In this Perception Crank 10 review, I\u2019ll tell you what I like about this inexpensive boat, and what could be improved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[Spoiler Alert<\/strong>: If you like customizing your boat, then the Perception Crank 10.0 is a great cheap pedal kayak. It lacks a few fishing features, but it has good comfort, speed, and maneuverability \u2212 and you can actually stand in it. At this price point, I think it\u2019s hard to beat]<\/p>\n\n\n\n I know getting your first pedal kayak is very exciting, but there are a few things you should know first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First of all, pedal kayaks can be quite expensive<\/strong>. The Perception Crank 10\u202fis on the low end of the spectrum, but prices can go all the way up to $5000\u202f<\/strong>for an ultra-premium Hobie kayak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Obviously, this means that you\u2019ll get much fewer features<\/strong> on the Perception Crank than you would on a similarly-priced paddle kayak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You also have to consider where you\u2019ll be fishing<\/strong>. For narrow rivers and calm lakes, the Crank fits the bill. But if you need a pedal kayak for the open ocean or class 3 rivers, then you\u2019ll have to look elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, please always keep your kayak out of the sun<\/strong>. UV rays can warp the hull over time, and this isn\u2019t covered by the warranty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like most pedal kayaks, the Perception Crank 10.0 is made of polyethylene<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This makes it almost indestructible<\/strong>. Even if you hit rocks, submerged tree branches, or another boat, the hull won\u2019t have a dent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because it\u2019s so short at 10\u202fft long, the Perception Crank 10\u202fwon\u2019t break any speed records<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That said, I find I can still go at a decent 2.5 mph<\/strong> on calm days, which isn\u2019t too shabby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s definitely not as fast as my Sportsman 106, but it\u2019s cheaper so that\u2019s to be expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In shallow water, I\u2019ve found the Crank 10 to be very easy to paddle<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the way, during your first time on the water, the pedal drive may be quite noisy<\/strong>. Just give it a few hours and it\u2019ll be silent<\/strong> \u2212 it just needs time to break in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that\u2019s where the Perception Crank 10.0 really shines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being so short means you can turn on a dime<\/strong>, with or without the rudder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For narrow rivers <\/strong>or to avoid obstacles, the Crank 10\u202fis great.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, I\u2019m not a fan of the rudder control<\/strong>. I don\u2019t find it very easy to steer because of how they made it \u2212 a little wheel instead of a handle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, make sure to check the rudder cables every month<\/strong> or so because they tend to loosen up on their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a cheap kayak, I\u2019ve found the seat on the Perception Crank 10 to be surprisingly comfortable<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can easily adjust the seatback while on the water<\/strong> thanks to the straps on each side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, the seat can be adjusted back and forth<\/strong> by unscrewing and screwing a little knob so that you can be in a good pedaling position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I can sit comfortably in my Perception Crank 10\u202ffor a long day<\/strong> without any issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, I will say that the seat isn\u2019t as high-end <\/strong>as on the Sportsman 106. It\u2019s quite thin and you can definitely see the quality difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, for big and tall guys I wouldn\u2019t recommend this boat<\/strong>. If you\u2019re over 220\u202flb and 6\u201d tall, you might consider the Sportsman 120\u202fPDL<\/a> instead (but it will cost you more).<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve found the Perception Crank 10 to be very stable<\/strong> for a cheap pedal kayak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experienced paddlers <\/strong>will be able to stand and cast <\/strong>without feeling unstable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, for beginners or big guys<\/strong>, it will definitely feel tippy<\/strong> while standing. I\u2019d recommend you go at your own pace and try to find your balance before actually standing and catching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regarding tracking<\/strong>, the included rudder <\/strong>helps a lot. You won\u2019t have any problem going straight as long as you\u2019re not on the open ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can deploy and fold the rudder from two little straps on the right side, which I find very easy to use (easier than the traditional bungee cords of cheap kayaks).<\/p>\n\n\n\n As mentioned before, the Perception Crank 10.0 is a very sturdy <\/strong>boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hull is covered by a 5-year warranty<\/strong>, while the pedal drive is only covered for 1 year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Compared to Old Town\u2019s lifetime hull warranty and 5-year pedal drive warranty, that\u2019s definitely not amazing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, I haven\u2019t heard any complaints<\/strong> about this new boat, but I know Pelican pedal kayaks used to have problems in the past<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regarding transportability, I\u2019m both very pleased <\/strong>and quite disappointed <\/strong>with the Crank 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First of all, the fact it\u2019s so short means it can easily fit in the bed of a pickup truck<\/strong>. You won\u2019t need to buy a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, it\u2019s very easy <\/strong>for one person to carry<\/strong> it to and from the water \u2212 even for small women. The bow and stern handles are sturdy enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, I think it\u2019s a pity the pedal drive can\u2019t be removed easily<\/strong> like on Old Town\u2019s pedal kayaks. This would have helped take 10 pounds <\/strong>off the boat and made it even easier to carry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To give you an idea of what I mean, the Sportsman 106\u202fPDL\u202fwhich is a high-end pedal kayak<\/a> weighs 106\u202flb with the pedal drive, but just 87 lb \u2212 same as the Crank 10 \u2212 without.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This means that although the Perception Crank 10\u202fis technically the lightest pedal kayak, in practice it won\u2019t make a difference when carrying it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Perception Crank 10 is a pretty bare-bones<\/strong> kayak. As such, it doesn\u2019t offer much in the way of extra features or accessories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It does have a paddle holder <\/strong>on the left side of the boat, secured with a bungee cord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As mentioned before, it has a built-in rudder. There\u2019s hull access in the back to do some maintenance on your rudder system if need be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apart from that, the storage space on this pedal kayak isn\u2019t amazing as expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s a very small tankwell storage area<\/strong> in the front and a bigger one in the back where you can fit a standard milk crate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, there\u2019s no dry hatch<\/strong> anywhere on the boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The pedal drive can lift up<\/strong> and sit in the hull when in shallow water. However, the prop is hard to reach<\/strong> in case you need to clean weeds. So I much prefer Old Town\u2019s removable pedal drives for skinny water and vegetation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, because of how it\u2019s made I\u202fthink you\u2019d break the pedal drive in case of a collision. Again, that wouldn\u2019t happen on an Old Town boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, because of its very low price the Perception Crank 10\u202fdoesn\u2019t have very good fishability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since Perception views this boat as a recreational kayak, it has almost no fishing features. There are no gear tracks<\/strong> and no flush-mounted rod holders<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s worse, there isn\u2019t even an indentation to easily install gear tracks or rod holders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, it does have a universal transducer mount <\/strong>at the front \u2212 so that\u2019s something at least.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a very bare-bones fishing platform, so I would only consider it if you like customizing the boat to your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That said, considering it has pretty good stability and maneuverability, then this is a pretty good fishing kayak once you\u2019ve customized it<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, it\u2019s worth noting that despite being inexpensive, the Crank 10\u202fdoes have instant reverse<\/strong>. This is a great feature that most cheap pedal kayaks don\u2019t have, and is really important when fishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, I\u2019d say the Perception Crank 10\u202fis a great introductory pedal kayak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re looking for an inexpensive pedal kayak<\/strong> that\u2019s easy to transport<\/strong>, easy to throw <\/strong>in the water, and very nimble, then the Crank fits the bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re the kind of guy that always customizes their boat anyway, then you don\u2019t need a more expensive kayak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Pescador Pilot 12 and the Crank 10 actually share the same pedal pod<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Pilot 12 is better for vegetation<\/strong> as the prop is easier to clean than on the Crank 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being 2 feet longer also means the Pilot 12 is much faster<\/strong>, but less maneuverable than the Crank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Obviously, it also has more storage space<\/strong> and a higher weight capacity of 475 lb<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For big guys<\/strong>, the Pescador Pilot 12 is a pretty good pedal kayak at this price point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Pilot 12 comes with four molded-in rod holders<\/strong>. I prefer flush-mounted rod holders, but that\u2019s still better than the absolute nothing you get on the Crank 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apart from that, it also costs a little more and overall at this price point I\u2019d prefer the Old Town Sportsman 120.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read my detailed Pescador Pilot 12 review.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve mentioned the Sportsman 106\u202fPDL several times throughout this article, and that\u2019s because I think it\u2019s the best value pedal kayak<\/strong> out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without the pedal drive, it weighs just as much<\/strong> as the Crank 10, but you still get an extra 6 inches that make for more storage space<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The seat is more comfortable<\/strong>, and much better for tall guys<\/strong> because of how easy it is to adjust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regarding speed, the Sportsman PDL\u202f106 is ridiculously fast<\/strong> and it\u2019s become my wife\u2019s preferred pedal kayak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, the Sportsman 106\u202fPDL\u202fis a great lightweight pedal kayak for just under $2000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read my full Sportsman 106 PDL review<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Pelican Catch 110\u202fHD 2 is probably the cheapest pedal kayak<\/strong> you can find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s faster than the Crank 10<\/strong>, and I have a comfortable cruising speed of 3-3.5 mph <\/strong>with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also much lighter at 67\u202flb<\/strong>, which makes it ridiculously easy to carry<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not as maneuverable as the Perception Crank, so I\u2019d avoid taking it on class 2 rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the big drawback <\/strong>of this boat is you cannot stand and cast<\/strong> – but that\u2019s expected from such a cheap fishing kayak<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings to Consider Before Buying a Pedal Kayak<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"Pic](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Perception-Crank-10-705x688.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nPerception Crank 10 Specifications<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"Perception](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Perception-Kayak-Crank_10.0-705x195.jpg\")
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Perception Crank 10 Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Material<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Speed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Maneuverability<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/PERCEPTION-crank-10--705x456.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nComfort<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Stability and Tracking<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"Perception-kayak-Crank-10\"](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Perception-kayak-Crank-10-705x420.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nDurability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Portability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Perception Crank 10 Features and Pedal Drive<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"Perception](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Perception-kayak-Crank-705x249.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nPerception Crank 10.0 Fishing Ease<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Who is the Perception Crank 10 for?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Perception Crank 10 Alternatives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Perception Pescador Pilot 12<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"Pic](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Perception-Pescador-Pilot-12-705x160.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nOld Town Sportsman 106 PDL<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"Pic](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/OLD-Town-Sportsman-PDL-106-705x198.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nPelican Catch 110 Hydryve II<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"Pic](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Pelican-Catch-110-Hydryve-II-705x306.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n