Pedayak Is the Unicorn of Kayaks, With Pedals or Electric Motor, Sails and Even a Tri-Hull

The Pedayak is a kayak, but one that presents itself as a modular solution for traveling on water, whether alone or with company, for a variety of purposes, from fishing to tanning, taking photos or even the daily commute. With or without the kids. It is a transformable unicorn, one that boasts offering the same comforts and stability of a boat, but in a much more compact footprint, which means it’s easy to transport and maneuver to launch.

A more straightforward way of putting it is that Pedayak is a pedal-powered kayak – but you also get a safety paddle hidden in the tubular handles. Its bigger, more competent and younger (*newer) sibling is Pedayak Electric, whose official description says it’s “a hybrid kayak with body human power (pedals) and / or electric drive,” which is “fast, manoeuvring, stable, versatile, [and] a concentrate of technological innovations.”

In short, the Pedayak Electric is a kayak you can either pedal to move, operate by electric power, or a combination of both for increased speed and a higher degree of convenience. The watercraft is controlled by a removable waterproof remote control you strap onto one of the tubular handles.

The battery and controller are integrated in a single unit, which is housed in a sealed compartment inside the waterproof hull, behind the seat. Maker L’Aquaphile doesn’t offer specifics for either the battery pack or the controller, but it does say that you can increase speed and autonomy by choosing to pedal while underway by motor.

Steering the Pedayak is done by means of a stick that controls the helm and the rudder, as shown in the video below. Since this is a compact watercraft and you can’t get up and move at will once underway, everything is on hand. This includes two bottle and can holders, front and rear storage, GPS holder and empty storage pockets, and you can add extra fishing pockets, fishing rod holders, and a sounder.

Because the propeller and rudder are protected by keels, the Pedayak can beach or sail in shallow waters, having a draft of 35 cm (13.8 inches). It is also able to retropedal and turn on site, and it is particularly silent, which makes it ideal for activities like birdwatching.

Aside from the impressive functionality of this watercraft, it’s its versatility that impresses. L’Aquaphile imagines the Pedayak as a modular unit for whatever watercraft you need, which means you can turn it into a sailing boat, a catamaran, or a trimaran, or whatever combination based on these you can think of. The full list of accessories includes pedals, fixtures for duo, trio or prao frames, mast housing, tubular handles with safety paddle, steering stick, keels and propeller, rudder, helm, and kart.

Weighing just 40 kg (88.2 pounds) on its own, the Pedayak allows for two more lightweight passengers in its basic configuration, so if you have kids that weigh 30 kg (66.2 pounds) or less, they can tag along. For other guests, extra accessories, such as the prao frame, are necessary.

The basic Pedayak is €2,499 ($2,540 at the current exchange rate), while the electric version is €4,200 ($4,270). Depending on what you need and how many accessories you add to your shopping cart, price can go all the way up to €10,000 ($10,150) for the Pedayak Trio Electric and Sail model. L’Aquaphile says deliveries go out five days within placing the order, with shipping worldwide – but at the expense of the client. So, keep that in mind as well.

No one said transformable unicorns come cheap.