My husband and I bought 2 Manatee Deluxe Kayak Packages during LLBean's Spring boat sale and I'm so glad we did. The boats are well made, stable and track well. My family is new to kayaking and these boats got us hooked to the activity easily. We got the 10 footer and we're using them for recreational kayaking in quiet waters.
The paddle and the cover that came with the package are good quality too.
first time buying a kayak. Bought one for me and my 14yr old son who loves the water. Super stable and with some effort can be carried to the water by one person. the package of a paddle ,cover and kayak was perfect for us shipping was less than two weeks and delivered by nice guys. For a first time purchase this is great and lots of fun. 14yr old has no problem.
My family owns six (6) of these kayaks. We use them for paddling lakes and reservoirs and slack water rivers in Utah and Michigan. They are easy to lift and transport, easy to paddle, and easy to clean. Even my beginner husband, who isn't a strong swimmer and so is nervous around deep water, took to paddling like a champ, and says he feels very safe in the Manatee. The paddle keeper is handy and I like the padded gunwales and adjustable footrests. The seat and backrest are very comfortable as well. The only thing that I'd like to see as an improvement is an actual "dry hatch" and not just an access port. I highly recommend the Manatee as a family kayak suitable for all ages and abilities.
We have now purchased three different kayaks from L.L. Bean, and this is still everyone's favorite. It's the lightest to carry (a huge plus), tracks better than our ruddered kayak, is the easiest to get in and out of, has the most comfortable seat and back support, and was less than half the price of the others. In fact, I'm on here today to purchase another since everyone keeps taking mine! My husband insisted that all our kayaks be the brightest, most visible in the water, and now that we've used them where there is motor boat traffic, I completely agree. Bright yellow/orange is the one to choose for safety.
