Pedal Kayaks · Fishing
The Coosa FD takes Jackson’s most proven river hull, the Coosa HD, and adds the Flex Drive pedal system. The result is a hands-free fishing platform that handles rivers, lakes, and even saltwater.
My test video shows the prior-generation pedal drive. I fished the Coosa FD when it shipped with the older Flex Drive. The hull is largely the same as the boat sold today — what changed is the drive. My impression of the older drive: it wasn’t very smooth.
Current generation: the Flex Drive Mark IV. The Mark IV is smoother and a huge improvement over the older drive. Here is Jackson Kayak’s own walkthrough of the current drive:
The Coosa FD takes Jackson’s most proven river hull, the Coosa HD, and adds the Flex Drive pedal system. The result is a hands-free fishing platform that handles rivers, lakes, and even saltwater. If you fish moving water and want a drive that survives impacts, this one deserves your attention.
If you want to skip the reading and see what it costs right now, check the current price here.
Who the Coosa FD is for
This boat is for the serious kayak angler who fishes a little bit of everything. Rivers with current and submerged structure, lakes, inshore saltwater. The 12’7″ length and 35-inch width give you a stable platform that still maneuvers well in current. It is not the cheapest pedal kayak, and it is not light, so it suits anglers who already know they want a premium, do-it-all hull.
The Flex Drive Mark IV: built for impacts
The standout feature is the Flex Drive Mark IV. I tested the Coosa FD with the older-generation drive, and to be honest it wasn’t very smooth. The Mark IV is smoother and a huge improvement — the company changed the pedal drive here, not the hull. It offers forward and reverse, and the propeller articulates and retracts into the hull when you hit something. Beach it, run over a submerged log, bump a rock in a riffle, and the drive folds back instead of breaking. Flip a lever and it deploys again. For river fishing in shallow, structure-filled water, that is a huge deal.
What I really like about the Mark IV: it retracts into the hull on its own when you hit something underwater. Most other pedal drives stay securely latched down into the hull while you pedal, so they can’t give way like this. The Old Town PDL, for example, stays locked down and doesn’t auto-retract — in shallow water you have to unlatch it so it can swing up, and pedaling gets awkward because the drive moves around more when it isn’t locked in. So the Mark IV wins in that regard. The trade-off is that the Mark IV still isn’t quite as smooth to pedal as an Old Town PDL or a Native Propel drive, in my opinion.
It runs in mid position in roughly 8 inches of water depending on load, and fully retracts for paddling, beaching, or transport.
Stability and handling
At 35 inches wide on a 12’7″ hull, the Coosa FD is a confident stand-up platform. Sight fishing, fly fishing, casting in chop: it handles all of it. The rudder comes included and can be set up for left or right-hand steering. The hull carries the 450-pound capacity well, so bigger anglers and heavy gear loads do not make it feel tippy.
Seat and storage
Newer versions ship with Jackson’s Comfort Seat 5.0, a deeper, more ergonomic seat with a lower center of gravity that locks you in for long tournament days. The seat frame slides fore and aft on tracks so you can dial in your pedaling position. Storage is excellent: big front and rear hatches with heavy-duty latches, a huge rear tank well, molded-in rod tip protectors, gear tracks from bow to stern, deck pads for quiet standing, and a pass-through system for clean fish finder wiring. The stern has a four-hole bolt pattern that accepts a PowerPole or trolling motor mount, so motorizing later is straightforward.
For electronics, we recommend the new Accuphy Ping Live Mini live sonar system. It retails for $699. See it here.
For a GPS trolling motor, we recommend the AutoBoat Smart Head Kit and the new AutoBoat Meridian. Check them out here.
Honest drawbacks
Weight is the big one. The hull is 109 pounds bare, 115 with the seat, and 128.5 with the seat and upper drive fitted. This is a trailer or truck-bed boat, not a car-top solo lift. Pull the upper drive for transport and it gets easier, but plan for the weight. It is also not the fastest pedal kayak in open water. The hull is optimized for stability and maneuverability, not speed.
To haul your kayak, we recommend Malone kayak trailers. See them here.
Jackson Coosa FD specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | 12 ft 7 in |
| Width | 35 in |
| Weight (bare hull) | 109 lb |
| Weight (with seat and upper drive) | 128.5 lb |
| Capacity | 450 lb |
| Drive type | Flex Drive Mark IV pedal drive |
| Style | Sit-on-top |
| Seat | Comfort Seat 5.0 |
| Material | Rotomolded polyethylene |
Frequently asked questions
Jackson Coosa FD Fishing Kayak FAQ
Can the Flex Drive handle shallow water and impacts?
Yes. The drive articulates and retracts into the hull on impact, and runs in mid position in roughly 8 inches of water. Retract it fully for very skinny water, beaching, or transport.
How heavy is the Coosa FD for transport?
109 lb bare, 115 lb with the seat, and 128.5 lb with the seat and upper drive. Remove the upper drive and retract the lower unit before loading it.
Can I add a motor to the Coosa FD?
Yes. The stern has a four-hole bolt pattern designed to accept a PowerPole or a Torqeedo trolling motor mount with no drilling.
Is the Coosa FD good for rivers?
That is its home water. The Coosa hull line was born for rivers, and the Flex Drive’s impact-folding design is made for current, rocks, and submerged timber.
Where to Buy
If the Jackson Coosa FD Fishing Kayak sounds like your kind of boat, check the current price:
For the latest colors, specs, and warranty details, see the official Jackson website for the Jackson Coosa FD.
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