awesome video! I've been wanting to see an on the water demo, and you answered a lot of my questions. I have a slayer max 12.5. Do you think Native will make a swivel seat for it?
I don't think I could own a kayak I wasn't able to carry, for me that would be the point where I'd move to a boat since it has to be trailered either way.
I'm very much considering this as my 1st yak. For the most part, I've narrowed it down between this and the Jackson Knarr FD. I like the Knarr as it seems to offer more usable deck space in the cockpit with the thin gunnels. I wish I knew the width of the Titan X between gunnels in front of the seat, but it doesn't look far off. After watching some Knarr vids, it doesn't look like it offers as good of initial stability due to the hull design. When you say this is the most stable kayak you've been in, are you referring to both initial and secondary stability? I was also considering the Feelfree Dorado V2, but I think I just like the plug and play and removable battery box.
Yes. Both primary and secondary are superior on the Titan X. The Knarr was a good idea but the design had some flaws unfortunately. I would steer you to the Knarr before I would ever even talk about FeelFree though (just my opinion)
A LOT more 'Yak for the $$, than even the Titan 10.5 (and mine weighs around 200 # with batteries, motor, fishing gear, etc.).Thing is, do I want to keep my 10.5, or sell it to help pay for a NEW one ??? (It's taken me over 5 years to get it "Perfect for Me"). Lol... I can'[t say enough good things about the Propel Drive! Instant reverse, for when you want to back-out of a "situation", with a Big Fish on the line - and, hardly any maintenance costs! OK... I'm sold... Going to apply for a loan at the bank TODAY ! ! ! Haha!
Don't think, sell your old hull only towards the new one, bolt all your gear right onto the new one without having to drill holes or figure out how to "rig' crap up to work for you, it is already designed ready for everything you could realistically want/need. The Titan X is the ultimate fishing kayak and nothing else even comes remotely close.
Well it's not meant to paddle. I can imagine it would paddle incredibly well at this width and weight. I haven't paddled it so take my opinion for what it is lol
As for speed, i think 4.5 is a little bit exaggerating lol. maybe 3.5-3.8 punching it is decent. my slayer max 12.5 barely hitting 4 when pushing it on calm lake water.
It's as accurate as my phone app so keep that in mind. I was pushing it hard too. It was not casually pedaling. Also not something I would want to do for long period of time either
Was there standing water in the hull? does water come in around the motor when you're pedaling full speed? How does it drain etc. That has seemed to be an issue in the past just wondering if they fixed it, thanks
All kayaks do that, OT, Hobie, all of them. If you pedal to hard water seeps in around the seals between PDL and hull, this is to be expected as the PDL's need this play to be easily removeable, and the faster you go the more water sloshes, and is forced into this area under your kayak. If your worried about getting wet, in any weather, you have no business in a fishing kayak. I also use self-draining scuppers in 90% of the holes in my kayaks to keep the floor as dry as possible, you can't keep any of them completely dry.
@@riverpirate1022 I don't know of any quality kayak other than the Titan that has standing water issues, some may take on water when moving possibly, I've been in a FF for 3.5 years and never had standing water or water coming in while pedaling or motoring. Good news is I bought a TitanX and water does not come in when pedaling or motoring with the scuppers in.
It's pretty much the exact same boat just shorter, if you want less weight and length (for whatever reason) it's your perfect fishing kayak, just like the 12.5 is. Don't think, order it, you will not regret it.
They have released different versions of the Sidekick. One is for the PWR129 and RVR119. I haven't seen one specifically for the Titan X but I would expect it Valid concern
They will make ones that hold it just fine, also if your using those on any kayak your a fool. Their all weak, add weight to your kayak, they take up space on your kayak, add more crap to get hung up on, just no, hell no even. You need to be using a proper cart like the wilderness systems which is amazing, or a trailer, then put your cart back in the truck/vehicle. Built in "landing gear" has been a dumb idea since it's inception. Way too many negatives for a slight convenience that literally only saves you a walk back to your truck to put a cart away.
@@thebeardedpaddler well, you better bring a lunch! Lol! Jk. Good to know cuz I’m 5’11” 250. My old town predator works great but your not standing in it. You can but…
