Wanted a kayak all my life and at 60 I made it happen! Love the manatee! Light, agile, easy to maneuver. I take it to the Lake once a week, whether I need to or not! Great buy for the beginner, especially when it is on sale! I found the LL Bean video on the "basics" of handling the kayak very helpful also!
Took this boat out for a 5 hour paddle through a hardwood swamp and lake. It handled incredibly well, and was quite comfortable. Plus, at just under 40 pounds I can carry it and get it up on the car by myself. It feels incredibly stable, and I had no trouble weaving it through the cypress. I found it did better in shallows than my friend's larger, heavier yak. And as an added plus, it came pretty quickly, especially considering I live in Memphis, nowhere near an LLBean store. I've tried a few different boats, from really inexpensive ones to a $1000 Pungo, and I find this one is the best for me. It's got great stability, and really good handling and tracking, plus it's light enough that I can carry and lift it myself. And it's got a lot of storage room in the stern. So glad I got this!
This arrived yesterday and the experience is great at this initial stage. It was well packaged and came with no problems that we can see. The unit is of good quality and it was complete. So; as usual, LL Bean has a good partner in this manufacturer and I recommend the unit. I will try to stop back later after we get some time in the water.
