Vibe Skipjack 90 is a sit-on-top fishing kayak. You may have some personal preferences, but essentially it comes with all the necessary accessories you need to take your kayak straight to water.
At 9′ length, it gives great maneuverability and it has a keel which runs the whole length of the hull and gives better tracking than it is expected from a small kayak.
It comes with an adjustable seat which is not the most comfortable ones around, but if you are new to kayaking and fish in smaller bodies of water, Vibe Skipjack 90 is really an affordable choice to go for.
Table of Contents
- Vibe Skipjack 90 Kayak Review - Why it is an amazing bargain?
- Stability - Stable in most conditions
- Tracking - Better for a small kayak
- Construction - Compact Enough to Last a Few Years
- Capacity/Storage - Capacious for a 9-foot kayak
- Speed - Can’t really bet on that
- Intended use and Skill Level - Best for New Anglers and Calm Waters
- Seating - Comfortable but could have been better
- Ease of Use - Better than you can expect
- Transport - No Hassle
- Cost - Quite Affordable
- Verdict:
Length | 9'/275 cm |
Width | 32"/81 cm |
Weight | 46 lbs/21 kg |
Manufacturer’s Weight Capacity | 300 lbs/136 kg |
Type | Sit on top |
Rod Holder | 4 |
Material | Rotomolded single-piece high-density polyethylene |
- Excellent price point
- Easily maneuverable
- Very stable kayak
- Spacious rear cargo storage area with bungee tie-down system
- Six scupper holes with plugs, so no need to buy them separately
- Comes with Vibe Journey paddle
- Four capped flush-mounted rod holders
- Great for calm and smaller water bodies
- Two sealed 8″ hatches for extra cargo and tackle storage
- Four carrying handles
- Places molded for outriggers/stabilizers
- Mounting point for Scotty, RAM, Vibe or Railblaza
- Not good for speed kayaking
- The seat is not very comfortable
- Limited mounting points
- Not suitable for a heavy current of water or windy conditions
Vibe Skipjack 90 Kayak Review - Why it is an amazing bargain?
It has really become a task to pick up a suitable fishing kayak for one’s needs with the many different companies filling up the market. Vibe Skipjack 90 comes across as a very affordable fishing kayak option, but with such price tags we do start to wonder about the quality of the product, but don't worry we are here to provide you with a detailed Vibe Skipjack 90 review.
Stability - Stable in most conditions
Stability is a feature you really need to consider whenever looking for a fishing kayak because you never know what kind of day you are going to have while fishing.
It is really hard to tip this kayak over. You would have to really try to or have some serious waters to flip this kayak. Additionally, it has really pronounced edges on the sides which add to its stability.
Tracking - Better for a small kayak
First concern anybody can have about a small kayak is its ability to track well, but surprisingly Skipjack 90 tracks well for a 9-foot kayak. Its stability is probably because it has a keel which runs the whole length of the hull which really gives better than expected tracking.
Construction - Compact Enough to Last a Few Years
It is made up of rotomolded one-piece high-density polyethylene which makes it abrasion and impact resistant. With this price tag, I am really amazed at the quality of material used in this kayak. It is really a compact and sturdy piece of material.
Capacity/Storage - Capacious for a 9-foot kayak
Another cool feature to really admire about this kayak is that it has quite spacious cargo storage space at the back of the seat. It comes with bungee tie-down system to make your belongings safe and secure.
It also has two 8-inch sealed hatches, one in the bow and the second one in between your legs to keep the things which you need close to hand.
These hatches also come with bags inside them to keep your things from falling into the hull. The seat has a rear bag with it, which allows you to keep your stuff like a cell phone and a bag of chips. It comes with a weight capacity of 135 kilos/300 lbs.
Speed - Can’t really bet on that
Intended use and Skill Level - Best for New Anglers and Calm Waters
Skipjack is a sit-on-top type of kayak which is really made for fishing. If you kayak in flat lakes, slow rivers and coastal waters with light waves where you need a lot of maneuvering, you can go for this little beast hands down.
At 9 foot, it gives extra maneuverability allowing you to reach tighter fishing points that the bigger kayaks just can’t reach.
On the other hand, if you are into speed kayaking or fish in large bodies of water then we would recommend you go for something which provides better tracking.
Seating - Comfortable but could have been better
Skipjack 90 comes with its Deluxe seat which is a non-framed cushion which is a clip-in-style seat. In these types of chairs, you typically have straps on the back and straps on the side. The forward straps provide tension on your back and the straps on the back prevent the seat from sliding out from underneath you.
One thing I like about the Skipjack’s seat is that it comes with a rear bag which you can use to keep your items onboard.
Ease of Use - Better than you can expect
Vibe Skipjack comes with a lot of stuff that you normally have to buy separately. It comes with four capped rod holders which are really nice for a small kayak.
To keep your beverage at arm’s reach, there’s a molded-in cup holder in the center. For extra paddling comfort, there are molded footrests, so you can stabilize yourself no matter what length your legs are. It comes with a mounting point which is compatible with Scotty, RAM, Vibe or Railblaza. Skipjack 90 take user-friendliness to a whole new level by providing molded spots for outriggers/stabilizers which are really handy for stabilizing the kayak if you are in gusty winds or are new kayaking.
Transport - No Hassle
Another feature I really admire about this kayak is that it comes with four handles to make its carrying so easy that even your kids can help you with its transport. The bow and stern have one handle each and there is one handle on each side which makes the transport really easy.
At a length of 9’, it can easily fit into backs of most SUVs and the roofs of small trucks and with an off-the-shelf weight of 46 pounds, you don't really need a kayak trolley for its transportation.
Cost - Quite Affordable
This is a great kayak for the price. It comes with everything you need to go into the water. It has better construction than you are going to get in kayaks of a similar price range.
They can really nudge the price a couple of hundred bucks up and I would not really mind with the features and user-friendliness that this little masterpiece provides.
Verdict:
If you are new in kayaking or fishing in smaller and calmer water bodies, it would be hard to go around this little beast of a kayak.
It is a relatively steady kayak with a comfortable seat and has the ability to track better than you would expect from a small kayak.
Moreover, it is easily maneuverable and its four handles make its transportation to and from the waters very easy. Its central mounting point gives the ability to mount different fishing accessories without digging a hole.
On the other hand, if you are into speed kayaking or fish in large bodies of waters, this may not be the best of choices. At 46 pounds, it is a relatively lightweight, so we don't expect it to hold as well in heavy currents or a strong flip.
A better seat would have made it more comfortable. The weight capacity at 300 pounds including all of your fishing gears can be a huge put off if you are a heavy man.
Overall, Skipjack 90 provides a really cost-effective fishing kayak option which provides high maneuverability, control, and stability. Lack of speed is really the only negative we can point.
While it’s not-so-comfortable seat can be changed with other compatible seats, lack speed is something you expect when you are going with a small kayak, don’t you?
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Stability
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Tracking
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Construction
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Storage
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Speed
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Seating
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Ease of Use
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Transport
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Cost
Great review. Confirms my selection: I pick mine up tomorrow,