Delta Traverse 17.5T

MY wife and I purchaser the kayak about a week ago. Yesterday we tried it out on the water. We have been paddling single sea kayaks for over 15 years. We are getting older(understatement!) and still wanted to paddle to some of our favorite spots but that often means a minimum 10-15 mile paddles. We hoped the tandem would allow us to continue to do so with less effort. Well the first test paddle did not start well as we could not seem to paddle straight to save our lives. We then decided out of desperation to try the rudder(did I mention I hate rudders) . Well what a difference. The boat tracked straight and turned easily. The rudder worked great and we had a good paddle. We easily managed to maintain 4.2 to 4.5 mph(by GPS). This was considerably more than we averaged in our singles. I was very happy with the test but still unhappy that I had to use the rudder. The next day we paddled 4miles out using the rudder. I decided to try the return trip without the rudder. I never would have imagined a big tandem could carve but this one sure can!!! I simply leaned the boat on the opposite side I wanted to go and it behaved awesome!! By just leaning slightly to one side or the other it went just were we wanted and without the rudder drag it was even a little faster. The rounded but defined chine really was engineered well. So happy not to always have to use the rudder. The kayak is also amazingly stable, exit and entry from water or dock were a breeze. I was a little worried the day hatch dropping down some into the cockpit would be a problem but it was not. Oh did I forget to mention she is one of the best looking kayaks out there.

This is an update to the review I posted on 12/17/2018. we FINALLY got our Delta 17.5 Traverse on the water yesterday. We went with friends to Estacada Lake in Clackamas County, OR. It was a clear mostly windless day and the lake was very smooth. We paddled about 1.75 miles upstream at a fairly relaxed pace before turning around. I am very impressed with its stability, we didn't have any problem entering or exiting from the dock, and on the water it was very stable, but also quite maneuverable. The center hatch proved very handy for a camera, snacks and other small items. It also provided enough separation between paddlers so we didn't clash paddles at all, even when we were completely out of sync. My wife used a 220cm paddle up front and I used a 230cm in the rear They seemed to be the correct sizing for us. The thoughtful design of the Traverse provided adequate clearance between paddles and hull, banging the paddle on the hull was very infrequent. The seats were very comfortable. The cockpits fit us very well, and the thigh-braces are a nice touch. I would still caution larger paddlers to test before you buy. The rudder controls worked well, although I sometimes had difficulty finding center, causing us to serpentine a bit. At 65 lbs, the kayak was light enough for me to pull up on the dock by myself by grabbing the cockpits. I still rate the Delta 17.5 Traverse as 5-stars, particularly for small-medium paddlers, but we've yet to take it out in challenging conditions.

We got our Delta Traverse 17.5 tandem kayak a couple of weeks ago from Western Canoe and Kayak in B.C. Although the weather has not allowed us to get her on the water, I can give my first impressions. We ordered it in blue which looks spectacular! The fit and finish is top notch. Getting into the rear cockpit, I noticed the middle hatch takes a bit of getting used to as it impedes slightly into the foot well. You can't just slide your feet straight in, they need to go under or around the storage hatch. Once I did it a couple of times, getting in wasn't difficult at all. The front cockpit is a perfect fit for my wife. Both she and I are fairly small, and I would strongly suggest that larger paddlers test the fit of this kayak before buying, because I would categorize this boat as a good fit for small-medium paddlers. I really like that the peddle tracks are mounted to welded-on studs and there are no hole drilled through the hull. One less place for leaks. The kayak seems very well put together and the attention to the small details sets the Delta Traverse apart from the competition. We can't wait to get her on the water!