I am a 50+ female who had never been kayaking before. I looked at many kayaks from various outfitters so I could choose the one best for my needs. I choose the 10 ft manatee deluxe and I am not disappointed. I took my maiden voyage on our local pond and was immediately able to paddle the pond. I felt very stable and the kayak was very solid. The knee padding is well made. The seat adjusts and the foot rests easily adjust while paddling. I am only 5 ft tall and this yak is a perfect fit for me. The paddle holder is convenient. My husband wishes he had that on his. I was happy w/the paddle that was included. A good one to start with. I just love my sunset Manatee DLX. from LLBean. I made an excellant choice for my skill level. We also purchased the Thule Pro HullaPort for transport. Excellant! I have been very pleased w/LLBean from their product selection to accessories and customer service. Oh, and I had the kayak freight delivered and I received it in 9 days. It is a bit too heavy for me to lift onto the car but I'm hoping that with time I'll find a way to do that.
Took it out for the first time and it rates right up there with some of the other more expensive kayaks I have borrowed from friends in the past. The seat is very comfortable. The backrest can be adjusted in a variety of ways for that perfect fit. Handling was excellent even when the wind picked up and going through wakes. I purposely rocked the kayak to see how stable it was and I felt it was extremely stable. I look forward to many more outings and would recommend this kayak to any recreational kayaker!
I received my kayak and with much excitement went out in our harbor.Handled great. Locked it up only to have some brat cut through the handle and off they went. Luckily, I found it two days later. It is very comfortable and easy to maneuver I wish the handles were not made of strapping which allows people to steal them very easily. I have replaced it with a metal handle bolted on.
We purchased two of the Manatee Deluxe Kayak Packages based on a friend's recommendation. We are first time kayakers and absolutely had a great time!! We loved it so much that the parent's 40th anniversary is coming up and we are purchasing them a set as well.
