Potomac Pathfinder 100

It's a good, solid first kayak; if you can grab one used, do so. It's stable and takes a beating. I wish that the seat were a little more comfortable and that it came with side handles. But there's plenty of room inside. it's the first kayak I've ever had, and I don't expect to keep it forever. But for now I'm very happy with it.

I bought this kayak for $100 on craigslist almost 6 years ago. It's not a bad kayak for the price, but finding any information about it is horrible. I didn't receive a user manual with it to tell me the basic information about this kayak, and there is nothing online to help with questions. there's only a few videos on YouTube who have the kayak but never show it in the water, and never talk about the stats of the Pathfinder 100. I'm here to help for people looking for Info. some information I was able to dig up from different people include: 1.) There are no bulkheads 2.) The weight limit is 275 3.) There is foam substance under the seat and through the back half of the kayak. I do not know if it stops it from sinking, and I don't really want to find out the hard way I only rated it a 4 for the fact you will never find information on this particular kayak. If this information was easily available anywhere online I would of rated it a 5. This just seems like a very uncommon kayak to own

I'm new to kayaking, so I didn't want to spend a ton of money on a top of the line kayak. I found this one on Craig's list for a steal, so I thought I'd take a chance. So far, I've been more than happy with my purchase. It's light enough that I can get it on top of my car and then into the water by myself. I love that it's not really very "tippy", therefore I've never tumped over. I think this kayak was the perfect choice for a novice like me, and it has made me want to go paddling as often as possible. Highly recommend!!

I am 6'2", 235lbs. I bought two of these kayaks, used, and in almost brand new condition for the family to use on weekends and as a daily workout for myself on a nearby pond.

I am extremely pleased with the purchase. For no more than $225 each set, I got the kayak, a tarp, life jacket, and paddles. My 5 yo, my 9 yo, and my wife have all taken turns using these kayaks and have had a lot of fun in them, cruising up and down the pond. I have noticed that both primary and secondary stability are excellent for all of them, to the point that my son actually leans over the side to watch the fish go by underneath with no problems. My 5yo can paddle the kayak as well, and has a lot of fun doing so. My wife, a first time kayaker, at 5'7" and 140 lbs, has a great time on them and feels confident enough to go out on her own at times.

For me, who am almost 100 lbs heavier than my wife, I seem to be bringing the kayak to its limits of performance. Yet, even then, I am finding the kayaks to be extremely useful for a great workout up and down the pond. Yes, it is not a perfect tracker, though with good stroke technique I managed to travel in a straight line in no time. And yes, I make the kayak sit a bit low due to my weight, which makes the primary stability a bit tippy for me, though nothing that a little practice won't correct (it gives a great core workout!).

The ONLY negative I have to say for it, is that the storage compartment is definitely not watertight. Every time I reach back there to pull anything out, I find my belongings swimming in a pool of water. However, this is nothing that wide mouth jar won't fix.

Overall, you can't beat the kayak for the money. I'm very pleased with the purchase.

Two days ago bought two Pathfinder 100 kayaks used from a private party. Was looking for a fun and comfortable to use kayak for lakes and slow river use. Wanted to have something that would track and have some storage.

The kayaks were like new. In fact the clear plastic coverings protecting the name plates were still on the boats. The owner had used them once. No scratches or scuffs.

Took out the boats last night then again this morning on the local lake. Daughter liked it found it a little more challenging to keep on track then the longer 14ft boat. But with some practice she got it tracking better.

Wife who had never kayaked tried the boat. She was always afraid of kayaks and thought they were tippy. She found herself very comfortable and didn't think it was tippy at all. She soon had basic strokes down and was paddling very controlled. She kept it tracking well. She liked the large cockpit it was easy to enter and exit.

I found the boat a great boat for beginners and intermediates. It tracked really well for a 10ft boat. Loved how well it would turn and how leaning into the turns made it even tighter.

The boats are very light and super easy to transport. We can have them loaded(or unloaded) in a matter of minutes. Leaving more time for fun on the water. The length and weight is great for anyone to carry. The large cockpit will allow me to also take a grandchild with me.

Seat back is a little hard. Seat bottom is comfortable and the leg rests adjust easily. The rear deck storage is not water tight. Wish there was more storage space in rear.

My Potomac Kayak is not the best Kayak ever made but it was a good choice for me. I have used this boat for 3 years. I was an absolute beginner and after renting boats for 2 trips I decided I needed my own boat but did not want to invest in an expensive boat and did not want to spend lots of money because I did not have a good storage space for my boat.

It is lightweight. I can load it, launch it, and clean it out by myself if I need to and I am a very small female. It is very stable and has never flipped. It is best when traveling down river. It does not track well when paddling in still water so going with the current is the best way to use this boat.

It's a lightweight easy kayak, but not necessarily for beginners. You have to get in with the same mentality as getting on a bicycle - push to get some forward momentum and then step in keeping yourself centered. Once you're in, it's stable as long as you're stable. Tracking this kayak is all about your paddling technique - it has no features of its own to keep you straight. The rear of the kayak is better buoyed than the the bow. If you take bottles of water with you and store them between your feet, you might also want to get 1 or 2 styrofoam noodles to stuff in the front. I use the back hatch to store my sneakers (in plastic bags) because I don't like using my water shoes to carry the kayak over terrain from the car to the water. Even though it's really quite a cheap kayak, it is actually quite fun, easy to haul and ideal for calm water.

I purchased the Potomac Pathfinder 100 made by Pelican Industries at my local Dicks Sporting Goods for $180 which was 50% off the retail price of $360. First, let me say that this is not a $360 kayak. It maybe a $200 kayak which sold for $180. (I noticed on Dick’s web site the price has risen to $229 since my in-store purchase.) I read all the reviews on the Dick's web site and knew what I was getting, so my rating reflects the Pathfinders as a low-end introductory model kayak.

The Pathfinder is my first foray into kayaking. I've rented a SOT Prism before but decided on a sit-in model for a drier ride. I've had it out on the water only once for about an hour on a flat gentle river with calm winds. Some of my initial observations:

1. The RAM-X material seems very thin. I have the two-tone blue with white bottom. The hull bottom looks almost translucent. I wouldn't trust in on rocky rapids.
2. The cockpit is adequately spacious with plenty of leg room for my 5'9" 170-pound frame. The footpegs are easily adjustable. The cushioned seat is secured in a molded seating area giving more back support. The seat bottom cushion is very thin—about 1/8" thick. One of the first things you'll want to do is replace the seat or add some cushioning. There are also no thigh pads. It's supposed to have a cup holder between the legs, but mine appears to be only half formed. I don't know if that's a design flaw, but it won't hold a water bottle in place.
3. Some of the reviews I've read complained that it does not track well. I did notice that there was a tendency to track left or right while paddling upstream, but that might have been the effects of the current or even my paddle techniques. I found that if I allow my paddle to transition too far out, the boat will move off line. Good paddle technique could be the answer to some of the tracking criticism. Again, it's a 10' flat-bottom kayak. Don't expect great speed or laser-straight tracking.
4. The Pathfinder is light, weighing in at only 36 lbs. I was easily able to top it onto the roof of my Hyundai Sonata sedan and secure it using the Yakima Universal Kayak Carrier system. Carrying to and from the put in was easy enough. I'm fairly athletic, so lugging the thing is not an issue for me.
5. The fore and aft bungee fasteners look cheap. They may need replacing.
6. The Pathfinder is not roto molded. Some customers have reported cracks in the seams. That's something I'll have to keep an eye on. The yak doesn't run too deep in the water for me, but I also haven't loaded it to its listed 275 lb capacity.
7. There is a small dry storage compartment aft of the cockpit. The cover doesn't look too watertight and is held in place by bungees. Remove the bungees and the lid easily comes off.
8. The Pathfinder felt stable in the water. The area of the river I paddled is a highly used recreational spot with lots of powerboats. The wakes rocked me pretty good, but the yak didn't feel tippy at all.

Analysis: This is a simple no-fills kayak best suited to lazy rivers, small lakes and ponds. The price point is low enough to leave you with some coin to buy a fishing rod holder, thigh pads, quality seat and other upgrades for less than a pricier kayak. I bought mine mainly for fitness paddling and occasional fishing. It will easily serve the needs of the budget conscious recreational play paddler.