Video · Kayak Reviews
Apex Tyr: Looking at the Most Expensive Fishing Kayak in the World
I look at the Apex Tyr, a carbon fiber fishing kayak that was the highest priced one on the market, and what I like about it.
What’s in this video
This is the Apex Tyr from Apex Watercraft, Eric Jackson’s project, and at the time it was the highest priced fishing kayak on the market. The Kickstarter price was $7,999 with an MSRP of $10,999 at the time. The footage here is Apex’s promo video, and then I talk through what I like.
First is the piercing bow. I had a Windrider trimaran with that same bow, and instead of riding over waves you cut right through them. Smooth ride. Second, no scuppers. I’ve always liked scuppers, but I agree with Eric that they create drag, so they built a self bailing deck instead. I also like the carbon fiber seat. No fabric to wear out, and carbon fiber is insanely durable.
The design is clean. No bungees, no extra hardware. Magnets are built into the deck so your lures and pliers stick, and there’s a dip in the hull where the paddle rests. That makes it easy to rinse off and keep clean, which fly anglers will love. At near 40 pounds you can carry it with your rods in the other hand, no cart needed. This is not the kayak for the guy hauling the kitchen sink. It’s for the angler who wants to portage into the backcountry and get where nobody else can. Yes, it’s expensive. I probably can’t afford one either. But I think they did what they set out to do.
Key moments
- 0:00 Introduction
- 2:56 Hull and performance
- 5:24 Durable seating
- 5:53 Design and features
- 7:01 Use cases and conclusion
Quick takeaways
- The piercing bow cuts through waves instead of riding over them, which makes for a smoother ride.
- There are no scuppers. A self bailing deck cuts the drag that scuppers add.
- At near 40 pounds it can be carried without a cart, which suits portaging into the backcountry.
- There are no bungees or extra hardware. Built-in magnets hold lures and pliers, and the paddle rests in a dip in the hull.
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