Dirigo 120

I am somewhat disappointed in my new kayak. I bought a Dirigo 106 and 120 back in 2008 or 2009. I usually use the 120 and have always loved it. I just bought the new version as my old one was starting to seem a little thin/flimsy on the bottom. Still a smooth ride and tracks well with a roomy cockpit, but I wish I had just stayed with the old one. Honestly, I may keep using it. The only pro to the new version is drainage around the hatch, so water does not pool around it. Cons: the kayak seems cheaply made. The seat is actually less comfortable and less adjustable than the older one. The thigh pad areas are very narrow so the edge presses into your legs. The worst change is the hatch. The old hatch was hinged with two handles you turned. It was easy to use and stayed dry. With the most recent hatch you have to remove the whole thing. It is difficult to do with the kayak sitting on the ground and me standing over it. There is no way I will be able to reach behind me while sitting in the cockpit to open or close that hatch. You cannot return it once you try it so beware...if you loved your old dirigo, the new one has changed for the worse.

this is a fantastic kayak that I bought at Saco Bound up in Conway New Hampshire. Tracks very well. It’s rather heavy compared to a Pungo but then again it’s a lot faster and I don’t have to concentrate as much to keep them on track. As I get older I find it’s a little more difficult to get the thing up on the car rack, But other than that it is a fantastic ride. You won’t be disappointed.

Review - Short version- I bought this kayak a few weeks ago. It tracks/paddles well, feels stable, has nice features, and is roomy and comfortable during a day of paddling. Long version- I've wanted a "utility" sit-in kayak for fishing and lighter weight when I need to get into isolated ponds and river accesses. I chose this kayak because usually 12 foot kayaks track better than 10', At 12', the weight of this boat is still very manageable considering its size. I've since paddled on flat water, significant upstream current, and some tough technical rocky and swift river sections (Class 2ish); spending hours at a time in the seat fishing and paddling. Stability- It is very stable and confidence inspiring. I paddled it with a weight of about 240lbs; me, tackle, and daily provisions. There's no issues with room for gear or drafting too deeply. The stability is very "natural" feeling; It rolls to a very definite point where my center of gravity stops further roll with the water line well below the cockpit opening. My impression; after experiencing flat water, and some more challenging sections, is the stability benefits from the width and low center of gravity in the water. Overall, It was very stable while fishing, and all the activities that come with fishing in currents. Tracking- It seems to track very well even with my sometimes poor paddle technique. It does not randomly wander or have any apparent tracking quirks. Comfort - The seat was one of my main criteria when I was looking at kayaks, and I was seriously looking at more expensive sit-in kayaks with frame seats. The seat is very good, but is where I would knock maybe a half star. Why? Compared to some similar competition at this price point, the seat has less padding and lacked thigh support and back rest height adjustments. The seat back was fine for me, but the bottom is where some padding could be added. Still, it is not uncomfortable at all, but just could be improved slightly. Other features- The storage in the stern is ample and stayed dry when the boat got frequently swamped. The smaller storage in the cockpit is nice for storing your keys and some essentials, but the size does not allow storing your phone. The footrests outshine competitors for ease of adjustment. The adjustment is very easy to reach with your hands and works flawlessly. My boat came with rod holders which are located within easy reach. The cockpit is roomy and allows you to keep items manageably near. I put a small 6 can cooler behind the seat and I had room to unzip and retrieve items without too much effort while still in the seat. Even with a cooler there, I had room to easily store more items in the area like an anchor a. Entry and exit is as easy or easier that a canoe. I found it comfortable to enter this way since that worked well because the boat is stable, has a large open cockpit, and worked well getting unpinned in swift shallows. My experience paddling is on flat water and open water. I've had competing brand sit-on-top kayaks for 20 years and an Old Town Camper canoe for 25 years.

Look at the plastic hinges connecting the seat. It's a very fragile design. Mine broke after 3 years (maybe 15 outings) and old Town told me they would not do anything for me. I had to spend 150 dollars on a replacement seat. I'll never buy old town again.

Paddled very well, had no struggle to go where I wanted, and the added length really helped with the tracking as I'm used to 10 ft boats.
I really enjoyed this boat and it may well be my next purchase.

It is a plastic boat but it is sturdy, with thicker material than the bargain boats I've seen at the box stores. At 50# its still manageable in loading onto my vehicle roof rack. The deck lashing and dry storage are put together well and secure. The hatch stays in place and keeps water out, even when I dump it intentionally to practice deep water re-entry. The deck cubby with screw-on lid is not really dry, I'm still working on placing a rubber o-ring to try to keep my phone and other small items dry there. The rod holder is your standard adjustable one like is available at Cabelas and such.

I was not impressed with the anchor trolley system because it only came with stern to cockpit trolley system. That was easy to modify by rearranging the installed eyelets to rig a full-length of boat system. That way I can anchor from either the bow or stern which suits my needs more readily.

As for stability, both initial and secondary are superb and much better than most rental recreation yaks I've used. And speed? Yes, it has some, effortless paddling and good tracking and I've learned to heel the hull over to each side with my strokes and it really flies. I didn't realize it until people, strangers really, have been at my take-out and commented on how fast I move across the water.

So I would definitely recommend this as a beginner to moderate paddler.
I should mention I guess that I am 5'9", 200# and it fits me great. Lots more room for a taller person.

This is not a fast boat, and it isn't the best at turning when going downstream. In non-moving water it is easier to turn. It does track fairly straight, but if you try to paddle much over 4 mph (which takes quite a bit of effort), it really is pushing a ton of water. You will want a big blade paddle if you will need to make quick turns going downriver.

It is very stable, and the huge cockpit makes entry/exit easy. I primarily use this on NJ pine barrens rivers and the easy entry/exit is useful for climbing over obstacles. The boat has a very flat bottom, but it is sufficiently stiff that it pops back into the correct shape after going over semi-submerged trees.

The back hatch is great, I can easily open/close it while sitting in the boat. I have never had a problem with the bulk head leaking, and the back hatch is reasonably dry. The primary cup holder is a weird size, it won't fit a nalgene bottle, but it is large for smaller bottles. A 1 liter steel bottle is what fits the best. The seat is comfortable, the back rest is as well. The deck rigging is basic, but sufficient.

Overall a nice boat for lazy rivers and strong enough to take the abuse of uncleared rivers, just don't expect to win any races or be able to maneuver like the cross-over boats.

Now that I have had it for a while and continue to compare to other kayaks, I am convinced I made the "just-right" choice.

This boat is easy to steer and to cover distance without frequent correction strokes. I prefer an along boat paddle holder to the across-boat holder on this on. It is, however, easy to add.
Dirigo 120 is an easy boat to recommend.

Since my mom lives far away I thought I'd just have to try out the Dirigo for myself. I love it. It has the deluxe seat and it is so comfortable. I love the cockpit roominess. I usually just take a small lunch cooler and toss it between my feet and it is easy to get.

Lately I have been using the Dirigo on some local rivers. These rivers are not wide and before I was using the Cayuga 130. I now prefer the Dirigo 120 on these rivers. The Dirigo turns so quickly. I like the length and the turning aspect of the recreational kayak.

The only negative is that my husband decided to try out the Dirigo and now we have to flip a coin to see who gets to use it.

My only complaint is the placement of the paddle keeper. It's fine when leisurely paddling, but in a sprint or draw the button seems to be where it doesn't belong.
Overall- 9.5 outta 10.

I kitted mine out for fishing myself (quite a bit cheaper than buying the angler version) and it works great! It always feels stable and rides the chop pretty well if I'm paddling or at anchor. The weight isn't too bad for a 12' rec boat either. I can carry it on my shoulder for 50 yards if I need to without too much trouble.

All and all, a great boat at a good price for the beginning to intermediate paddler. It comes in a 10' version, but spend the few extra bucks and buy the 12'. You won't regret it.

It has many good features: Twist locks on rear hatch, front dash with cup holder and small storage compartment, paddle holder, good deck rigging,drain plug and best of all, a fantastic seat. It's two downsides are weight(55lbs), and tracking in the wind. A skeg would make this boat a 10! My boat in particular, tends to track off to the right when not paddling which is really annoying. Yet, reading other reviews, it may be unique to my boat. For its may good features I would recommend this kayak to friends.

One drawback is weight. Old Town made an attempt to lighten in 2009 models by going to what they called a 'variable layer' design (as opposed to the traditional 3 layer). It does save maybe 6 or 7 pounds, but because it is thinner and uses less plastic, I can actually feel the hull flexing in the water at times. Much different from the 3 layer Old Town 'Loons' we used to rent that were very stiff. If weight is an issue, go with the 2009 variable layer. If you prefer better build quality, check for the tri-layer (easy to spot as it will have a beige-colored interior layer). Looks as if Old Town has gone back to the 3 layer design from the looks of their website.

I give this boat an 8 out of 10 due to its moderate speed and fair build quality. Perhaps a different model year and I would give it a 9. Does very well for its intended purpose (small to medium sized flatwater lakes, slow rivers; do not recommend Great Lakes). Very stable and virtually indestructible. Even with those good qualities, I feel the rear hatch is one of its best features...lots of storage space and cam lock system is super easy even from a seated position. Some earlier models did not come standard with a paddle holder, but this one did; it is well positioned (much more so than my touring boat that cost twice as much).

Even though there are less expensive rec boats out there, this one is a pretty good value for the price; 12 feet of boat is more than enough for anyone in the novice/intermediate stage and it's hard to damage the rotomolded plastic.

I am just looking for something both easier to handle solo and more maneuverable on the water, so honestly I'll be putting this baby on Craig's List come spring. It was just not the right call for me (44 y/o active female, kayaking with a club but otherwise solo, and wanting more maneuverability for easy rivers than straight lines across the local lake).

I've used the kayak on lakes with winds from calm to 40+ miles an hour. Even with the larger waves from the strong winds, the kayak proved very stable. The small dry storage in the front could use a better seal: don't put electronics on the bottom. You will collect a little water in it. There is a lot of leg space. The foot pedals are great and very adjustable. They help a lot with stability in strong winds and waves. The wide body keeps your speed down, but is great for kicking your feet over the edge and pulling out a book on flat water and just relaxing. I couldn't be happier with my new kayak!

I have been on two trips so far, one 12.6 mile and one 15.2 mile and the Dirigo performed just fine. I had a bit of trouble tracking at first due to my inexperience at paddling, but on the second trip I noticed a considerable difference for the better. The wind has a bit of effect on the kayak, and a rudder would be nice (why I gave a 9 instead of a 10) but all in all this has worked out perfectly for me.

The Dirigo is stable, responsive, and quite difficult to flip. I put it in the pool and practiced wet exits and entries. I realized how far I have to push to get this boat to flip....amazing.

I am completely satisfied with the purchase, other than the lack of a rudder.