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At 13’9” and weighing 138 lbs with the seat and drive system installed, everything about the Jackson Knarr FD fishing kayak feels big.

That’s fitting, since this is an optimal fishing kayak for big water. Wide open rivers, bays, inlets, and even the ocean are its domain.

For anglers that fear nothing, the Knarr FD offers quite a lot to love. Let’s take a look at this Jackson kayak, by the features.

What the Jackson Knarr FD Offers Intrepid Anglers

The Jackson Knarr is more than a fishing kayak. It is a fishing platform, optimized to take on the challenges of wind, currents, surf, tide, and other elements, head-on and in stride.

The Knarr FD is built around Jackson’s Flex Drive Mark IV, their fastest, quietest, most durable pedal drive system ever.

The Flex Drive Mark IV features a three-position daggerboard and is the industry’s only drive system with an auto-retracting feature for shallow water conditions.

It also features a sealed above-water pedal system, intuitive forward and reverse operation, and a 3:1 pedal drive that is smooth as silk, impressively powerful, and even more remarkably fast. It gets you there and back.

Jackson has also upgraded the bearings in the Flex Drive Mark IV, and also increased the diameter of the Flex Drive cable. The result? A smoother, quieter drive system that lets you slip in and out, unnoticed, without spooking wary fish.

Paired with the Flex Drive Mark IV are Jackson’s improved steering controls, that allow for simple, one (or two) handed operation, so you can get into and out of tight spots without a worry.

(By the way, the Jackson Knarr FD is also prepared to accept trolling motors - at either the bow or stern - with a four-bolt pattern at the stern and a flat mounting area at the bow. So, if you want to upgrade to real power, you can. You just need a motor and a battery.)

It’s also rock-solid. Don’t just take our word for it. Jackson subjected the FD Mark IV to hundreds of hours of both salt and freshwater testing, and it hardly came up for air (no pun intended). Plus, they back it with a 2-year manufacturer warranty, so you can buy with confidence.

The Jackson Knarr is, however, more than the Flex Drive Mark IV system, as impressive as it is. It is also incredibly stable, with true-line tracking.

This means that the Knarr not only tracks easily, even in adverse water and weather conditions, but is stable enough for you to stand in - comfortably. Whether you want to stand for greater casting leverage, sight cast, fight while standing, or just stretch your legs, the Knarr will support you - and won’t pitch you overboard.

But the Knarr FD is also designed for comfort, with an EZ Hi-Lo Seating System that will keep you comfortable all day, in various conditions, and which can be effortlessly adjusted with one hand.

This ‘yak’s gunwales are also optimized for gear storage, and specifically for rod protection, with the ability to store and protect up to 6 rods, easily, effortlessly, and worry-free.

Want to install fishing accessories? The Knarr FD is equipped with Jackson’s TriTrak, factory-installed around the vessel, providing ample opportunities to expand the rig with custom fishing accessories.

The Knarr FD also features some updates (with the last iteration, 2023) that have improved the design. For one, it’s been updated with carry handles, making it easy to lift, load, launch, and land. It’s also been updated with foam blocks and a reinforced seating area that stiffen and support the deck.

The Knarr FD is pre-equipped with flush mount holders (perfect for trolling or keeping your rods secure and out of the way) as well as with a YakAttack Omega Rod Holder for staging.

The Jackson Knarr FD is also more than equipped for storage, with two capacious dry wells at the fore and aft sections of the vessel, as well as with two wide, open areas in front of the cockpit and behind the seat, with plenty of room for tackle boxes, coolers, packs, and other gear - and it’s ready to go with tie-down points, too.

The sum of it is this: the Knarr FD is designed with a stable, heavy hull that is intended to withstand surf, currents, and wind, and to track straight and true, keeping you in comfort even in less than ideal conditions.

The Jackson Knarr FD Is Ready: Are You?

The Jackson Knarr FD is ready for big water and big game, and is optimized for yak anglers that fear no fishing challenges in sweet or saltwater.

If you’re ready to upgrade your yak fishing rig, the time may have come for you to invest in serious ‘yak fishing with a Jackson Knarr FD.

You can learn more via our website but if you have specific questions and would like to speak with a rep, feel free to get in touch with us at 512-229-0560.