If you are looking for information to help you decide if the Vibe Yellowfin 100 is the kayak for you or your loved one, you have arrived at the perfect place. This article will be your last stop in your quest for information. You will get all the research you need to know for making an informed choice.
This article covers all the outstanding features of the kayak, from its great seat, performance on water, storage to gear customization options. Also you will see the yak in action in some videos, to help you get the “complete picture” of how it feels like paddling and fishing from it. On top of that, we researched and analyzed tons of customer reviews and ratings, that we summarize here.
For those of you with little time and eager to get a great deal right now for the Vibe Yellowfin 100, click here and check this yak at Amazon.com.
If you have a question in mind, is probable that we already covered that topic in this article. Check the table of contents below and jump right into it. Or just keep scrolling to learn some of the great features of the Yellowfin 100.
Contents
The features of the Vibe Yellowfin 100 in detail
Be comfortable for hours with the Vibe Hero Seat
Same as other Vibe kayak models, the Yellowfin 100 comes equipped with the exceptional Hero Seat. Is an extremely comfortable framed seat, made from mesh fabric. Frames seats tend to be more comfortable than the molded and cushioned seats for most paddlers, and this is true for the Vibe Hero Seat. Also at this kayak’s price level, there is really not many other options that can beat the quality and comfort provided by this seat.
The Hero Seat mesh fabric is also breathable, which allows the air to flow slightly through it. This means any time the seat is splashed with water, it will dry a bit faster.
The backrest of the seat is adjustable with side straps. This will allow you to be in the exact back position you need for paddling and fishing. And is easy to adjust while seated. The adjustment is performed through the straps rings place right at your sides while seated. You won’t need to get out of the seat to change your position, just tweak it as you go to suit your needs.
All these features make the Vibe Yellowfin 100 seat one of the better kayak seats for this price range. You will be able to paddle and fish longer, several hours, without feeling uncomfortable. For sure one of the outstanding features of this kayak.
And while talking about comfort, we can not end the section by mentioning the foot braces. An important part of being comfortable in a kayak, is to be able to place your legs in a nice and comfortable position. The Yellowfin 100 foot braces are fully adjustable, and you will be able to move them a long range from very close to your seating position, to as much extension needed. Easy to adjust, this is a nice addition to find the perfect placement for your feet, and improve your overall comfort while seating.
Compact and lightweight, for superior portability
The Vibe Yellowfin 100 weighs 57 lbs. / 25.8 kg., which makes it very lightweight for the average paddler. Being 10 foot / 3.05 mt. long, is also on the shorter spectrum of kayaks.
Lightweight and compact are best friends with portability, and this yak excels in that arena. As you will see in a later section (See it in action video), is super easy to carry it. From car to water and vice-versa, or the occasional trek on ground carrying the yak would be far better and easier with the Yellowfin 100.
An important part in having an easy carrying experience with a kayak rest in the carrying handles. This model comes equipped with 4 Vibe Phantom Grip handles, that are really comfortable. Vibe made sure with these new model to eliminate any pitching point from their handling grips. One on the front, one on the rear, and a grip to each of the sides will give you all the gripping you need to carry this lightweight yak around quick and easy.
The Yellowfin 100 performance on water
Let’s talk about the Vibe Yellowfin 100 performance on water now. First and foremost, this is a very stable kayak. Being on the shorter side and having an excellent stability does impact speed a bit. But this kayak is not built for races, and is very good at keeping you stable while paddling rough waters and fishing. Some paddlers have tried the kayak on whitewater class 1 and 2 with great results.
It tracks very well out of the box, and its highly maneuverable. This model does not offer the possibility of adding a rudder system, but you won’t need it. The hull design is made so you are able to cut through water and glide and tracking well.
It is a great kayak for rivers, creeks, and lake coves as its compact and maneuverable to move through small places.
Storage Space
Let’s start with the big open rear cargo area. Here you will be able to carry a lot of gear, and secure it with a bungee cord. The bungee is strapped using 6 attaching rings properly placed, 3 at each side and at regular intervals. You will be able to customize the bungee attaching pattern as desired, in case the gear you carry needs it.
Continuing with options to carrying gear, and now moving to the center, you will find an 8” hatch right in front of the seat, in between your legs while in a seating position. This is an excellent quality V-Wave deck plate with waterproof bags inside. Here you can carry all your essentials like cellphones, keys, wallet… anything that needs that extra protection.
An identical V-Wave hatch lays also in the very front of the kayak, with the exact same sealed and waterproof bag features. These are very nice to have.
Although these are sealed and equipped with waterproof bags inside, our recommendation is that you try them first. A quick test on your first session, without any gear inside, and through some water on them. See how they work and if they do the job properly before you commit really valuable items into them. Although many kayak models come with similar hatchets, almost all of them are not sealed nor waterproof, and you need to store your items in your own waterproof bags. Vibe has gone a step further in their new model of the Yellowfin 100, and added this feature, which is awesome, but test it first! Even though they should work, is better to be safe than sorry.
Specials for your rods and fishing gear
The Vibe Yellowfin 100 has 4 flushed mounts for holding your fishing rods. Two behind the seat, at each side the yak, and two in front, also at each side. These mounts are really neat, they are at least 7” deep, what makes them really nice to secure your rods. Some yaks have these same flushed mounts, but not as deep, and the rods feel wonky and not very safe. But the Vibe flush mounts are deeper, giving you that extra security.
Also the mounts come equipped with their own lid, to close the mount if you are not using it. This is a small detail, but nevertheless a great feature. You will avoid getting water inside these!
In addition to the rod holders, the kayak has a center console with 3 features. A cup holder, a mount for additional gear (more on this in the next section), and a flushed tackle toss box. This later is a small and convenient flushed box that will allow you to toss in quickly your tackles while changing them.
Gear mounts and customization options
The Vibe Yellowfin 100 not only gives you storage space and mounts for your specific fishing gear, it also has great options for customization and additions.
Sooner or later during the life of your angling kayak you will want to add something that the kayak doesn’t have. It could be a camera mount for those special videos or pictures. Or that neat and professional rod holder that goes several steps up compared to a flush rod mount. What about a GPS or fishfinder? When this time comes, you will be grateful of having a Yellowfin!
Let’s start with the center console. In between the cup holder and the quick tackle toss box, you will find an inlet for a mount it comes ready to accept 4 screws in each corner, compatible with several accessory system, like Railblaza for example. Your possibilities are endless here. Some anglers like to have a special rod holder in this center place, but your are only limited to your imagination.
And this is not all. To each of the sides on the front of the kayak, you will find a rail track. These are also compatible with multiple accessory systems. I’m a big fan of the Railblaza kit, that has all sorts of neat additions. Check all the Railblaza options, and find the accessory you need.
Last but not least, to each of the sides of the kayak you will have a convenient paddle park. With a cord to secure your paddle in place, these are quick and easy to use, for those moments when you need both your hands free for fishing.
Watch the Vibe Yellowfin 100 in action
The following is a great video review of the Yellowfin. Although is an older model, the quality, features and characteristics are the very same. The performance on water is very well captured, so you will have a great insight on what to expect from the Yellowfin in this video:
And also here you can watch the official Vibe video:
If after watching you are interested in finding out more about the other models, click here for the Vibe Yellowfin 120 or here for the Vibe Yellowfin 130T.
The Vibe Yellowfin 100 Specifications
| Length | 10′ / 3.05 m. |
| Width | 30″ / 76.2 cm |
| Capacity | 375 pounds / 170 Kg. |
| Weight | 57 pounds / 25.85 Kg. |
| Paddlers | Single Person Kayak |
| Material | Rotomolded piece of high density polyethylene |
What customers say about the Yellowfin 100
At the time of this writing the Vibe Yellowfin 100 had 43 reviews on Amazon.com with an outstanding rate of 4.8 stars over 5. This is incredibly high for a product like this one.
All of the ratings are in the 4-5 stars range, except for only one that is 1 star.
Not much to say about the one star review. The customer complains about a hole appearing in the hull after 15 uses. He contacted Vibe Customer Service and it seems they told him it was made by misuse and not covered by the warranty. You will find this same story in the Vibe website reviews too.
The rest are all very satisfied and happy customers, with great experiences and stories to share.
This is one of the best rated kayaks we had reviewed. We think that if you decide to get this kayaks, there are incredibly high chances that you can count yourself among those very satisfied owners of the Yellowfin 100!
What’s in the box
Vibe is one of the few manufacturers of kayaks that is used to include some additional items when selling their boats. The Vibe Yellowfin 100 is sold usually as a “package” that comes with a paddle accompanying the Kayak itself and the Hero seat.
Be sure to ask or check for this first, as you chosen dealer might not have this paddle included.
About the Warranty
Vibe offers a Lifetime Warranty for all the new kayak purchases, and one year for all the products and parts attached to the kayak itself. The warranty is limited to manufacturing defects. Please be sure to check the warranty conditions in detail, so you are aware of what you can and cannot do in order to avoid problems with the warranty claim in the future.
To have a broad idea of what would not be covered, here you have a list:
- The normal wear and tear
- Rolling or flipping the kayak
- Exposure to heat, extreme weather or environmental conditions
- Excessive exposure to sunlight
- Unauthorized modification or repairs including hollowing out the center console
- Improper use or handling that derives in accident
- Wrongly storing, and improper maintenance or care
- Use in commercial, rental or teaching environments
- Sharp objects or dragging over rough surfaces
- Being towed by power or sail boats
- Scupper carts, stake out poles, or other objects placed in scupper holes
- Cosmetic defects such as surface pitting, color variations or minor weld marks
Keep also in mind that the warranty applies to the original purchaser, and cannot be transferred if you purchase this from a friend.
The Verdict
If you are looking for an excellent quality, great comfort, portable and easy to paddle kayak, the Vibe Yellowfin 100 is an awesome choice. Great for beginners and experienced paddlers alike, tracks well and is very maneuverable. Very compact and easy to carry and deploy mostly everywhere. And you will also be able to customize it further using the rail tracks!
Super comfortable with a great framed seat, has no competitors in its price range. You will be able to be lots of hours straight paddling and fishing in this yak. It’s also an excellent choice as companion kayak for experienced anglers, that want to have a smaller and faster to deploy alternative to their high tier angling kayak.
But if your budget is tight, you have other great options like the Sun Dolphin Journey 10 SS. If your budget can stretch a bit more and you prefer a bigger option, the Ocean Prowler 13 is one of the best in its price range. And finally, if you are looking for an all-in-one high tier fishing experience and willing to invest more, check out the Perception Pescador Pilot 12 that has a pedal propelling system and great comfort