Experience aquatic adventures with the Vanhunks Zambezi 10ft kayak. Durable, stable, and beginner-friendly, it offers thrilling paddling experiences. Explore lakes and rivers comfortably with this versatile kayak.

Paddling to Perfection: How the Zambezi Kayak Stands Out in Dan Carns'

Features of the Zambezi Kayak

The Zambezi Fishing Kayak is a high-quality kayak designed for the avid angler. Its features make it an ideal choice for anyone who wants to enjoy a relaxing day on the water, but also wants to be able to fish in comfort. One of the most notable features of the Zambezi Fishing Kayak is its adjustable seat. This feature allows you to customize the kayak to fit your body perfectly, so you can paddle for hours without any discomfort.

Another great feature of the Zambezi Fishing Kayak is its spacious storage compartments. The kayak has plenty of room to store all your fishing gear, so you can keep everything organized and easily accessible. The kayak also has a built-in tackle box, which makes it easy to keep your tackle organized and within reach.

The Zambezi Fishing Kayak is also designed with superior stability and maneuverability. This makes it easy to navigate even the trickiest of fishing spots. The kayak is made with high-quality materials, which ensures that it is durable and long-lasting. Overall, the Zambezi Fishing Kayak is a great choice for anyone who wants to enjoy a relaxing day on the water while also being able to fish in comfort.

Design of the Zambezi Kayak

The Zambezi Fishing Kayak is designed with the angler in mind. Its sleek and modern design makes it easy to navigate through the water, while also being comfortable and functional. The kayak is made with high-quality materials, which ensures that it is durable and long-lasting. The kayak is also designed with a wide base, which provides superior stability and maneuverability.

The Zambezi Fishing Kayak also has a number of design features that make it easy to use. The kayak has a built-in paddle holder, which makes it easy to keep your paddle within reach. The kayak also has a built-in tackle box, which makes it easy to keep your tackle organized and within reach. Additionally, the kayak has a comfortable, adjustable seat that allows you to paddle for hours without any discomfort.

Overall, the Zambezi Fishing Kayak is designed with the angler in mind. Its sleek and modern design, combined with its superior stability and maneuverability, make it a great choice for anyone who wants to enjoy a relaxing day on the water while also being able to fish in comfort.

Performance of the Zambezi Kayak

The Zambezi Fishing Kayak is designed to provide superior performance on the water. Its wide base and high-quality materials ensure that it is stable and maneuverable, even in tough river conditions. The kayak is also designed with a number of features that make it easy to use, such as the built-in paddle holder and the adjustable seat.

One of the most impressive performance features of the Zambezi Fishing Kayak is its superior tracking ability. This means that the kayak stays on course even in windy or choppy conditions, which makes it easier to paddle and fish. The kayak is also designed with a number of storage compartments, which make it easy to keep your gear organized and within reach.

Overall, the performance of the Zambezi Fishing Kayak is top-notch. Its superior stability, maneuverability, and tracking ability make it a great choice for any angler who wants to enjoy a relaxing day on the water while also being able to fish in comfort.

Comparison with other kayaks in the market

The Zambezi Fishing Kayak is a standout choice in the kayak market. Its innovative design and superior performance set it apart from other kayaks on the market. When compared to other kayaks in its class, the Zambezi Fishing Kayak stands out for its superior stability and maneuverability.

The kayak's adjustable seat and spacious storage compartments also make it a great choice for anyone who wants to be able to paddle for hours without any discomfort. Additionally, the built-in paddle holder and tackle box make it easy to keep your gear organized and within reach.

Overall, the Zambezi Fishing Kayak is a top choice when compared to other kayaks in its class. Its superior stability, maneuverability, and design features make it a great choice for any angler who wants to enjoy a relaxing day on the water while also being able to fish in comfort.

Dan Carns' review of the Zambezi Kayak

In a recent review, Dan Carns raved about the Zambezi Fishing Kayak. He praised the kayak's innovative design and superior performance, and noted that it was a standout choice in the kayak market.

Carns specifically praised the kayak's superior stability and maneuverability, noting that it was easy to navigate even in the toughest river conditions. He also noted that the kayak's adjustable seat and spacious storage compartments made it a great choice for anyone who wants to be able to paddle for hours without any discomfort.

Overall, Carns' review of the Zambezi Fishing Kayak was glowing. He praised the kayak for its design, performance, and ease of use, making it clear that it is a top choice for any angler who wants to enjoy a relaxing day on the water while also being able to fish in comfort.

Pros and cons of the Zambezi Kayak

Pros:

  • Superior stability and maneuverability
  • Adjustable seat for maximum comfort
  • Spacious storage compartments for easy organization
  • Built-in paddle holder and tackle box for convenience
  • Sleek and modern design

Cons:

  • May be too heavy for some users
  • May not be suitable for very tall or large users

Overall, the Zambezi Fishing Kayak has more pros than cons. Its superior stability and maneuverability, combined with its comfortable design and convenient features, make it a standout choice in the kayak market.

Tips for paddling the Zambezi Kayak

If you're planning to paddle the Zambezi Fishing Kayak, there are a few tips you should keep in mind:

  • Make sure the kayak is properly balanced before you get in.
  • Adjust the seat to fit your body perfectly, so you can paddle for hours without any discomfort.
  • Keep your gear organized in the spacious storage compartments.
  • Use the built-in paddle holder to keep your paddle within reach.
  • Take advantage of the kayak's superior stability and maneuverability to navigate even the trickiest of fishing spots.

By following these tips, you'll be able to enjoy a relaxing day on the water while also being able to fish in comfort.

The Zambezi 10' Kayak

One of the latest kayaks from Vanhunks is the 10’ Zambezi. While this kayak can be used by the recreational kayaker it’s by far a superior fishing craft. I’ve recently returned from an off-the-chart kayak fishing trip on Cape Cod and the Zambezi out-performed all my expectations. The 10’ length and the 33’w width makes for steady tracking, super stability, and is very fast. Most of the weekend featured 15-20 MPH winds and the V-shaped bow cut nicely through the waves while the tri-hull below kept the rocking down to a minimum. The V-shaped bow also helps to reduce wave hull slap for those quiet approaches.

At first glance, the entire hull is built with storage in mind. There is covered storage well in the bow with additional hatch bungees. I was able to store my batteries out of the elements in here which is located directly over the access hole for the molded/protected transponder well under the hull. The bungee-covered hatch also serves as a tie-down for extra gear. I’m a bit of a gear hound so the four flush mounted accessory tracks, two along the sides up front and two along the rear storage wells allows me the flexibility to add camera booms, a flag and light pole as well as additional rod holders. As this is a fishing craft, Vanhunks included two rear flush mounted rod holders for those who wish to troll/trawl and two flush mounted rod holders up front for exceptional flexibility while fishing. As a competition angler, it’s imperative that I carry all the necessary gear to compete so my seven-rod holder/basket which serves as a bait well fits nicely in the compartment directly behind the seat for easy access. You’ll find just enough room behind this area to store a dry bag with the included bungee straps.

The true advantage of all the Vanhunks peddle/prop drive kayaks is the ability to fish while moving. The Fin Drive system with its 7 position options and the elevated, adjustable nylon mesh seat allows for any size angler to spend a day on the water with less fatigue and in comfort. This kayak of course comes with a paddle, has a foot-operated steering system, and can be used by the casual paddler but as a kayak angler, I found the deployable rudder combined with the foot-powered drive system exceptional at targeting moving fish without putting my rod down to move. The left-hand operated rudder extends deeply in the water and regardless of the wind or current, I was able to maintain optimal positioning. There is a prop drive available for all of the foot-powered kayaks from Vanhunks that offers superior speed and the ability to reverse simply by reversing the direction of the peddles.

Extra features of the Zambezi include tackle box storage on the sides by the seat with bungee attachments, a cup holder for your favorite beverage and the elevated seat allowing for additional tackle storage or in my case enough room to keep a 34” fish for dinner!

All in all, this addition to the Vanhunks family of kayaks while keeping the recreational kayaker to the serious angler in mind is sure to meet and exceed your kayak needs.

 

The Zambezi 12'6 Kayak

I’ve recently started using the 12’ 6” Zambezi from Vanhunks and this kayak is everything I had hoped for as a fisherman! This is more than a fishing craft though as the recreational kayaker will also find this kayak enjoyable.

The first thing you’ll notice is the enormous amount of storage. The bow hatch has a bungee strap so you can stow gear inside as well as on top. Directly behind this is another covered hatch that has a latch-able cover that is perfect for the battery and wire harness for your electronics. Directly below this is the integrated transducer compartment in the bottom of the hull so can you permanently mount your fish finder transducer with a wiring chase up onto the deck. As with most Vanhunks Kayaks, there are flush mount track rails in the front and back on each side for additional electronics, rod mounts, flag poles or camera booms. In addition to the two front-covered hatches, there is an additional hatch in the rear that serves not only for storage but is a big access port for any below-deck service that you may encounter. The rear tank well is large and divided into two areas, one for a livewell/rodholder crate and the very back is perfect for storing your float bag or any additional gear with the included bungee straps. Of course, this is set up as a fishing craft so there are six flush mounted rod holders, two up front and four in the rear, perfectly positioned for trolling/trawling. As a tournament angler, it’s important for me to carry multiple tackle bags and due to the way, the rear storage is set up, I can store my largest bag directly behind my seat making it easier to retrieve.

There are several features combined that make this the perfect fishing craft. First of course is the length at 12’ 6’ that makes this kayak track really well and handles itself in rough water. The second is the hull design featuring a V-shaped bow that cuts through the surf and cuts down on hull slap. The pontoon-style hull makes for perfect stability as you’ll be able to stand and sight fish with ease. Like most of their kayaks, the raised mesh of the adjustable seat is made to sit in all day. Vanhunks has put a lot of thought into this kayak as they have added large tackle storage slots with bungee straps on both sides of the seat as well as raising the seat for additional storage under it and improved visibility through the water.

In my opinion, the most important piece of equipment in this kayak is the Fin Drive system that allows you to continue to maneuver or drive your kayak while continuing to fish. Hands-free propulsion changes everything for kayak anglers as you can continue to fish as you move your craft into the perfect spot. Another advantage of the Fin Drive or Prop Drive is the ability to change gear or re-rig as you move from one spot to another. Of course, you can order this kayak with paddles only and it comes with a tool pod where the drive box goes. The beauty of this design is that you can then, later on, purchase the Fin Drive and it fits right in the through-hull port. The Zambezi comes with a deployable rudder that is super responsive and with just a few peddle strokes you can do a U-turn so it’s very agile. If you opt for the paddle-only version there are foot pegs that control the rudder so not only is there an adjustable place to rest your feet, but you also get that super rudder control as you paddle. Another new feature on this kayak is the left-hand steering control so that if you are a right-handed spin caster like me your left hand simply drops to the control handle.

Due to the length of this kayak, you’ll need to consider how to transport and move this kayak to the water at your launch. Vanhunks has several options for car top transportation as well as several dolly systems. My favorite, the balloon tire scupper hole dolly, allows me to travel over very rugged, rocky shorelines or super soft sandy beaches.

All in all, this new dedicated fishing craft will serve the new or the experienced angler well. With Vanhunks design in its DNA, you’ll find this kayak an excellent choice for recreational use or a dedicated fishing craft.

 

By Pro Staff member Dan Carns

 

Conclusion

The Zambezi Fishing Kayak is a top choice for any angler who wants to enjoy a relaxing day on the water while also being able to fish in comfort. Its innovative design, superior stability and maneuverability, and convenient features make it a standout choice in the kayak market. Whether you're a seasoned angler or just starting out, the Zambezi Fishing Kayak is a great choice for any fishing expedition. So why wait? Get your Zambezi Fishing Kayak today and start paddling to perfection!