Perception Pescador 12 Review: Features, Specs, Prices

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. The Pescador 12 retains the great value and features of the 10-foot model while offering additional capacity, faster speed and better tracking. 

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Pros:

  • Lightweight construction
  • Great value
  • Higher weight capacity
  • In-hull storage
  • Stability

Cons:

  • Not easy to stand up in
  • Shallow rod holders

Size and Weight

The Pescador is 12′ long with a 32.5″ beam and 14.5″ deck height. Its weight of 64 lbs is pretty light for a 12-foot kayak. It is easy to load onto the car racks or into the bed of your truck. A replaceable skid plate also makes it easy to drag the boat to and from the water. The relatively low weight provides better storage options.

Capacity

Perception Pescador 12 has a maximum capacity of 375 lbs, which is 50 lbs more than Perception Pescador 10. Remember that this weight includes you, your clothes, and all the gear you take along, so don’t underestimate the total capacity you will need. To get a drier ride and best performance, it is a good idea not to exceed 80 percent of the kayak’s total weight capacity when fully loaded with gear.

Hull Design

Just like its shorter sibling, the Pescador 12 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. This hull profile offers excellent primary stability, but secondary stability is limited. Besides, the seat is right on the deck, you cannot expect to effortlessly stand up and sit down as you would in more expensive angling kayaks with raised seats.

The keel is protected by a replaceable skid plate at the stern. Eight scupper holes are designed to drain the water. This kayak will keep you dry and stable as long as you don’t do crazy things in it.

Deck/Cockpit

Perception Pescador 12 comes with a clean, uncluttered deck. There are no bungees in the front, which minimizes the chance of snagging your hooks. The molded central console has an insert for a camera mount or a rod holder. It also includes a molded-in bottle holder which is great for stowing small lures, etc. There is another molded recess right in front of the seat where you can add a 6″ day hatch if you want to.

Seat

Although the Pescador 12 is a relatively inexpensive kayak, it does come with a decent seat. Perception calls it the Comfort Seating System (CSS). The seat base and the backrest are both made with lightweight EVA foam. The seat provides good ventilation and ergonomic back support. The backrest is adjusted via two side straps and two bungee cords in the back.

Still, this type of seat is no match for raised frame type seats used in more expensive kayaks. You can make it more comfortable with extra cushion for the base seat and a lumbar support pad.

Storage

A great feature of Perception Pescador 12 is the in-hull storage. You can only access the inside of the hull via the bow hatch, but it is large enough to store your gear and even 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.

Gear Mounts

Perception Pescador 12 comes with two gear tracks, one on each gunnel. It is a perfect spot to mount a fish finder, a GoPro, or another rod holder.

The central console has 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.

Rod Holders

The Pescador 12 comes with two molded-in rod holders located behind the seat. Unfortunately, these are too shallow and too wide to be of any use. Perception sells Rod-X Pro 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 and do a much better job keeping your rods in place.

Another option is to buy a track-mounted rod holder such as the Omega Rod Holder and install it onto the Solo Mount Base or the gear tracks.

Footrests

Perception Pescador 12 features standard adjustable footrests that easily slide on the rails and help you find a comfortable seating position.

Paddle Holders

The Pescador 12 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 12 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.

If you are familiar with Pescador models manufactured before 2018, you will certainly appreciate the smooth, snag-free construction and sturdiness of the new front and rear handle design.

Stability

The 32.5″ 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 12, for example), so it is not easy to stand up and sit back down while maintaining perfect balance.

Maneuverability and Tracking

For a 12-footer, Perception Pescador 12 is pretty maneuverable, even without a rudder. It also tracks very well. 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

Perception Pescador 12 is your choice if you need to cover long distances. It is not super-fast, but it maintains decent speed without too much effort. Still, this 32.5″ kayak is definitely not a race boat, so don’t expect too much.

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.

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 12 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

Alex Buchnev

Alex Buchnev

Alex loves kayaking, fishing, and all things outdoors. When he's not out there in the wild, he's probably typing away at his laptop or trying to be the world's best father for his two lovely daughters.

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