GEARING UP
REVIEW : Native Watercraft Slayer Propel Max 10
A bang-for-your-buck masterpiece in a sweet little package
By Justin Onslow
MLF pro Jordan Lee hooked up while fishing on the Slayer Propel Max 10 . n the fishing industry – from rods and reels to tackle , boat electronics and batteries – there tends to be a pricing sweet spot . Spend too little and you ’ ll likely be buying a replacement long before you intended . Spend too much and you might be shelling out your hard-earned cash for features you don ’ t need or potentially even want .
Hits
+ Perfect price point for the functionality and features
+ Rod and tackle storage leaves nothing to be desired
+ 701 Series Propel Pedal Drive is a breeze to use
+ Electronics mounting options eliminate need for drilling lots of holes
+ Molded-in compartments , rubberized handles and upgraded latches are premium features
+ Lightweight , stable and reasonably maneuverable
Misses
– Limited in-hull dry storage
– Removing pedal drive hatch bungees can be a little cumbersome
details
Price : $ 2,499 Length : 10 ’ Width : 34.15 ” Fitted Weight : 75 pounds Capacity : 400 pounds Contact : nativewatercraft . com
That ’ s especially true in the everexpanding fishing kayak market , as more and more manufacturers seek to capitalize on the rapid growth in demand to get a piece of the market share . To be fair , most premium offerings these days are absolutely worth the money , but it ’ s still sometimes hard to find exactly what you want and need for exactly what you feel comfortable spending .
North Carolina-based kayak juggernaut Native Watercraft has been in the fishing kayak game long enough to have established itself firmly within the upper echelon of manufacturers offering an attractive blend of quality and value . With the Slayer Propel Max 10 , new for 2021 and retailing at $ 2,499 , Native may have put an arrow directly in the bullseye of the sweet spot .
I had an opportunity to put the Max 10 through its paces recently , testing the updated version of the original Slayer Propel 10 on a few different waterbody types on some of my favorite nearby fisheries . Here ’ s what I found .
PHOTO BY TREVOR SOETY
74 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2021