Just like FORMULA 1 or NASCAR, if one tournament kayak fishing team has an advantage other teams want it. Pedals, motors, storage space, reliability, open water capability and versatile rigging options are mandatory on the most competitive boats and Jackson Kayak’s Knarr FD Mark IV 2023 is designed for tournament victories.
Never satisfied with good enough, Jackson’s design team reworked the Knarr FD for 2023 making a couple of tweaks to an already proven winner.
After all the buzz about the new Knarr and redesigned Mark IV pedal system, I was anxious to take a test drive. Fortunately, Jackson team angler Joe Costa lives close to the Kayak Angler office and agreed to share his blinged-out Knarr for this review.
Knarr FD 2023: Long-Anticipated Masterpiece Is Worth the Wait
Jackson Knarr FD 2023 Specs
Length: 13’9”
Width: 37”
Height: 6”
Weight: 138 lbs
Capacity: 425 lbs
MSRP: $4,199 USD
jacksonkayak.com
Fishy Features
Jackson Kayak knows how to build a fishing kayak. After years of research and development, the Rock Island, Tennessee company has developed innovations now common in the kayak industry. The 2023 Knarr features three updates from the previous edition: foam blocks to reinforce the kayak deck, a new seat base and a rudder lockout mechanism.
These improvements are hardly noticeable, but they make the Knarr ready to compete with boats like the Hobie Pro Angler, Old Town Sportsman BigWater, and the new Native Watercraft Titan X.
For tournament anglers, storage and organization are primary concerns. The Knarr is focused on keeping things simple and clean. Looking over the Knarr I borrowed from Joe Costa, I was impressed with his outfitting.
Six horizontal rod holders with tip protectors, three on each side of the seat, keep rods below the gunwales and out of the way. I always thought horizontal rod holders kept my rod tips out of trees, but the Knarr’s storage capacity made a gear crate and vertical rod holders obsolete saving more space for fishing.
Unique three-sided gear tracks called TriTraks run down both gunwales and behind the seat. For more mounting options, the gear tracks allow me to add accessories to the top or either side of the gear track.
Costa installed his nine-inch Garmin fish finder on the TriTrak gear track near the forward bulkhead. To run the cables to the battery stored in the forward hatch, Costa used the YakAttack Through Hull Wiring Kit included with the boat.
The rest of his tackle and gear is under the seat. The Knarr’s rigging allows Costa to keep everything below deck and out of the way.For this short bass fishing trip in a local pond, he could leave the gear crate at home and free up the huge tankwell behind his seat.
The large stern and bow hatches have a raised lip and channels to keep out water. Open space ahead of the cockpit is molded to hold a battery and tackle boxes and it also hosts a transducer scupper.
To pass approval for offshore anglers, the Knarr has a livewell drain in the stern well. This is a small detail, but a big deal to satisfy Jackson’s objective to make a big water kayak.
Rigging
These smart and simple features mean I can rig the Knarr infinite ways for any type of fishing. To be competitive in the tournament scene, anglers are looking for a kayak that can transition from pedal to motor power.
The Knarr design includes space to mount a trolling motor on the bow and space to install an electric outboard in the stern.
The bow and stern hatches are ready for large batteries with multiple options for running wires and controls. The Knarr is pre-rigged to thread steering controls for a stern-mounted outboard.
To protect his kayak from banging into bridge pilings, Costa built a rub rail out of a garden hose and duct tape.
Tournament pros need a boat for motor or pedal-only events, and the Knarr’s versatility is great for anglers looking to grow in the sport.
EZ High-Lo Seat Slider System
Of course, the crown jewel of any full-feature fishing kayak is the seat. To fish all day, the seat must be comfortable and versatile. The wide seat has a full seat back covered with water and UV-resistant mesh.
Below the seat, Joe Costa added the Under Seat Utility Bag to hold the tackle and tools he uses most. Again, the protected storage compartment keeps his gear close at hand but out of sight.
A full-featured kayak isn’t complete without a high-low seat. The low position offers better aerodynamics and ergonomics for pedaling long distances. The high position makes fishing easier and more comfortable.
The Knarr’s new Seat Slider System is mounted on tracks in the deck. Moving the seat fore and aft requires loosening two wing nuts to allow the seat to slide smoothly.
The seat legs fit into channels in the base. With one hand, I can move the seat from high to low position and remove the seat. I can even adjust the height while I’m sitting.
FD Mark IV pedal drive
The word “sticktoitiveness” is in the dictionary and Jackson Kayak’s Flex Drive Mark IV pedal drive should be the illustration. The die-hard river anglers at Jackson are committed to creating a pedal drive with a kick-up propeller, and I think they’ve got it dialed in.
The new Flex Drive Mark IV satisfies all of Jackson’s objectives with less maintenance and better reliability. When the propeller hits the bottom, the flexible drive shaft retracts into a pocket in the bottom of the kayak. To manually retract the lower unit, pull a lever on the topside of the drive.
This feature allows the Knarr to enter shallow water without damaging the pedal drive and allows the owner to transport the boat without removing the drive. Leaving the drive in the boat between trips saves time and hassle while keeping the drive safe and secure.
Every pedal system faces the challenge of shallow water clearance. Some propeller systems require manually raising the lower unit, but the Mark IV’s automatic retraction is a no-brainer.
Another pedal system challenge is reliability. Nothing is worse than being sidelined due to a broken drive. I was only able to pedal the Mark IV for a test drive, but Joe Costa, the Knarr’s owner, has put the boat under intensive use in bass tournaments and chasing saltwater fish on open water.
Costa’s Mark IV operated smoothly in forward and reverse. The unit fit snuggly in the deck and I couldn’t detect flex in the system.
Running full speed over an underwater obstruction, the Mark IV propeller popped up as designed. I really liked the large handle on the drive that manually retracts the prop without pulling the whole drive through the deck where it takes up space in the cockpit.
Creating the Flex Drive Mark IV was an ambitious undertaking, but Jackson didn’t give up on a good idea. The result is a propeller drive with instant shallow water clearance and convenient transport.
The Mark IV is paired with a large rudder tucked under the stern. Controls on each side of the seat make it easier to turn the boat while I’m fighting a fish. When I’m using a spinning rod, my left hand is free. With a casting rod, I use my right hand to control the rudder.
For 2023, Jackson added a rudder lockout screw to hold the rudder straight. This is great when operating the Knarr with a trolling motor or an electric outboard. It also keeps the rudder straight when I’m transporting the boat. The lockout makes it easier to adjust the steering cables, too.
After pedaling the Mark IV, I realized the system is a series of little touches that make a big difference. Automatic shallow water clearance, transporting the Knarr with the Mark IV installed, locking out the rudder, clearing the prop without removing the pedal system and other details come together to make the Mark IV one of the best kayak pedal systems I’ve tested.
Who is the Knarr FD 2023 Angler?
In their lineup, Jackson has river fishing kayaks, pocket kayaks and a sit-inside model. The Knarr FD adds a big water tournament boat to the family. I’m sure their pro team is stoked to have a competitive boat for pedal and motor tournaments.
But the Knarr isn’t just for tournament anglers. Anyone looking for a full-feature, high-performance kayak should consider the Knarr. The open cockpit makes the boat adaptable to offshore saltwater fishing, inshore, backwater, big lake, swamp or river fishing.
The high gunwales and rounded chine allow the Knarr to roll over waves and through current. Powered by the Mark IV pedal system, the boat is ready to push any angler’s limits. Add a motor and exceed those limits.
Transporting this big boat requires a heavy-duty kayak cart and either a trailer or truck bed extender. Leaving the Mark IV drive in the boat really saves time and effort, but it makes the boat really heavy.
When Jackson designed the Knarr, they jumped into the full-feature, full-size kayak competition with both feet. Pedaling the Knarr on a test drive, the clean rigging and simple operation made the boat feel very manageable. Whether I was standing and fishing or pedaling to the next spot, the Knarr gave me confidence to focus on having fun and it has since made our list of the best fishing kayaks available.
Where to Buy
Knarr FD
- Features our new Mark IV Flex Drive System
- Updated/upgraded steering controls
- JK Multibox can be placed in multiple locations
- Tall gunnels provide protected storage for rods & gear
- TriTrak for nearly unlimited rigging solutions
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Big water or backwater, shallow draft and high gunwales go anywhere. | Feature photo: Patrick “Buzz” Hayes
