Bonafide Kayak Lineup Guide: SS127 vs SS107 vs RS117 vs RVR119 vs XTR130 vs P127 vs PWR129
Caney Fork Outdoors
Bonafide builds ten fishing kayaks and most of them look alike in a photo. On the water they are not alike at all. One is a 59 pound sit on top you throw on a roof alone. One is a 170 pound motor platform you back down a ramp on a trailer. Picking the wrong Bonafide kayak is easy. This guide stops that.
Every number below comes from Bonafide's own spec sheets and from the kayaks we keep in stock at Caney Fork Outdoors. We are a Bonafide dealer and ship these nationwide.
Short version: small water and solo loading, take the SS107. One kayak for everything, take the SS127. Rivers, take the RVR119. Pedals, take the P127 or the XTR140P. A trolling motor, take the PWR129 or the XTR130. Cold weather and camping, take the EX123. Skinny water and sight casting, take the SKF117. The rest of this page is the why.
Every Bonafide kayak at a glance
| Kayak | Length | Width | Weight | Capacity | Moves by | Built for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonafide SS107 | 10'7" | 34.5" | 59 lbs hull, 84 lbs with seat | 425 lbs | Paddle | Ponds, creek arms, loading alone |
| Bonafide SS127 | 12'7" | 33.75" | 69 lbs fitted, 94 lbs rigged | 475 lbs | Paddle | Lakes, rivers, tidal flats |
| Bonafide RS117 | 11'7" | 33.5" | 65 lbs hull, 77 lbs with seat | 425 lbs | Paddle | Lakes and slow rivers on a budget |
| Bonafide SKF117 | 11'7" | 34.5" | 69 lbs without seat, 78 lbs with seat | 425 lbs | Paddle | Skinny water, sight fishing |
| Bonafide RVR119 | 11'9" | 35" | 85 lbs | 425 lbs | Paddle, motor ready | Moving water |
| Bonafide EX123 | 12'3" | 29.5" | 50 lbs hull, 67 lbs with seat | 375 lbs | Paddle | Cold weather, wind, camping |
| Bonafide P127 | 12'7" | 34" | 100 lbs hull, 120 lbs fitted | 475 lbs | Pedal drive | Covering water hands free |
| Bonafide PWR129 | 12'9" | 35" | 78 lbs fitted, 102 lbs rigged | 500 lbs | Paddle, motor ready | Trolling motor on a paddle kayak |
| Bonafide XTR130 | 12'7" | 40.5" | 155 lbs fitted, 170 lbs rigged | 750 lbs | Motor, bow and stern | Bass boat setup on a kayak |
| Bonafide XTR140P | 14'0" | 40" | 170 lbs hull, 185 lbs rigged | 725 lbs | Pedal drive or motor | Big water, standing all day |
Two things to read off that table before anything else. Weight goes from 50 pounds to 185 pounds. Width goes from 29.5 inches to 40.5 inches. Those two numbers decide more about which Bonafide kayak you will be happy with than any feature list.
The SS series: SS107 and SS127
The SS kayaks are the paddle sit on tops most Bonafide buyers end up in. Both are set up to fish standing. Both carry the same 15.5 inch deck height. The difference is two feet of length and what that does on the water.
The Bonafide SS107 is 10 feet 7 inches and 34.5 inches wide, the widest kayak in the SS line. At 59 pounds for the bare hull it is the easiest Bonafide to get on and off a roof by yourself. It turns inside its own length and fits in a short bed truck. Small ponds, tight creek arms and backwater sloughs are where it belongs.
The Bonafide SS127 is 12 feet 7 inches and 33.75 inches wide. It tracks straighter, glides farther between strokes and handles chop without wandering. That makes it the pick for bigger lakes and rivers. Fitted weight is 69 pounds, fully rigged about 94. Use a cart.
One thing Bonafide says plainly and we repeat on both product pages: Skyhooks are not included on the stock SS kayaks. They are sold separately.
SS107 or SS127? Small water and solo loading, SS107. Everything else, SS127.
The RS117: the budget Bonafide that is not stripped down
The Bonafide RS117 is 11 feet 7 inches, 33.5 inches wide, with a 13 inch deck height. Bonafide publishes three weights for it: 65 pounds hull, 72 pounds without seat, 77 pounds with seat. Capacity is 425 pounds.
It runs a hybrid catamaran hull similar to the SS series, so it is a very standable platform. Bonafide rates its stability 7 out of 10, flat water 9, slow current 8, fast current 6, surf 4. Read those numbers as a lake and slow river kayak first.
What you get for the money is real: a Dual Height Stadium Seat with low and high positions, a Quick Connect Seat System that needs no tools, YakAttack MightyMount XL track, dual flush mount rod holders, an integrated Dry Pod, a forward storagewell with a transducer scupper, and replaceable stern skid plates. It is TopRun Rudder Ready with no drilling, so a rudder can come later. Made in the USA.
The RS117 is the Bonafide for anglers watching the budget, and for the friend or family member who is going to fish next to you.
The SKF117: the skiff
The Bonafide SKF117 is 11 feet 7 inches and 34.5 inches wide with a 9.5 inch depth, the shallowest profile in the line. Weight is 69 pounds without the seat, 78 with it. Capacity 425 pounds.
Bonafide calls it a hybrid standup and sitdown fishing kayak, and the design comes from salt flats skiffs. The hybrid catamaran hull gives it catamaran stability with paddleboard maneuverability. Bonafide rates it 10 out of 10 on stability and 10 on flat water, the same as the SS127. The HiRise Seating System puts you up high for sight casting.
It is Sidekick compatible, so onboard wheels bolt right on. Power-Pole Micro ready. Dual stern skid plates. Pick it for marsh, mangrove, flats and any skinny water where you stand and look for fish. It also happens to be an easy kayak for the whole family to paddle on a lake.
SKF117 or SS107? SKF117 for skinny water and sight fishing. SS107 for tight water and the lightest load.
The RVR119: the river kayak
The Bonafide RVR119 is 11 feet 9 inches, 35 inches wide, 85 pounds, 425 pound capacity. Bonafide rates it 10 out of 10 in slow current, fast current, tracking and agility, 9 in choppy water and surf, 8 on flat water. That is the opposite shape of the RS117's ratings and it tells you exactly what the RVR119 is for.
The hull is a dedicated river hull: a kick rocker bow, a drift-boat style upturned stern, and a drop skeg system on a spring that retracts on its own when you hit something. The seat is hand sewn in North Carolina and trims four inches forward or aft.
It is also motor ready from the factory. There is an integrated throttle landing, rudder-capable foot brace landings, and a YakAttack throttle mount for Torqeedo and Newport Vessels motors. Dual anchor landings with internal line routing take an Anchor Wizard or a YakAttack DropShot Anchor Reel, sold separately. A 26 inch measuring board slot and BlackPak Pro crate fit are molded in. Seven grab points help with the 85 pounds.
If you fish current, this is the Bonafide. If you fish lakes, it is not.
The EX123: the sit inside
The Bonafide EX123 is the one sit inside in the lineup. 12 feet 3 inches, 29.5 inches wide, 50 pounds for the hull, 67 with the seat. Capacity 375 pounds, the lowest in the line. It uses a HyCat hull, Bonafide's hybrid catamaran shape, in a sit inside design.
The closed deck is the point. Wind and cold weather are easier in it, and the narrower hull paddles farther per stroke. Storage is real: a Deck Dashboard with a MiniTub dry hatch, a stern sealed bulkhead, a stern HatchWell with bungee, hatch access into the hull, two flush mount rod holders. Bonafide calls it the SUV of kayaks and it fits paddling, camping and fishing on the same trip.
You cannot stand in it. If standing matters, look at the SS107, SS127 or SKF117.
The P127: pedal drive
The Bonafide P127 is the SS127 footprint with a Propel Pedal Drive in it. 12 feet 7 inches, 34 inches wide, 15.5 inch deck. Hull weight is 100 pounds shot, 120 pounds fitted with seat and drive. Capacity 475 pounds.
The drive runs forward and reverse, hands free. You still carry a paddle for shallows and as a backup. The deck is flat and uncluttered, and most anglers stand comfortably in calm to moderate water after a few trips. It tracks straight on open water and turns in creek arms.
This is the Bonafide for anglers who want to cover water without paddling every inch of it. We compared it head to head with two rivals in Jackson Coosa FD vs Bonafide P127 vs Hobie Outback.
The PWR129 and PWR129 Pro: paddle and power
The Bonafide PWR129 is 12 feet 9 inches, 35 inches wide, 16 inch deck. Fitted weight 78 pounds, fully rigged 102. Capacity 500 pounds, the highest in the paddle lineup.
It is motor ready out of the box. The hull is reinforced and ported for a motor, steering is a Springblade rudder, and five PowerLink ports take Bonafide's removable rigging without drilling a sealed hull. The standing deck is wide. Batteries, motor and a full load of gear still leave freeboard. Paddled without a motor it is heavier than an SS127 but it works.
The Bonafide PWR129 Pro is the same hull with one change: a Tempress Probax swivel seat with Probax back support. Same length, width, weights and capacity. Buy the Pro if you sit more than you paddle and fish under power. Buy the standard if you paddle and stand.
The XTR130 and XTR140P: the big platforms
The Bonafide XTR130, also written XTR 130, is 12 feet 7 inches long and 40.5 inches wide. Fitted weight 155 pounds, fully rigged 170. Capacity 750 pounds, the highest in the Bonafide line by a wide margin. Bonafide rates its stability 11 out of 10 and that is not a typo.
Think bass boat, not kayak. Bow and stern motor capability with a Bow Motor Mount accessory, foot-controlled steering accessory, PowerLink ports, horizontal rod storage, extensive gear track, a 24 by 65 inch walkable floor, and a PivotPro swivel seat. It is forward facing sonar and downscan ready, and tandem capable with a dual swivel seat accessory. Plan on a trailer or two people.
The Bonafide XTR140P is 14 feet, 40 inches wide, 18 inch depth. Hull weight 170 pounds, rigged 185. Capacity 725 pounds. It comes two ways in one listing: with or without the X Range 801 Propel Drive. The drive is hands free with two stow positions. Steering is a Springblade rudder, hand steered with the pedal drive and foot steered with a stern motor. PowerLink ports sit bow, midship and stern. The floor is 24 by 80 inches with a bow to stern walkthrough and a 22 by 33 inch standing platform, and it holds footing in wind and boat wake. A Pivot Pro Swivel Seat rides a 42 inch track. Big water only: open lakes, large rivers, tidal flats and bays. On a small pond the size works against you.
XTR130 or PWR129? PWR129 is paddle and power. XTR130 is the bass boat. XTR130 or XTR140P? Pedal drive and bow to stern walkthrough, XTR140P. Bow and stern motor on a shorter hull, XTR130.
How to pick your Bonafide kayak
By how you load it. Alone, on a roof: EX123 at 50 pounds, SS107 at 59, RS117 at 65, SKF117 or SS127 at 69. With a cart or a second person: RVR119, PWR129, P127. Trailer: XTR130, XTR140P.
By water. Ponds and creek arms, SS107. Lakes and rivers, SS127 or RS117. Rivers with current, RVR119. Flats, rivers, and marsh, SKF117. Big open water, XTR140P. Cold and windy, EX123.
By how you move. Paddle: SS107, SS127, RS117, SKF117, EX123. Pedal: P127, XTR140P with the drive. Trolling motor: PWR129, PWR129 Pro, XTR130, XTR140P, and the RVR119 if you fish rivers.
By standing. All of them except the EX123. The XTR130, XTR140P and SKF117 are the most stable. The SS107 is the widest of the small ones.
Every Bonafide kayak we sell ships freight nationwide. The Bonafide Sidekick cart fits several of them and is the easiest answer to the weight question.
Bonafide Kayak Questions, Answered
Which Bonafide kayak is best for a beginner?
The SS107 or the RS117. Both are wide, stable paddle kayaks that one person can load. The SS107 is lighter and turns tighter. The RS117 costs less and comes with more rigging on it. If a pedal drive is the goal from day one, the P127 is the beginner pedal pick.
Which Bonafide kayak is the most stable?
The XTR130 at 40.5 inches wide, rated 11 out of 10 by Bonafide. The XTR140P at 40 inches is right behind it. Among the paddle kayaks, the SKF117 rates 10 out of 10 and the SS107 is the widest of the small ones at 34.5 inches.
Which Bonafide kayak is the lightest?
The EX123 at 50 pounds for the hull, 67 with the seat. Among the sit on tops, the SS107 at 59 pounds bare. Bonafide publishes more than one weight for most of its kayaks, so compare the same number across the line.
Can I put a trolling motor on a Bonafide kayak?
Yes on the PWR129, PWR129 Pro, XTR130, XTR140P and RVR119. All five are motor ready from the factory. The XTR130 and XTR140P take a motor at the bow and the stern. The SS127 takes a Bow Mount Plate sold separately.
What is the difference between the XTR130 and the XTR 130?
Nothing. They are the same kayak. Bonafide writes it both ways and so do most anglers searching for it.
Is the PWR129 Pro a different kayak than the PWR129?
No. Same hull, same size, same weights, same 500 pound capacity. The Pro adds a Tempress Probax swivel seat. That is the only difference.
Do Bonafide kayaks come with Skyhooks?
Not on the stock SS107 or SS127. Bonafide states that Skyhooks are not included on the stock SS series. They are sold separately.
How do Bonafide kayaks ship?
Two ways. If you are inside our delivery area, local delivery shows up as a shipping option at checkout and we bring the boat to you ourselves. We call ahead to set a meet-up, and since we do the unloading there is nothing for you to inspect or sign at the curb. Otherwise it ships LTL freight with a carrier running a 99.9% damage-free rate. On a freight delivery, look the boat over before you sign the receipt and write down any damage you see. That one step protects your claim. Then email clear photos to helpdesk@cfoutdoors.com within 2 hours. We email the full details once your order is placed.
