Perhaps you've seen the cool innovation of fin drive kayaks – Their ability to traverse extremely shallow water or kick up when hitting underwater debris without ruining your drive system. If only a propeller (bicycle style) pedal drive could offer the same features.
The Jackson Flex Drive Mark IV has entered the chat. The Flex Drive Mark IV stands out as the sole drive system in the market featuring an auto-retracting lower unit for shallow waters, a versatile three-position dagger board, and a sealed pedal system that operates seamlessly in both forward and reverse.
If you are someone who traverses shallow water, weedlines, debris-filled areas or rivers, your options for propeller drives that are more helpful than frustrating have been limited. The Flex Drive gives you an option to pedal through waters you might not have thought were possible before. Let's get into what we like about the Flex Drive in particular.
The Meat & Potatoes of the Flex Drive
Advanced Gear System
The Mark IV utilizes a 3:1 pedal input coupled with a 4:1 spiral bevel gear pair, resulting in increased efficiency and speed. This configuration allows for a more aggressive propeller, translating to faster movement through the water with less effort. Put simply, with each pedal revolution the propeller spins more equalling more power with the same effort.
Smoother and Quieter Operation
Upgrades such as improved bearings, a larger diameter flex drive cable, and a reversed drive rotation contribute to a quieter and smoother pedaling experience. The belt-driven system further enhances this by reducing noise and ensuring seamless operation.
Upper Unit of the Flex Drive (above the deck)
This is the portion that stays above the kayak deck, accessible to the paddler. It includes:
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Pedal system: Where the user pedals to generate mechanical power. Sets right down into the lower unit and as secured using only two thumb screws - easy install and removal.
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Gear housing: Contains the 3:1 input gearing system that translates the pedaling motion into rotational energy.
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Crank arms & belt drive: The belt system replaces the older chain, making it quieter and smoother, while also reducing maintenance.
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Sealed components: Sealed to prevent water intrusion - making it virtually maintenance free unless used in saltwater (needs freshwater rinse after every use in saltwater)
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Lower Unit (Below the Deck / In the Water)
This is the underwater portion that sits below the hull (comes pre-installed on every FD version of a Jackson Kayak) and includes:
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Spiral Bevel Gearing (4:1): Transfers the energy from the upper unit to the propeller at an efficient angle.
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Aggressive propeller: Designed for speed and power, especially after the MKIV gearing and prop changes.
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Auto-retracting mechanism: This is a spring-loaded safety feature that automatically lifts the lower unit upon impact with underwater objects—perfect for shallow water navigation. Great for areas with hidden debris (logs, rocks).
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Retractable dagger board: Helps protect the drive while also aiding tracking and performance in varying depths. Can be deployed in three phases (stowed, medium and full). When stowed, a hatch gives you direct access to clean your propeller of debris. When partially deployed, you can still pedal in very shallow ater and fully deployed gives you the most power and tracking.
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Why We Like the Mark IV Flex Drive
When we work with customers we often start with the most simple questions: What kind of water will you primarily be using your kayak on? Do you want to paddle, pedal or power your kayak? What kind of gear do you think you will want? The answers to these questions often help steer people towards kayaks that will better fit them.
With the improvements that Jackson has made to its Flex Drive, it now offers another option to anglers and recreationalists looking to traverse more diverse waters like weedy lakes, rivers and shallow waterways like sloughs, narrows and creeks.
It used to be that when a propeller drive hit an unseen object in the water such as a stump or rock, you were more likely than not going to experience some sort of potential damage to the propeller or the unit itself. This is no longer a concern with the Flex Drive. Here are our favorite features:
Removable top unit for transport
By loosening two thumb screws, the entire top unit is easily removable. This makes transporting your kayak much more simple and when space is always at a premium, you are only storing the top part of the unit vs the entire drive unit which are typically large, heavy and oddly shaped. By separating the drive unit into two pieces, launching and stowing is quicker, easier and less daunting.
Auto-retracting dagger board
For the third time in this blog, we cannot stress enough how great of a feature this is. It is the only propeller drive on the kayak market that has three positions and can retract flush with the hull. Whether it is hitting debris or using the retracter arm in the cockpit of your kayak - you can choose where the propller is. If you see shallow water on the horizon, you can simply pull the dagger arm up into the hull and glide over the shallow water. If you are in shallow water and still want to pedal, you can deploy your propeller partially and still move. It is a really unique feature available only with the Flex Drive.
Quiet operation
As an angler, sound can be everything. And while you may think you are being quiet, every movement or creak in your kayak is amplified through the water. Kayaks and their occupants are typically far noisier than they think. We have mounted GoPros under kayaks for footage and it is quite illuminating just how much noise you can make in your kayak with just simple mandatory movements. The Flex Drive is whisper quiet, so the only noise coming from the kayak is you.
Accessible propeller hatch
If you have ever pedaled a propeller-style kayak in water that has even a hint of weeds, you probably know how cumbersome it becomes having to remove your prop drive every few seconds to remove weeds from the prop. It is one of the few, but critical, drawbacks to a prop drive kayak. Every Jackson FD (Flex Drive) kayak comes with a flip up hatch that gives the occupant direct access to the propeller when it is in the stowed position. By flipping the lever to stowed position and flipping up the hatch, you have the ability to quickly clean the prop and instantly deploy it again. This is an amazing feature for any angler who plans on fishing weedbeds and shallow waters.
Who & What is the Mark IV Flex Drive Best Suited For?
What water does the Flex Drive perform best in?
Lakes & large bodies: When in open water, you can fully deploy the dagger arm and experience the full power of the Flex Drive. Efficient, fast and able to cut through choppier water, the Flex Drive really gets to shine in open water.
Weeds & debris: Again, if you are an angler that stalks weedlines or around sunken debris like rocks and trees, the Flex Drive's ability to be partially deployed or auto-retract on impact means you can finally pedal in your favorite fishing spots without watching the water like a hawk and hoping you don't hit anything.
Shallow water like rivers: Your options for anything other than a paddle in rivers have always been relatively limited. You either have to choose to power your kayak with an expensive motor setup or you paddle. The Flex Drive's ability to be pedaled in the shallowest of water while auto-retracting when you get too shallow allows for you to keep your pedal drive in even when you are on rivers and skinnier waterways.
Who is a good fit for the Flex Drive?
This point is a bit arbitrary, but if you are someone who likes to fish, paddle & explore different areas and waterways, the Flex Drive is a do-it-all pedal drive. It has the power to tackle big, open water and the flexability (pun-intended) to adapt to shallow and debris-filled water. With its upgrade pedaling gears, it suits anglers of all sizes abilities.
Even if you are setting out on an adventure in really skinny/shallow water, you can simply loosen the two thumb screws, remove the top unit and leave the propeller stowed into the bottom of the hull and use your kayak in paddle only form. Not only do you not have a gaping space in your cockpit, but you also don't have large cumbersome pedals taking away space when used like this. The Flex Drive really is an all-purpose and all-water pedal drive.
Let us know what you think
So, is the Flex Drive a good fit for you? Keep scrolling down to see some of Jackson's kayaks that incorporate the Mark IV Flex Drive. Let us know what you think or if you have any questions. Reach out directly to justin@ecofishingshop.com for more resources on Jackson or all things fishing kayaks. And don't forget to check our our community kayak anglers at the Kayak Anglers Resource.
Jackson Kayaks with the Mark IV Flex Drive
