Frenzy

I agree with a lot of the comments already on here. For its short length the Frenzy tracks very well, and is very stable. I have tested the stability by letting smaller waves hit the kayak side on and the kayak simply rotates and you start riding the wave into shore!

I have two of these kayaks and will be shortly buying a third. Definitely a keeper.

I've seen this referred to as a good starter kayak a few times and I agree, but it's also a good finisher kayak. That is, there's no reason to upgrade if you are looking for a real SUV of a kayak. Super stable, fast enough, holds lots of stuff and inspires a ton of confidence. Had this out today on a day where I was advised by at least 4 people on my walk to the flats (at the mouth of the Merrimack in MA) that the white caps were ripping and I may want to rethink things. Eyed things up at the launch for a few minutes, tightened my PFD and went in. Had to fight the 2.5. to 3 footers that were funneling up the ramp but once able to paddle the Frenzy sliced right through them.

I went out to test an anchor system as well as some new scupper plugs and do a little fishing. The spot is at the mouth of the Merrimack river known for strong currents. Learned that plugs are not a great idea in lumpy seas, so headed back and pulled them, though I realize I could have just as easily done it in the water. Without the plugs my confidence was heightened considerably as the self-bailing nature of a SOT became truly evident. Wind was blowing directly in, so I took the waves on an angle and paddled out with a lot less difficulty than I expected. I could see people looking from shore, I wondered it they were concerned for my safety. I wasn't. I never came remotely close to capsizing, the thought never even entered my mind (and I describe myself as overly cautious). The yak behaved incredibly well, possibly even better then when conditions are calmer. The scuppers kept things perfectly balanced and the water was warm so no worries (I'm 225 ish so get my share of water movement). I'm not quite clear on the reason behind the design of the stern as water seems to pour in this low area (and then pour out the scuppers)...I'm sure there's a good reason for it but it could be a problem in colder water which I need to figure out. The frenzy is light, easy to throw around has takes a beating better than Gerry Cooney, I've noticed some water in the hull but at this point the culprit appears to be an aftermarket hatch.

All in all, this kayak does everything well and a few important things very well. Very happy I decided to go out as tough the conditions made me a much better paddler and allowed me to better understand the capabilities of this kayak. I was able to surf a few waves back to the landing to cap things off and end the jaunt. The only reason not to buy this is if you are only interested in going very fast. I like going fast but will take the stability and safety in trade any day of the week.

Let me say up front that if you are looking for a performance kayak, this isn't it. Nor is it designed for white water or multi-day trips. I don't think that was ever Ocean Kayaks intention with this series.

Secondly, let me say that we use these in our rental fleet on a small lake -often for people who have never kayaked before, and range in age from 8 to 80.

You couldn't ask for a better kayak for our purposes! As stable a 'yak as you'll ever find. Fast enough, responsive, and most of all, forgiving if you tend to make a lot of mistakes.

Our original supply of 7 have been on our racks for the better part of a decade. Yes, their orange has faded in the Oklahoma summer sun, and I've started to have to replace pad eyes and bungees and handles and seat straps, but they are still solid little beasts.

We added 8 more last season, and while the basic shape hasn't changed, the newer seats are a great addition, as is the molded cup holder.

Seriously. For someone who's new to the sport, or a little reluctant, this sit-on is the way to go. Very stable (we've had people fish from them, although I would not recommend standing to cast!) and tough. We have no problem with people beaching these on our rocky shores and exploring, you're not going to hurt them. They've got a fair amount of rocker, so handle rough water remarkably well. (We get some pretty gusty conditions and often have white caps blow up - even if it's calm when you launch.)

They are, in my opinion, heavy for their size, but that's what makes them so darned stable. It also makes them easier to manage in the aforementioned wind.

Would I buy another one? Absolutely! In fact, probably 10 more next spring.

Overall, it is easy to get on, comfortable, very stable, and tracks very well on calmer/ directional water (Not great on the open ocean, but a lot of fun on lakes and in class 1/2 whitewater). Just a really great boat!

Overall this is a great kayak in every aspect, from storage, transportation and best of all performance in the surf. 10/10 amazing product!! Already made some awesome memories and more to come.

It's a 9' long, 31" wide wave catcher ideally suited for ocean surf. I'd not mind if it were a touch shorter and a touch narrower but these dimensions seem to make for a very-very stable boat in the waves that tracks straight to shore. A huge plus is the weight and portability - it's just no big problem getting from truck to surf over the sand.

I've also had it in the lake and on flat river. It does reasonably well out there. It's not as maneuverable as a touring yak but for an SoT it does remarkably well and sits low enough in the water to be stable in wake. If you're just floating around or doing some fishing it's fine - you'd no t want to do a long 'yak tour in it since it's so wide that it can be hard to get going and harder to turn quickly. But for recreational floating, it's great. It's also really good for beginners who need a very stable boat that doesn't answer too quickly to paddling mistakes.

As a surfing 'yak or a lake floater you can't go wrong with this one.
9' long, 31" wide, roughly 300# capacity, weights 44#.

This kayak has handled surf, wake from huge barges, dolphins breaching all around me, all while carrying my Jack Russell Terrier on board (as masthead!). VERY stable kayak. Very versatile. Have flounder gigged from this boat, though it is not what is now considered a "fishing" kayak. She's not the prettiest kayak on the water after all these years, but has never lost any of its durability. All parts are still attached and have lived in salt-water conditions, without a cover, for over 10 years with no rusting or decay.

A very good kayak for those who want to ride the surf or any water with a tide. Does not ride well in still water, as it is built for surf. LOVE IT -- would rate it 1000 if I could! Would never sell this kayak. Have bought a couple more over the years, including an inflatable when I didn't live ON the water and have never been as happy with any others as I have been with the Frenzy.

1. We already have 3 sit-in rec boats for myself, wife and oldest daughter (10).
2. For the little ones, we wanted ultra steady, no potential for getting stuck in them if they capsize with mini-monkies in them.
3. To try our hand at surfing some waves!

The pros:
1. With the clip in seat, they are even more comfortable than our sit-ins.
2. I love the simple foot braces, allowing you to adjust your foot position as desired without having to fiddle with adjusting sliders, etc.
3. They float even higher in the water, and even though they are sit-on-top kayaks, they have a nice "pocket" to sit in.
4. Incredibly stable, almost impossible to capsize. I hear people dive off them!
5. They track just fine IMO, without too much left to right motion, unless you are cranking... and it happens with our Perceptions too.
6. We jokingly rammed each other to see what would happen, and they hardly moved, and definitely didn't tip. Good news if the kids or us hit something like a hidden rock, etc.
7. The keel line and short length helps keep it straight and allows for quick and easy turns.
8. Without the scupper plugs (at least on the river), barely any water got in the boat, and with the scupper plugs, almost no water, aside from water from our paddles and horsing around.

Cons:
1. They are pretty bulky, and harder for me to load and unload myself onto the roof of my Nitro and off again. They are only 4 pounds heavier than our Perceptions, but it feels like more.
2. The keel line makes it fit strangely on the Hull A Port racks on my car, and the 15' Thule straps weren't big enough to fit the boats! I had to thread them through the scupper holes to get them home from REI!
3. The handles on the sides seem like with any rough pulling would snap off, but only time will tell.....if we treat them well, I'm sure they will be fine.
4. Coming to shore with the keel line is awkward, because you end up tipping to one side as you beach it.
5. They are LOUD when there is any sort of current or waves. For the person on the kayak, it doesn't seem too loud, but when you are next to another Frenzy, you can hear it! The water slaps the hull when the water is anything less than glass.
6. They are not too fast.

Overall, even though there are cons, I was playing devil's advocate for the sake of the review. All of the cons are dealable.

1. I can handle the extra weight, and it's totally easy with another person.
2. I'm going to try a stacker with cradle stops for a better fit.
3. Will take it easy on the handles.
4. Will embrace the tipping when beaching.....good practice for balance.
5. Really not that loud, especially if you stop paddling. My wife and I snuck up to 2 swans by paddling gently and coasting right up to them.
6. Who cares about speed? I'm in it for the hang and fun, not the race. Humans tend to race through life instead of living in the now. Plus, if the kids use the Perceptions which are faster, we'll have a more even playing field!

The Frenzies turned quickly to catch waves that surfaced, and they were great trudging out through the surf. Very easy to get back on when you spill further out too.

Go get one, you'll be happy. For the money, it's a stable, awesome boat.

I easily got in and out of the kayak while on the flats. She is fairly easy to paddle although isn't a rocket while in the water, but I didn't need to get anywhere in a hurry. It was a dry ride, until the rain come, although the scuppers did a fairly good job at draining the water that poured in.

The only reason I gave it a 9 was because it liked to wander while you paddled, didn't surprise me for such a small kayak. While I would never buy this kayak for serious paddling, if all you had to do was paddle a mile or less you may want to give this fun and affordable kayak a test drive, well test paddle that is.

Others have said it's not fast and it's not. It's not that bad though, especially on the lake it was fast enough.

After that we took it to a harbour and explored around a bit. I guess with the harbour being so big it made the paddling seem a little slow... we were going just over two miles an hour... that included some ocean swell and a tiny bit of chop. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think it tracks very straight and felt safe and stable. I can carry heaps of gear on the back and on the front. With two of us sharing the load there's plenty of room to carry our camping gear.

We have the seat with back support. I have bought scupper plugs for under the seat but haven't tried it out yet... that will be this weekend. I also bought some cheap slim deck chair cushions and sewed a vinyl cover for them and will put that under the seat too. Will find out this weekend how much drier we can stay.

All in all I can't wait to go kayaking each weekend.

I've got 3 buddies 2 of whom have now bought Frenzy's, the other bought a Malibu Two because his wife wanted a tandem. Your butt will get wet from the two scupper holes underneath you although I've never gotten cold from the 45 degree Puget Sound water for two reason's I have a padded seat and a 3/4 inch foam rubber gardening mat both highly recommended this also helps in eliminating sore backs. All in all if you want to get an all purpose kayak that won't break the bank go with the Frenzy, Happy Paddling!!!

What is the Frenzy good for? Any paddling where you are not supplying the forward impetus--creeks, rivers, surfing, etc. It would also be good for those who just need a platform for play--a very worthy use. If you want to paddle, look elsewhere; if you want to play, this may be your craft.

With that said, I have always been a lover of the water and the beach but I have never kayaked before. On days when I'm feeling well enough, I go to the beach and I see more and more people kayaking as I live on the eastern end of Long Island, NY and we are surrounded by 3 major bodies of water..(The Atlantic Ocean, the Great Peconic Bay and the Long Island Sound). I recently made a decision that as long as I am still breathing that I am going to get myself a kayak and get out there and have some fun so it was important for me to find a kayak I could handle myself, be very stable and easy to paddle...I have been reading reviews on the net such as this one and have looked at over 20 different sit on tops before finally deciding on the Ocean Kayak Frenzy...

Well yesterday I went out in it for the very first time on the Long Island Sound and I must tell you that I'm in heaven. Due to its size I was able to put it in the back of my Ford Bronco, drive down the beach, unload it myself and off I went...I could not get over how a boat under 10' could perform so well...Paddling it was very easy even with my health limitations and I would paddle for a bit and then rest and continue on.

I can't say enough about the Frenzy...The stability of it amazed me and when I came back to shore a few people came over to inquire about it. I highly recommend the Frenzy to anyone looking for their first kayak...Its ease in transporting, the stability, the tracking and the cost ($399.00 from West Marine) makes this what I feel a wonderful and truly great way to go for the first time kayaker And for those of you looking for a kayak for a youngster, I would suggest you let them take a Frenzy out for a test.

I'm 6', 185lbs and this Frenzy fit me like a glove. I did purchase a self-inflating seat as well as the scupper stoppers. I would recommend it for smaller people as well as people my size or even a bit bigger. This again is my very first Kayak and due to my health, I had to really shop around to find something I could deal with for the reasons mentioned and I am so very happy with the Frenzy...I rate it a 10 and finally, before taking it out for the first time yesterday, I had a few questions and I emailed Ocean Kayak and a representative by the name of Diane answered each and everyone of my emails promptly as well as answering and explaining all of the answers to my questions. A top-notch Kayak made by a top-notch company who treats their customers well.