Avatar 16

I've had the Avatar 16 for some 4 years now. Previously had a Perception Carolina 15 . I'm 5' 11" and around 190 lbs. At first the Avatar seemed tippy and I was nervously trying to brace. After about 20 minutes I started just relaxing and letting my hips rotate naturally and started to feel a lot better.

I've found that getting the kayak properly adjusted with the foot braces ,thigh braces and back support is really important. Unlike wider recreational boats you don't want to fit loosely in this boat. WEAR IT! You'll be rewarded with a fast and maneuverable boat. It is rotomolded poly. There are many fine composite boats out there that are lighter but then you have to baby them and worry more about scratches and toughness.Plus they are much more expensive.

With a proper spray skirt it has stayed very dry although a wave can come up over the foredeck especially if quartering into big ones. Foot area is a little cramped but I only wear footies . My feet are size 10. The boat narrows more in the front than some other boats but widens under the seat a lot making it slice through the water but still retain good secondary stability.
Overall I give it an 8/10.

As for performance, secondary stability is amazing, can easily paddle on edge without much effort. Initial stability is good but always catches me off guard the first time out of the season. Speed is great, and for decent tracking, i always keep the skeg down. The only dynamic issue i have is the way it breaks through the waves, not over them.

Compared to a Neck Vector 14 SOT, the Avatar 16 is more fun through the waves but will not keep you as dry. It is not a bad thing, i think it may be the more efficient way to make it through the surf, just not what initially expected. Combined with windy conditions, the constant spray can get annoying. Storage is okay for a low volume kayak, but don't expect anything to stay very dry.

This was my first sea kayak purchased, after taking lessons and renting a P&H Capella, so I am far from an expert for reviewing this kayak. As a final note, visually this kayak looks great, the low lines and long body always have me looking forward to the next weekend or season when it's in storage.

I have a West Side Boat Shop Thunderbolt (racing kayak), but didn't have a boat I could comfortably take onto the ocean or the great lakes in windy conditions. The Avatar has proven to be the PERFECT boat for this. I've heard on countless occasions that there's no such thing as a fast, stable and maneuverable kayak, but, for an experienced paddler, this is it! I routinely cruise at 5 mph (can get it up to 6.5), the thing turns on a dime, and handles 3 foot waves beautifully. This is a boat that rides over the waves, rather than cuts through them, so you have to want that (i.e., it's a wet ride). Also, a prospective buyer should be able to put the boat on edge comfortably.

I'll reiterate what previous reviewers have said: this is not a boat for very big people with very big feet. It's not a boat for people who like 100% primary stability. It IS a boat for people who like to feel the boat is part of themselves in moderately challenging conditions. If this boat was a car, it would be an MG (guess I'm dating myself).
The boat was designed, at least in part, by Brent Reitz and it shows. If you've ever seen his forward stroke video (highly recommended!), everything he suggests can be carried out to a "t" in this boat. In short, it lends itself to a proper stroke, including applicability with a wing paddle. The bow is narrow enough that you can really plant the paddle right next to it.
I'm obviously in love with this thing, but it has one strange drawback: the folks at Perception did a lousy job sealing the bulkheads -- there were quarter inch gaps before I fixed them. It took an entire tube of Marine Goop just to remediate the rear bulkhead. Beautifully designed boat, but someone in quality control at Perception was asleep at the switch!

To sum up: GREAT KAYAK!! I told my wife I want to be buried in it, but wives don't seem to have a sense of humor about this stuff.

Even as an inexperienced kayaker, I have never found my self feeling uneasy in this boat. I do wear booties in cold weather (bare foot in summer) so that my size 12 foot will fit, but I knew this up-front and I think that’s all part of “wearing” the boat to take advantage of its performance. I have paddled this boat for hours without being uncomfortable.

I have found the forward and aft storage areas to be dry and of sufficient size for weekend camping trips because I have packed them both full of every thing I needed and then some.

As I stated before, I’m an inexperienced kayaker with only time in other boats at the Demo. Day sale so I will not attempt any technical info in this review. I will say that I agree completely with “JW’s” review before me.

I have the yellow/red fade color and have had a lot of comments on how good the boat looks. Looks, comfort and performance…..I’ll keep this boat for a long time.

At 5'8", 145lb, I fit nicely into the Avatar 16. I recently had the chance to compare it head-to-head to a Shadow 16.5, also a good fit for me. The Avatar is NOTICEABLY faster AND more maneuverable than a Shadow. Hard chines make it very easy to lean way out on a wide sweep stroke, and extraordinarily narrow entry lines mean very little boat is in the water when it's on edge.

As for the downsides: There isn't a version of the avatar for the "big guy," which is rather surprising. If you're over 6' tall and want a Perception touring kayak, you'll need to look at the Eclipse.

Also this certainly isn't a good choice for the novice paddler. I've been paddling for almost 20 years, and when I first sat in the Avatar, I was surprised at how "shaky" it felt. But, like every kayak, you get used to its feel, and find that the secondary stability make up for it.

Overall, I rate it a ten. I can't take away points from this boat b/c there isn't a larger size, and any good dealer should know this isn't for beginners. Perception really hit it big with this one!