Escape

i have owned the escape for three years and use it twice as much as my Hobie outback. It's weight allows me to launch in places just not possible with the outback. I beach launch in Florida almost every morning. Atlantic Florida beach accesses typically involve stairs which stops my Hobie cold, but not the escape. I can carry it by myself fully loaded with fishing gear just about anywhere, even up and down stairs.

I have had my escape out in 4-5' surf and the hull shape performs well punching through breaking waves or riding over rolling whitewater depending on where I shift my body weight. It surfs fairly well but, as with most kayaks, it has a tendency to bow lock and broach. With that said, it braces with secondary stability very well. The cockpit drains adequately after swamping. My only complaint is the workout I get while paddling against a headwind and the spray generated in chop. It's not the fastest kayak by any means, with my max speed at 4mph and that can only be sustained for less than a minute. All that being said, my escape is still my favorite and is responsible for most of my catches.

Love it!, as a beginner kayaker. Light weight 37 lbs, very stable 27" wide. Easy to maneuver in lakes and ocean bay. Didn't try in river yet. Not noisy with the the V shape in front and the Catamaran shape at the back. Not too expensive $1100 CDN. We are happy with them as we bought 2.

A new model Delta's 2016 Fusion Hull offers efficient glide with advanced stability and tracking. The pronounced V-shaped bow quietly cuts through the water and allows for more precise maneuvering. The Hybrid Catamaran hull at the stern provides the ultimate in stability while keeping the craft less beamy and more fluid through the water. A moderate rocker and long waterline offer paddlers better tracking and less fishtailing with every paddle stroke.

I wish Delta will let you know witch rack system will work best. We ended up buying a Yakama long bar and 4 mako saddles to hold our 2 kayaks and I am not sure it was the best combination.

I'm 5'3", 150 pounds female and I thought the Cobra Escape was a perfect kayak for me, a beginner kayaker and avid birdwatcher. But the tri-hull causes a lot of noisy hull slap, which chases the birds away even before I can get close. The tri-hull is quite stable, although it did get tippy a few times in choppy waters. I managed to control the kayak at the last minute to fore go dumping. The tippiness may be because the seat is quite high in the kayak which makes it somewhat top heavy when you're sitting in it.

The Escape is a nice looking kayak with lots of storage for overnight camping, but the smooth sides scratch easily. It tracks well and at 34 pounds, it's easy to haul back and forth to the water. This is such a fun sport. I just wish I had known about the hull slap which disrupts the quiet of the lake and my birdwatching.