Vibe Hydra 130

13ft Fishing Kayak for UK Coastal Paddling

Designed for saltwater kayak fishing and equally at home on larger inland waters. With a 13ft tri-form hull providing excellent stability and a flared bow to ride up and over ocean swells the Hydra offers a great combination of speed and efficiency on the water.  Supplied with a Gravity Rudder system and stacked full of features that make it an ideal choice for anglers wanting to fish a wide variety of inshore waters. With its efficient hull the Hydra also makes a great touring kayak for days when you just want to head off exploring or even do a few nights away kayak camping.

At 13ft long the Hydra has the power to punch through chop and with the flared bow and decent amount of rocker it will ride over swells like a dream. Having a rudder is a huge advantage especially in windy or lively conditions, steering with your toes on the sliding freeflow footrests you can keep the paddle power going as you weave through the waves.  Likewise when paddling in strong estuary currents the rudder points your way leaving your arms free to power forwards. The comfort seat is located directly on the hull which keeps your centre-of-gravity low and provides a real connection to the kayak for enhanced control. The comfortable clip-in backrest lets you lean back and relax while waiting for a bite. 

The  'Bixpy-Ready' Gravity Rudder makes it easy to motorise your Hydra with a lightweight electric Bixpy K-1 Motor Kit. This is a great choice for those who want to really take their kayak fishing game to the next level! Adding a motor setup can transform your fishing experience, a lot of our customers report that they are able to fish further from base while also enjoying having their hands free for tackling up. If fishing a feature such as a reef or wreck the motor can be used to hold position against gentle currents.

There are  rear facing flush mount rod holders which are great for transporting rods to your fishing spot or can be used to troll a lure as you paddle. There are also two forward facing flush mount rod holders so you can keep an eye on your rods when fishing at anchor on a mark while leaving your hands free.  Rod tip keepers are found on the bow for keeping your rods secure when laid flat to the kayak - we recommend using these during surf launches and landings.

The Vibe Versa Console is located just in front of the eat within easy reach and features a hinged lid that accesses the tackle storage area. The lid of the console has two smaller flip-lid storage hatches, slide tracks, a cup holder and a magnetic tackle holder - great for holding lures, hooks and tools. The short tracks on the console lid are ideal for mounting a fish finder, also a handy place for a mobile holder too. The large oval bow hatch features easy-open latches and makes a great place to store a fold-up trolley such as the Railblaza C-Tug. The bow also features a paddle park for quickly stowing your paddle when you get a strike whilst trolling, and you'll also find further paddle parks either side of the kayak for paddle storage whilst drift or anchor fishing.

The rear tank well cargo storage will accommodate most of the popular kayak crate systems including YakAttack BlackPak Pro 13x13 and 13x6, Hobie H-Crate and H-Crate Jr, and the Railblaza Gear Hub. Bungee tie-downs help keep your gear in place, and the end of the rear cargo area nearest the seat back has been designed to carry 2 x Plano 3700 Waterproof Tackle Boxes.

The Hydra has been designed to be easy to accessorise so you can rig it to meet your personal needs. A  screw hatch is located at the stern end of the cargo area for internal access making it easier to install accessories such as an anchor trolley system using nut & bolt fixings. There are 6 top-loading gear tracks for easy no drill fitting of accessories from Railblaza, Ram Mounts & YakAttack. Two longer gear tracks run alongside the footwells and the the rear cargo area for adding additional rod holders, camera mounts and more. Two shorter gear tracks at the stern make a great place to track mount a Safety Flag or Visibility Kit.

There is a transducer port recessed into the hull with a protective cover. Inside you will find 2 x moulded-in M5 threaded brass inserts which are in the right position to bolt on the Lowrance and Garmin transom transducer brackets (supplied with the fish finders). The transducer recess fits the Lowrance Bullet Skimmer, Lowrance 83/200 HDI, Lowrance 50/200 HDI, Garmin GT20, Garmin GT24 and similar sized transducers. The gear tracks on the Versa Console allow you to install the fish finder screen centrally using a suitable track mounted fish finder mount. There are also 4 x M5 threaded brass inserts at the very front of the footwell for installing rectangular base mounts such as a Railblaza StarPort HD, for further accessory mounting options.

The clip-in Flex seat offers good back support, whilst the adjustable Freeflow footrests allow you to get into an efficient paddling position so that you can get the most out of each paddle stroke. Deck padding is fitted in the footwells for some added comfort underfoot. The whole deck is self-draining by means of 8 x scupper holes. Scupper bungs are supplied, although it is best to leave these out on coastal waters so the deck can drain should you take some water over the side. Fitted with Bow, Stern and Side Phantom Grip carry handles for a solid grab point when lifting the kayak. Other features include deck lines, rod leash clip points and a replaceable skid plate at the stern

The Vibe Hydra 130 is an excellent choice for first time kayak anglers heading out for a few hours on gentle waters, it is also designed to suit advanced paddlers wanting to paddle more complex waters and install a full outfitting set up for targeting a wide range of species.