Aegean

Tracks well, has lots of room for 3rd person, sturdy design. We love it!

This review is for a discontinued model: The Aegean. I love it! If you like a long (14') tandem that handles beautifully as a solo or tandem and get the opportunity to find one, I'd highly recommend buying it. I've had mine since 2006 and use in on a salt pond in Rhode Island. It handles any type of wind and current with ease, tracking perfectly, and at 6'8",250 lbs, I'm extremely comfortable with its legroom. It would be a heavy kayak to transport daily...somewhere around 65 lbs.I keep it moored and can even get into it in 8ft. of water with no issues and I'm 62.. It rates a 10 out of 10 to me and our family loves it. I'd love to find another one!

This model has been discontinued in the US but there are still a few around. It’s a great yak and I’ll start with the pros.

Pros:
Stable and quick when two are paddling moderately. It’s faster than the Malibu Two XL since its not as wide, but it doesn’t compromise stability. Good storage space to strap gear down. Handles crosswinds and rough water well. Loading is a breeze with two people.

Cons:
Can be a wet time even in calm water. Like most OK models, scupper plugs fix this. It’s advertised for two people and a small child but that’s much too cramped for a day trip. 2 people and 1 small dog is pushing the max. Turning is slow…exactly what you’d expect for a tandem unit. There are no tandems that turn on a dime.

Overall, this kayak is great and I would never part with it. I’ve had it in lakes, streams, rivers, bays, and the ocean and it has never skipped a beat. Like most SOT models, long trips are impossible without a backrest since the molded seats don’t provide any support. It gets a 9 for the lack of any real decent cupholders. The molds aren’t high enough to keep a drink upright in choppy water. And no kayak gets a 10.

Great first kayak. Controlling direction in wind is a challenge but manageable, my background is canoeing, this is more fun and safer. My wife has fibromyalgia and finds some exercising difficult. She can handle 2 hour trips with ease and loves the ease of entry and excellent stability. We're in our 50's and will use if with our grandchildren. If you want a performance boat get that, all tandems have limitations. The Aegean strikes a good balance of size and performance, if a Malibu XL had been available I may have gone for that - it's 10 lbs. lighter, but shorter with a bit less load capacity. Ocean build quality is quite good. We tie ours onto a Combi-Camp light weight camper and go. It's a blast.

Have owned / saltwater fished this boat since 5-03. Excellent fishing platform w/ all the deck space. Also once LOADED it with gear to paddle / camp on a remote side of a mountain lake so again the deck space and weight limit are big " + " 's. If I had to list a negative it would be tracking in wind when just paddling solo. No prob when its me (270lbs) and another or lots of gear, and not an issue once I'm tied off to some kelp... but otherwise a zigzag from A -B. That being said, it's a great trade for the versatility of this boat. Even if I were to buy another boat, I wouldn't trade this one.

My husband and I bought the Aegean in May and we have used it on the river, the ocean and lakes. It moves along fast and has plenty of room for storage. We use a dry bag and also bring a cooler. We have had great fun this summer. It is also easy to transport.

We were in the market for a Malibu Two, but found the brandnew Aegean in a package deal and bought it on the spot. We love the additional space- no more tangling of paddles when you're not completely in sync with your companion-, its increased speed and the better center seat. When the whole family goes to the beach, this boat never stays on land for more than a few minutes. It handles well solo or tandem and even with three teenagers in it. A truly great allround kayak for fun outings along the shore.