Abe Lincoln said, “You can’t please all of the people all of the time,” but Vibe Kayaks wasn’t listening. The new Makana 10 is Vibe’s effort to please anglers who want a light and portable kayak and satisfy anglers who want a stable kayak with a ton of capacity and a pedal system. Is Vibe calling Honest Abe a liar?
Vibe Makana 100: Little Pedal Boat with Big Possibilities
Vibe Makana 100
X-Drive SpecsLength: 10’
Width: 33”
Weight: 77 lbs
Capacity: 400 lbs
MSRP: $1,599 USD
vibekayaks.com
Fishy Features
At 10 feet long and 33 inches wide, the Makana fits into the pocket kayak category. The little boat also has a 400-pound capacity with ample storage and rigging options for serious fishing. The combination makes the Makana both convenient and capable.
To keep serious anglers happy, Vibe outfitted the Makana 100 with gear tracks in the right places for rod holders, electronics and accessories.
The biggest limitation of a small fishing kayak is limited storage. The Vibe Makana maximizes space with large storage wells in the bow and stern.
The stern well is large enough to fit a 13- by 13-inch storage crate or cooler. Bungees with plastic clips secure the load. The bow well has a cover with a strap to hold my paddle blade. An eight-inch hatch in the bow well provides protected storage and access inside the hull.
Flush mount rod holders behind the seat are standard on fishing kayaks. The Makana also has molded space next to the seat for small tackle trays. And, space under the seat to hold larger tackle trays.
Rigging & Outfitting
Vibe is one of the most experienced mail-order kayak companies. A few days after I put in my order, the Makana arrived to my house.
To complete the rigging, I simply installed the pedals into the fin drive and adjusted the pedal arms to fit my legs. Then, I inserted the rudder shaft in the bracket on the stern, secured two steering cables to the control dial and I was ready to go.
To rig the Makana with a full array of electronics, the boat is outfitted with gear tracks on either side of the cockpit. A port in the bottom of a cup holder on the starboard side allows me to run the transducer cable to the protected transducer cavity on the bottom of the boat.
The stern is prerigged for dual Power-Pole Micro anchors. I’m sure I could rig a trolling motor to the bow and run the cables through the bow hatch, but over-rigging the Makana would defeat the purpose of a pocket kayak.
X-Drive Fin Drive
The Makana is available with a fin drive or propeller drive. I chose the X-Drive fin drive because it is lighter and smaller, which I appreciate in a small, light kayak. The propeller drive, on the other hand, offers the ability to pedal in reverse. Since I use the pedal drive to reach the fishing area and then switch to paddle while I’m fishing, the compact X-Drive provides more space for standup fishing.
Based on the original Hobie MirageDrive, the Vibe X-Drive retains the best features of the legendary fin drive. The X-Drive is light, tough and efficient. The simple design makes it easy to clean and maintain. Sure, the X-Drive is not as fast or powerful as later versions of the Hobie drive, but it’s also not as expensive.
One thing I like about the fin drive is adjusting the fit. Instead of sliding the seat forward to adjust the pedal length, I move the pedal arms forward or back. This allows the seat to stay in the boat’s center of gravity for the best balance and performance.
High-Low Frame Seat
To improve pedaling and paddling performance, the Makana has a high-low frame seat.
In the low setting, the front of the seat bottom is elevated to provide a more efficient and comfortable pedaling or paddling position. The high position is better for fishing and makes it easier to stand up in the boat.
Take the Hero Seat to the next level by adding the Summit Perch standing platform to the seat back. To stand in a higher position, fold the seat back down and stand on the platform.
On-Water Performance
The key to the Makana’s performance is a modified catamaran hull with outer pontoons separated by two channels and a narrow center keel. This design pushes the volume to the outside of the hull for stability while the channels and keel keep the boat traveling straight.
The X-Drive confidently propels the little Makana in almost any weather conditions. Matched to the rudder and a simple, low-profile steering dial next to the seat, controlling the boat is second nature.
While I was fishing, I switched to my kayak paddle to maneuver the Makana into structure. The 10-foot waterline is an advantage when maneuvering through shallow, vegitation-choked water or working around pilings and rocks.
To enter shallow water, I retract the fin drive by simply pushing one pedal arm forward and flattening the fins against the hull.
The big advantage to a little kayak comes on land. Dragging a 55-pound kayak around the yard and loading it in the back of my pickup truck or onto the roof rack of the family station wagon was a breeze.
Who Is the Makana Owner?
The Makana’s convenience makes it perfect for a serious angler who wants a versatile fishing kayak. The little boat houses the most important fishing features and brags about generous storage options. Rigging with electronics and fishing accessories is easy, or leave the boat with minimalist outfitting to take advantage of its easy-to-own size and weight.
Even with these great features, the Makana’s biggest appeal is the price tag. The pedal kayak costs about $1,000 less than most of its competitors. The Makana looks cool and is well built, but there are a few sacrifices to save some money: the retro pedal system, the rudder is rudimentary and a little underpowered, and the little latches that secure the seat could use some beefing up. But these nitpicks don’t detract from the Makana’s overall value.
Where to Buy the Vibe Makana 100
Makana 100
- Lightweight and easy to maneuver on and off the water
- Best in class stability w/ optional summit perch for added standing height
- Fits into Vibes current pedal drive eco-system
- 8 inch deck-plate storage hatch
- Accessory Tracks
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Elevated, high-low seat, pedal drive, rudder—the only thing missing is the big price tag. | Feature photo: Patrick Hayes
