Our family has a canoe we've used for years but it is heavy and sometimes cumbersome/impossible to transport to more remote areas. Hubby and I took an LLBean kayaking class and fell in love with the Manatee and later purchased 2 of them. We have been out every day exploring local lakes and so far, we are very pleased. It is very responsive and easy to paddle, and very easy to transport. One day it became very windy and I found it difficult to make our way back before unexpected rain came, as we kept getting blown off course, but don't know if that was because of the short length (10ft) or the Manatee structure which we were told doesn't track as well as some of the other models. Other than that, I couldn't be happier with my kayak.
This past year I, age 57, learned to row in an 8, sitting either stroke or 6-seat, and to scull in a single. Kayaking, an activity I'd never entertained till fairly recently, seemed like a good - and less expensive - way to increase my time on the water. I tried a friend's kayak (a competitor's) and have been actively researching models and features these past few months. I even sat in kayaks in the LL Bean showroom in Freeport. Weighing the pros and cons of several options, I'm thrilled that I finally brought home a Manatee yesterday. At 10', it's probably easy enough for me - at 5'7, 165 lbs - to carry to the water's edge and secure atop my Vibe, but my husband's assistance was appreciated. The cockpit's open and the shell stable. It tracked well in the water and the seat was very comfortable. I like the cord system for additional storage potential. In spite of the fact that there's neither a drain hole nor a waterproof compartment in the Manatee, I have no reservation recommending this product to a friend. In fact, with only 1 week left of summer, I'm encouraging family members and friends to consider buying a Manatee of their own asap.
I'll be the first to admit I'm definately not a kayak connoisseur. This is my first hard side kayak (have a blow up for messing around) & I purchased it on a recommendation from my brother. I just got it delivered yesterday & had it out last night for a quick ride on the lake, it was great...very smooth, balanced & effortless! I was halfway across the lake before I knew it! The water was very calm, but even getting in & out off our dock it seemed like the kayak was very sturdy & wouldn't be all that easy to tip. As far as I can tell, it seems to be very well made. All the adjusting pieces for the seat & foot pedals appear to be made of quality even though they are plastic, but I feel as long as you're not rammy you'd never have issues with them breaking. The paddle that comes with the package is very light weight & goes together/comes apart easily for easy storage.
I live on a lake & that will be the majority of my riding, however we have a few rivers nearby & I'm looking forward to a couple trips down them yet this year. I have no doubt this kayak will serve me well on those trips as well!
Like I said I'm definately not an expert, BUT I am a very happy customer with this purchase! Much better than what I would have got at our nearby stores for a similar price!
Have used my kayak 3 times over the last month... This kayak is just great! Quality is excellent. I got the Azure blue and just love the color (that's important for women) ... I just can't believe I waited so long to buy a kayak ... but I knew I wanted an LLBean kayak and I certainly bought the right one. The seat is very comfy and easy to adjust and the footrest adjustment is super easy. The cockpit is huge and the padding on each side allows for 'scratch-free' entry and exit... Nice paddle and cockpit cover included in the package. My husband just sold his old kayak and we are going to get him a Manatee Angler ... we're just waiting for a 20% sale. :-) .... love, love, love LLBean ...
