Otter kayak

Having founded one of the first sea kayak guiding companies in Maine in the mid-1970s I ultimately paddled many different designs of sea kayaks many thousands of miles. Compared against those rather specialized and very expensive kayaks the Otter leaves much to be desired. That said with the exception of it being rather heavy and awkward to carry for a boat of this size I would rate this little kayak as a great way to navigate calm ponds and out of the way meadering streams and backwaters. Although a bit slow in comparison to more sleek and lengthy designs the Otter moves easily through the water. Those with at least a rudimentary grasp of paddle technique will also find that it has good initial stability and tracks very well while at the same time being quite maneuverable. Add a bit of padding for your back and the moulded plastic seat is also quite comfortable. While the lack of foot braces does somewhat inhibit your ability to maximise the power of your paddle stroke for casual paddles it's not a problem. Should you want to add foot braces there are inexpensive, easy to install kits readily available. The Otter is not, however, a boat that should be used on large bodies of water in anything other than flat calm conditions. The large cockpit opening and dismal spray skirt would make you dangerously vulnerable should wind and seas increase. Additonally the hull shape while well suited for flat water oaddling is simply not suited to rougher conditions with steep head, beam, or following waves!

This little boat was my high school graduation gift back in 2003. It’s now halfway through 2020 and still going strong, and I sure haven’t ever been nice to this thing. In that time the only thing I replaced was the nylon strap that was used for seat adjustments, and that’s because the damn squirrels decided it might be a tasty treat. As others have said, it’s not very longitudinally stable. Exhaling in the wrong direction will make the boat change course, but laterally it’s never once came close to tipping. The other plus is that at 9’6” it’s about the maximum length for a short bed pickup truck, if your portage doesn’t go any further than throwing it in the bed. If you can find one of these for under two hundred bucks, it’s a great deal on a nearly indestructible kayak.

I bought two of these 20 years ago, and have beat them to death on hundreds of river runs... They must be indestructible. It seems like most new kayaks only have a life span of five or ten years.

We have had an Otter Kayak now for a year and it is our first kayak. The whole family loves it and it fits our needs perfectly. We have to kids 8 and 12 years old and they both learned to kayak in this boat. Not tippy at all and my kids spend hours in this kayak. I am sure there are faster models but for casual lake kayaking, we love this Kayak!

The Old Town Otter is short and light weight. Very easy to store and transport to a river and/or lake. I use it for fishing and just for the pleasure of padding. Great Kayak!

This is a rather basic kayak that handles OK. We know that Old Town is a quality name, but I was surprised how minimal the features are included on this kayak. So in its price range, I may be inclined to select another 10-footer. I believe though that it has been discontinued and the other models have more features. I would probably rate it a 6, but am giving it the benefit of doubt due to the quality of manufacturer behind it.

Love the shorter size of the Otter. Easy to store and transport in my truck. I added foot pegs and bungy cord to attach gear. Seat becomes uncomfortable after a few hours on the water since I use a PFD.

Living in Michigan and being a novice kayaker, I was looking for a kayak that I could explore all the diverse waterways that the Great Lake State had to offer. The Otter fit the bill. It was small enough for narrow rivers and creeks. It also light enough to be carried by one person for those tricky beaver dam portages. When it came to the Great Lakes, I found it to be very safe and extremely capable of handling the smaller bays and inlets. The Old Town Otter has become my ticket to explore the great out of doors.

Actually have an Otter Sport that I think was made exclusively for Dick's Sporting Goods. Well made and sturdy Kayak. Small enough to easily fit inside a full size van. Added two flush mounted rod holders just behind the cockpit, however the bottom of the hull is rounded and not the most stable platform for fishing. Seat and Seatback are well padded. Overall nice little recreational kayak.

Very nice recreational kayak. Tracks decent, great on the river. The cockpit is a bit crowded, great for younger/smaller paddlers. Excellent materials and very high quality.

Purchased two. One is an inch longer than the other. One has a really bad case of oil canning. Unfortunately the oil canning is asymmetrical which leads to poor handling. Positive, they were cheap (two for cost of one higher quality). Great kids boat. or for playing around on a lake or flat-water. If you paddle often, you will quickly surpass the capability of this kayak.

I love the Otter! I have had several different boats since I started kayak. I found this Otter used for $200, it has been my favorite boat since the first time I got it on the water. Handles great can hold a line and is very comfortable. The only set back to The Otter is the lack of foot peddles (can be easily installed) and the behind the seat storage compartment is can be hard to access.
All things considered: I don't head towards the water, without the Otter.

Bought an Otter in "Cloud" for 229+tax from Dicks in 2007. Bulletproof little boat! A little more tippy than my Mainstream Cruiser, but very fun for short trips; spray skirt helps in 3 foot lake waves!

I have taken this on Eagle Mountain Lake Near Ft. Worth TX numerous times. It performs fine for what it is. Please do not expect 12' performance.

I got my Otter at a yard sale for $50, it is worth way more than that to me! I have used it for everything from short jaunts to overnighters and no matter what the Otter handles me, gear, and whatever punishment comes its way. My favorite thing to do is hook up with a 3-5 ft long muskie and use the awesome stability of the kayak to wear out the fish. There is nothing that compares to having a fish the size of your leg pull you up and down the creek, over logs, and up whitecaps. No matter what I'm getting into the Otter is up to the challenge. Awesome little kayak!

I bought an Old Town Otter Sport 4 or 5 years ago from Dick's Sporting Goods. Getting in to kayaking and running some rivers with friends. I am 6'2' and around 215#. My Sport came with a padded seat, foot braces, and bungee cord on the front deck.

I have never paddled anything else so I can't compare it to another kayak. It does get water inside when I'm in small rapids without a skirt, but with the skirt on I have run class II and mild class III with no problem. I have to say it is pretty comfortable. My back and legs do begin to tire after a while...but when you are sitting in one position for over an hour or so, what can you expect?

I recently bought a WW kayak and now realize just how stable the Otter Sport is. My Otter is tough too..it fell out of the back of a pickup truck, slid down the highway, and barely had any damage. Just a small flat spot near the nose. She's been good to me for many years, so I'm going to keep her around as long as she'll stay.

Bought a "very much-used" Old Town Otter kayak; as evidenced by the zillions of scratches on it. A short kayak like the Otter was wanted strictly for its "maneuverability" and "light weight". Let's face it, if I want to get anywhere in a bee-line, fast; I'll take a commercial airliner. On a river, control and quick turns is what's called for.

Being 6'4" and 230 lbs, the cockpit of the Old Town Otter was initially hard to get into; although, the leg room was fine. So, the seat assembly was unbolted so it would slide wherever it was needed. When pushed way back, climbing in and out is a breeze. On calm water I use my body weight to shift the seat forward so the back slants to 45 degrees; stretch my legs out-forward all the way; and totally relax. It's way cool.

During times of hard, fast paddling, the seat is shifted/slid backwards in the kayak; so that the back-of-the-seat angle is about 90 degrees; like a regular chair.

It has been found that bolting the seat in one stationary position in the Old Town Otter is not necessary. To get out of the kayak when it is beached, the seat is just slid partially under the back deck so a guy has room to roll over on hands and knees where he can then easily stand up; even when on a steeply-inclined, uphill beach or mudbank.

It's totally "in-the-zone".

Next, carrier strap anchors were installed via pop-rivets to the front and back decks in order to load the kayak down with gear. In that regard: 1.) a dufflebag with water-proofed-bagged clothing and extra food for a day trip (including thermos' of hot soup and coffee) was placed under the back deck behind the seat; 2.) two folding lawn chairs that fit into the "long" bags were strapped on top of the back deck; and, 3.) a large knapsack with water, snacks, binocs, camera and notions was strapped to the front deck.

When stopping for a break at a beautiful spot along the river; why not be comfortable? After all, it is an "off-road" vehicle; able to get away from the destinations of mass-transit; in all forms.

Loaded down with me and all the gear above and below decks it handles like a leopard through the jungle; agile and fast. It tracks great, too; but that may be attributed to the ability and finesse of someone who has been dipping paddles for 54 years. And, in having acquired that ability to track a short kayak, a "long" kayak just isn't needed merely for "trackings" sake.

Sure, a longer Kayak will go "proportionally" faster; but why go even one mile an hour faster on a river? If a guy is in that big a hurry, why be on the river at all.

The thrill of kayaking rivers is in taking the narrows and rapids with control and confidence; and, in watching carefully for the easily-missed wildlife. And, when "beaching" to stretch-out and relax; why stand around on the sand or in the grass with a cold sandwich and a cookie in one hand and a luke-warm bottle of water in the other? Why not pull up a chair and have some hot soup with a garnish; and, top it off with pudding? Why let our complex, third-millennial, hurried-life-style take over our "wilderness" time, too?

I throw the Old Town Otter kayak on the dinette table inside my camper van and just take off whenever the Kayak Klub has a get-together at some river every week or two. It works perfect. Great on the river and great for hauling the gear I need to have a super-mini-vacation on some remote riverside paradise.

At 39 pounds, it's terrific. It does everything I need.

I picked up my Otter at a yard sale last fall for $150 (along with a tandem Otter for $250). These is my first kayak and I have gotten a lot of use out of it on lakes and smaller bodies of water. I am 6' 209# and it still works for me.

Reading the other reviews I see that most of the Otters that others have are bare bones kayaks. Mine has foot pegs and bungee cords. Don't know if my Otter came with them or if the previous owner added them.

My first time out I got out after an hour of paddling and my legs collapsed under me. Short posterior leg syndrome (tight hamstrings). Stretching helped. Don't know if this is the result of the hard seat. One review recommend the Harmony seat pad. Sounds like a good investment.

I admit to being envious of the longer, sleeker, prettier touring kayaks and may get one for other types of paddling but will probably hang on to this one for its maneuverability and convenience of throwing it in the back of my short box pickup and heading out. You sure seem to see more touring kayaks on Craig's list then smaller kayaks. There must be a reason for that.

This is a great little boat for the price. I shopped around for months before settling on the Otter. It comes "plain," but there are many options that you can upgrade to. This makes the Otter an affordable option for someone that is new to the sport with the flexibility to upgrade if desired. The Otter does not track as well as some other kayaks that I have been in, but this is only a problem if you are in open water.

I would highly recommend this to any newcomer or someone that is looking for a bargain!

We purchased 2 old town otter sport, these are great easy to paddle. My boys are 8 and 10 yo my husband and I have paddled these a ton and think they are a great introduction to the sport o kayaking

We bought two of these at a year end closeout at Cabelas for $180 each just to keep at our Pennsylvania camp. We didn't get to use them for over a year and when I did I noticed the seat on mine was crooked. I thought I could just remove the one screw and realign the seat but couldn't budge it. Old Town would not answer my emails for advice. I later noticed there were two additional screws under the skirt lip and removal of all four let me move the seat back.

These are good little boats but do check them out thoroughly before you take them home. Access to the rear compartment by folding the seatback forward is very small. For their length they paddle respectably but no sub-10' boat's going to be fast. If you will be traveling in company with longer boats you may be frustrated until the going gets twisty. Tracking and stability are good for the length. You can take pictures and shift around without fear of toppling over (unlike some of my boats.) The foot braces and padding of the XT model are probably worth it, I added both to mine from stuff I had. We just got back from a week in the Adirondacks, using them every day. Only complaint was the hard seat.

I purchased my Otter in the Spring of '05, back in Northeast PA. After one outing on a small lake, I immediately started outfitting it with foot braces (I'm only 5'7"), paddle bungie, deck bungie (front and rear), and a padded seat. I wish Old Town had chosen to include those extras as standard equipment. Altogether it raised my price from $230.00 to $350.00. I have used this boat for boat-in camping (2 miles in, 3 miles out. Should have had a map of the lake... lots of fingers). Fully loaded with camping and fishing gear, everything except firewood, it handled like a dream. There happened to be a fishing tournament that weekend so I had to deal with wakes. No problems. The Otter doesn't track during hard paddling as well as I had hoped. An add-on rudder may be the answer to that. Overall, this boat is very versatile and tough as nails.

Love the Otter! It's my first kayak but not my first time kayaking. I'm 5'11" and 125 pounds and can easily carry it to the water. It's not very fast [already stated in other reviews] but the most stable kayak I've used so far. The only disadvantage is the lack of foot pegs. My legs aren't long enough to reach the foam. Absolutely worth the money!

I have owned my Otter for about 3 years now. During this time I have paddled over 300 miles in the state of Indiana. I purchased this kayak for around $250.00, it's all my wife would let me spend.

I have paddled a few other kayaks but I still think the OT Otter is one of my favorites, it tracks well for a short boat if paddled correctly, and it turns very quickly when needed. Indiana is known for downed trees and strainers in the rivers so quick turns are important. After the first 2 years I made some modifications to the Otter after paddling some other kayaks. I added footbraces which made a huge difference, also added a Harmony 1" closed cell foam seat pad. The seat pad was "self stick" but the Otter seat is rough so I used plastic automobile rivets to secure the seat in about 5 places. This helped prevent my legs and rear end from getting numb so quickly.

The rounded deck on the Otter makes it difficult for a smaller person to roll efficiently so I added some PVC tubing to the inside of the rim to act as knee braces and rolling is very easy now.

Overall the Otter is very versatile and I would recommend it as a good value. The only drawback is if you are paddling with touring kayaks on larger lakes you may get worn out as speed is not one of the attributes of this kayak. (I paddle it about 4 MPH)

I recently purchased the regular Otter as a first kayak and am a complete novice. Definitely is not as stable as I thought it would be from reading the reviews.

I am 6'2" and around 215... so it may just be too small for my frame. Anyone purchasing should either upgrade to the XT or at least plan on installing some sort of foot rest. It would definitely make the boat more stable (by making you more stable) and give you something to push against while paddling. I don't find the seat to be too uncomfortable without padding -- but for longer trips the padded seat on the XT would be a plus... but again you could install something yourself probably for less than the price difference in the kayaks. Each time I paddle the boat turns a little in the direction opposite... which is kind-of annoying--constantly correcting course. Maybe this is the way all kayaks are?

Overall, I would like to try a nicer kayak--if this is as stable as they come--then I probably won't continue with this endeavor for long. For the money, it was a good experiment... and I do plan to use it a few more times with installed foot rests before passing final judgment.

The Otter Sport is great. Took it out a few days after picking it up at Dick's sporting goods. Got it for $279.00 on sale and am very glad to have it. Took it down the Brandywine river (actually more like a large creek) and had loads of fun. Tracking is a little weak, and the boat is a little slow (to keep up with canoes). Haven't taken it on the lake yet but it was fine on still water going down the river. Turns well, my only complaint would be the speed and tracking, but for beginners... it's perfect.

Bought one of these when my daughter saw one at a nearby dealer. She liked the color (blue/green swirl), I liked the price. She could make the boat turn, but had to work to keep it going straight. Tracking on this wide, 9-1/2’ isn’t the greatest trait of this boat. Not the quickest boat going through the water either. Okay for a short 20 or 30 minutes, but that’s about it. If you’re thinking about getting a kayak for your kids, look at Perception’s Carolina 12 (formally called the Umiak), or a used Wilderness Systems Piccolo (no longer in production).

I bought my otter when they first came out. It was the cheapest kayak out there. I was a very comfortable in a canoe but kayaking was foreign to me. The otter was the boat that got me hooked on kayaking. It was easy to handle and very stable. It was the boat that got my friends out on the water also. They all wanted to out my little gray otter. I have since graduated to sea kayaks but I miss the simplicity of the otter.

This boat is great for what it is. I am 6' and 195# and the boat is a bit snug for me though... my legs get a bit cramped after being on the water for any longer than an hour or two. If you are a smaller individual or are buying it for the kids it would be a spectacular boat for getting out on lakes. For you folks like me who are large I would recommend upgrading into at least a 12' boat, your legs and booty will thank you!

I can only rate the kayak that I have have and that is the Otter Sport, my boyfriend has the XT and we love them. When I was looking I noticed that the cheaper ones didnt have the foot pegs or a padded seat, I consider both of these very important in the satisifaction of your kayak. Personally I rate this kayak a 10 for recreational use.... its great for getting out in the lake or river and having fun.

When I bought my otter I wanted a boat that would fit in the back of my 8' bed truck with the gate closed. The first otter had a thin spot in the hull which kept popping inward. REI replaced it with no questions asked. Since I have purchased a Dirigo 12 and take the two of them all over New England and upstate NY behind my Honda Goldwing motorcycle. Get a few strange looks. The otter is better in the white water because it turns faster and I have a skirt for it so I stay dry.

Nice boat for money. Good on smooth surfaces and slower moving rivers.

Stopped at Cabella's to look at the otter kayaks...almost bought an otter until I took a closer look. A lot of the seats were not fastened correctly. Somebody can get hurt by the screws protruding in the kayak. They missed the seat totally.

I bought a red Otter for my 9 year old son and he loves it. It's easy for him to paddle and maneuver in. This spring we plan on adding the leg thingy's and he wants a fishing pole holder too.

After 40 years of canoeing, I finally broke down and bought a kayak, an Old Town Otter. I have been taking groups of 8-12 people down the local rivers (Susquehanna and Juniata). Most of these people have never been out on the river before, and need easy, stable boats. The rivers themselves move along at a pretty good clip (about 3 mph), so we just generally float along, enjoying the scenery. I have been using 17 and 15 foot Grumman canoes on these trips, but I have discovered that teens don't want to paddle with their siblings or their parents; they really want their own boat. The Old Town Otter seemed to offer the same simplicity, stability, and durability of my Grummies, so I picked one up to see how well it would work. I have to admit that I was a bit surprised by the little yak: it delivered far more than I was expecting.

First of all, it tracks amazingly well (for a 9 foot boat). Even though I had never paddled a yak before, I had no trouble whatsoever keeping the thing on course. The slight "V" in the bottom seems to do the trick, keeping the boat straight without the need for constant corrections. Even in a 10-20 mph breeze, the boat stayed on course, and went where I told it to go.

Secondly, it handled moving water just as well as the slower stuff. Just playing around, I stuffed the bow into an eddy to see how well it would "eddy turn", and the boat ending up turning so fast that it almost tossed me out into the river (my fault, not the boat's; I was expecting a much slower response. After all, my Grummies never turned like that!).

Thirdly, the boat was very stable. I leaned it over to the edge of the cockpit, and it came right back up when I wanted it to. I was easily able to do some fishing and some bird watching, without having to worry about flipping.

All in all, it was a very fun first ride. Even the seat was comfortable (especially when compared to the solid aluminum seats that I am used to).

Is the boat perfect? Of course not; No boat is! I am not overly large, just 175 or so, but the boat felt a bit crowded. I have read the other reviews, and have noted the many references to foot braces, but I don't think that there would be enough room for them in the bow in my case. The bow seems to plow through the water more than I am used to, and the boat truly is slow. The most serious fault, from an open boater perspective, is that the boat doesn't have any storage capacity. There’s hardly enough room for a lunch and a change of clothes. This is not the boat to take on a week end camping trip (unless you have some canoes along to carry all of your stuff, like I do).

But all in all, the yak IS absolutely perfect for what I need. I am thinking that I just might need to get three more of them in the near future. It sure is a lot of boat for a very a small amount of money.

This is a great boat for the beginner or for the lake/slow moving river paddler. I have this kayak for about two years now and have invested in a pair of foot braces (which were very simple to install). I can load it inless than 5 minutes and get it in the water in about the same. If you're looking for a great boat at a great price this is the one!

Why are you looking at an Otter?, If you are looking for a beginner, everyday kayak that you can throw on the roof of your car at a moments notice.. you are in the right place. I bought a pair of these little critters with paddles for under $600.00 (new), with the intent of introducing my 11 yr old daughter to kayaking. It was (by far) the best $600.00 I have ever spent. My daughter is on the small side ( 4'5" @ 58 lbs), she took to it like she was born to kayak. Our first trip ended up being all day and covering about 7 miles, she was a littl tried, but the ear to ear smile she had went on for days. That smile comes back every time we go out (2-10 times a month). Sure, its a little Yak, buts its got heart. Stable and easy to turn while drawing very little water you can't go wrong for a play boat. I have four kayaks, but the Otters see the most use, they have held up very well for 3 years now and arre available in a variety of "kid friendly" colors (ours are a matched pair in a blue, green and purple tye dyed kind of finish. Its a 9' kayak not meant for huge water, surf or whitewater. For its intended purpose its great.

This is a great little kayak for a beginner on flat water. My wife and I recently moved to the Yukon/Kuskokwim river delta area of Western Alaska. We picked up 2 Otters at REI for $279 each (at least $100 less than anything else) about 2 weeks ago. Since then they have been used about 10 hours per day by us and the local kids. They are very STABLE boats. One kid came back soaked and said he flipped it, but I bet he was trying to, because I have purposely tipped back and forth really vigorously and have had boats speed past at close distance and haven't come close to going into the water.

They are SLOW though, especially if you're going against any wind. But they are DURABLE and CHEAP and EASY to use, so I have to say that we are thrilled with it so far and plan on upgrading later when we get better at the sport. Another nice feature is they draw so little water. I can float anywhere with about 2.5 inches or more water! The kids love them and the boats are hard to damage, so if you have kids this is definitely the way to go. I'm trying to think of something negative...I guess the main thing is the lack of foot pegs, which we heard could tire your back after a lot of paddling. We plan on stuffing some styrofoam into the front of the boat until our legs can comfortably push against it while paddling. Anyway, if you want a quality, cheap boat for a beginner, you can't go wrong with the Otter.

I get a chuckle out of reading some of these reviews where someone is comparing these Otters to boats costing 3 or 4 times as much.....C'mon folks, lets come to grips with reality.

We have 2 Otters, for our 2 girls, aged 8 and 15. We get out fairly often and paddle for hours on end enjoying the many lakes, ponds, and flatwater rivers of Maine. The Otters are recreational boats....which is exactly what we bought them for. For the price, its a great little boat.

I offered the 15 year old a choice of any boat she wanted (she's been paddling for several years) and she decided on a new Otter. The boats are light in weight, tough as nails, and came in "girl friendly" colors...LOL...we have a pink one and a purple one....the girls each picked theirs out!!! We bought them at the Old Town spring sale, and both are "regrind" colors which mean they are "seconds" and not sold in regular retail outlets.

Sure at some point they may want to try whitewater or sea touring, but for now, the kids are superbly happy with their Otters. Thanks Old Town !!!!

I'm 15 years old, and Ive been paddling in my otter for 2 years now, at first I thought it was great, but I had nothing to compare it too. Now that Ive been in other boats the Otter pales in comparison. If you're a begginer who's looking to do some lake paddling and dont want to spend much money, this is the boat for you. If you have another hundred or so dollars and want to do everything else, and lake paddling, I would reccomend another boat.

I bought my first OTC 'yak 4 years ago and it was the Standard Otter (comes w/o footpegs). Having never been in a kayak before it was kind of awkward but I "made friends with it."

It took only a couple of times out to realize I should have invested a couple bucks more and gotten the Otter with 'pegs so I ordered a set and installed them along with a paddle hold and bow deck cords. Ah, like was grand after.

Since then I've owed a Castine and now have an Adventure XL. However, the Otter is still in my possession and several friends have borrowed it for their "first time out". In all cases they enjoyed how it was "user friendly" with the last two borrowers buying their on 'yaks.

Bought this boat for my 14-year old son as a first-time kayak for his birthday last June. Can't beat the value of the Otter for $250.00 including a paddle. We have been using it on the admittedly lazy Comal river here in New Braunfels, Texas, but we plan to day-trip part of the Guadalupe River in the Hill Country as soon as the flood debris is cleared this fall. Our main observation is the lack of footbraces, we plan to retrofit a set in as soon as possible. Its not a whitewater boat, but we've been pushing the little boats limits in some hydraulics and standing waves below chutes and low-head dams here in town. Bad idea, now he wants a whitewater/playboat for more adventurous outings. We'll still keep and use the Otter though, great little boat.

Bought a used Otter in excellent shape, primarily for my wife, secondarily for 8-year-old grandson. We have a tandem, but weren't going out much, so I bought a solo Old Town Pack canoe, which I love & use lots. My wife loves the Otter, and I think we'll go out more together now. She likes the independence, the stability, and the ease of handling, compared to the bow seat of our tandem. The grandson loves it too, although he managed to tip it. I find the Otter a little confining and feel it needs footpegs, but I sure enjoy the weight, speed, and stability.

I have owned an Old Town Otter for about 3 years now. I have to agree with all the other reviews I've read. There simply isn't a better starting kayak than the otter. I've had a wonderful time with this boat and it has hooked my brother, mother, and aunt on kayaking as well after only one trip each. I've had no problems and haven't experienced the leaking rear hole that others have mentioned. I just went out and bought a Loon 111 because I felt it was time that I moved up since I am a more experienced paddler. However, I still plan to hold onto the otter to use when i have guests or if I just feel like exploring. Best thing about this kayak is its ability to fit into the smallest, shallowest nooks of any lake. I shopped every brand I could find when I went for my second kayak, quite simply, Old Town just out classes the other brands in my opinion. Two thumbs up for the people in Maine creating great canoes and kayaks.

I like some of the Old Town kayaks, unfortunately the Otter is not one of them. The one I used was older so I don't know if newer models have different features but it was pretty bare bones. I suppose for the price one can't ask for much.
Pros: Great price, pretty maneuverable, very strong hull, pretty large cockpit - not confining the way some perceptions and others are. This is a pretty easy boat to car top.
Cons: There were no footpegs, the seat was brutally uncomfortable, I didn't find it to be that stable (keep in mind my paddling skills could be better), and talk about sloooooowwwww. I kept looking behind me to see if I was towing some barge and not realizing it.
Overall: For someone on a budget or a first boat it's ok, The price certainly couldn't be better. But if your looking for a boat to have for a while I suggest spending the extra $$$ for something else.

My wife and I bought two Otters with paddles for around $600 or so a couple of years back. We found them to be very stable, pretty maneuverable, their speed is adequate, and they track well, and are darn near impossible to tip. In short, the perfect beginner’s kayaks.

But a word of caution: we both outgrew these boats very quickly. After paddling a couple of "real" sea kayaks on a guided day trip (and realizing that they were not prohibitively difficult to control, etc.), we simply could not go back to the slow, calm, Otters. I now paddle an 18 footer and my wife a 16'. And our Otters sit unused (except by the occasional novice guest—and they always love them).

The long and the short of it is this: if you are the type of person who "gets the hang" of things pretty quickly, you might find yourself bored in this boat after a short time. I would recommend holding off, saving up, and buying a longer boat (at least 16'). You’ll enjoy the extra performance. Old Town sells several longer boats, and they are relatively affordable.

If you want to kayak once a month or so and don’t expect to go beyond your local lake for exercise/fishing/etc., you can get a lot of years of use out of the Otter.

=If kayaks scare the you-know-what out of you and you aren't sure you will be interested in continuing, an Otter will make you feel at home on the water. But in this case I would recommend renting before buying.

If you want to start kayaking today, and you are short on funds, an Otter is a fine choice.

This is a kayak that is very good at it's intended use, and not much else. I wouldn't dream of taking this boat on a rough river, or in open water, but it's not designed for that anyway.

Great kayak for the money. This is a good investment if you want a good all purpose boat or don't want to spend a lot of money. The boat tracks well, is very stable and the roomy cockpit is great. Good for adults and children.

I've never owned a kayak and wanted one to get on the water since moving to TN. I asked around and researched various types of rec kayaks and found an Otter for $250 plus PFD/paddle. It's easy to get in and out of and very stable even in choppy water. There's plenty of room behind the seat for supplies for a day trip. Also, there's plenty of room forward of your feet and to the side of the seat to put supplies. The Otter looks good too! It's my first kayak and I really like it. For the price and performance, I don't think you can beat it. It's light and easy to place on top of my SUV (solo). I recommend the Otter paddle made by Old Town. Overall, no problems and lots of fun! Buy it.

I have three Old Town kayaks. A Loon 111 (11'1"), a Castaway (12'9") and an Otter (9'6") The Loon & the Otter I can forget which one I'm in because they feel allot alike. The Otter however is about 1/2 the price. It is a great boat. Easy to paddle even for beginners. Keeps up with the two other kayaks I have. I recommend buying two for more family fun. Almost everything else out there is twice the price. I got my Otter at a big sporting goods store for $250 + paddles. Big enough cockpit to bend your legs a little so they don't get num during a long run. Just one word of caution; this is not a whitewater kayak! It is sometimes mistaken for one because of it's size. A tall person will find it a bit cramped. If you have never been in a kayak before you won't believe how far you can go with just a small amount of effort.

Hello everyone. I am write this for the experienced but cheap $$$ kayaker. My wife purchased my otter as an anniversary gift and I can't be happier. I wanted a boat that was well designed, small and light weight.To date I have kayaked in 3 marathon rivers races (30+ miles), I have surfed the waves of Lake Michigan, taken a 10 day trip in the Boundary Waters (with canoe support da..), paddled (class 3) rapids, and can be scene in the small creeks and streams of your backyard. For additions to the boat, I added foot braces, front and back deck ridging, fishing pole/paddle clips, cockpit bilge pump, a skag for tracking, and placed reflective tape on the front, back and sides of the boat. I strongly suggest that if you paddle in any heavily high usage area use reflective tape. This will provide a better chance of being seen by largeer boats and it can and will save your life. Overall the Otter and I have a tried, trusted, and true friendship. Buy it, paddle, be safe, and have fun.

Can't say enough good about the Otter. Have used it on the Suwannee River and several Lake County Florida lakes. It is stable, comfortable and easily controlled. I have one rigged for fishing and we just purchased a second one for my wife. Recommend a spray skirt for lake cruising and adding foot pegs. Picked up a couple of 5" by 22" boat fenders for leg rests. Helps on the longer paddles.