Vibe Yellowfin 100

If you’re looking for a smaller, shorter kayak that is easy to transport and store but you don’t want to sacrifice comfort or features, take a look at Vibe Yellowfin 100. This kayak offers all you need for a lot of fun on the water without breaking the bank.

Size and Weight

Vibe Yellowfin 100 is 10′ (304.8 cm) long and 32″ (81.3 cm) wide. It weighs 57 lbs (25.9 kg). Its low weight and shorter length make the Yellowfin 100 a very portable boat that is easier to take to the water, transport, and store.

Capacity

The Yellowfin 100 is rated for 375 lbs (170 kg). This is really not bad for a short boat like that, allowing you to take enough gear for comfortable fishing. If you’re a bigger person, prepare to pack light or look at Yellowfin 100’s bigger brothers, the Yellowfin 120 or even the Yellowfin 130 tandem which can also be used in a solo configuration.

Features

While the Yellowfin 100 is not exactly feature-packed, it does offer all you need for a great fishing or recreational experience.

Starting with the bow, there’s a rigid plastic handle with some padding on the inside. There are a total of four handles on this kayak, so it is easy to carry or drag either alone or with a buddy. Note, however, that it does not have a skid plate on the keel like some other models have, so dragging it over harsh surfaces might not be the best idea.

Next, you’ll see a sealed 8-inch hatch with a quarter-turn locking mechanism. Inside, there’s a waterproof bag that will keep your small items safe and dry. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to remove the bag and get access to the in-hull space for additional storage.

Further back, there’s a molded central console with a small tackle toss tray, a Scotty mount plate, and a cup holder.

The footrests are adjustable. There are two top-loading gear tracks at the foot level, one on each side, and two covered flush-mount rod holders at the knee level.

The standing area is somewhat limited by another 8″ hatch that sits right in front of the seat but you will still be able to stand up and fish if you want to. This other hatch also comes with a waterproof bag inside for more dry storage. However, we would prefer to have some more open deck space instead. There are two scupper holes on the deck. They come with rubber scupper plugs, which is really convenient.

On both sides of the seat, there are tackle box slots that take standard Plano 3600 boxes. Both are secured with bungees to your boxes will be safe. There’s also some storage space under the seat.

Behind the seat, there are two more flush-mounted rod holders which also come with covers. There are two bungee-secured paddle holders (it’s great to have those on both sides when you’re fishing).

The rear tank well is pretty large and will take an average size cooler, milk crate, or dry bag. There are two more plugged scupper holes there for water drainage.

Finally, there’s another carrying handle and a drain plug at the very stern.

Seat

Vibe Yellowfin 100 features Vibe’s updated Hero seat. It is a padded aluminum frame seat made from a breathable, quick-drying material. It is pretty comfortable and durable. In the 2019 upgraded version, the backrest folds flat (the previous version could not do that). There are no low and high positions and you can’t move the seat fore and aft like in some higher-end models. However, you can easily remove the seat from the kayak and use it as a beach chair, which is really great for kayak camping.

Performance

Vibe Yellowfin 100 performs really great in the conditions it is designed for. It is very agile and maneuverable and can even handle some light rapids (but it’s definitely not a whitewater boat). The Yellowfin is a great little kayak for small rivers, creeks, ponds, and tight places where you may feel a little cramped in a longer boat.

Being short and wide, the Yellowfin 100 can’t be fast, and it isn’t. If you need to cover large distances to get to your fishing spots, you probably need a longer, faster boat. On moving water or smaller lakes, speed does not matter that much.

Vibe Yellowfin 100 is a pretty stable boat. With reasonable care, you’ll have to problems standing up and sitting back down. However, if you do a lot of stand up fishing, you might want to look at models that have a larger, flat standing area and maybe some padding to improve traction and dampen the noise.

Construction and Materials

Vibe Yellowfin 100 is made from High-Density Polyethylene using the rotational molding technology. Beads of polyethylene are poured into the mold as it gets heated up and slowly rotated so that the material fills up every nook and cranny. After the mold cools down, you get a one-piece construction that is extremely rugged and durable. Kayaks manufactured with the rotomolding process tend to be long-lasting and sturdy.

The downside of polyethylene is that it is a very non-stick material. If you manage to put a hole in the hull, you can’t just glue a patch to it. The most effective way to patch the hole is to heat-weld new HWM PE or HDPE plastic pieces (or the same material) into the crack. It’s best to use a flat surface such as a soldering iron or blow torch by utilizing welding techniques to bond the material for an air-tight lasting patch.

Warranty

Vibe provides a limited lifetime warranty for defects on all new kayak purchases and one year on the attached parts. This warranty covers only Vibe products that are purchased from an authorized Vibe dealer. This warranty applies only to the original purchaser and may not be transferred. Proof of purchase must be presented at the time of the warranty claim. Normal wear and tear are not warranted.

In case your Vibe kayak gets damaged during shipping, Vibe Kayaks recommends the following:

If you find any significant damage, such as holes or deep gouges, have the carrier document in writing a detailed description of the damages before signing anything, take pictures, return the damaged kayak to the driver, and contact Vibe immediately.

If you find minor damage, such as minor scratches, dings, and dents, note the damage on the Bill of Lading, take pictures and accept the shipment. You can contact Vibe with any questions.

If the product is signed for without damage being reported or if the driver leaves the property without the damage being reported, Vibe Kayaks won’t be able to replace it. You will have to pay return freight charges (which range from $185 – $390) to get a replacement or accept the kayak as is.

New items are eligible for a full refund within 14 days of purchase.

To read the full terms of Vibe Kayak’s warranty, click here: https://vibekayaks.com/pages/warranty