Malibu Two XL

I recieved this kayak as a service award from my company. I wasn't sure if this kayak would fit my needs in the smaller rivers in Missouri but after a few trips in narrow swift water, I love it. It turns on a dime and glides through shallow water. I mostly use it as a single but have taken my granddaughter on shorter trips. Very stable and tracks great.

I really wanted to get out on the water with my wife, but she is not confident enough to paddle on her own. I got this kayak so we could go out together. Lots of room for both of us without being too cramped or having to straddle each other. She was even able to fully lay out in the front while I paddled solo in the back. Tracks pretty well and is very stable. Ordered a cutout and oval hatch for lots of storage for dry bag and towels.

While it is large, it is manageable for the both of use to get on and off my Subaru racks. Would recommend!

It hits an affordable price point and is a very versatile boat. Considering it's weight, price, comfort and stability it is a great choice for a family tandem sit on top kayak. The Malibu also tracked well and was quick enough for our purposes. There may be better kayaks in this category, but you would be hard pressed to find one as good for the price.
I'd highly recommend trying one out before you make a decision.

The kayak is designed for two so the amount of gear I can paddle with and still be manageable is great. My Ocean Kayak is extremely stable even in choppy conditions and when I paddle with other people it seems to track better and use less effort to paddle. I enjoy my Ocean Kayak and I'm going to add another to my fleet soon.

The only real weak point I can find are the paddle holders. Don't get me wrong they work fine but are a little trickery to use if your hands are wet.. I've been out on the lake more than a dozen times now and like the way it sits in the water and tracks when paddling solo.

The distinct advance of the XL of the non XL Malibu 2 is the ability to move the seat to center when solo or move it closer to the rear for tandem paddling. It has the capacity to fit a small child or dog in the center comfortably in the tandem set up. There is plenty on room for tall folks to get their feet in a comfortable position, but in the tandem set up a six foot person is about max on the foot pegs. I'm six foot and am in the last peg when seated in the rear.

If you're looking for a nice tandem setup with extra room I'd highly recommend this kayak.

Due to its weight I would rate it a 7 as a solo kayak and 9 as an all round double. My son-in-law's boat has showed no cracking. We used scupper plugs, and it was a dry ride. In waves or wind, you would get wet, but that is part of the fun. I am sure it can handle 2' waves, if not more.

I've also taken it out often on my own. It will handle any size wave or wake, and is very stable. In very windy conditions on my own, it can be a handful, but it's not really challenging - it just takes a while to get to your destination. All in all, I'm very happy with this kayak.

This boat had none of the fun of a Scrambler, but it will get you from A to B well. I would have preferred 2 Scramblers over renting this boat. I would never own this boat.

I found myself involved in kayaking merely by chance and I just loved it. So I decided, after a deep search in the net and a close inspection on several kayaks - hull design, safety, equipment, and sturdiness - to buy the Malibu Two XL - fully equipped with two hatches, centre oval tank well, and seats - and I am more than satisfied.

It's stable - although not as stable as the RTM Ocean Duo (the kayak that converted me to the sport) it holds very well against wind , keeping a straight line easily, it's "almost" dry inside, even without the scupper plugs on it with two + 1 people aboard, very well built.

It's a great kayak for lakes and rivers, and when paddling alone on the centre seat position, it is very easy to paddle and navigate. Never tried it on sea.

Yesterday I went on a 4 hours ride on a river with a lady friend of mine (it was the first time for her) - on a moderate windy day and strong tides - and we had no problems whatsoever to reach our goal. We have made 9 nautical miles in rough conditions but the Malibu held very well.

Although it is not a heavy kayak with 28 kilos, due to its 4,10 metres it's not easy to put it on the top of my car alone, but I managed well, mainly because I hold it on the top of my head, resting my head oh the rubber lid of the centre oval hatch. But even so, it's a little hardly handy, mainly due to it's length.

I am considering very strongly to buy the little "Frenzy", just for sea kayaking on solo, mainly for fun.

All in all, the Malibu Two XL it's a great kayak in it's own category.

Paid just over $600 for a package with scupper plugs and so-so Daytripper paddles at L.L. Bean outlet, can't beat that for the amount of boat we got. A few dings and shallow scrapes marked the boat, but just cosmetic. My only complaint is the weight, but this is a long and wide boat, not much OC can do about that. I just have to paddle places where I can get close to the water.

My wife (5'2") and my 11 year old can put it on the roof of the Windstar since I changed my roof rack system to a simple flat bar (which also holds her Ocean Kayak Venus 11). It was quite a while before they let me paddle it alone, but now that I have had it a year and have fished and free dived from it by myself I find it fast and maneuverable even with one paddler causing me to make the comment I started with.

It is one of the big kayaks out there and at 60 lbs not the lightest, but what you get for the weight and size is certainly worth it. You can do more with more kayak. I can't tell you how many people I run into on the water say they should have gotten one like I am paddling.

Since it is a sit on top you will get wet when you use it. The reason that I gave it a 9 instead of a 10 is due to its weight out of the water. It can be a little hard to car top even with two people.

I paddled solo, without the center adapter, and it was great. The only problem, and what may sway me to purchase the Sidekick instead, is that I noticed it would turn counter-clock wise when hit with wind off the water. This was not a major concern really, but it is worth noting. Otherwise, for a wide, long, and otherwise heavy boat, it moves along rather effortlessly solo.