LIP GRIPPER
COMBINES FISH-PROVEN FEATURES WITH
REVOLUTIONARY NEW DESIGN IDEAS. PHOTO: COURTESY OF
WWW.JASONARNOLDPHOTO.COM
OLD TOWN’S NEW PREDATOR 13
Old Town Predator 13 » SPECS Length Width
Seat Height Leg Length
Max Capacity Weight MSRP
13’2” 33.5” 15” 48”
400–425 lbs 72 lbs
$1,299
Old Town Predator MX » SPECS Length Width
Seat Height Leg Length
Max Capacity Weight MSRP
12’ 34” 15” 48”
375–400 lbs 68 lbs
$1,199
[S P LAS H]
PREDATOR EXPOSED A
OLD TOWN’S NEW FISHING KAYAK DRAWS A CROWD BY RIC BURNLEY
s soon as I rolled up to the launch ramp I heard someone yell, “Hey, that’s the new Predator 13 kayak!” Kayak Angler magazine received Old Town’s latest kayak fishing ma-
chine weeks before it was available to the public. I was trying to sneak the Predator down to the water for an exclusive and secret test drive. The Internet, however, was already buzzing about the revolutionary new design, and it wasn’t long before curious anglers were poking and prodding the boat and lining up to take her for a spin. So much for fishing. Once I finally paddled away from the launch, my reaction echoed the
curious crowd’s collective, “Wow.” The Predator 13 combines fish-tested features with some truly innovative new ideas. With a low, open deck that extends from stern to stem, the Predator 13 fits in the hybrid canoe/kayak family of fishing kayaks. The deck is a textured pattern to drain water and keep gear in its place. No doubt it also adds to rigidity and traction. I love Old Town’s one-way scupper plugs that drain water without letting it back in. In the center of the deck, a Rod Pod hatch provides access to inside the hull. I stuck a Scotty rod holder in one of the pre-rigged mounts on the Rod Pod hatch cover, used the bungees in the stern to lash down my YakAttack BlackPak and I was ready to fish in less than five minutes. The Predator is outfitted with a super comfy lawn chair-style seat that
40 …KAYAK ANGLER SUMMER/FALL 2013
can be raised for fishing, lowered for paddling, or folded out of the way for standing and sight casting. By leaning forward and pulling up on the seat, I was able to change settings without getting out of the kayak. In the raised position, the seat provided a better view of the water. With the seat above my feet, it was easy on my legs and back, like driving in a pick-up truck compared to a Corvette. Paddle holders, horizontal rod storage and gear cubbies are molded into the extra-high gunwales. Removable and replaceable mounting plates along each side of the cockpit allow accessories to be attached without drilling into the hull itself. The bow features two rubber flaps that protect rod tips or cradle the paddle blade. There is also a large hatch with Old Town’s Click Seal clo- sure system found on their touring kayaks. I found it easy to access and open while on the water, not to mention bone dry. I was impressed with the Predator as much below the waterline as above. Old Town used a tri-hull design to find a balance of efficiency, excellent
tracking and rock-solid stability. The flared bow cuts through the waves and the pointed stern efficiently releases the water. This design is best suited, and probably intended, for calm, sheltered waters but I paddled out into the ocean. A 15-knot headwind proved the Predator can take as much of Mother Nature as me.
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