Baffin P1

Lightweight, strong, and stable in the water.

Been using a P&H Capella for years, but borrowed a Baffin for a week long trip recently. A great boat for expedition travel. Fast and has excellent secondary stability. Handles heavy seas well. Would say a good boat for beginner or the expert. Hatches are solid and easy to handle. Really liked the skeg which handled any weathercocking with ease. Will definitely consider buying as the Capella is getting long in the tooth.

Awesome!! My family reunion was a success with the Baffin P1. They had so much fun. Thank you Paddling.com!

This is a sweet boat - fits well, turns on a dime and keeps up with the longer boats I used to paddle behind. Decent storage, although I'm more of a day tripper and am not much of a camper. Can't wait to take it to Turnip Rock!

I have had nothing but amazing experience with this watercraft. It is amazingly comfortable and it moves swiftly through the water with excellent aerodynamics. I would totally recommend this boat, as it is THE best boat I have ever owned. The price is totally worth it and I would not put my money anywhere else.

light, responds well, easily controlled, steers efficiently, safe... nice boat

It is sleek and moves through the water like a hot knife in butter. It's light weight and easy for maneuvering in the water and easy enough to load on my truck. It's a kayaker's dream.

Before purchasing the Baffin I tried on a lot of different sizes, models and brands. As soon as I took it out for a test paddle though, I knew it was the one. For perspective - I am 5'3" , 130lbs , intermediate paddler (although at the time I was a beginning paddler). This boat has been used mostly for east coast sea kayaking and more recently for lakes and rivers. It performs very well in all venues. There's lots of room for day trip gear, but a bit tight for extended trips. Nice dry, soft and easy hatches, simple smoothly operating 'dial-a-skeg', but the main selling point (with my smaller size) was the smaller, lower keyhole cockpit extending into a lower back deck. It's a very comfortable and stable boat while still being maneuverable. Skeg down for good tracking. Skeg up for play boat and rock hopping. Surfs well, rolls well and if the roll doesn't work out then the low back deck makes a cowboy self-rescue fairly quick and easy. I'd say the only drawbacks for me would be the weight (no way am I able to lift this onto a roof rack, but that's true for any plastic boat of this size range), and it weathercocks to a fairly high degree, especially in a following sea (which can be corrected somewhat with the skeg). I still love this boat and expect to have it until I can't paddle anymore.

The Baffin is sleek, glides smoothly and is very comfortable!

My experience has been amazing! I'm totally addicted to kayaking now and rarely canoe now. The baffin 1 is durable, steady and lightweight enough for portaging.

Exceptional speed and balance.

Most kayaks in my area are meant for white rapid water. But I have to say what I find particularly stunning and amazing about the Baffin series is the ability to bring along enough kit for a couple of weeks. Often when planning trips I envision a more lengthy trip on mild rapids if rapids at all. I feel like this particular kayak would make for a perfect companion to my more expedition like plans of making my way down a long river with minimal rapids if any at all. More focused on the kayak trip as the experience versus the location alone. Being able to pull out whenever I want to setup a camp. Explore the area to suit my rockhounding adventures, taking out the fly rod, or just stopping for some general foraging. This would be the ideal kayak for such trips. Trips I would consider EPIC in duration and ability not just for the kayak in the water alone but also for what the Baffin series would enable along the shore as well.

Wakes? Waves? Wild Currents? Passes and shifting winds? Pssssh... With this baby, you cut through it all like a hot knife through butter. Fast. Quick response. Edges clean and flawless. Handles everything the ocean throws at you, even crazy black snub-nose dolfins who chase me in it give up. Lol!

Really, in my opinion, Boreal makes the best ocean going Kayaks. I've really enjoyed mine. I would recommend the Baffin series to anyone who wants to have a successful run with a great kayak on open seas, gulf, lakes, shores and anywhere where speed and confidence in your Kayak are paramount.

Stable kayak for multi day trips, some improvement could be made in the seat back adjustments for comfort. A solid kayak

Only things I would change.... the seat: Boreal's seat is good, but it could use some more adjustment options like the WS seating system, and the thigh braces could be more aggressive.
Overall though a great boat for smaller paddlers.