Sundance II

The Sundance 2 has really been a solid boat for us, you can fit 2 adults and a youngster in the middle and our has a rudder too, which has been crucial with a little wind or waves. There is ample storage in the bow, stern and middle which makes it the perfect boat for camping trips. We use this kayak throughout the year, and have a skirt for it the is really clutch when paddling in the winter time. We use it primarily in the ocean and have found it to be very stable and steers well, even in the wind and waves.

Well, where do I start? We bought our Sundance II before I saw any reviews on it. It was a Demo model at one of the local shops. We got it for more than half off the suggested retail price. We were looking for a kayak my wife and daughter could join me in. I have a 12ft Dagger Blackwater that I enjoy solo. Anyway, when I got the tandem Kayak home, I read some of the reviews. I was then worried, having never paddled it. I read about footpegs, I read about poorly designed seats, I read about warpage during storage and/or hauling. And yes, I read about the "hefty" issue of weight. Well, the verdict is still out on the warpage issue, since I just got it, but all my worries were put to rest about the other issues. (More on the weight issue later).

This kayak was as stable as I could have ever hoped for. My wife sat up front, my 5 year old daughter sat on a cushion behind her (we had to order the kids jump seat), and I paddled from the rear seat. The rear footpegs are in an odd place. But, they are usable. I only wear a size 10 shoe, so they may be a problem for someone with a larger foot. I can't see ever needing to move the rear seat, so the fact that it's not adjustable (front and back) is not an issue. The front seat does take some "finagling" to adjust. It's not as deep of a kayak as I would have liked, but I can live with it, for what we need it for.

Now, this thing does have some weight to it. I believe it comes in at around 72lbs., depending on how it is rigged. I'm a middle aged guy in decent shape, my wife is also middle aged and in decent shape. We don't have any problems loading or unloading this boat. However, if we had to carry it much more than 50 or 60 yards to get to the water, we would have to get one of those little two wheeled "thingies". All in all, when you take into consideration the low price we payed, we are very happy with this kayak, at this time. More later...

Basically, a cost-cutter version of the tandem concept. The seats are prehistoric by the standards set by other builders of recreactional craft, notably Wilderness Systems. The only adjustment available is the angle of the seat back, which is accomplished with a balky strap & buckle, not easily accessible when under way. The seat back is not hinged to the base, but is positioned in a loose slot by an anemic bungie. Therefore, it is subject to dislocation when jarred. The design and material of the padding is unremarkable and comfort is so-so. Only the front seat will slide, being held in place by two set screws that travese guide tubes. There are adjustable foot pegs, but they are under the side decks and virtually unusable with my size 11 feet. The sides are low and do not lend themselves to a knee or thigh lock. The hull is soft and floppy, with little more than a couple molded in ridges to stiffen the thin plastic. The hull not only distorts when racked on top or bottom, but we perceive some cockpit rim distortion with racking on edge. There are foam pillars under the fore and aft decks, which interfere with storage capacity. There are no hatches, bottle holders, paddle holders or other amenities. The grab loops are adequate. The hull is pleasing to the eye and moves along fairly well. But, there is some flexing that wastes energy. It's designed for tracking and stability and completes the mission. Not a bad choice for light usage, if you can get it at a discounted price.