Jackson Coosa Flex Drive Kayak Review [Video]
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on June 6, 2018
- Found In: Fishing Tips, Kayak Paddleboard Reviews, Product Reviews
After using the Jackson Coosa FD Kayak to fish for a while, I wanted to share what I have liked and disliked about this kayak.
This is a pedal drive kayak and offers many customizable options for each angler’s preferences.
This post dives into the pros and cons I have found while using the Jackson Coosa FD Kayak and how you can set this kayak to best suit your needs.
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Jackson Coosa FD Kayak Specs
The specs for the Jackson Coosa FD Kayak are:
- Length: 12′ 7″
- Weight: 105-115 lbs. (105 without the flex drive and raised seat)
- Propulsion: Pedal Drive (called the flex drive)
- Max Weight Capacity: 450 lbs.
Jackson Coosa FD Kayak Review Video
This video provides a comprehensive look at the Jackson Coosa FD Kayak and the different ways you can set it up.
Check out my full review here:
Jackson Coosa FD Review: Pros
I like this kayak for a variety of reasons and it has served me well as a fishing vessel for the past couple of months. My top pros for using this kayak include:
- Very Stable – This kayak has great stability and allows me to stand up to fish easily. It also allows me to go from a sitting to standing position and vice versa with no issue.
- Flex Drive Function and Design – The flex drive gives me more freedom to use my hands while fishing and spend less time positioning the kayak and paddling. The kayak is also well designed to where you can access the necessary flex drive parts while kayaking to remove any weeds or debris that gets caught in the prop.
The Flex Drive prop is easily accessible from the hatch in front of the seat. - Customizable Options – Almost everything on the kayak is removable and adjustable, from the rudder to the raised seat. You can set up the kayak in the way you want and easily add additional equipment such as GoPro mounts.
- Jackson Kayak Customer Service – Jackson not only provides a quality product, they also offer exceptional customer service. If you have any issues with your kayak, the people at Jackson are eager to help you find a solution.
Jackson Coosa FD Review: Cons
Although I have thoroughly enjoyed my Coosa FD, there are a couple drawbacks to this kayak:
- Weight – This is a heavy kayak at 105-115 pounds and not easily moved around with one person.
- Aluminum Seat – The seat that comes with the kayak is made out of aluminum and is not the strongest material. Friends of mine have had issues with the seat bars bending on them and getting out of shape.
- Tackle Box Tray Under Seat – The tackle box tray under the seat can be useful, but it also takes up a lot of space and can actually block you from being able to open the hatch to the pedal drive in some settings. This can be fixed by removing the tray.
- Rudder System Tracking – One of the biggest issues I’ve had with my kayak is the rudder system not tracking, meaning that when I take my hands off the rudder control levers the kayak will begin turning.
Note: We’d love to hear your thoughts on your Jackson Coosa FD, so please leave a comment down below to share your experiences with these kayaks.
Conclusion
Although there are some cons to this kayak, the usability and design of the Jackson Coosa FD is top notch and provides a great fishing vessel for anglers.
The customizable options also meets the needs of almost any angler, making this an extremely versatile kayak.
If you’ve used the Jackson Coosa FD Kayak, let us know what you think of it by commenting below.
[Click here to the Salt Strong Ultimate Guide to Buying a Kayak]
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Great review. Thanks. Do you have any other reviews of Kayaks such as the Hobie as well as batteries that you recommend for trolling motors. Thanks
If you’d remove the back screw on the slide under the seat, it will slide forward farther.
Really want advise on a kayak that can be rigged with trolling motor,raised seat and stable for an old guy…..bill benton
Hey Bill!
You may want to look into the Old Town Sportsman Autopilot 120. It comes with a built in trolling motor that also has the spot lock feature. A little pricey but anything with a motor will end up costing a bit of $$
https://oldtowncanoe.johnsonoutdoors.com/old-town-sportsman/fishing/sportsman-autopilot-120
Being a novice to kayaks, I was hoping to find some buying reviews on pedal drive kayaks including pros and cons and price. I know there is alot of discussions about kayak fishing but I could only find one review on a Jackson Cussa which, for me, is a good deal beyond my price range. When I see them going for $3500 +, it seems the price range of an actual boat (used of course and probably aluminium flat bottom). Do you have or is anyone considering, with a good deal more knowledge than I have about kayaks, reviewing kayaks?
Hey James!
The Hobie Outback would be a.much better (and reliable) pedal kayak for around the same price. If you’re looking for a less expensive option I would look into the Vibe Shearwater. It is under 2k for just the kayak and you can purchase a pedal drive for it separately, which still keeps you under 3k. I recently sold my hobie for a gheenoe (small skiff) and i’m already kicking myself haha. Just cant get as shallow as I would like to reach fish like I easily could in a kayak,
Been looking at the Raptor G1 the last few days… seems to be a super stable Kayak. Has a spot in the rear you could easily put a motor. Might have to do some weight balancing to keep the front down, bit definitely an option.
Hey Tony great review! One question, if the prop is in the low or middle position and you hit something hard like a log or rock, will it kick up flush like the Hobie fins? Or is it just a clunk and you stop?
Hey Jeffrey!
If you bump something it will pop the drive up. It doesn’t go back down into place though once you start pedaling again though like the Hobie does so you have to push the lever back down to get the prop back down to the low position.
with my Coosa Fd the worst problem was the tracking. I went from a Native Slayer 13 which was an excellent fishing machine and tracked straight as an arrow to the Coosa having to fumble with the steering so much on the maiden voyage I turned around and headed back to the landing because I could’t fish. After loading it on my trailer I inspected the rudder and there was this enormous amount of play not only in the rudder but in the steering arms as well. Took a little home engineering to correct with some stainless shimming but its on track now. My thoughst were that surely someone had complained about this enough that it would have made it back the the engineering team at Jackson.
Hi, Tony,
I am on the market for a peddle Kayak now . But Bad ruder is by by for me. Do you have your eye on other peddle Kayaks? sell my Big Daddy Expandacraft for $3900. many folks in my Community Kayak and wish me to join them Can that rude be fixed to run straight?
I just purchased a Jackson Cruise FD. I have spent more time getting used to it, than fishing, but I did book a fishing trip with one before I purchased. It is definitely smaller than the Coosa, but I like it. On the fishing trip I took I kept several redfish, one over 30 inches. I’m itching to taking it out my kayak on a proper fishing trip, but my schedule and the weather are not cooperating.
I purchased a Coosa FD and have been happy with it EXCEPT for the tracking issue. As a result, I designed and fabricated my own self retracting rudder which is larger to provide more control, but also self retracts if it hits an obstruction. See my YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX1CZFJNjnY&t=5s
Hi Tony,
How does the Cousa do with waves and does it turn easily?