I purchased this kayak after alot of research. I mean alot!. This kayak is a great all around kayak. I LOVE the seat adjustments. You can adjust it way back and take a lazy laid back float down the river. This kayak is made by Perception kayaks, they are a very well known kayak maker. I like this kayak better than more expensive ones. Super deal. I have been out in it twice. once for an hour and once for 3 hrs! Super super kayak. 3 yr warranty is awesome!!!!! BUY ONE, you WONT regret it!!!!!!!!
The Kayak arrived quickly! I was surprised by the quality for the price after I saw other Kayaks at stores in town and none compared. I am a novice and it was very easy for me to control the kayak and move through the water. The color was awesome, I have the Robins Egg Blue. I took her out on the maiden voyage today and can't wait to have fun all summer long. Thanks L.L. Bean for another great product!!
My wife and I purchased Kayaks from you this summer. We have had the chance to use them several times. My wife loves her Manatee. It's very comfortable and easy to use. She has a shoulder issue and was concerned it would bother her, no problem. She has a ball and is much more adventureous than she anticipated she would be. We're taking the boats on vacation with us and are looking forward to several excursions. Thanks for a great product at a reasonable price.
Well, what can I say? Perhaps a statement "why didn't I do this before?" or maybe just saying, "Awwwe!" sums it up nicely. I took my maiden voyage in my 10 ft. Manatee and boy howdy, was that fun! When I set out on the lake it was calm and serene. I had decided to row the perimeter as this was my first trip out in it or any other kayak, staying close to shore seemed prudent even with my PFD on & safety kit at hand, but a few moments into the journey I felt easy and comfortable in my new craft.
Yessiree, this Manatee DLX 100 is perfect for me. I'm 5'6" and I can easily lift, load & secure it on top of my Escort wagon all by myself in 12 minutes. I can unload it myself in 7 minutes to the water's edge. And paddling it was wonderful. It tracks extremely well, feels steady, and has a nice glide to it with little effort. I even encountered some wind on the opposite side of the lake with a little bit of white cap washing machine effect on top of the water, but the Manatee easily held steady and true. I sure felt secure and comfy throughout the journey. In a calm lake or with mild winds the Manatee DLX 100 was easily paddled and maneuvered.
Overall, I spent a few hours in the boat by myself the first day to get familiar and then a couple more hours with my dogs the second day. I took them out one at a time with me and we both fit perfectly and comfortably in the spacious cockpit. One is a 35 lb. border collie, the other is a 60 lb. mix breed. The boat was very steady even with their occasional shifting.
It's pretty easy to say I'm hooked. I loved everything about it - the peace, the ability to glide across the waters, the sun on my shoulders and the look on my dog's face as she surveyed "her watery kingdom". Yup, apparently kayaking is a calming factor for us both.
Anyone who is considering a first kayak, this is a really nice one to start with, especially the package deal. The paddle that it comes with is comfortable to handle, easy to snap together & take apart for transport. The cover is perfect to protect the cockpit of the boat while it's waiting for it's next journey.
The quality of this kayak exceeded my expectations and I did a TON of research at local stores & online for the best deal for my hard earned money. I'm sure this kayak will offer years of fun. I already can't wait to get back out on the waters this next weekend.
