The Star Rival Inflatable Kayak is setup to function as a versatile recreational and fishing specific kayak. I pickup one up for a trip to Baja, hoping it would open more water and remove the limitations that come with only fishing from the shore. I really put this thing to the test, paddling to islands and off-shore reefs where I fished, dove and explored.
Star Rival Specs
The Rival is self bailing with a drop-stitch floor, leafield-C7 valves, 6 d-rings and 3 handles. It comes with a folding seat and straps to quickly secure the seat in place. You can run it with or without the seat depending on personal preference.
Weight – 31 Pounds
Length – 12 ft. 6 inches
Width – 38 Inches
Capacity – 300 pounds
Configurations and Handling
The configuration options make the kayak extremely versatile. I primarily run mine with the folding seat because I’m a stronger paddler and can cover ground more quickly this way. You can however skip the seat entirely and run it as a stand-up paddle board. I really enjoyed the stand up aspect because the Rival kayak is longer and more stable than most paddle boards. This allowed be to stand up easily while maintaining balance without removing my focus from the fishing. I enjoyed transitioning between the seated and stand up positions.
Another great option would be a cooler seat. You could sit even higher, making it very easy to stand up quickly. The d-rings would also make it easy to tie down the cooler. I might transition to this setup for trout fishing this summer. There is ample space to add a cooler behind the seat as well.
The handling was surprising for an inflatable. The wings add stability while helping it track. It also has a detachable fin that makes a noticeable difference for tracking. Overall, I was very comfortable, could easily shift my weight and could change directions quickly. I ran a a bare bones setup so the rig was light and very fast. The floor is extremely firm when properly inflated.
Rigging for Fishing
I ran to Baja pretty much the day after my Rival arrived in the mail. I didn’t setup accessories but will be adding a camera mount and rod holder in the future. The kayak comes with five YakAttack Switchpad Flexible mounts so you can really go wild on accessories. Add an anchor system, rod holders, fish finder and whatever else feels right. I will be keeping mine basic with a rod holder so I can troll gear while paddling and have quick rod access at anytime. A camera mount will also be a great addition.
The kayak has daisy chains on front and back for additional options. The bow daisy chain come with webbing that I used to secure fly rods while paddling. It also worked well to hold my paddle while I was fishing.
Setup and Breakdown
The major advantage with this rig is portability. It packs down into a convenient carrying case and takes up very little space. I used an electric pump to inflate but it comes with a hand pump that gets the job done quickly as well. I can have mine ready to go in 5-minutes with the electric pump. That includes adding the seat and loading my gear. With a few more accessories, I expect it will still be a sub 10 minute process. Not bad for such a robust inflatable fishing kayak.
Is the Rival Fishing Kayak Right for You?
If you fish lakes and calm ocean waters, this is a fantastic kayak. I did go out on rougher water a few times and felt stable but I wouldn’t run it through heavy surf. I wouldn’t hesitate to run slow moving rivers either. I plan on making good use of the kayak on the Clark Fork, Bitterroot and a few other local rivers. It won’t be running any rapids but will be a wonderful resource on flat water. I think the ability to paddle a variety of waters while remaining portable makes this a unique kayak. NRS also offers this kayak without the fishing features for folks who don’t need rod holders and fish finders. The Challenger is a short model with similar features. I originally considered this option but am happy I opted for the bigger deck. It was really nice while paddling Baja. I like the idea of adding a cooler seat and dropping a gear crate on the stern to maximize storage.
It’s no replacement for a fishing raft on most rivers but will cover you for just about everything else.
