Vibe Sea Ghost 130 review: best fishing kayak under $1000?

Sea Ghost 130 is a feature-rich well-thought-out fishing kayak from Vibe Kayaks. It recently underwent a revamp and the 2021 model has a lot of better features making it an angler’s dream. Although it comes with only two built-in rod holders, it provides four gear tracks to attach different kinds of gear.

Moreover, it has a large center console that comes with a cool magnetic base along with other impressive features.

With a wide hull and a built-in rudder, it performs seamlessly in different water conditions be it lakes or oceans. It comes at a weight capacity of whopping 550 pounds which serves even the heaviest individuals. What else makes it a beast of a kayak is its highly comfortable two-position adjustable Hero seat.

One of its key features is the multiple storage options it provides including a capacious watertight bow hatch.

Vibe Sea Ghost 130 Specifications:

Vibe Sea Ghost 130 Angler Kayak Review - Can it Walk the Talk

Along with Sea Ghost 130, Vibe Kayak also has Sea Ghost 110 in the series and that is an 11-foot kayak. They share a lot of basic features.

However, because of its volume in general 130 performs better in bigger water bodies. When it comes to the Sea Ghost series, it would leave you scratching your head if asked for any major drawback. We will be talking 130 in a lot more detail to help you make a better decision about it.

The Material of Construction - Rotomolded Polyethylene Gives Durability

Vibe Ghost 130 has rotomolded one-piece polyethylene construction. Polyethylene is the material of choice for the most affordable kayaks. It provides durability and has high impact resistance, however, polyethylene does not provide the best of finishes.

To counter this effect, Vibe Ghost uses rotomolded plastic which makes it seamless and provides uniform wall thickness.

Hull Design - Pontoon Style Multi-Hull

Sea Ghost incorporates a multi-hull hard chine which has a couple of pontoon style grooves. These pontoons are not quite prominent and give the kayak a quiet operation which is good for fishing.

It has a wider hull which gives it stability. Sea Ghost essentially uses a V hull which you can find in most sit-on-top kayaks.

Central Console - Improved and More Useful

Sea Ghost 130 in its 2021 model has a perked-up central console. It is the part of the kayak which has the bulk of the upgrades. It basically has two little hatches with dry bags in them. These hatches are extremely useful in that you can keep things you want to have easy access to.

The central console also has two different top-leading gear tracks. This enables you to mount different gear like a fishfinder.

Moreover, what makes this central console more useful is that it has a couple of flip latches. You can essentially flip these latches open and gain access inside the hatch and put your stuff in there. There is a cup/bottle holder as well and this can fit a 40-oz bottle in it.

Storage - Plenty of It

Moving on, there is an 8-inch dry hatch behind the seat. This one is easy to access while on water. This hatch also has a waterproof dry bag inside it. Moreover, there is also a subtle upgrade in this hatch. It now basically is a twist and seat hatch.

What also adds to Sea Ghost’s great storage ability is the rear storage area. This open storage area basically has a bungee system with it. It is big enough to put your backpack in it or a crate and secure it with the bungee cord.

This rear area also has a couple of scupper holes in it, so you can drain the water out. This will keep your stuff dry.

Gear Mounting - A Feature to Admire

To start off, it has four top-loading gear tracks. Out of these four, two are on each side of the kayak. You can use these gear tracks for mounting Scotty or RAM mounts. Then, you can use these mounts for holding different rods and other gadgets like a camera for recording your activity.

As discussed earlier, the central console also has a couple of gear tracks that you can use for attaching fishfinder. This kayak also has a built-in transducer port which is handy to have. This transducer port also has a protective lid beneath to protect it from any damage.

Behind the seat, there are also a couple of mount fishing rod holders. The good thing about these rod holders is that they are capped. These caps keep the water away when the rods are away and prevent them from flooding. However, usually, they do not cap up as efficiently after some use.

Sea Ghost also has a front bungee paddle park which provides fast and easy access to paddle. It also has two side paddle parks, so you can secure your paddles when fishing.

Performance - Built-in Rudder Improves Tracking

As if there were not already enough reasons for Sea Ghost to be a hit, it also has a built-in rudder. This rudder has a toe control and you can attach and remove it easily. Rudders are a real help when you are in a crosswind and improve kayak’s tracking.

In terms of stability, this kayak has a wider hull which gives it stability. Because of its hard chine hull, it handles different water conditions pretty well. If you would ask me if it is stable enough to stand, I think because of its large central console there is not enough room to stand. However, if you can negotiate that, this kayak is stable enough to stand.

When it comes to speed, Sea Ghost has good speed in windy conditions and good water currents. However, in plain waters, because of its weight, it does not have that much speed.

Seat - Comfortable for Long Fishing Days

Sea Ghost 130 features a Vibe Hero seat. It has a solid rigid frame which provides good support. Moreover, it also has a good mesh covering which keeps it cool and dries off quickly. The most notable thing about this seat is the two seating positions it provides. You can set it to a lower or a higher seating position and this serves different user preferences.

You can also fold this seat up and down. Moreover, there are also straps to adjust the stiffness you would like for the seat. Nevertheless, for easy transport, you can also remove the seat of the kayak. Besides the seat, there are two tackle tray holders. These tray holders can hold Plano 3600 tackle trays in them.

Weight Capacity - Can Accommodate A Lot of Weight

Sea Ghost comes at a weight capacity of 550 pounds. This means even if you are a heavy individual weighing 350-400 pounds, this kayak can hold you. In addition, you would still have the capacity to have some gear on board.

Portability/Transport

One disadvantage with polyethylene is that it makes the kayak relatively heavy when compared to other materials. The same is the case with Sea Ghost 130. It comes at a weight of 74 pounds which makes it heavy for a single individual to carry.

However, what makes handling it a bit easy are the four Vibe Phantom Grip carrying handles. These include two on the sides and one each at bow and stern. The 2021 model also has better handles than earlier models. They provide a softer grip and are easy to get your hands on them.

However, if you have the rudder on, it renders the stern handle almost useless.

Aesthetics - Smooth Finish/Multiple Color Options

Vibe uses rotomolded single-piece polyethylene for its kayaks. This gives the kayaks a smooth finish and uniform thickness. The smooth and seamless finish gives the kayaks an aesthetically-pleasing look.

What adds to the beauty of Sea Ghost is the different colors it comes in. The new 2021 has some cool colors including Galaxy, Hunter Camo and Orange Camo, and a couple of other choices.

Ease of Use - Serves Beginners and Pros Alike

This kayak is a gift for anybody who is in or is looking to enter fishing as a hobby. Because of its good stability and exceptional tracking, it is a suitable choice for beginners and pros alike.

Moreover, because of its size and performance on the water, this is a kayak that can tackle different water conditions. It is perfect for lakes and ponds, nevertheless is not behind in rivers and ocean surfing.

Draining - Easy to Drain

This kayak is self-bailing and easy to drain. This is because it has 10 scupper plugs onboard. However, what is also commendable is that it also comes with scupper plugs, so you do not have to buy them separately.

Accessories - Not Much to Talk About

Earlier models of Sea Ghost used to come with an Evolve Paddle. However, the newer model does not come with a paddle which is a disappointment. Nevertheless, it comes with some features which are an advantage like the built-in rudder and the scupper plugs. Usually, we do not see kayaking coming with a rudder and it can cost you around $200 extra.

Cost - Medium Range

With the recent upgrade, the 2021 model of Sea Ghost costs around $1000. Considering different price ranges for kayaks, this puts Sea Ghost in a medium range. However, weighing in how much value this kayak provides puts it a class above its competition.

FAQs About Vibe Sea Ghost 130 Kayak

Verdict:

It comes with a humungous weight capacity of 550 for a 13-foot kayak. I honestly do not know what you would have to do to overload this boat. What makes it, even more, worthy to buy is the built-in rudder system. This rudder system gives stability and good tracking to the kayak. It basically saves you the extra $200 if it did not come with the rudder.