Adventure XL 139

I have only kayaked 2 1/2 seasons. The second season I sold my 10 footers and bought 5 Old Towns. One 10 footer and four 13' 9". The reasons: Was told Old Town were good quality.

This was a good mid-range length and a bit wide but good for beginners. I do like the rudder option but a lot of the time I do not use them through very handy coming in to a wharf or busy beach. The turn and lock hatches I do like alot. We have done 5 and 6 hour trips so far and never got tired. We are planning a 2 day trip this year.

The Adventure XL 13.9 with its poly link samwiched hull has been a great step up since the Loon 12 which my wife is using today, with plenty of room for a few crabs behind the seat until they start crawling up my back then I bank the boat and move them to one of the 2 hatch areas.

Didn't think I would use the rudder but with the winds and tides on the Oregon coast it has been very nice to use. Only thing wearing out has been the plastic trim around the cockpit has become loose and wish the foot pegs were a bit larger. Well off to fish sea run cuts.

I've had this boat for 5 years and have never had an issue, it tracks nicely and is very stable. I mainly got it because I'm a big guy, 6'0" 250 lbs. it holds up great. I paddle in almost any bit of water I can fit it in, but I mainly stay to slow rivers and open lakes. It is a little heavy to get back on top of my jeep, but I wouldn't trade it for any other model.

Very happy with this kayak. Pluses - very stable and comfortable, easy to paddle get in and out of, adjustable foot pedals make it easy to change knee position, rear hatch large enough to fit fold-up cart.

I've paddled my Adventure XL 139 for three summers now and I'm still very happy with the purchase. My wife paddles the same boat in the 125 size. It is a great all around boat for doing lots of different things. It does fine in rivers with mild whitewater and is equally at home on lakes. We have rudders and have found that they are certainly not essential and they were pretty expensive. The polylink material is tough as nails. We have bounced off off rocks and scraped bottom plenty of times with no harm done. The only slight drawbacks are weight and leakage in the supposedly water tight compartments. I wish Old Town would sell me the new foam seat but they won't. It's a big improvement.

I have had mine a few months, tracks great, plenty of room. Has been on rivers, lakes and most recently lake Superior..Pictured Rocks. The big lake was pretty calm (1-2ft sea)The Adventure XL handled the BIG pond great. Most fun I had had in years...great kayak.

I have had a 139 for several years. I have used in creeks, rivers, large and small lakes, and the Gulf, and have found it to be fun and reliable in all situations. I am planning to get one for my grandson. Enjoy.

After 30 years of paddling a canoe, I bought my first kayak several weeks ago: an Adventure XL 139. Since I live on the shore of Lake Superior, one of the premier kayak spots in the world, I was drawn to the full-fledged sea kayaks that ply the unpredictable big water of Superior. The thing is that I didn't want to start out by spending $2,000 for a yak that might not get used. Instead, I found an XL for $500, bought a really good fiberglass paddle (don't skimp on the paddle - I found a really light glass one for $120.)

I've had it out several times on inland lakes and on the St. Louis Bay on Superior. This boat has great final stability, although the initial rocking was much greater than the canoes I'm used to.

The boat also has a fairly high degree of weathercocking, a tendency to turn into the wind. From my sailing days, I recognize this is not the worst thing. You want your boat to point into the wind and waves without a great deal of effort. Nevertheless, it is a bit of a chore to keep it pointed where you want in a crosswind. A little paddling adjustment is needed, but this yak tracks darn well.

At 56 lbs, it is not difficult to get it on and off the roof rack which is critically important to me. I would not want a boat much heavier than this. The easier it is to throw on the car, strap it down, and take off the more it will get used.

I'm sure it is not the fastest boat around, but you also don't need a rudder. My second time out I covered 3 miles paddling easy in about 45 minutes - that's 4 miles/hr. Knowing Old Town, I am confident this little yak can handle heavy weather if the paddler is up to it.

I ordered the spray skirt to keep some of the water from the paddle out of the cockpit. Next week, I am taking a kayak technique and rescue class on Lake Superior. I think some instruction in kayaking is really essential to get the most out of the sport.

I may upgrade eventually, but for me personally this Kayak is a "10." I have to rate it 8 because of the compromises that had to be made to make a short yak with a lot of stability for larger people. I'm 5'10" and 200 lbs, built more like a wrestler than a Pillsbury doughboy, but still not a small guy. This a very good recreational day touring choice and a great buy.

Cabela's gave me this Kayak free for Credit Card Points last year and it has been a good kayak. It is very stable and I like the larger opening and room being a husky kinda guy. I did some fishing in it at Craig Lake state park and was very stable. I was able to keep pace with other kayak in crew and I love the positive lock hatches. My only regret is I did not get the 15 foot one for longer trips, such as Isle Royale next year, but all in all a good kayak.

On second season with boat. Mostly lake and river use. Poly link 3 a winner. Weight not a problem, and nice stiff hull. Great tracking, no need of rudder as responds well to lean. Only complaint front compartment not water tight leaks on floor. Hatch covers a winner with twist lock. Seat very comfortable on long trips. Cockpit roomy enough, with useable space behind seat.

I have had my Adventure XL 139 for a couple of years now, and I think it is a very good boat. Seems to have real good stability and tracks well. I have mostly had it on class 1 and 2 in Southern Missouri, no whitewater (the boat isn't really made for whitewater anyway). My boat doesn't have the new cam locking hatches or the newly padded seat, but I guy I know bought one of the new ones and he says that they are a pretty good improvement.

I recently bought an Adventure XL 139 as a move up from the Loon 138. I really enjoyed the Loon but my wife has become interested in paddling so I gave her mine and bought a new one. Not a bad deal. I find it easier to handle and quicker than the Loon. I love the stability of the boat and the roominess of the cockpit. Very easy to get in and out of. Have had it on rivers protected ocean bays and lakes and has handled very well. I think it is a great deal for the price.

Love the kayak. Just bought it 2 days ago after test paddling at Rutabaga. Tried the XL 139, Kestrel HV, and Prijon Calabria. The XL 139 was the slowest of the three boats. Found the Calabria to track not too great (without the rudder), but this may be due to my limited paddling experience (several months). Also heard from others that the Calabria weather cocks severaly without the rudder. I decided I didn't want to deal with extra hardware on my boat, cross the Calabria off the list. The Kestrel was a touch faster than the XL but it only had one hatch and was 1.5 feet shorter for tracking purposes. Kestrel felt like rock solid construction as well as the XL did. Both boats have comfortable high back seats.

The XL tracks well and turns decent. It does respond to a lean during a turn to speeds things up a bit. I got a great deal on my boat at Rutabaga in Madison, WI. $650 for a 2004, including a $50 Old Town factory rebate. The new cam lock hatches on the 2004 models rock. Easy to open hinges and you can "feel" them seal when they lock shut, although I have not submerged them yet for the real test. Had the boat out yesterday for a 2-hour paddling on a lake with a lot of motor boat chop. In 1-2 foot swells/chop the swept bow of the XL sliced through the waves paddling into them. Very stable ride paddling parallel to the waves as well. The Polylink 3 hull is very stiff and feels extremely tough. This boat will last for years. The 2004 XL has a padded seat and back rest. The back rest is high and comfortable, although almost too high to fit a normal my PFD (a Lotus Lola). The foot pegs are great since the adjustment arm extends toward the paddler so one can easily reach it for peg adjustments on the fly (although one does not function properly, see below). The cockpit size is extened but I found it not so ridiculously large as the Loons. Cockpit has plent of space for gear and room to circulate fresh air on your legs. I'm 6'1" 215 lbs. and the boat fits me perfectly.

Probably not the fastest boat I could have bought but it will serve well for fishing harbors and rivers of Lake Michigan, camping the Wisconsin River, and general day paddling, and I could not beat the amount of boat and features I got for the price. I can really rig this baby up as a kick butt fishing machine too!

Improvements that would have earned the boat a 10: Come with a paddle holder (will have to install paddle clips), a small (nickle size) dent in the hull bottom (not very bad so I am ignoring it), and the right foot peg adjustment tab does not lock in place properly on its own, you have to manually push it into the hole otherwise pressure from your foot will shove the peg all the way forward.

The XL139 is a great boat. The Polylink-3 hull material is strong, insulates you from the cold, and is very quiet through the water. The material itself has foam in it, making the boat extremely boyant (will not sink - period) The finish is a bit delicate though, I have accumulated quite a few scratches on the hull surface, but nothing detrimental to the strong structure. Since the hull is so strong, there is no need for any type of fram spars to get in the way. The seat is very comfortable and the back is adjustable from a very upright position, to a very laid back position. The fixed seat bottom is good but could use some padding for the much longer trips (a piece of closed cell foam works wonders). I really like the big, open cockpit especially for venting in hot weather. I can move my legs into several different positions, avoiding any stiffness or cramping. The footbraces are designed with the lock tabs up towards the paddler, allowing easy adjustment from inside the boat - no getting in and out until you get it right, and nice for variation on longer paddles. The real deal on this boat? Storage-storage-storage! You cold put enough gear in this thing for three or four paddlers. A sealed bulkhead in front and back, tons of room between your feet and the front bulkhead, and a generous space between the seat and the back bulkhead. Plus shock-cord deck rigging front and back. This is a great boat for long trips on class 1 or 2 rivers, big lakes, and along medium-calm coasts. Not a good boat for any kind of whitewater though. Turns fast for an almost 14' boat... but still too slow for rapids. Don't waste your money on the optional rudder, the boat tracks perfectly. The boat is "built for larger paddlers," but I wanted all that storage space and the quality material & construction. I'm male, 5'8" and weigh about 155 lbs., and I have no problem fitting in, and paddling this boat. If you don't mind giving up some cockpit space, the Castine is the exact same boat, just about a foot shorter (mostly removed from the cockpit area - bulkheads are about the same size) and a couple of inches narrower. I got a good deal on mine, $550 brand new, because someone ordered it and never returned to get it. It did not have the advertised paddle holder rigging, but the dealer threw in a kit for free. All in all, this is a great boat. Good for recreation and extended trips. Quality materials, quality construction, quality design, and very enjoyable. Now shut off that computer and get paddling.

I'm new to kayaking, and still have not bought one. The XL139 was the third boat I've tried on a day trip. The large cockpit was welcome, given that I'm none too limber these days. Very good initial stability.

I thought it was a fairly speedy boat - until I tried to keep pace with a few other people in my group, who were in sleeker boats. They were paddling at probably half my effort, and were 100-300 yards in front of me within minutes. When just drifting after a stroke, they kept on going, and the XL139 quickly ran out of momentum. At the end of 2 1/2 hours I was feeling the soreness in my arms. Legs and butt were not that comfortable either in terms of the seating.

Although it was an improvement over the Loon 138, and has more speed and somewhat less resistance, it's still too heavy and slow for anything but recreational paddling.

I purchased an Adventure XL 139 last year. I had previously owned a Loon and the XL has proved to be a much more enjoyable kayak to paddle. It has plenty of room and storage space for any overnight trips. I am especially pleased with the stability of the boat. I would recommend this model for anyone who is thinking of geting involved in kayaking but they do not want to spend a great deal of money.

I've had my Adventure XL for about 6 weeks now. This kayak is great for big people. I'm 6'5" and weigh 260lbs, I would say I'm the maximum for this model. Just enough leg room, some times my right leg falls a sleep if I don't move it around. At my size, I was concerned with stablity since a lot of weigh is above the boat. The Adventure XL is stable, fast and a lot of fun. I have the rudder to help, because most of my paddling is on the ocean off the coast of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and a lot in the Bay of Fundy. Great looking too. A great pick.

I had a local shop order a rudderless red Old Town Adventure XL for me. I received it last weekend (after a 3 week wait) and have had it out on the water twice now. I am a big guy; 6'2" with a wide girth. This kayak is made for larger people and I have no trouble entering and exiting the Kayak by myself. (Getting me into a normal sized kayak cockpit takes 2 other people and some butter!).

Let me state that this kayak is comfortable. I was able to paddle it comfortably for 4 hours the first day and 3 hours the next. The boat was responsive and did not need a rudder. Cruising speed was rewarding if not rocket fast and the boat handles well in light chop and waves. On flat water the boat is simply a joy to cruise in. The boat has a pleasant upturn at the bow and stern. This upturn makes the boat look very nice in the water and also facilitates fishing. Some boats have grab-lines that dangle off the stern or bow. These grab-lines can easily catch fishhooks on a retrieve. The Adventure XL's grab handles are positioned so that they do not flop in the water and pose a fishing hazard. Can you imagine how annoying it is to have 'caught' your bow grab-line and have to disembark from the Kayak to fix the trouble because you can't reach the bow from the cockpit?

The hatches and extra bungies on the XL are useful and appealing. The hatches on my boat came factory installed, were tight and looked good. So far, the bulkheads and hatchcovers are water tight. The hatches can not be accessed while sitting in the cockpit.

It is probably appropriate to compare the XL to the incredibly popular Loon 138 model from Old Town. My brother-in-law has a Loon 138 and was kind enough to help me compare the two models. Interested readers can go to the Old Town (www.oldtowncanoe.com) website to see the obvious differences between the two kayaks. I will describe the differences that are not obvious from looking at the catalogue:

First, the Loon 138 has a movable seat and the Adventure XL has a fixed seat. For those of you who thought you could re-claim lost legspace in the Adventure XL by moving the seat back, you can't. However, the legroom in the XL and the Loon 138 appear to be about the same if not identical and both use the same footpegs. Second, the Loon 138 comes with a paddle holder and the Adventure XL does not (even though it says it does in the catalogue). Third, the XL has appealing contours on the upper decking and the Loon is basically featureless. Finally, the Adventure XL rides nearly 3 inches lower in the water than the Loon 138 (measured from the upper coaming of the cockpit to water level) which may allow unwary novice paddlers to swamp their boats.

When I compared the two kayaks in a paddling test, the Adventure was less stable than the Loon. But everyone knows that Loons are as stable as US battleships so I was not very surprised or concerned. The Adventure XL is a bit faster and 'feels' like it cuts into turns better.

Based on the above, both the Loon and Adventure are good choices for a novice. Why choose the Adventure XL over the Loon 138? Mostly for looks, hatches, and extra bungies. You get those when you buy an Adventure XL but you also give up a movable seat (a nice feature), a paddle holder (essential equipment), 200 more dollars from your wallet, and some stability. But, if you ever intend to camp with a kayak (as I do) then going for the watertight hatches and more bungies is the way to go. It is also easier to add a rudder to the Adventure XL because the rudder post hole comes standard on the XL.

Overall, as a larger, novice paddler, I am very impressed with the boat. It is comfortable, easy to transport and paddle. Maybe with all of the paddling I intend to do, I will be able to fit into a regular kayak cockpit sooner rather than later!

This is a brand new model by Oldtown in the daytripper category. I was looking for something shorter than my ocean kayak for lakes and rivers and this is a nice step down. It still has bulkheads and storage portholes but at 13'9" doesn't require a rudder and also has a cockpit of 19"X40". This makes it very comfortable to get in and out of and being 28" wide is plenty stable. I thought it would be slow but to my surprise its ok, not a rocket but good speed and easy to manuvere. My only coplaint is I wish Oldtown offered thigh supports as an option. They have told me that none of their plastic boats have them. To bad. Otherwise anyone of good size should look at this boat for quality is excellent and the price is only 719.00 without rudder. I wouldn't spend the extra 150.00 for the rudder the boat responds very well to leaning.