Video · Kayak Reviews
Vibe Hydra 130 First Look: A Surf and Big Water Kayak at ICAST
At ICAST 2025 I get a walkthrough of the new Vibe Hydra 130, a paddling kayak built for surf and distance that's ready for a Bixpy motor.
What’s in this video
I’m at the Vibe booth at ICAST 2025 with Harry Smith to see what’s new, and the big one is the Hydra 130. It’s a paddler’s boat for getting through the surf and doing some trolling. It has a fully integrated center hatch that pops in and out and low seating for a lower center of gravity in rough water. It’s not pedal driven.
The part I like is the gravity rudder. Pop off the end cap by taking out four screws, add the included adapter plate, and you can mount a Bixpy motor. So it’s a Bixpy-ready rudder. The one on the water had a Bixpy K1 with push-pull steering and two battery packs on the back. The battery floats and the remote is waterproof. There’s also a foot steering option, and you could rig a motor for foot control through the rudder line areas. The new surge green color is a hit.
On the water the hull picks up speed and cuts through waves well. This isn’t a boat you stand up and fish from. It’s for paddling through surf and going longer distances. The estimated price at the time was about $1,100. Vibe also showed a new 10 ft sit-inside with an aluminum frame seat, rod holders and track for $999, plus their inflatable pedal kayak. I caught a shark on one of those after running it over with my truck.
Key moments
- 0:00 Intro & 2025 Vibe Kayaks Overview
- 0:50 Vibe Hydra 130 Full Walkthrough
- 1:03 Hydra 130: Integrated Hatch & Low-Profile Seating
- 1:32 Hydra 130: Bixpy-Ready Rudder System
- 3:03 Vibe Hydra 130 Estimated Price
- 3:54 Who is the Hydra 130 For? (Paddling & Surf)
- 4:41 NEW Inflatables: Cubera Lite & Uptown Pedal Kayak
Quick takeaways
- The gravity rudder converts to a Bixpy mount by removing four screws and adding the included adapter plate.
- It's built for paddling surf and distance, not for standing and fishing.
- The estimated price at ICAST was about $1,100.
Gear from this video
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