Old Town® Unveils Radical New Topwater™ Fishing Kayak Series at ICAST 2018

Posted by RWDH on 15 07 2018.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Old Town^® Unveils Radical New

Topwater™ Fishing Kayak Series at ICAST 2018

Old Town provides kayak anglers with large fishing kayak performance in a compact, nimble format
Old Town, Maine (July 10, 2018) – Old Town is proud to unveil its all-new Topwater™ Series, which offers great Old Town performance in a compact, nimble format. A marriage of stability and performance, the Topwater—with the all-new ultra-stable DoubleU™ hull—quietly glides through any water condition while providing a stable, comfortable stand-up fishing platform. Equipped with thoughtful onboard tackle and rod management and a revolutionary universal transducer mount, even the most discriminating anglers will be impressed by the overall fishability of the new Topwater Series: paddle versions Topwater 106 and Topwater 120; and a pedal-driven model, the Topwater PDL.

Topwater PDL (Color: Photic)

“The growth and popularity of kayak fishing has brought many new companies into the marketplace but unfortunately we have seen a glut of poorly-made and engineered boats in the sub $1000 category,” says David Hadden, Brand Director, Johnson Outdoors Watercraft. “Our goal with the Topwater™ Series was to engineer a boat that gave a great on the water fishing experience, which would allow anglers to catch more fish and be more comfortable. We also wanted it to outperform other kayaks when not on the water and made it smaller in size and weight for easy transportation and storage. Too many of today’s stable fishing kayaks need a trailer to transport to your local boat launch. The small size and reduced weight of all models in the Topwater Series make car-topping realistic and negate the need for a kayak trailer.”

As participation in kayak fishing has grown by leaps and bounds over the past several years, so too has the demand for myriad kayak choices. But, as Hadden points out, there’s been a deluge of subpar watercraft into the marketplace, price point boats that anglers quickly outgrow or become frustrated with from day one, never to kayak fish again. While many of these ‘yaks are compact, lightweight, and priced affordably, they fail miserably once you try to fish from them.

Ryan Lilly, Brand Manager, Johnson Outdoors Watercraft, offers: “The new Topwater Series is not only a natural choice for someone who is new to the sport or looking to upgrade from their first fishing kayak to something more comfortable with a rich feature set, it should also be considered by seasoned kayak anglers as a kayak worth adding to the quiver. It’s easy to maneuver and transport and boasts of great stability and many advanced features.”

Topwater 120 (Color: Boreal)

Topwater 106 (Color: First Light)

TOPWATER 106 & 120 FEATURES

Ultra-stable DoubleU™ Hull design offers unmatched stability and precision handling in a compact easy-to-transport size. Sneak up on the fish in the quietest pontoon-style hull on the market.
Revolutionary universal transducer mounting system makes mounting your favorite fish finder easier than ever before.
Incredibly comfortable and breathable ElementAir™ seat with high/low positioning for all-day fishing comfort and breathability.
An oversized stern tank well coupled with impressive hull capacity, provides one of the roomiest fishing kayaks on the market.
Stay organized and easily access gear with three flush mount rod holders(one forward-facing) and thoughtfully-placed onboard rod and tackle storage.
EVA foam deck pads for traction and all-day stand-up fishing comfort.

Topwater PDL (Color: Photic)

TOPWATER PDL FEATURES

Maintenance-free, award-winning, forward/reverse PDL™ Drive with a patent-pending easy-docking system and best warranty in the industry. The Topwater PDL Drive version weighs a mere 18.5 lbs. and hits an impressive 5.5 MPHwith its efficient 10:1 gear ratio.
Ultra-stable DoubleU™ Hull design offers unmatched stability and precision handling in a compact easy-to-transport size. Sneak up on the fish in the quietest pontoon-style hull on the market.
Easy-to-operate rudder control knob for lowering/raising and turn-on-a-dime steering.
Revolutionary universal transducer mounting system makes mounting your favorite fish finder easier than ever before.
Incredibly comfortable and breathable ElementAir™ seat with high/low positioning for all-day fishing comfort and breathability. The PDL version utilizes Old Town’s unique slide-lock system, which slides forward or backward to dial in your perfect leg length for all-day pedaling. 21” seat width, 15” default seat height.
An oversized stern tank well coupled with impressive hull capacity, provides one of the roomiest fishing kayaks on the market.
Stay organized and easily access gear with three flush mount rod holdersand thoughtfully-placed onboard rod and tackle storage.
EVA foam deck pads for traction and all-day stand-up fishing comfort.

Topwater PDL (Color: First Light)

SPECIFICATIONS

Topwater 106 Specs

Length: 10’ 6”
Width: 34.5″
Weight: 73 lbs.
Capacity: 440 lbs.

MSRP: $899.99

Topwater 120 Specs

Length: 12’
Width: 33.5″
Weight: 82 lbs.
Capacity: 500 lbs.

MSRP: $999.99

Topwater PDL specifications

Length: 10’ 6”
Width: 36″
Weight: 76 lbs. (under 100 lbs. w/PDL Drive)
Bow Hatch: 16.5” x 10”
Leg Length: 46”
Capacity: 450 lbs.

MSRP: $1999.99

FREE FISH FINDER WITH PURCHASE!

If the above news wasn’t exciting enough, Old Town will be offering a FREE Humminbird fish finder with the purchase of any new Topwater Series fishing kayak from July 9th-September 28th, 2018. Customers who purchase an Old Town Topwater 106 or 120 and fill out the Topwater rebate form will receive a FREE Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4, a $99.99 value. Customers who purchase a Topwater PDL and fill out the Topwater rebate form will receive a FREE Humminbird Helix 5 CHIRP GPS, a $299.99 value!

*Customers must fill out the official rebate form between July 9th and September 28th, 2018, include a $9.95 money order for shipping and handling, and mail to the address at the bottom of the form. Redemption forms must include a copy of the itemized sales receipt for proof of purchase and be postmarked by 10/12/18. Limit one (1) submission per purchase. Other terms and conditions may apply. See the official rebate form for additional details at www.oldtowncanoe.com/topwater.

Like other Old Town fishing kayak models, the Topwater is infinitely customizable with rigging accessories from Cannon®, Scotty™, Railblaza®, YakAttack®, RAM®, and more. Launching at ICAST 2018 On the Water (July 10) and ICAST booth #622 on July 11, the Topwater Series will begin shipping to dealers in July 2018.

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About Old Town

JOHNSON OUTDOORS is a leading global outdoor recreation company that inspires more people to experience the awe of the great outdoors with innovative, top-quality products. The company designs, manufactures and markets a portfolio of winning, consumer-preferred brands across four categories: Watercraft Recreation, Fishing, Diving and Camping.

JOHNSON OUTDOORS WATERCRAFT RECREATION includes Old Town canoes, kayaks, paddles and personal flotation devices, Ocean Kayak and Carlisle paddles. Old Town canoes and kayaks have created genuine watercraft with innovative designs for over 100 years.

Visit Old Town canoes and kayaks at www.oldtowncanoe.com

Visit Johnson Outdoors at www.johnsonoutdoors.com