Perception Showdown 11.5

Size, weight, capacity

The Showdown 11.5 is 11 ft. 6 in. (351 cm) long and 36 in. (91 cm) wide. These dimensions give you an extremely stable kayak that is also maneuverable, great for those tight spaces. 

The extra width does limit the top speed though. The main gripe users have about the Outlaw is how slow it is, so a pedal drive is surely a welcome addition.

As far as fishing kayaks go, the 90 lb. (41 kg) weight of the Showdown 11.5 isn’t enormous. But it’s still a lot of kayak to move around. If you regularly paddle solo, we recommend a kayak cart for getting to and from the water.

The maximum capacity of the Perception Showdown 11.5 is 450 lbs. (204 kg). This should give most adults plenty of room for all of their fishing equipment for long days out on the water.

Features

The Showdown is a fully feature-laden kayak. The raised mesh seat is extremely comfortable, offering good lumbar support and a full range of adjustment. This seat gives you a better range of vision over the water, but if you prefer to stand to fish there are EVA foam pads fitted for grip and sound deadening.

Perception’s pedal drive system is simple but efficient and smooth on the water. It feels light and almost effortless to pedal the Showdown 11.5 around for hours at a time. You steer the kayak with a side-mounted hand tiller.

The removable bow storage pod allows you to load up your tackle and other gear in the garage, then load it into the kayak without repacking at all. There is crate storage at the rear of the kayak and this is secured with shock cord. There are multiple rod holders on board, and the side handles double as gear accessory tracks for you to customize your setup. 

Performance

The Perception Showdown 11.5 is designed to be a high-quality but affordable fishing kayak. As a platform, kayaks don’t come much more stable than this, with the 36-inch beam keeping you secure whether you’re sitting or standing. This does impact the top speed of the kayak though and even with the drive system, you won’t be cruising at high speeds.

The pedal drive system is smooth and you can comfortably pedal for hours. The rudder system is easy to use and works well for turning the kayak in wide circles, but for tighter turns, you’ll need to pull out the paddle. With a paddle, the Showdown 11.5 is highly maneuverable and easy to turn.

All fishing kayaks need a good amount of accessories, and the Showdown doesn’t disappoint here. The removable front pod is a particularly nice touch, letting you gear up in the garage and just fit it into your kayak when you set off.