You are just getting into kayak fishing so you buy a paddle kayak. Then, once you’ve explored the water close to the launch, you’re ready to push the horizons with a pedal system. After a few years of pedaling, there are still distant fishing grounds to discover, so you move up to a motorized kayak.
A few years ago, the progression from paddle to pedal to motor would require three different kayaks. With the Kaku Zulu, you can have all three propulsion systems in one unique boat.
Kaku Zulu: Motorized SUP/Kayak Hybrid Makes Waves
Kaku Zulu iGuide Specs
Length: 12’7”
Width: 35”
Weight: 85 lbs
Capacity: 500 lbs
MSRP: $3,450 USD
kakukayaks.com
Fishy Features
I am skeptical of a kayak claiming to do it all. The Zulu’s wide, flat deck and broad channeled hull resemble a standup paddleboard. The iGuide package includes a frame seat and rudder along with a MotorGuide Xi3 trolling motor usually found on a sit-on-top kayak.
The Kaku Zulu takes advantage of this versatility with eight gear tracks, four on each side, to add accessories such as rod holders, electronics and tie-downs.
It is unusual to find a sit-on-top kayak with a hatch in the bow and stern, but the Zulu has both. Not only are two hatches great for loading the boat with gear, but hatches at both ends of the boat make it easier to run wires and cables for electronics and motors.
To improve comfort for standup fishing, the deck is covered with a thick layer of closed-cell foam paddling. The padding provides a soft and slip-resistant surface for standup fishing and paddling.
Rigging
When the Zulu iGuide package arrived at the Kayak Angler office, I was ready for a rigging conundrum. Adding a motor to a hybrid SUP can’t be easy.
Fortunately, Kaku took care of the hard work and all I had to do was attach the trolling motor to the mounting platform and connect the cables to the Amped Outdoors 12-volt, 80-amp-hour lithium-iron battery. On our test boat, I stuck the battery under the seat and ran the cable down the deck. For a permanent install, run the battery cable through the hull and house the battery in a YakAttack BlackPak behind the seat.
To install the motor, I simply drop the Xi3 onto the base and insert a pin. Removal is just as easy. The propeller unit pivots down through the Zulu’s pedal well in the center of the deck. A clear cover fits over the well to keep water out of the cockpit.
To round out the rigging, I added a YakAttack Omega rod holder ahead of the seat using a LockNLoad track mount base. I use the forward rod holder when I’m unhooking a fish or rigging my rod.
To add electronics, I would mount a seven-inch multifunction display to the gear track on one side of the cockpit. Take advantage of the battery cable rigging to run the fish finder power cable to the battery compartment. The Xi3 motor includes an internally routed cable to add a fish finder transducer to the motor’s lower unit.
When I’m setting up a standup kayak, I keep rigging simple and clean. More accessories on the deck interfere with fishing. The bow and stern hatch are key to routing cables below deck.
Seat
A standup kayak is only as good as its seat. A good seat is sturdy and high off the deck making it easier for me to go from sitting to standing. The Zulu takes it further with a seat that doubles as a leaning post and casting platform.
The welded aluminum seat frame is sturdy and corrosion-resistant. Heavy padding on the seat and backrest provide all-day comfort. Space under the seat is convenient for storing tackle trays and gear bags. The base is attached to the kayak with clamps inserted into gear tracks embedded in the deck.
Best of all, the seat offers three standing positions. The wide, flat seat bottom allows me to stand a little higher off the deck.
Motor
The Zulu iGuide is powered by a MotorGuide Xi3 Saltwater trolling motor. With a 36-inch shaft and GPS control, the Xi3 has become the go-to kayak trolling motor. Fifty-five pounds of thrust is more than enough to push a kayak while the 12-volt system is easy on battery power.
For complete boat control, the Xi3 is connected to a GPS signal. With a handheld remote, I control speed and direction. I can program the motor to repeat a course. Push a button and the motor holds the kayak in one position like a virtual anchor. Or, for total hands-free control, the Xi3 is compatible with a wireless foot pedal.
The Xi3 improves all aspects of fishing from a kayak. It is easy to motor to a fishing spot. Once I’m fishing, the motor allows me to silently sneak into a fishing hole. When I find the fish, I hit the anchor button and the GPS takes over control of the motor, turning the head and spinning the prop, to hold the kayak in one position.
The center-mounted motor is efficient for traveling to the fishing ground. Once on scene, the motor is in the perfect position to maneuver the kayak into tight places. Instead of pulling the kayak, like a bow mount motor, or pushing the kayak from the stern, the Zulu’s motor in the center allows the boat to rotate around the motor.
Performance
The Zulu is 12 feet, seven inches long and 35 inches wide. At 85 pounds hull weight, the SUP is on the heavier end of the hybrid spectrum. Add the seat and the Zulu requires a trailer or truck bed to transport.
Once at the launch, I loaded the Zulu onto my full-size Suspenz Catch-All cart. The Zulu’s tunnel hull calls for a bunker bar style cart with at least 300-pound capacity.
Carting the Zulu allowed me to rig the boat before launching. Once I was in the water, I reached forward to flip the latch on the trolling motor and the unit dropped into the deck opening.
Once the motor is in the water, the Xi3 brain takes over. Pushing the forward button and increasing speed, I was zooming across the water. The motor has intuitive auto-pilot, so once I point it toward a destination the motor and GPS work together to keep me on course.
I set the speed on the remote to push the kayak without digging the bow into the water. My comfortable speed with the boat rigged lightly was five miles per hour. I always err on the conservative side of battery power, opting to take my time and save the battery for fishing.
Once I reached the fishing spot, the Zulu really shined. Using the remote control, I maneuvered the kayak across the area. Even with the lower unit hanging below the boat, only a foot deep.
My favorite tactic was standing on the Zulu seat and programming the Xi3 to slowly power drift through a hot spot. The motor controls the course and I focus on looking for fish in the shallow water.
To improve stability and maintain straight-line tracking, the Zulu uses a tunnel hull with two large tunnels and a lot of volume on the outer rails. The bow is slightly upturned and flared to rise over waves and cut through the water.
The tunnel hull supports a wide, flat deck low to the water. To land a fish, I simply slide it onboard.
As a flats fishing machine, the Zulu is a great platform. The stability and open layout provide space and confidence to sight fish in shallow water. To go super shallow, I can lift the motor and use the kayak paddle to propel the boat. The Zulu is a motorboat that paddles like a SUP.
Standing on the seat and using the leaning post added more distance to my search area. Surprisingly, a little more elevation adds a lot more visibility when I’m looking for fish and structure. Most important, I can see the fish before they see me.
Using the app on my Amped Outdoors battery, my half-day test-drive flats fishing trip didn’t drain much power. Paired with the lithium-iron battery, I have plenty of juice for all-day fishing. Also, the lithium battery is safer, lighter and more reliable than a lead acid battery.
Back at the launch, cleanup is easy. The Zulu is built tough and rigged solidly so I was able to load the boat, motor, seat and riggingPushing the limits of kayak design and performance, is this hybrid really the best of both worlds? onto my trailer for the short trip back to the office.
The convenience of a factory-designed and rigged motorized kayak can’t be understated. Everything on the Zulu fits tight and works right. The Zulu takes advantage of MotorGuide’s GPS-connected kayak motor for an efficient and capable power plant. Best of all, the Zulu is just as capable as a paddle or pedal kayak.
Where to Buy the Kaku Zulu
Zulu iGuide
- GPS Motor
- Extreme Stability
- Versatility
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The best of both worlds. | Feature photo: Patrick Hayes
