Skimmer 116

My Hurricane 116 skimmer is a dream to launch and paddle ! At 42 pounds it slips thru the water with ease .I mostly Kayak fish ,occasional bird watching . In my part of Florida ,there's lot's of great water to paddle . The milk crate area behind the seat is good access for my gear . Front sealed hatch is waterproof ,as well as the small hatch at the seat .I'm 5'7" and feel very comfortable ,with adjustable foot rests. The adjustable seat back is wonderful ,but I added a Summit seat for longer days . Overall a good lightweight and well made kayak !

Nice lightweight (under 50 pounds) sit-on-top. The hard plastic allows for finer lines than any polyethylene boat. I test paddled the ultimate version with a removable seat and bigger front hatch. The seat was comfortable but raised the center of gravity. So i opted for the standard model with a regular kayak seat on the floor of the hull. Puts your body more in touch with the boat. The seat back is nicely shaped to your back and is ventilated. Very comfortable on the showroom floor. But when you put on a standard life jacket the foam slab on the back of your life jacket instantly nullifies those seat back qualities. I suggest you invest in one of newer jacket models without a back. Then the seat is VERY comfortable. The only two things i would quibble about is the cupholder which is too far forward and the paddle keeper bungee which is on the left side and to the rear, not very easy to access for righthanded paddlers. Pretty colors and shiny finish, very attractive boat!

My Hurricane 116 has been a happy purchase. I was looking for a lightweight SOT kayak after struggling to car-top with a heavy tandem kayak. My Skimmer 116 is easy to move from the rack to the car top (a Subaru Outback) and get secured for transport. The boat has been enjoyable on the water as well. The seat is more comfy than the typical kayak, with better back support. The kayak is particularly nimble and fast for a sit-on-top, and tracks well. The only downsides are the lightweight trade-offs. First, the kayak does take some getting used too as it is a bit more tippy than the typical 10-12 pounds heavier 11-12 foot SOT. Second is the obvious cost difference; I did have to pay up a bit for the higher quality and lightweight construction. Overall I am happy with the purchase though. Ease of use has improved greatly for me, in terms of going from the garage to the water with less hassle and risk of injury manipulating a boat on my own. The only thing I wish I could do differently is buy the 128 rather than the 116, as longer would be a little better for larger guy like myself.

My wife and I have had our Skimmer 116s for a couple of months now and absolutely love them. As an older paddler with a bad back, weight was critical and the Skimmer hasn't disappointed--I can singlehandedly load ours without pain and my wife is eager to take them out on her own, as well, because she can easily handle them. The standard seat is quite comfortable, too.

Pun intended, but it only takes a few strokes and you're up to speed and skimming along nicely. Very stable. Other boaters and paddlers regularly tell us how nice they look both in and out of the water. Build quality is excellent and the finish differentiates them from almost any other yak out there. Absolutely satisfied with the purchase.

Thanks to the Backpackers Shop for special ordering the 116s for us when they only had the larger versions in stock.

After trying many kayaks, I settled on purchasing the Hurricane Skimmer 116. At 42 lbs, this little beauty is perfect for me. I am a 55 year old female who loves the outdoors. I wanted a yak light enough that I could handle by myself, yet stable enough to fish from. I can car top it easily, carry to the beach or lake with little effort, and secure a milk crate on the back deck with my fishing gear. It glides easily through the water and I love the way it handles.

The seat provides all day paddling comfort. As a woman looking for a kayak, this one is a great fit for me. It also has a 300 lb. weight limit, unlike other lighter kayaks, so sharing it with my husband loaded up with cooler and fishing gear is not a problem.