Dirigo 140

I have so many kayaks I can’t remember where I bought this one. But it stands out. I have the dirigio tandem plus also 14 feet. And the dirigio 10.6 Angler which is wider. Pros: 14 feet long, a decent size cockpit, and a storage compartment. It does travel well and makes long trips a breeze. Cons: long for fast moving water, cockpit is a bit narrow, the seat falls apart after a few years. The Black console beneath the Cup Holder makes getting in and out harder. I removed mine because the hardware fell out. . It does sit low in the water, making turn overs a bit more likely. The plastic support for the seat doesn’t last. Broke the First year.

The larger than normal open cockpit makes this yak stand out from all of the rest. Easy in, easy out. Lots of knee room to flex and stretch when you feel the need to loosen up a cramp. Recommend this for older folks (like myself) with the need to enjoy kayaking. Very stable, cup holder, 1 hatch (tons of room) and adjustable seat height. Notched cut outs allow for raising and lowering the seat. Also comfortable semi rigid foam lumbar seat is adjustable with two knobs either side of the seat. Heavy at 68+ lbs but with two people its a snap to put on a car or SUV with a stool. Had this kayak for 8 years, purchased used ($600) which is a bargain for this Old Town gem.

I am handicapped and have a hard time getting in and out of a kayak so the large opening of the cockpit is perfect for handicap people to get in and out of. Also I have used it for camping in the BWCA and it carries a large amount of gear and still is easy to paddle at a good rate of speed. I love my Dirigo Kayak thanks old town for a great kayak.

We loved it so much, we bought two! Great stability even with a rambunctious five year old riding shot gun in the easy to install kids seat. It tracks well. The storage compartment is a must have & the cup holder is a great addition.

I chose this kayak by Old Town because of my successful beginning with OT's 10 foot Vapor. I wanted a longer kayak to orient me to how longer kayaks handled. I found the Dirigo to be easy to maneuver in tight turns as well as having excellent tracking. I still have this kayak and plan to use it when the trips call for recreational paddling rather than sea kayaking.

This is my first kayak and I love it. I got the angler version and find the rod holders useful. Being a beginner kayaker I feel this kayak is very forgiving and sturdy, I haven't tipped it over yet.

I purchased a leftover Dirigo 140 with spray skirt for $399. For the price I couldn't pass it up. I had been looking for a SINK for winter paddling, although in Florida, SOT kayaks are usually fine. This is my 6th kayak, so I have experience with several different types and styles. At 27.25" wide, the Dirigo is just slightly wider then my RTM Tempo, which is narrow for a SOT. The Dirigo is supposed to meet in the middle for recreational and touring kayaks. I believe it does a good job at both.

I've taken the Dirigo on several trips, the longest being 11 miles. I've read the other reviews and agree with some of the comments, but not with others.
The boat tracks very straight. The defined from and rear keel help this kayak maintain a good line. The only issues is that because of the hull design, your paddling technique or lack there of gets amplified. I found that sometimes using lean turns is needed to get good turning response.

The kayak layout is very good. The dashboard is functional, equipped with dry storage container, cup holder and scotty rod holder. The foot braces are functional and sturdy. The seat is pretty comfortable and highly adjustable. I have read some negative things about the seat, but have not had any problems with it. The rear storage compartment is huge and water tight. I have not used the spray skirt yet, but I did test fit it and it seems like it would do the job, although when fitted, it does cover up the dashboard. The deck bungees have come in handy several times.

Overall, the kayak is an excellent performer. Does take some extra skill to paddle, but helps develop good technique. I'm 6' 210lbs and the kayak fits me perfect and lots of storage capacity for long outings.
Nothing really to complain about, especially for the price!

I got the 140 over a month ago but due to inclement weather I've only taken it out a few times. It performs very well as expected when I'm solo, but yesterday was the first time I've brought my 4-year-old son along. I think the added weight actually made the boat more stable (though it's obviously plenty stable to start with), and he was perfectly comfortable in the seat for the hour he sat on it. After we paddled upstream and started drifting back down, he was able to lean back and rest against my legs. Afterward he kept asking when we can go again, which was great to hear!

My 2nd year with the OT Dirigo 140.
I found it to be a very stable, roomy, and versatile yak. It is extremely fun for day trips or for weekend trips. The seat, and ease of controls, are a definite plus. Plenty of storage; built like a tank. I only wish it came with a rudder... it would be a great help in rough water.

This is my 2nd review as I did one a few months ago here after minimal use, however my first impressions have lasted the entire summer...this is a great choice for recreational lakes without hassles entering or exiting, at 6-1 225lbs I find the seat comfortable and adjustable, plus even our 80lb lab can ride with me although snug, it works and is fun...we also have a 12 footer for her and she loves it too...I think those worried about performance may want to lift some weights as we are the motor and I can get this puppy flying...very pleased.

Just got new Dirigo 14, first Yak ever for us, I'm 6-1, 225 lbs, did research as wanted comfort for my size, ease of access, fishing, stability and performance/handling... pleased to report it is all of above. I have a touchy lower back, but have spent 3 hrs so far and no problems at all, this is recreational stuff as we live on a larger lake, it is perfect. I'd have trouble imagining squeezing into a smaller cockpit as I like the relatively open roomy cockpit (although it isn't too roomy), especially for fishing, plus I can get this yak cruising at very good speeds, it tracks very well and turns OK and handles waves. I figure I can get going at 5 knots as it seems to cut the water very well. We have guests to the lake, and this is perfect also for novices who want to experience all this without hassles entering or exiting cockpit or worries of capsizing... overall very good recreational boat and well made, we got the Carlisle Magic fiberglass paddles which seem perfect as well ($90), no regrets at all.

This is my first Kayak....had some test rides in Pungo, Necky, Perception, and more. It came down to the Pungo14 and the Drigo. I setteled on the Drigo. I love the rear hatch design and the dry storage up front with the molded in drink holder . The seat is too cool also, no problems with the seat, I'm 5'9" and 150 lbs, maybe the big guys are too much for the seat?? Anyway, The yak is superior in craftsmanship and fit and finish, yes it is a little heavier, but once in the water not much of an issue. I will probably get a Pungo 12-14 for my guest boat and I may switch off too. I do like that boat too! With the Old Town, I got the "cloud" finish and love it, it is very soft and easy on the eyes. I do need to re-GOOP the rear bulkhead tho, it was loose from whatever??? The only flaw in the boat, but I see this all the time on these boats because the sealant doesn't stick well to the haul material. Some Goop will do the trick tho and the yak will be 100%. Very happy with the boat for average to extended day trips in calm to light chop waters in the back bays of SW florida...Pine Island area.....would have given it a 10 if the weight was about 5-8 lbs lighter.

I paddle with my 3yr old daughter and I wiegh 215lbs. This boat tracks great with no rudder or skeg. It is very stable for both of us. My daughter can walk around, go fishing, hang over the side, and even take a nap in it with minimal effort on my part. This is a great Rec boat that I have paddled on trips over 5 hrs in one day, the down side of the stablity is that it is not a fast yak. You just have to sit back and enjoy the ride. The cockpit is very comfortable and roomy for both of us. My yak came with a seat up front for my daughter, the downside is that her seat is not padded so you have to be creative. The hatch system is the best I have ever used! It is very easy to open and access, and seals great. The only other downside to the boat is that it is heavy for one person to carry. I can load it by myself but carrying it to the water can be grueling if it is anything greater than 50' by yourself. Overall a great yak to enjoy nature with yourkids! If you can handle it, use a powerstroke paddle or wideblade. It makes it a really fun boat.

I am 6' 2" and was trying to find a kayak that I could actually use the footpegs in because I have longer legs. This Kayak was one of the few that I could sit in for more than an hour. The cup holder and water tight compartment for keys, camera is a great feature except in the smaller versions I found that it seemed to get in the way. The only reason that I gave it a 9 instead of a 10 is because of its length it does not manuever as easily as hoped but seeing as it is longer than a normal kayak it is expected. I found that it glides through water nicely but it does displace quite a bit and if you are not in decent shape you might have problems on longer trips.

Purchased the Dirigo 140 for recreational/family purposes, i.e., exercise, day touring of our local lakes, occasional fishing and short recreational outings with my daughter.

I found the Dirigo 140 to be a definite winner in its class as an all-around family recreational boat. It is exceptionally stable (you would have to aggressively assist this boat in order to tip it). It tracks and glides quite well, in fact, I find it to have decent speed too (I'm 5'-8" and weigh-in at 165 lbs. for reference purposes). It actually performs quite nicely into the wind. On a recent 5 hour tour of some local lakes, the wind kicked up to approx. 15 knots with at least a 1 ft. chop, the Dirigo performed beautifully (I could however sense that secondary stability as I expected, would be questionable in choppier coastal conditions - the standard cost for having exceptional primary stability).

The Dirigo 140 is TRUE to Old Town's renowned craftsmanship - it is a beautifully crafted boat from its hull, deck design and finish to its rear watertight storage (bulkhead) compartment. Old Town's easy to open "space hatch" is ACTUALLY watertight. The large open cockpit design makes entry and exits a breeze and allows for exceptional ease for fishing and stowing of your equipment, etc. The included child seat I find works quite nicely, remove it and again you've got a nice open space for a relatively good sized tackle-box. The small dashboard waterproof compartment is a really nice feature too for your wallet, keys, cell, etc. Old Town's new open cockpit control panel design really allows for a great deal of comfort, flexibility and control of the boat. I added a “Seals Sneak Spray Skirt” for my day/tour outings to keep dry – the large cockpit design does lend itself to paddle drip inside the cockpit. Personally, I also found the fully padded "Extrasport" seat with its on-deck adjustment controls to function extremely well - it provides adjustably great support and comfort. The Dirigo is also equipped with a generous amount of functional deck bungee rigging.

In closing, my only reason for not giving the Dirigo a rating of 10 is due to what I presume was an arguably rare flaw in the foam thigh control pads - approx. a week after receiving my new Dirigo (shipped directly from the factory) I found the foam thigh pads were deteriorating. I called "Old Town" direct - they informed me they would promptly ship replacement pads but I was courteously instructed to place a warranty claim through the retailer I purchased my Dirigo (Cabelas). Cabelas' great customer service dept. contacted Old Town directly on my behalf and my replacement pads were shipped - I've since replaced them and they're holding up fine to date. Although the boat was shipped well wrapped by Old Town, it did arrive with the gratuitous shipping and/or pre-wrap dents and scratches, however I must say that Old Town's Poly Link 3 material does display a great deal of resiliency (it's unquestionably highly-durable).

The Dirigo 140 is definitely a winner in its class!

This is a follow up to my previous review. People should read and research a product before they buy it. If you plan on long drives carrying a ton of gear, you would not buy a mini cooper. If you want a sleek and fast kayak, you do not buy a Dirigo 140, simply look at the design! However, if you want a rugged highly stable boat that is great for fishing and photography etc., a Dirigo is a great choice!

I use my boat all the time and have gone from "casual" paddler to "avid" paddler as a result. In fact I had it out on Lake Michigan last weekend in some moderate waves (2-3 feet) and it handled great and was a heck of a lot of fun. Okay, I might not do a 20 mile trek in it (if I want to do that I will get a Sea Kayak) but for most everything else it's great! I am going back to the big lake this weekend and will spend hours out there fishing and relaxing! I love my Dirigo!

The Dirigo 140 is an outstanding kayak. I picked one up in March and have used it extensively for fishing since then on small to midsized lakes including busy days with a great deal of "chop" due to boat traffic. I have had no problem in chop or large wakes from other boats.

The fit and finish are top quality. The material that Old Town uses is not only great looking but durable and stiff. Stability is excellent and speed and tracking have been great. The seat is very comfy, there is plenty of storage and the deck lines are a nice touch. I have fished from my Dirigo for as many as 8 hours at a time and have had no problems with comfort. Modifying this yak for fishing is easy with many options. If enough folks are interested, I will post some of the mods I have made. I have also purchased every conceivable option imaginable (spray skirts, cockpit cover, deck lighting, rod holders, anchors, etc.) and am happy to share what seems to work best. To the guy that compared it to a Prijon, no kidding the Dirigo is slower, but then my Infinity QX4 SUV is slower than my Audi Quatro. They are two different yaks for two entirely different purposes.

I also own a Wilderness Systems Pungo which is a nice boat but nothing like my Dirigo. The Dirigo is a much more "solid" craft with greater speed and stability.

The only caveat I have about the Dirigo 140 is the weight. It is not a lightweight 10 foot boat. This is a full 14 feet long and is a bit on the heavy side. I get it up on top of my car by leaning it upright against the back and then "sliding" it up top. A smaller paddler may need some assistance car topping it.

For comparison/comfort purposes, I am 5'10" tall, weigh 185 pounds and have more than enough room inside the cockpit for comfort and gear.

I bought the Dirigo 14 to be used for fly fishing. The roominess of the cockpit makes it ideal for this. It is a great day trip boat, very stable, tracks good. I will use it on the Puget Sound for searun cutthroat fishing. It is ideal for moving along the shoreline and estuaries. It would be nice if it had a spray skirt.

This is my first kayak, I shopped around and talked to several people. I wanted a kayak for weekend camping, flatwater, nice flowing NC rivers as well as comfort. I think I got it all. I paddled six hours the first time I put it in and had no problem with tracking or stability, nor was I sore or achy the next day like most of buddies said I would be. Great boat for the money, great features, and plenty of room. I'm 6'1", 265 lbs. I paddled with comfort all day long...