Zydeco 11.0

I love this boat. At 6'3" it is easy to get in and out of and the foot braces are a breeze to adjust. It turns well enough that I enjoy paddling it on small rivers. It also has a relatively flat bottom so you don't need a lot of water to float it. It is also long enough and comfortable enough to paddle all day in on the Hudson River and I can generally keep up with boats much longer than it. My first boat didn't last 3 years though paddling it several times a week though. It cracked under the seat in the stiffening grooves where it was too thin. I got a replacement boat and the same thing happened even though I was as careful with it as I could be. You just can't always avoid submerged rocks and tree stumps. Now I am looking for another boat as I haven't found a good way to repair it. I wish I could take the seat out.

I bought this boat early spring after a couple of trips where my 14 Necky was just too long for the environment.

This is a really sharp looking little boat that is quite comfortable for it's price point and is very easy to paddle and dare I say athletic for its size. Its highly manouverable, tracks as good as you can expect for an 11' long 28" wide boat and the fit and finish is better than most boats in it range.

This is a tough size range where you get some pretty low end Perception options, or some really overpriced Old Town boats. The Zydeco falls in the middle in terms of price and quality and you can get them for less than 500 bucks on sale.

I've read that folks think the hull is thin, I dont think so. It's not as thick as some other but it also keeps it lighter and easier to portage. I'm 6'3" and 235 lbs and I can stand in this boat and its fine. Dagger makes a good quality product that land in between a Percpetion and Wilderness and in the 400 to 550 prige range , its the best 11' footer out there.

It's made for running tight and slower rivers or lakes and ponds. Use it for that and you'll love the boat.

Very happy with my new Zydeco. Tracks well on flat water and the seating system is very comfortable for long trips. Highly recommend

The Zydeco 11 is lightweight, easy to handle, has amazing storage space for its size and a large cockpit which allows for easy entry into the most comfortable, adjustable seat of any kayak I have paddled.

As an experienced kayaker who has completed many overnight wilderness camping trips on the ocean and lakes, I find the Zydeco 11 hull design has proven its ability to store as much as larger kayaks, and handle rough water even without a rudder, making it suitable for beginners as well as experienced paddlers that are looking for a more a affordable lightweight craft to handle for day or multi-day trips. I highly recommend the Zydeco 11.

I purchased a Zydeco 11 two weeks ago and had to return it due to oil canning. I weigh 240 lbs and that may be some of the cause however the boat is rated for 300+. Like others comments in this review the plastic is very, very thin...

I rented one of these for a day thinking I might like to own one since these are very affordable kayaks. I specifically chose the 11' boat in hopes it would go straight, but unfortunately it would not (this was true for both when paddling and when coasting, I think it pulled to the left iirc). This was in a pristine weather day on a small lake, about as flat as flatwater gets with no real wind or currents to speak of and practically no other boat traffic present. The seat was reasonably comfortable and the storage area seemed dry enough. The large but not enormous cockpit size made it easy to get in and out of. I did not wet exit the boat so I can't comment on how it would perform in that scenario.

If you're just looking for a cheap boat to poke around in for a couple of hours, this boat should do but I think there are better boats for not tooo much more money (i.e. Pungo), but I would not recommend it for longer paddles or overnight trips.

This kayak is great for beginners looking to paddle slow to medium flow rivers and lakes. Handling is easy and it is very comfortable. Light enough to carry and small enough not to take up too much space in an apartment. Highly recommended kayak!