Edge 13

I really like everything except the seat and the fact that my skeg control is loose/needs adustment? The skeg deploys for no apparent reason. I like the rudder (bought a model with skeg and rudder) and I really like the fishing rod holder. I wish I could pay more money for the same kayak with a better seat and a skeg that functioned perfectly. I do like this boat, a lot!

Hard to give any yak a 5 star but if this had a functional rudder instead of a skeg then it might come close. Used this boat in a 16-mile Buffalo Bayou regatta and by the time the end came my shoulders were tired of the multiple strokes to turn the Yak on the winding bayou through Houston. Completed the same trip with Tsunami and Carolina with rudders and not near as tired. Does go straight with or without skeg and user friendly as far as stability. Roomy cockpit as I am 6'2" at 185 lbs. and was comfortable for the 3+ hour trip. Good storage space in the hatches and bulk headed. Also, good storage space on top. Nice paddle holder as part of the boat. Good size yak for a 65-year-old guy to carry and load. Versatile is probably the best description for this kayak as it fits many needs. Has a rod holder for fishing but I like the SOT’s for fishing. Seat is comfortable and adjustable to fit many styles but if you’re a back-belt person you will complain about the seat back getting in the way during water reentry. I always use full seat backs as tall guys like the back support. Versatile user friendly especially for those new to kayaking. Good to have one around.

FAST- tracks fairly well. Holds enough gear for 2-3 night trip ( as long as you can convince a canoer to carry your cooler !!) HUGE bang for your buck- loaded with features and all very high quality materials. Seat is not the most comfortable, but that may be subjective.

Do not hesitate- the only similar kayak I liked was twice the price!!

I took this out for a demo (about the 11th of the day) and in 5 minutes knew I had my boat, though I had paddled more expensive ones, cost was the deciding factor and I'm in no way disappointed. It has great initial and secondary stability so getting into and out of it is no problem and if you want to put it on its edge, go right ahead it will not bite you and snap over when you least expect it. It was pretty windy that day so I got a chance to see what the skeg will do. It did exactly what you would expect and better still, there are about 12 positions it will lock in to.

For me, the weight is not a concern, I'm 56 yrs old at 5'11" and 210lbs and in normal shape, getting it onto the roof of my Journey is not much of a problem, unless I've been out all day and my arms are pretty much jello. In that case I sit and relax a bit first. I fit well into this kayak and have used to hip pads that it comes with to get a good snug fit.

I let my girlfriend paddle it this past weekend and it looks like I may have to buy another one. I seriously doubt if I'm going to get it back unless I go out with it by myself but then I usually get in trouble from her for not taking her along. LOL

While I'm no expert kayaker, I'm a research and learning type of person so before I ever bought one, I looked and read a lot of things, watched tons of how to videos, mostly from Paddling.net and Paddling TV (they are a great source of info) and took the outfitters classes from beginners to advanced kayaking skills and safety training because I wanted sit in versus sit on and plan to do day/weekend trips soon.

By best advice is while this kayak will work for a beginner I would not buy it until you take a few training lessons, but if you have a few hours already paddling recreation kayaks, then go for it, it's a nice transition from basic recreational kayaks to a more advanced recreational one.

Other than the tracking issue, the boat was nice. I liked the drain plug on the side of the cockpit (very useful). The paddle-park in front of the cockpit was well thought out too. It did weigh a lot and was hard to car top by myself.

This boat is heavy - at about 62 pounds, which makes it a pain getting on top of my Jeep into the J-style carrier. That being said, it is rotomolded, so it should be near indestructible.

I wanted was fishing platform, but this is really not well suited for that as other boats are, it is a light tourer with a flush mount rod holder to the right rear of the cockpit. I paddle a lot of rivers with low handing branches and if your rod is in the holder you could easily snap it off.

But as a light tourer, I think this boat really excels. The bow and stern hatches are not totally waterproof, so you'll want to use dry bags. There is ample room for a weekend camping trip in the hatches, plus bungees for on deck storage as well. The retractable skeg is a wonderful feature, making this boat track like it is on rails.

I did have a warranty issue, which took some time to resolve. The pad for the seat back ripped after two outings, it took some time but Riot did come through with a replacement part. I think that it took so long because Riot is based in Canada and the Kayak & parts are made in China.

Overall, a good beginner to intermediate boat for the money. I thoroughly enjoy my time in the Edge. It's been a great first kayak.

The only negative feedback I have is that since I am 6 foot 2 inches tall, the foot pegs do not extend quite far enough for "ultimate comfort". I fit & the first couple hours is OK. But day-long trips require multiple get-out breaks & many kick back sessions, where I hang my feet over edge.

Otherwise, this is a great boat. It's probably the best bang-for-the buck we could find; after months of test paddling, feedback from friends & obsessive internet review. Highlights...

• Skeg-up means great maneuverability, but still ample flat-water tracking
• Skeg-down means straight-as-an-arrow tracking without compromising the steering you need without a true rudder
• Most water over the front deck drains off in up to 2 foot chop\\swell due to superior deck design
• Front deck also includes a cool paddle slot\\groove so you can strap on the paddle, pop you feet up & have a lounge-chair experience
• Front & back hatches with fully sealed bulkheads provide storage and improved floatation
• 13 foot length is a great trade-off for tracking vs. waterline vs. steering. Any shorter would get a little squirly in windy & wavy conditions. Any longer would start to limit steering & fitting into tight spots; rivers, creeks, strainer safety, etc.

We picked up 2 Edge 13's. The price was way below the competition and the outfitting is quite nice. What surprised me was how much it really felt like a full-blown sea kayak. It's much faster and livelier than I would have expected in such a short kit, and for the price is an easy choice for anyone doing day tripping or single nights who doesn't want to fight 16'+ onto the car.

I have never seen a rec boat that has as much to offer as this one. It is not as wide as most rec boats and paddles very well. It tracks great with the skeg down. The seats are extremely comfortable and highly adjustable. It has almost every amenity you might want (two bulkheads, fishing rod holder, rescue straps for paddle float re-entry, two drain plugs, one for the rear compartment and one on the side of the cockpit, thigh braces, adjustable foot pegs and lots of deck straps). It even has a netted storage above the legs under the deck.

The only thing I am disappointed with is that the hatch covers seem slightly too big for the hatches and will most likely not seal well if the boat goes over. Even for a higher price than what I paid, this is an excellent rec boat, but with REI's current sale, it is a steal. I gave it a 9 because of the hatch covers.