Santee 116

Bought about 10 years ago at a kayak demo where they had many brands and models to test. Used on streams and lakes, low and high water. Easy to haul, goes anywhere I want to be with ease. Have been in several others since (giving others a break from their heavy dragging, extra paddling boats) and have zero regrets. Love my boat!

I have had my kayak for 6 years. I loved it. I'm 64, and it was easy to handle. I'm very disappointed that it has 2 splits in the hull. One is crosswise in the middle about 2". The other is lengthwise about 8" long. I have other kayaks and I have never had this problem for 20 years. I'm disappointed I spent the money for this quality. I have not mishandled it in anyway, and not sure if I can fix it properly.

As a 65 year old paddler, I can't say enough good things about the Santee 116 Sport which I've had now for about two years. First of all, it's a beautiful and well-made boat. I chose the bright orange on white for high visibility since I often paddle alone on North Carolina's lakes, rivers and coastal waterways. The second best feature is the weight, coming in at 39 lbs., it allows me to easily raise it on to my RAV4 as well as haul it to my put in spot. Another key feature that is very important in selecting a boat is how this recreational kayak tracks for its size - very impressive. I also have a Necky 13 and the Santee 116 tracks just about as well. An over-sized cockpit allows me to easily enter and exit as well as set up my camera on a tripod for wildlife photography. I can also take along a grandchild with plenty of space for both of us. It has all the other features you would expect such as sufficient decking bungee, excellent dry storage, a paddle holder, and an attached metal security bar to run a cable through to lock it up if needed. Kayaking should be fun and something you look forward to. I’ve had five different make and model kayaks over the past fifteen years and right now, this is my top boat. As a senior citizen, the Santee 116 Sport by Hurricane is truly an incentive to get out and explore the great outdoors. I fully expect it will serve me well on into my 70's. The only reason it didn't get 5 stars from me is the lack of a drainage plug and the foot braces sometimes give way in the locked position.

I have had my Santee 116 for at least 5 years. I bought it when there were fewer lightweight kayaks on the market. As a smaller woman I have liked the weight of it. My only complaint is that it doesn't track as well as I would like. I have put it on and off my vehicle numerous times, even in a single day, and had it drop accidentally more than once and it hasn't broken. This year I took it into the BWCA on the east end where there are rocky portages and landings. We took it over 14 portages on the way in and the same portages on the way out. I encountered waves on a larger lake, but with a spray skirt I stayed dry from the lake. With 18" waves I was making little headway but turned in the shelter of an island into a slightly quieter part of the lake paddling where I needed to camp for the night. It survived the trip just fine. I'm looking for another kayak only because I now have a dog I want to bring in my kayak and it won't fit in the cockpit. Among the kayaks that top my list is the Santee 126 Sport. I'm hoping it is as durable as my 116.

The Santee 116 is my first Kayak. I purchased it at the recommendation of a friend. I was a little bit skeptical of a kayak that weighed less than 40lbs but I fell in love with the fit and finish and the light weight was a plus. I couldn't be more pleased.

The Santee is quite fast and tracks well even in somewhat turbulent coastal water. Furthermore, the customer service at Hurricane is outstanding. When my girlfriend's Santee was badly cracked during transportation, she received a lengthy email with detailed instructions on options for doing the repair.

The kayak's weight is due to the use of Trylon for it's construction. Repair required special preparation and materials and it was all detailed for us. They offered free material and parts. I'm so glad that I purchased a Hurricane.

I picked up an older (2009) Santee 116 a few months ago for $300. It is a great little boat for exploring the creeks, marshes and cypress swamps around Wilmington NC. The light weight and short length makes it easy to get on and off the truck rack. It tracks well and is very easy to maneuver. The cockpit is smaller on the older models so I am able to use the spray skirts from my other boats(Seals 2.2)

My only complaint is the high back seat back. It makes self rescues and recoveries more difficult and is also uncomfortable for me. Fortunately the seat back is removable without modification and was easily replaced with a NRS backband. The toe room is tight. If you have feet larger than size 11 you will be bare-footing.

I purchased my Hurricane Santee 116 last year after borrowing my sister's. With Hurricane's composite material, it is the lightest weight kayak I could fined of its class. It glides through the water, has comfortable rigging, a large storage area, and plenty of room inside for me. Additionally, it is one of the best looking boats on the water. I always get compliments. I love my Santee and recommend it to everyone who wants a roomy, lightweight flat water boat.

Recreational kayaks must compromise between tracking and maneuverability. The other compromise is between speed and stability. The Santee does all of these things remarkably well. It is also light, stiff and beautiful as well as durable. If you don't love this boat after you've paddled it, you just need to learn to paddle.

Just picked up a used Hurricane Santee and could not be happier with the boat. The boat looks great and is light as a feather. The trylon material it is made of looks like a fiberglass boat. The boat is as stable as a rock and tracks very well too. The storage in the bow and stern are very handy and very uncommon on a boat this size. Love the boat and looking forward to paddling it more.