There's really no other SOT quite like a Caribbean 14. I purchased one in 2018 after owning a thermoformed WS Tarpon Ultralite 12 and renting Hobie and Jackson boats. I enjoy kayaking with a paddle, I don't really care about pedal drives, and I love that I can easily move this kayak around by myself thanks to the rigid handles in the middle of the boat; I just pick it up over my head and take it where it needs to go. I'm not terribly strong but the boat is super light given its size.
I use the Caribbean in the Louisiana marsh to chase redfish, speckled trout, and black drum. In this environment it's had collisions with oyster reefs, barnacle covered concrete, countless submerged tree stumps, and it has been bottomed out a few times when a large ship went through the bayou too fast and sucked the water out. This yak is tough as nails and has handled it all like a champ but I also do my best to take care of it. Anyone that says thermoformed kayaks aren't durable haven't paddled them at length. It's a very fast SOT, the last time I tried I was able to sprint it faster than my 16.5' sea kayak.
As far as handling, it glides like a dream and it's quiet. As a result, I've been able to catch some sizable redfish by just drifting up on them as the energy from my paddle stroke waned; all I had to do was make a 5' cast to plop a spoon in front of their face. The Caribbean wasn't designed for this, but in calm protected water I have little problem standing up if I want to cast further. The more I paddle the boat the less I do this, I just try to be better about sneaking up on the fish.
On the other end of the handling spectrum, I've taken the Caribbean 4 miles out, fully loaded with 2 nights of camping/fishing gear, in a 17mph tailwind with waves and it got me where I was going. Aside from having to be super mindful of not getting thrown sideways by the wind/current it was manageable but not advisable... I wouldn't do that trip again in this boat but it also wasn't designed to be in open water like that.
My only gripe with the Caribbean is that the seat sits a little high. The seat is plumbed to drain water and in the conditions it's designed for it's a very dry ride. I'd take a lower, wetter ride in exchange for getting blown around by the wind less. That said, if my Caribbean were destroyed/stolen today I'd order another one tomorrow. Such a great boat!
