Zydeco 9.0

Great little boat that tracks well for a nine footer.

After two years of owning the Dagger I am happy with my first kayak. It was a great choice for me as a 5’ 8” woman over 60. I can easily put it inside the minivan and portage it if needed. I mainly use it on rivers and local lakes where I can explore small inlets or shallow water. It is very stable, so I can enter and exit with ease. I have been on the water when the wind has kicked waves up, or a passing boat caused waves to splash over the top, and the dagger handles them well. The seat is adjustable and extremely comfortable for me even after 4 hours. The foot pads are easy to adjust. The only negative for me is the 9.0 does not have a skeg so it is affected by the wind, and will turn as soon as I stop.

I love my little zydeco and I’ll tell you why. I live near a peninsular in Lake Erie and we have lagoons that are great. I volunteer at the peninsula and use this boat exclusively to help do my part to keep the peninsula clean. So as water pushes hydraulically into these different inlets the trash goes with it. So, I Get busy. I do whatever it takes to get into those reeds, bushes, etc. and grab every piece of trash I can. Water flow collects a lot of trash. So, it looks worse than it really is when you pick stuff up. My record is 35 pounds worth of trash on the deck front and back. I’ll have to send you guys a picture when I beat that record. This boat has really been through the ringer. Definitely buy one of these! It makes for a great utility vehicle out of the water. It can do anything. Thanks Dagger (Confluence)!!!

I live in NEBC and rent kayaks on a local lake during the summer months. I've had numerous newbies try kayaking for the first time in the zydeco 9 or 11. I can put most people in one or the other and they are a sturdy boat without being intimidating. They paddle straight on flat water and will take a little chuck without flipping. All in all a very good lake boat.

Like Music on the water! I bought my Zydeco 9 last summer (2018) specifically for its shorter length (9 feet) and lighter weight (less than 40 lbs.). I am a shorter (5'2") & older woman (70 years) and wanted something I could easily lift myself and transport inside my small SUV. The color I chose (Freeze) is awesome and I get so many compliments on its beautiful colors. It tracks well and I can easily keep up with paddlers who have 10 foot kayaks. The seat is almost plush compared to other kayaks I have been in and it is very comfortable. I also love the convenient way the foot rests can be easily adjusted while you are in the kayak. With my other kayaks you need to adjust the foot rests before you get in the kayak. My only complaint is why is the water bottle holder underneath the seat padding? I fixed that by buying a Can-coctions Can-panion beverage holder for $4.

I bought my Zydeco 9 in the fall of '17 and it's been a great boat. Light, but very durable, I've taken it through class 3's with no problem. Granted, I didn't buy it to take through anything over 2's, but it handled the bigger water just fine.

For general river floats, it's my go-to boat. Tracks well, easy to toss up on the roof, and very stable in the water while being more agile than I expected.

I wouldn't hesitate recommending this boat at all.

I purchased my Dagger Zydeco in the early months of 2014. It is a 9ft, 38 pound kayak and very easy for a woman to carry. My first kayak was a squirrelly, heavy sit on top which I enjoyed but not the kayak for me. I sold it right after my yellow dagger arrived. This kayak has sported me thru creeks, the James River, and several lakes! I find it smooth, easy handling, and perfect for this 55 year old woman to easiy strap onto the top of my vehicle and head out for a great paddle. Sure it has alot of scuff marks, scratches, showing lots of wear, but I wouldn't trade it! As a matter of fact, if the need ever arises, I will most likely purchase another!

I am a petite 63 year old female who started paddling again after lots of years off the water. I looked and looked for a boat I could car top on my RAV4 but that was stable and good for river paddling (I live in south Texas). I bought this boat in 2015 and love it.... she is good in narrow turns, has held up well over all kinds of "terrain" although she takes a little work to track in the wind due to her light weight and short length. Most of my friends have sit-on-tops but I prefer this having started my paddling life in a canoe...besides she is a pretty boat (I have the turquoise and blue combo). My only minor improvement would be a cupholder! (talk about suffering...)

I have had the 9'5" Zydeco 9.0 for the past 7-8 years and absolutely love almost everything about it. It maneuvers brilliantly in winding, small, Ozark streams with occasional small rapids and plenty of tree limbs to dodge, but it is also stable enough to handle larger bodies of water and very low level-3 whitewater without a problem. The only minor negative is the front is pretty blunt and it tends to trudge through flat water a little.

I recently purchased the newer 9'1" Zydeco 9.0 and even though the front end problem has been remedied, it is a far from perfect boat. It is easier to turn because of the shorter length, but I find it much more challenging to maneuver when there are obstacles in the current. I also find the 9'5" model relatively more comfortable (even with the molded seat instead of the adjustable seat that the 9'1" model comes with).

It's a great kayak for anyone from beginner to expert, very light to load on a vehicle and great for portaging if you carry it in a comfortable way. However the seat rest is not as durable as anticipated. After five years the plastic began to crack and had to use expensive specialized glue to prevent it from snapping off.

I recommend for Dagger to manufacture a stronger and thicker seat rest similar to other manufacturers across the continent have done in recent years.

Went to visit my sister in Jamestown, R.I. and found this little baby sitting outside her house. What a great little kayak! It's light as a feather (36 lbs) and so short (9.6 ft) you can get into the back of many hatchbacks so it is very convenient. I've owned a 20 ft sea kayak for 7 years so, I wasn't expecting too much from this little guy, but when I pushed off the beach I was quite surprised. It accelerates quite nicely. It's tracking is fair, but your stroke can compensate for this pretty easily. I was out in a bay with 1' to 3' chop and it was very, very stable. Because of it's short nose I had to be careful to keep it out of waves because they'd break over and fill the cockpit. But if you put a skirt on this little gem it'd rock in rougher weather. It's highly maneuverable, spins on a dime. Great, comfortable seat too with good adjustable foot pegs. I wish it had a retractable skeg to help it track better in open water, but that would bring up the price. At $450 new, you can't go wrong with this little boat for rivers, mangrove swamps and some mild white water.

Bought mine in 2014 love it! I bought a small skeg from Sea Eagle and glued it on just in front of the built-in skeg. It greatly improves tracking, and due to the hull shape, never gets hung up.The lightness of the boat and ease of loading is a huge factor.

I recently sold my SUV so I had to start car-topping. My Wilderness Systems Tarpon 100 was just too unwieldy, heavy, and risky for my back. Enter the Dagger Zydeco 9.0...A superb, ultra-light rec boat (note: I don't consider the term 'rec boat' a derogatory term!).

When I say light...I mean WOW light. This boat is a delight to carry at 36 pounds. The design allows you to simply rest the inner cockpit edge over one shoulder and tote it with unbelievable ease. It's also extremely easy to cartop (obviously).

I was worried that I would miss the "open air" feeling of the Tarpon 100 (sit on top), but with the extremely long and spacious cockpit, the Zydeco still feels 100% non-confined. Actually, the only parts of my body under the hull are my feet and about 7 inches of my calf. This was an important factor for me.

The seat is a very good one. It's on par with the seating system Wilderness Systems uses. Very comfortable and adjustable. I'll probably still add a gel pad for the seat though, since my lower back and tailbone area is sensitive to anything over 2 hours on the water. There is also a HUGE stowage area behind the seat, which is easily accessible while on the water. There's also two deck rigging zones (I put my PFD on the rear one)

The foot pegs are perfectly designed as well (with easy access long toggle bars so you can adjust "on the fly" rather than having to reach way down to the pegs themselves)

A big concern was how it would track. (It has a couple small runnels and a wee skeg). You’d expect the tracking to be squirrelly and it was – in spots. I found it was well within tolerances once I adjusted my stroke a bit. It does not track as well as the Tarpon, but I think the added speed and responsiveness make up for it. It will also tend to drift and spin more than a longer boat when at rest, but again – with some adjustments to your paddling style it's really pretty easy to compensate. On shallow flats however, it was a DREAM to paddle. Most of my paddling is in the flats (or relatively flat) waters and mangrove tunnels here in Florida – so I really ended up with a performance improvement over the tank-like Tarpon. It's crazy how quick & agile this boat is!

I LOVE the paddle holder design as well. It has a nice little tab which is super easy to grip, even with sopping wet hands. Little details just make this boat so nice!

Overall – the boat is outstanding. It's a good looking yak, with nice graphics details. It oozes quality. I paddle a lot, and I can be rough on my Yak. I expect it to be able to push through overgrowth and scrape an occasional clam bed without getting too torn up - this hull is solid! I got this one on closeout for 420.00, a great deal. Considering an El Cheapo Walmart Sun Dolphin will run around 230.00, there's no excuse not to just spend a little more and get a boat that’s built to last. I look at the "seats" in the cheap kayaks and just shake my head in disbelief...just say no. You will regret the purchase.

The Zydeco is just a great all-purpose kayak. 9/10 for me (value, quality, look and performance)

I've had this kayak now for about 9 years so the one I am reviewing is the older model but the basic shape and style of the boat is the same. This was my first kayak. I had kayaked before through summer camps and a few tours and I got hooked fairly young. The zydeco is a wonderful entry level boat. It can do a lot of things although where it's home is cruising a lazy river or a small body of water.

It doesn't track the best meaning there will be a little bit of correcting while paddling but it isn't designed to do that as it's a 9ft almost flat bottomed boat. It does have enough of a keel that it isn't terrible though. I have pushed this little kayak to it's limits multiple times launching it off the beach and paddling in bodies of water larger than intended for this boat. Paddling in choppy water can be a bit...frightening at first. It can handle small wake easily but once waves start crashing that are as large as the bow it get's a little sketchy.

The bow of this boat is high enough above the cockpit that if a wave comes across the bow it will be alright. On top of that the boat is fairly stable. This boat does turn on a dime and can handle small rapids with ease. Smaller paddlers can handle this boat no problem. Great boat that offers a lot of versatility for someone that is just getting into the sport of kayaking. It is durable, will bump off rocks and scrape without any concern. I have abused this boat for almost a decade and it still looks new (minus a few scrapes on the bottom).

If I could go back and do it again I would still purchase this boat as my first kayak. The new ones look amazing with the upgraded interior and slight changes to hull.

This is my first kayak and I am very happy with the purchase. Very easy for the first timer to get in and go. I would recommend this kayak to anyone considering what to buy first.

Owned and used several 9-10 foot kayaks and I like Zydeco best for small, moving streams due to maneuverability and comfort. Little squirrelly when not paddling (but par with others this length)and somewhat sluggish in stagnant water due to relatively blunt front end. I've abused mine and it's held up wonderfully.

My husband and I had been wanting to buy a boat for years, and finally decided to do it this summer. We could not have made a better decision than choosing the Zydeco 9.0. We'd been looking into folding kayak options and even modular kayaks because we live on the third floor of an apartment complex and don't have a garage to store a big kayak. However, the individual pieces of modular kayaks are actually quite large, so putting them in our hatchback meant no legroom whatsoever. Folding kayaks seemed more expensive for less sturdy boats. Then we found the Zydeco 9.0. These boats are short enough we can store them in our study and light enough we can carry then to the 3rd floor. Despite being a shorter boat, the Zydeco tracks incredibly well and is able to withstand both rivers (including some rock hopping) and lakes. It is a very well made, rugged boat that makes for great adventure. We've taken friends and family out on the boat- both short folks and tall ones- and all come away very impresses. A superb find.

A FUN boat! I purchased this 9 foot Dagger Zydeco just for smaller rivers with some moving water in Springtime as my 12 footer was just a bit much to handle in strong current. It is exactly what I needed.

It turns on a dime so I can miss those jagged edges and rocks that stick up just under the water level. It tracks like a nine-footer! Would love a drop down skeg but what's a few corrections among paddles?

It does push some water due to the rocker bottom but with a strong current it isn't so noticeable. In wind the stern catches but again, not real noticeable until over 5 mph winds.

All in all it's a great purchase, didn't break the bank (I got last years model with a small ding in it)and has just enough room in it for me to take pictures out of! This boat is just for a few hours or a day on the river exploring water-levels or new scenery, but I'd be willing to load it for any camping trip that was a day or two long. It even has a paddle holder though I wished it was on the right side just because I am right-handed.

There is no hatch but there is plenty of room behind the seat if I need to haul any dry clothing along. A great, light-weight, quick to get in the water, fun boat! Zydeco Music is 'fun music' so I can sure see where the name came from!

This is my second kayak and I oh so love it! My first purchase was a sit on top Emotion Spitfire, heavy but fun. My yellow Zydeco was a closeout sale and it is so fun on the river, agile and swift on flatwater. I can lift and carry this kayak with ease, load it on top of the car and take off to anywhere!
I give my Zydeco a 10+

This was the first boat spouse and I bought. It is too small for me to paddle comfortably. Flat water only! For me it was way too top heavy in water with texture, but I am at the outside of its specs.

Wiggles and meanders while paddling, but easy enough to average the wiggles and head in the general desired direction.
Not a bad little boat, but not my boat.

This kayak gets high marks for the Zone seat alone. You can paddle for hours in this seat without fatigue or numbness. Love it.

This is a great kayak for paddling in lakes or slow moving rivers. Tracking isn't bad for a 9' boat but you will fight it a bit in a good current or wind. The light weight is also a big plus. I'm not the fittest fellow but can lift it on my SUV roof unassisted. I don't see any other kayak in this price class that matches it feature for feature. 8 months later I'd still make the same choice.

I bought one of these for my wife so she could paddle with me, $360 (Bay Trails Outfitters, Mathews, VA) and we love it. It's stable enough without being a raft, and while it's not as fast as my Chesapeake 17, it's much easier to turn. It also tracks much better than I expected for a 9ft kayak. I love it, she loves it. Best of all though, it fits IN THE TRUNK of my Expedition!!! I'm 5'4" and hate loading my CH17 onto the roof, so this is a revelation.

Downsides? The seat might not last as long as the hull, and the blunt bow makes a lot of spray when paddling fast. Other than that, a great buy.

For class-1 to low-3 streams; hour long jaunts to 1-2 day floats, I can't imagine a single boat that meets my needs any better than the Zydeco. I've used several others (Otter, Acadia, Sierra, Swifty) numerous times, but they all (except the Swifty) have major drawbacks. I found the Otter very uncomfortable, and all boats over 10 ft. much less maneuverable.

The main difference between the Zydeco and the Swifty is that the Swifty doesn't plow through calm water quite as much, but the Zydeco tends to handle low class-3 water just a little better. Paddling a little more in calm water is an inconvenience, whereas handling rougher water is more of a safety concern during unexpected thunderstorms.

A friend of mine with Jr. High boys w/friends borrows my Zydeco to supplement his rec boats. He says there's always an argument as to which boy gets the Zydeco. Although I could personally care less, the Jr. Highers definitely think the Zydeco is the "cooler" of the several boats.

We bought two Z's (one for me and one for my wife). Prior to buying, we had tried some white water and sea kayaking; enjoyed both. We decided to buy the Z's because it's a good way of experimenting further with all types of kayaking without spending a lot of money on "specialized" kayaks. We are thoroughly pleased; it has got to be the "most kayak for the money."

We're still experimenting. So far, we've been on two lakes, feeder streams, one river, and one rapids. The Z has performed well in all scenarios and seems to be exactly what we were looking for: sort of a "jack of all trades, master of none." Example: It cruises/tracks well but has a definite comfort zone. When you push the speed, it results in the noise/water on bow that's mentioned in other reviews. We solved the problem of "lost articles behind the seat" (detailed in another review} by purchasing a set of NRS split storage floatation bags (#2084) to fill the deep space behind the seat. While not inexpensive, they can be used in other kayaks as well. With those in place, we still had room for a soft cooler directly behind the seat for easy access in one Z and a dry storage bag in the other.

Dagger gives the Z a low rating for overnight/weekend trips, but with the split storage bags and leftover space behind the seat, it would be possible to do an overnighter easily and possibly a 3-5 day for us (using the both Z's). Have been in feeder streams for the lakes in about 4-5 inches of water; cruising in, the Z was so quiet we could see the fish spooked as the bow glided past. We have spray skirts and opted for touring paddles because of the width of the Z. All work fine.

It seems the Z will do anything you might want a kayak to do as long as you stay within its limits. Add in the overall quality and low price, well, what more could you ask for in a purchase? Bonus: When we do branch out to other kayaks, the Z's will be perfect for "guests" because of their stability and large cockpit.

I liked this boat so much that I sold my 16 foot touring kayak. Tracks better than I expected, probably because I am using a WW paddle which enters the water right beside the boat. I now don't dread carrying and loading because it's so light. I'm sure it's a little slower than my last boat but it doesn't feel slow because there are 30 less pounds of plastic to push. Just ordered a Seals skirt (size 2.5) so I can practice rolls and play in the surf.

Great boat; goes most places I want to go. It is my first kayak, chosen after much research and deliberation. I echo the observations above: noisy, somewhat wet over the bow, and I might add slower than I expected. However, I highly recommend it as an all around fun boat.

I am rating this for my buddy (Tom) that I kayak with. He loves his Zydeco. Except for a couple things. 1) The location of the buckle that supports and lowers the back seat. He is constantly complaining that this buckle is right where he wants to rest his knees when he is relaxed in this kayak. He is thinking of moving this buckle back some to try and get it out of the way of his knee. 2) Is the foam supports in the front and rear. They eat things. By this, he means that if anything is laying in your kayak. It will end up in the ends wedged between the front tip and the foam. My buddy had to remove the foam just to get his sunglasses. It traps water bottles. Suntan lotion. Anything that is free to roam. And it doesn't want to give it back. He hates this feature and is constantly complaining about it. Almost every river trip ends with a water bottle getting stuck and Tom banging the kayak on its end trying to get the item free. 3) The front end is actually blunt. Look at it. Well if your on flat water and start to paddle hard to race a buddy or just want a good work out. The water will be splashing up over the bow into your face and lap. Don't know why they made the front end flat and didn't give it an edge that would cut the water and not plow it. 4) He wonders how long the seat will last since your folding the plastic to get anything behind the rear seat. It may last a life time. But we figure this has to shorten the seats life time which is part of the kayak and not replaceable. Besides those things, he loves how stable it is. He says it handles small rapids wonderfully. He loves all the room it has up front for his feet.

I wanted to update my message below. I did learn to roll the Zydeco, though not as easily as a WW boat. Even with the braces that I installed, it is a bit loose for me but I can roll it fairly reliably now and am trying to get more used to paddling a WW boat but I think the Z is a great boat. Especially for big people who want a boat that is stable and easy to get into and out of. I have had the Zydeco on some class II+ or III WW and though not the best for that, it worked well for me. Now that I can roll it I think it will be even better.

I was looking for a compromise boat to use in paddle rivers. I looked at white water boats and paddled several. I just hate paddling them because they made me work so hard to keep the boat straight. I paddled several rec. boats at demo days and liked several and was convinced that I wanted a rec. boat rather than a white water boat. I bought the Zydeco new after buying a used WW boat and I love the Z. I am 215#, 6' tall and the Z fit me better than all the other rec. boats. Some of the others sliced through the water better, and were quieter ( I agree with some one else in here that the Z splashes quite a bit when cruising and Dagger could have shaped the bow differently and fixed this, I am sure).I bought some thigh braces for some other boat and outfitted my Z with them and some padding to take up some of the room around my knees. I think I will be able to roll this yak as easily as the Corsica WW boat that I used in my first roll class and was able to roll it. I love the boat and would like to buy another one used and get rid of the Corsica. I like paddling moving water rather than flat water and have not had this on the Potomac but have had it on several small streams in Maryland and it handles very well.

The WW people were telling me that I did not want to get a rec. boat, but I have had the Z about 2 months (with a neoprene skirt) and it is a great compromise boat. I wanted a short boat, basically a 1 person canoe with a spray skirt and this is about the perfect boat for me. WW boats scare me, as I am not able to keep them going where I want them to go and they are more difficult to exit than I like. I do not want to get sideways near a rock or ledge that I wanted to go at a different angle. I think this boat will be able to control. The Z is very easy to get in and out of. If I turn it over, getting out is still easy because it is so roomy. I do not have to slide it off like an RPM max or Corsica. I do hope to learn to roll it and stay in it most of the time, or not tip over. I look at this boat like an enduro motorcycle (trail bike that is street legal) It is not the best for WW or Cruising but is a good compromise.

The Zydeco is my first kayak. I've paddled before but never in a boat as good as this. Did lots of research but decided on this cause it sounded the best. Only weighs 35 pounds, easy to paddle, stable, manueverable, and tracks good. Great boat!

This is a great little boat! I read reviews here before purchasing mine about a year and a half ago. In that time I've used it mainly as a fishing platform, but also to paddle some of the rivers around here. I've been in many recreational kayaks, and this is by far the most comfortable. That is what makes it the best boat in its class.

I frequently paddle the Jersey shore, and the barrens. I bought the Z as a first time rec yak. I took it on class 2, and a smooth lake. Very stable! Although, I noticed that at coast, it veered to the right. Storing malfunction at REI? Caused hull to warp? Over all though, I found it a pleasurable craft, with tons of storage(dry bag only). Dagger? Could you make it slimmer with a hatch? please oh please?

Purchased a Zydeco after much research and am very happy with the boat, handles well, quite stable and despite being an entry level boat it's designed well enough to give more than just beginner kicks. No real complaints except seat is a bit flimsy-great buy for a rec kayak. Thanks again to all who submit comments, great reviews on this site.

Great boat. Did alot of research and and am very pleased with my choice. Great for fly fishing (can get just about anywhere). I've even braved the ocean in it. Would recommend to anyone.

I loaded 50lbs. of gear in a Zydeco and completed a 3 day river trip thru some ClassII. Great boat.

I received the Zydeco for my birthday in June. It's a great kayak for cruising around the lake, fishing, and easy rivers. I learned to roll in this boat, but it wasn't easy. It's not made to roll, so it feels like a barge trying to get it right side up. I bought a neoprene skirt because the nylon one that came with it was pretty bad. It's really a great kayak and the only thing I didn't like about it was its rolling problems, but it does handle better than most rec boats. I would recommend it to anyone wanting a lake kayak.

I bought a Zydeco last spring to explore shallow tributaries of our four Pine Barrens rivers (Mullica, Batsto, Wading. and Oswego). Its 35 lb. weight and 9'2" length were a real advantage when I had to portage over sluice gates for cranberry bogs. blow-downs and debris. You can tuck it under one arm! It is surprisingly fast for a short kayak and tracks admirably. This is a very maneuverable boat, similar to Dagger whitewater types. I've rented Old Town Otters for use in the Barrens, but the Zydeco is roomier (due to the elevated hump). The Dagger spray skirt worked fine for me. I get more comments on the colors--I bought a red/green swirl deck with a teal underside--few kayak manufacturers put as much thought into the design as Dagger does. I am 6'2" and 210 lbs and I can slip into this little Zydeco with ease. With my weight I can traverse 3-4" shallows and not run aground. I give it a 9 only because the styrofoam floats aft and stern shedded for a few weeks when I first used it. In all other respects an awesome kayak!

"Small" is not a word often used to describe me (6'1", 230 lbs. on a low-gravity day), but this boat fits me very well. The Zydeco has a nice deep cockpit, which allows those of us with thighs that resemble tree trunks to fit, very comfortably. Turns well, tracks well, and makes for a fun fishing platform. Gets a little tippy in the wind, but not so much that it's a problem -- more like a gentle rocker. Love this boat. Shopped and read reviews for months before deciding on it, and I have no regrets. I made the right purchase for me.

We started kayaking last summer and I purchased a used Dagger Zydeco late summer. The Zydeco has been a great boat for a beginner. It has handled class I and II well. It is narrower than the Swiftie or Otter, which makes paddling easier for shorter people. The reviews on paddling.com helped greatly in my selection.

Have a Loon 138 and wanted something smaller for exploring creeks and channels through wetlands and swamps. Use it for wildlife and nature photography, fishing, and just getting a little exercise. Boat is stable, tracks well, turns easy with a sweep stroke, and moves along for its length, although there is not much glide, so its good for exercise if you paddle briskly. Only complaint is drop down design for cockpit rim with channel that collects any splash and makes nylon spray skirt difficult to keep put. All in all a fun, light, little boat. Also use it for getting others involved in paddling, a real confidence builder for a first timer. Previously owned a Keowee, Naturalist and tried Swifty, like the Zydeco best.

Just bought used zydeco already own one other rec.kayak this one blows it away will it handle class 3 i've never been to 3 but will kayak handle it ? thought ihad small leak from back bottom tech. couldn't find it though.

Being my first kayak, I may be a bit impartial to this kayak. I recently took it out on the Youghiogheny river which has class 1 and 2 rapids, and this little boat handled very well. It made the sharp turns and tracked very well. If you are looking for a great, inexpensive little boat for a beginner to intermediate, this should eb your choice.

This boat handles well in class I & II. It also is very stable and much more suitable for fishing than the Loon.