Brands · Old Town

Old Town Kayaks: Every Model Compared

Paddle, PDL pedal, ePDL+ pedal assist or a Minn Kota motor built in. Here is how the Old Town lineup fits together, with my videos, my reviews and the specs side by side.

Why Old Town matters to me

Old Town is where my kayak story started. My first kayak was an Old Town Vapor 10, a little 10 foot sit-inside that was a fishing machine, and my second was an Old Town Twin Otter, a 14 foot tandem. Those two boats got me hooked on kayaking and on modding boats, which is basically how KayakDIY happened.

Since then I have walked the Old Town booth at ICAST more than once. In 2016 Randy from Old Town showed me the new Predator PDL and the Predator MK with its Minn Kota drive. In 2018 I checked out the Topwater PDL. In 2023 I got on the water in the BigWater ePDL+ 132. In 2025 I tested the Sonata 106 MK as both a party boat and a fishing boat, and took the Malibu Pedal T out with my family, fishing gear and our dog.

Some quick background: Old Town started building canoes in Old Town, Maine, back in 1898, and has been part of Johnson Outdoors since 2004. Johnson Outdoors also owns Minn Kota, which is why Old Town is the brand with factory-installed Minn Kota motors and Spot-Lock on a kayak.

How to read this page: I have tested some of these boats on the water and seen others at shows. The rest I cover from Old Town’s specs in my reviews. The video list below shows exactly which is which. Specs are as listed in each review, so weights are marked hull, rigged or assembled.

Which Old Town is right for you?

  • Tight budget or you like to paddle: a Sportsman paddle kayak. Add a motor later if you want.
  • Want your hands free to fish: a PDL pedal kayak. The 106 boats are lighter and easier to load and store. The 120 and 132 boats carry more.
  • Long runs or tired legs: ePDL+. It feels like a normal PDL until you turn the assist up.
  • Want to hold on a spot: the Sportsman AutoPilot with Minn Kota Spot-Lock.
  • Two people or family: the Malibu Pedal T tandem.

Paddle kayaks

The simplest and lightest way into an Old Town. Most of the Sportsman paddle boats are motor-ready, so you can add power later.

Model Length Width Weight Capacity Links
Sportsman 106 10 ft 6 in 34.5 in 73 lb hull 440 lb Review · Product page
Sportsman 120 12 ft 33.5 in 85 lb assembled 500 lb Review · Product page
Sportsman 120 PRO 12 ft 36 in 102 lb assembled 540 lb Review · Product page
Sportsman BigWater 132 13 ft 2 in 34 in 86 lb 425 lb Review · Product page
Loon 106 Angler (sit-inside) 10 ft 6 in 31 in 54 lb 325 lb Review · Product page
Loon 126 Angler (sit-inside) 12 ft 6 in 31 in 60 lb 450 lb Review · Product page

PDL pedal kayaks

The PDL drive is a propeller pedal drive with forward and reverse. This is where most Old Town fishing kayaks sit today.

Model Length Width Weight Capacity Links
Sportsman PDL 106 10 ft 6 in 36 in 95 lb hull + 18.5 lb drive 450 lb Review · Product page
Topwater 106 PDL 10 ft 6 in 36 in 95 lb rigged 450 lb Review · Product page
Sportsman PDL 120 12 ft 36 in 116 lb assembled 500 lb Review · Product page
Topwater 120 PDL 12 ft 36 in 116 lb assembled 500 lb Review · Product page
Sportsman PDL 120 PRO 12 ft 36 in 131 lb assembled 565 lb Review · Product page
Malibu PDL 12 ft 34.5 in 105 lb assembled 450 lb Review · Product page
Sportsman BigWater PDL 132 13 ft 2 in 36 in 122 lb assembled 500 lb Review · Product page

ePDL+ electric pedal-assist kayaks

Same idea as the PDL drive, but with a motor that helps you pedal, like an e-bike. I tested one on the water (video below).

Model Length Width Weight Capacity Links
Malibu ePDL+ 120 12 ft 34.5 in 126 lb assembled 349 lb Review · Product page
Sportsman ePDL+ 120 PRO 12 ft 36 in 153 lb assembled 561 lb Review · Product page
Sportsman BigWater ePDL+ 132 13 ft 2 in 36 in 143 lb assembled 500 lb Review · Product page

What I found on the water: the ePDL+ works like an e-bike. Level zero feels just like the standard PDL drive. Levels one to three are trolling speeds, and four and five are for getting somewhere. On level five I barely moved my legs and still had a wake behind me. It has cruise control, pedaling backwards drops the assist like a brake, and if the battery dies you can still pedal it like a normal PDL kayak. Watch my BigWater ePDL+ 132 test.

Minn Kota motorized kayaks

Old Town and Minn Kota are both owned by Johnson Outdoors, so these boats come with the motor built in from the factory.

Model Length Width Weight Capacity Links
Sportsman 106 Powered by Minn Kota 10 ft 6 in 37 in 121 lb assembled 525 lb Review · Product page
Sonata 106 MK 10 ft 6 in 37 in 123 lb assembled 638 lb Review · Product page
Sportsman AutoPilot 120 12 ft 37 in 152 lb assembled 558 lb Review · Product page
Sportsman AutoPilot 136 13 ft 6 in 37 in 158 lb assembled 660 lb Review · Product page

The AutoPilot models are the ones with Spot-Lock and the i-Pilot remote, so the boat holds its position while you fish. If you want that same feature on a kayak you already own, I compare the options in my GPS trolling motor guide.

More Old Town kayaks

Old Town Malibu Pedal T (tandem)Old Town Malibu Pedal T (tandem)Old Town Predator/BigWater PDL 132Old Town Predator/BigWater PDL 132Old Town Predator/BigWater 132Old Town Predator/BigWater 132Old Town Loon 120 RecreationalOld Town Loon 120 RecreationalOld Town Loon 126 RecreationalOld Town Loon 126 Recreational

Read my Malibu Pedal T review for the tandem. For more pedal boats from every brand, see my best pedal kayaks guide.

My Old Town videos

mqdefaultOld Town BigWater ePDL+ 132: Pedal Assist On-Water TestICAST 2023, on the watermqdefaultOld Town Sonata 106 MK: Minn Kota Motor and Built-in Speakers2025 testmqdefaultOld Town Malibu Pedal T: Family, Fishing and the Dog2025 family and fishing testmqdefaultOld Town Topwater PDL: 10 ft 6 in Pedal Kayak First LookICAST 2018mqdefaultOld Town Predator PDL: ICAST 2016 First LookICAST 2016 walkaroundmqdefaultOld Town Predator MK: Minn Kota Motorized KayakICAST 2016 walkaroundmqdefaultMy First Kayaks: Old Town Vapor 10 and Twin Otter2013, where it all started

Old Town parts, upgrades and gear

Replacement parts, seats, PFDs and add-ons for Old Town kayaks. Handy if you are rigging or repairing a PDL boat.

Old Town Solitude II Womens Life JacketOld Town Solitude II Womens Life JacketOld Town Topwater/Sportsman PDL Drive Insert PlateOld Town Topwater/Sportsman PDL Drive Insert PlateBerleyPro Titan Tracks To Suit Old TownBerleyPro Titan Tracks To Suit Old TownBoonedox Old Town RudderBoonedox Old Town RudderOld Town Folding Anchor KitOld Town Folding Anchor KitOld Town Wingnut Kit for OT Pedal KayaksOld Town Wingnut Kit for OT Pedal KayaksOld Town Kill Switch Key & LanyardOld Town Kill Switch Key & LanyardOld Town PDL Control KnobOld Town PDL Control KnobOld Town Lock Knob Replacement KitOld Town Lock Knob Replacement KitOld Town Thru-Hull Wiring KitOld Town Thru-Hull Wiring KitOld Town Replacement Prop Pins (5 Pack)Old Town Replacement Prop Pins (5 Pack)Old Town Sportsman PDL SeatOld Town Sportsman PDL SeatOld Town Lure Angler PFDOld Town Lure Angler PFDOld Town Lure II Angler PFDOld Town Lure II Angler PFDOld Town Short Scupper ValvesOld Town Short Scupper ValvesOld Town Carlisle Magic Angler PaddleOld Town Carlisle Magic Angler PaddleOld Town ePDL+ Retrofit KitOld Town ePDL+ Retrofit Kit

Rigging an Old Town? My fishing kayak accessories guide covers the gear I actually use.

Old Town FAQ

What is the difference between Old Town PDL and ePDL+?

PDL is Old Town's propeller pedal drive with forward and reverse. ePDL+ adds an electric motor that assists your pedaling at five levels, with cruise control. Level zero feels like a normal PDL, and you can still pedal if the battery runs out.

Which Old Town kayaks have Spot-Lock?

The Sportsman AutoPilot 120 and AutoPilot 136. They use a built-in Minn Kota 45 lb thrust motor with Spot-Lock and an i-Pilot remote.

What is the lightest Old Town fishing kayak?

Of the boats on this page, the Loon 106 Angler at 54 lb. It is a sit-inside. The lightest sit-on-top is the Sportsman 106 at 73 lb for the hull.

Who makes Old Town kayaks?

Old Town has built boats in Old Town, Maine, since 1898. It is owned by Johnson Outdoors, the same company that owns Minn Kota.

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