If you like the Perception Pescador 10 but you are a larger person or need to cover large distances when paddling, Perception Pescador 12 is a better option for you.
Perception Pescador 10 is designed as a multifunctional kayak that you can paddle recreationally or use it to fish your favorite spots. It is one of the most popular choices for beginners who will enjoy the boat’s performance and stability while learning balance and maneuvering. It is a confidence-building, basic fishing kayak that offers versatility and great value.
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Pros:
- Great value
- Easy to transport and store
- In-hull storage
- Stable
Cons:
- Not easy to stand up in
- Not fast
Size and Weight
Perception Pescador 10 is 10’6″ long with a 32″ beam and 14″ deck height. It is a lightweight boat, weighing only 57 lbs. An average adult can easily load it on top of a car or into a truck bed. The compact size also allows better storage opportunities.
Capacity
With a maximum capacity of 325 lbs, Perception Pescador 10 is a decent performer in the 10-foot-kayak category. Even though bigger paddlers can buy this kayak and be happy with their experience, this model is better suited for people of average or smaller stature. To get a drier ride and best performance, it is always recommended not to exceed 80 percent of the kayak’s total weight capacity when fully loaded with gear.
Construction and Materials
Perception makes their kayaks from a proprietary High-Density Polyethylene material using the company-specific, one-piece rotational molding technology. The process involves pouring beads of polyethylene into the mold, which 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.
Perception Kayaks’ material and final products are renowned for high quality and durability.
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. Repairing usually requires a piece of the same material and a blowtorch to melt it onto the hole.
Hull Design
The hull of the Pescador 10 is designed for stability and straight tracking. It has a pronounced keel on the bow and stern and a flat bottom with soft chines in the middle. Eight scupper holes are designed to drain the water. This is a boat that will keep you dry and stable if you maintain a low center of gravity.
This hull profile offers excellent primary stability, but secondary stability is limited. Hence, you cannot expect to effortlessly stand up and sit down as you would in multi-chined angling kayaks.
The keel is protected by a replaceable skid plate at the stern.
Deck/Cockpit
Perception Pescador 10 features a clean, spacious cockpit with dimensions (LxW) of 21″x21″ and a flat, uncluttered deck. It is fairly streamlined with molded side grip handles and bungee hooks only in the rear. This makes line entanglement and hooks snagging less likely to happen.
The molded central console features two mount recesses intended to fit a GoPro or a rod holder. It also offers a decent-sized cup holder so your beverage will be at hand.
The Pescador 10 has another molded recess in front of the seat, leaving owners with the option to easily add a 6″ day hatch.
Seat
Although the Pescador 10 is a budget kayak, the manufacturer did manage to incorporate a seat featuring the Comfort Seating System (CSS). Perception uses lightweight EVA foam for the seat base and backrest to provide better ventilation and more ergonomic back support.
The backrest is tilt-adjusted by tying down the seat’s two rear bungee cords. This allows making further seating adjustments by loosening or tightening the side straps until you feel comfortable.
There are quite a few seat reviews from YouTubers who point out the need for an extra cushion for the base seat and lumbar support pad.
Storage
A great feature of Perception Pescador 10 is in-hull storage. The bow hatch is the only access point to the in-hull storage, but the oversized oval opening allows easy access to your equipment and even lets you stow your fishing rods inside the boat. The hinged lid features two quick-lock handles and a bungee threaded through an eyelet, allowing you to secure the gear and prevent it from ending up at the stern. The sealed cover does a good job providing splash-proof storage, but it is not completely waterproof. Keeping your water-sensitive gear inside dry bags is always a good idea.
The rear tank well is large enough to fit and secure your crate or cooler. The flat deck offers multiple eyelets and inserts where you can attach tackle or accessories. The bulk between the molded rod holders and the molded recess in front of the seat are intended for mounting 6″ day hatches if the owners need additional storage options.
There haven’t been any complaints about the storage options of the Pescador 10. Still, some paddlers may use the extra hatches for easy access to their personal belongings, lunch, or small fishing tools.
Gear Mounts
Perception Pescador 10 is a beginner-level fishing kayak, so it does not come with a lot of gear mounting options. However, it does include two standard gear tracks on each gunnel where you could mount a fish finder, a GoPro, or any custom accessory you may need on the water.
Out of the box, the central console comes with a molded-in Solo Mount Base recess to install custom gear and accessories that use a 1.5″ RAM ball. The console was designed to fit and protect the transducer battery and wiring, allowing you to keep a clean, cordless cockpit deck for stress-free fishing.
Another benefit of the flat deck is that it offers unlimited possibilities to add custom gear to places you find most convenient for your fishing style.
Rod Holders
The Pescador 10 comes with two molded-in rod holders located behind the seat. Unfortunately, they are only 5.4″ deep and very wide, so they are almost useless for holding your fishing rods securely.
Being aware of the customers’ issues with the molded-in rod holders, Perception offers the specially designed Rod-X Pro tapered rod holder extensions that come in all the rotomolded colors of the Sound, Striker, Pescador, and Pescador Pro. The rod holder extensions come with a bungee leash for extra security.
The more experienced fishermen, or the ones who have bigger rods, typically purchase more versatile rod holders, such as the Omega Rod Holder or similar, and mount them onto the Solo Mount Base or the gear tracks.
Footrests
Perception Pescador Pro 10 comes with standard adjustable footrests that easily slide on the rails and help you find the ideal paddling position.
Paddlers that are taller than 6′ might find themselves pushing the pegs all the way forward for a comfortable leg position. If you are a taller person, it may be a good idea to demo the boat and test the footpeg distance before deciding to purchase the kayak.
Paddle Holders
The Pescador Pro 10 offers a paddle tie-down on the left side of the boat. This is a simple and efficient design, but we would prefer to have paddle holders on both sides.
Handles
Perception Pescador 10 comes with four molded-in handles. The bow and stern handles have a higher profile than the deck line, making them very convenient for strapping and securing the boat during transportation or storage. The side grip handles have a lower profile and offer a tight, comfortable grip.
Paddlers who own Pescador models manufactured before 2018 will certainly appreciate the smooth, snag-free construction and sturdiness of the new front and rear handle design.
Stability
The 32″ beam of Perception Pescador 10 guarantees excellent sitting stability as long as you don’t exceed the weight capacity limits. The Pescador’s flat hull bottom offers high primary stability, which makes the boat less wobbly when getting in and out of it.
That said, if your fishing style involves more standing than sitting, you may find that the Pescador is not stable enough. Besides, you are basically sitting right on the deck (as opposed to the raised seat on Perception Pescador Pro 10, for example), so it is not easy to stand up and sit back down while maintaining perfect balance.
Maneuverability and Tracking
Perception Pescador 10 offers excellent maneuverability and good tracking. The pronounced keel at the bow and stern helps it stay on course, while the overall short length makes it agile and responsive. Get a lightweight, quality paddle, and this agile little boat will pull you through all those tights, streams, rivers, and small lakes, building your confidence with every passing mile.
Speed
A 10-foot boat with a 32″ beam will always require some work to maintain speed. Perception Pescador 10 is not designed to win races. However, it can maintain decent speed and will get you to your fishing spots without too much trouble.
If you need to cover longer distances, it might be a good idea to get a longer boat such as the Pescador 12. Longer boats are almost always faster.
Care and Maintenance
Rotomolded kayaks are incredibly durable and require minimum maintenance. However, here are some useful kayak maintenance tips:
You need to do some maintenance when you take your kayak out of storage before the season. Check the hull for damage, inspect all hardware and rigging, replace anything that wears out, check and refill the emergency gear. It is also a great time to get the new equipment you were dreaming of last year.
During the season, it is a good idea to quickly spray down your kayak after each trip (especially in saltwater). Store the kayak away from direct sunlight or use kayak covers. Avoid dragging the kayak on its hull if possible. A kayak cart is a great and inexpensive accessory that can prolong the life of your boat.
When it’s time to put the kayak away for storage, turn it upside down and wash it with mild soap and a sponge. Make sure you get any sand, dirt, or dead bugs out. Dry the boat thoroughly. Check the rigging and see what needs replacement. Apply some corrosion protection (like WD-40) to metal joints, screws, and bolts.
Storage
The appropriate way to store your kayak is indoors, standing up on its end and secured by a strap so that it does not fall. If that’s not possible, store your kayak hull up on some flat surface. Worst case, just put it somewhere there’s no direct sunlight and use a cockpit cover to protect the kayak from dust or critters.
About Perception Kayaks
Perception Kayaks manufactured the first rotomolded plastic kayak in 1977, seven years after Bill Masters founded the company in South Carolina on a $50 investment. They pioneered the use of plastic material for building kayaks as opposed to the existing composite ones.
Perception brought affordability to the kayak industry and, with its first Pescador model (meaning “fisherman” in Spanish), set off kayak fishing as a new branch of the industry. Today, Perception Kayaks make 30 different models of kayaks in the recreational, touring, fishing, and sit-on-top markets, including models exclusively found in big-box chains.
Perception Pescador 10 Warranty
For the original retail purchaser (“Consumer”), Perception kayaks purchased on or after January 1, 2018, are warranted against material or manufacturing defects in the hull and deck for five years from the date of the original purchase of the kayak.
Parts, accessories, and outfitting are warranted for a period of one year against material or manufacturing defects. This limited warranty is only valid with the purchase of a Perception kayak from an authorized Perception dealer. This warranty is non-transferable.
The warranty registration form should be completed online within 30 days of the original purchase to be activated. You should keep your sales receipt should it be required in the future for proof of purchase.
Perception may require you to provide photos of the damage or to return the product at your own cost.
Warranty terms may be different in different countries. Please contact your local dealer to learn more. For the full warranty terms and conditions, click here:
https://www.perceptionkayaks.com/us/warranty-registration-0
