Aruba 10

My expectations were very low with the price of this kayak however I wanted something on the cheaper end for my daughter not knowing if she would take to paddling and didn't want to drop a ton for something to sit in my garage. I found this to be a fantastic starter. Light enough for a 100 pound girl to paddle and sturdy enough for her to navigate choppy lakes and swift creeks. I prefer a larger one for myself but definitely would suffice for me as well.

This is a great entry level, budget conscientious kayak to invest in. We had never kayaked before and took these out and they are very stable and easy to maneuver. The only downfall I had with it was the tracking, it does have a tendency to go back and forth instead of straight when paddling in a lake. Have not taken it on the river but do believe it would perform much better with tracking on the river. The storage compartment is great. Seat is not the most comfortable but I put a towel down or seat cushion to help with that. Foot pegs are adjustable so works great for different height people. This is just a fun all around beginner kayak!

Very happy I bought two of these for lakes and Connecticut River in Vermont. Five stars considering price, build and handling. A few of my impressions: Tracking: I had an Old Town Otter and these track just as well.
Draining/cleaning: Very easy. Stand kayak on its hull, pull the drain plug and hose down inside.
Spray silicone on the plug to re-insert easily.
Stability: Very good. The plastic body is rugged and easy to enter/exit. Seat: Comfy enough for hours without adding padding. Carrying: Very easy for two with handles on each end.
Water bottle holder: I'm not sure why some say it's hard to reach. I found it easy.
Rear hatch: I don't think you should swivel around to try to open it while on the water. Safer to put ashore. Great colors to choose. We love them.

Bought for calm water paddles with no expectations. Was pleasantly surprised when this kayak performed as well as my old kayak. Tracks well & has room for overnight camping gear. Easy to get in & out of and stabile. Only complaint is the cupholder is too far forward for a shorter person to restrap the container without a lot of wiggling forward.

This was my first kayak. It has been durable, light weight, stable, comfortable and easy to control. at the sub $200 price I would recommend it for a first time kayak buyer. It is a great value for the money. One thing I do not like is the storage. There is a compartment in the rear of the boat that is pretty useless. The plastic top is held on with bungee cords. There is very little room in the compartment, it is hard to access while on the water and it is in no way water tight. There is a water bottle holder on the front of the boat. I don't often bring water bottles so that feature doesn't do a lot for me. For these reasons I find myself stuffing gear in the kayak around my legs. That gives me a bit of a cramped feeling but it is more of a nuisance than a deal breaker.

I have had this Kayak now for almost three years. I was introduced to Kayaking three years ago with a sit on top model by Sun Dolphin that belonged to a friend, which I loved. I loved it so much I went and bought one. Then my husband wanted one so we went to get another at the end of the summer and they only had this Aruba 10 model, which my husband did not want. I wasn't thrilled with the sit in, but said I would make the most of it because it was on super sale and we both wanted our own boats Well one I got in and paddled for a few minutes I loved it 10x more than the sit on top. It was so much more stable for me! I didn't think I could ever flip this thing!!!! I love it!
I am 5'1" and about 140 lbs. This boat is perfect for me in every way. It is light enough that I can load myself onto my van, but setting it up at the back of the van, climbing on top and pulling it right up. Takes me less than 10 minutes to load it up and go! I have been on so many adventures in this thing and can't wait for the next adventure. I started out on the Rappahannock River, paddling on calm mornings out to the channel markers and back. Then I took longer trips around the edge of the shore. It was great!
Then I wanted to try different things and went on a trip to the Shenandoah River. This was about a 6 mile paddle with a little white water (Class 1 max), but nothing crazy. It was the end of the summer so the water was low and a lot of portaging. Boat is light weight and easy enough for me to drag around, over rocks, up the shore, etc. (and with all of the dragging, and banging against rocks, it has some scrapes but holds up well for the thin plastic that it really is! Being a beginner and not knowing how to handle the white water at first, I got sideways one time and filled with water... I was able to move to the bank pull it right up, pull the plug and drain myself. Then off I went again.
On that Shenandoah trip I did find myself draining my boat a couple of different times, but I also had a dog that was in and out of the boat with me constantly and that was a big part of the water getting in. Tons of lake trips and pond trips and flat water river trips. I can get in and go in normal clothes and come out without a drop of water in the boat or on me! I have gone on one other river (South Anna River) that had some white water, about a 7.13 mile paddle... Actually a lot more white water than I expected... Perhaps up to class two... I did have one mishap and got sideways and flipped.. I was quick and grabbed ahold of my boat and would say I floated, holding onto my boat for almost a half mile. The river was moving VERY fast but I finally made my way to the bank and drug the boat up... This time it was FULL of water and VERY heavy. But I managed.. I drained it and off I went again. There were a few more areas of white water and I took on a little bit of water the rest of the trip, but none that weighted me down. I think the boat tracks great! I feel in complete control in flat water. I need more training for white water stuff... But I think this boat is good up to class one without issue. The storage in the back is not water tight... The gasket never really stayed on from the beginning and I just removed it, never expecting it to be a water tight/dry storage space. Fits my waterproof lunch bag perfectly and that is all I really use it for. I am able to fit more than enough gear in the hull.... all in a waterproof bag of course!
I am ordering some deck kits and rails and things and going to pimp it out a little bit more and it will be all I need for another summer or so.
The "cup holder" up front I use for my water proof Altec Lansing Speaker.. Perfect fit! So I need a water bottle holder inside and that will make it all that much better. I use a stadium cushion in my seat and throw my serape over the back of the seat for more comfort. I have spent 5+ hours in seat and was good to go! I would recommend this for ANY beginner looking for recreational flat water paddling. After some lessons on white water (eventually) I might upgrade and get a little bit more adventurous.

They are light enough to be carried by one person. They handle well, tracking is typical of a 10 ft kayak. The back hatch is large enough to fit a cooler designed to hold a 6-pack which is a fairly standard size.

It is a very basic kayak that tracks fairly well in most waters. It is lightweight so easy to load, unload & transport to the water. The seat is very basic with no padding for the seat.

Got one for the wife and it is a great kayak for the money. It is very stable and tracks well. We started with a memory foam seat cushion, but I later added a folding boat seat. I just drilled the molded plastic seat and bolted in from underneath. Recommended to my sister, and she and her husband each got one.

As a first kayak this one has been a good choice. You can routinely find these yaks on sale for between 100-200 bucks, and for that price it preforms all the basic functions required of it. I am 300 lbs even and I used this kayak every weekend for 12 weekends straight with almost no issues taking on water. I have used it almost exclusively in the Gulf of Mexico, around mangroves and in the inter-coastal and it has been able to handle chop pretty decently, starts to struggle around 2-3 ft chop. The hull is durable and has survived sandbars, barnacles, and rocks with no problem.

One of the biggest issues with this yak as far as beginners are concerned is the back storage which takes on at least a little water every trip (and does the same with my lighter friends as well). Otherwise, you can't go wrong if you are just looking to find a cheap way to get into this amazing recreation.

I am a recreational kayaker who has been renting when I have wanted to go out on the water for 3-4 years now. Since our vacation plans were taking us to the lake this year, I decided that the time had come to buy. I looked at many on used sites and felt that I didn't know what i was getting. I found the paddling.com site and began looking for a small recreational kayak that would meet my needs (which usually involve a good paddle on the water in the early morning, while the family sleeps). This kayak was well rated, so I began to look at where I could buy it.. When I found it on walmart.com for $188. I decided to give it a try. After all, contrary to used sites, I had a safety net (possibility of returning it) if I did not like the performance.

My criteria: a 10 foot kayak that I can handle on my own if I need to (at 40 lbs, it's not ultra-light, but i can carry it and get it into the car). Thigh cushioning and foot pedals. A dry compartment for my little boating emergency kit and cable lock. A paddle. A drainage plug (which wasn't listed on alot of the manufacturer's specs). Good tracking, easy to handle on the water. The water bottle holder is a bit of a reach, but since it wasn't on my list of priorities, it's an extra to me. I like to keep my coffee cup closer in the morning. :)

My first outing on the water was a windy one yet the kayak handled well. I was able to get a good distance across the lake effortlessly. The tracking is quite good, given the shape of the prow. It turns and handles smoothly, and is quite stable... like most kayaks i have yet to learn to get into and out of it gracefully, but that's not the kayak's fault. I find the Aruba 10 is a good fit, whether i want a leisurely paddle, or a bit more of a workout. Love it!

Demographics: 50-something, 5 ft 5", under 150 lbs, woman

This is a fun kayak. People who buy it and return it same day are invariably rookies and really don't know what to expect. It's actually quite sturdy for the price range and tracks far better than one would expect after reading some of the reviews here. Just remember, a kayak can either track well or maneuver well. Hull design affects that and it depends what the yak was designed for. Most of these play yaks try to split the difference and the Aruba 10 does it quite well. It will turn on a dime and only "wig wags" the first few strokes from a dead stop. As soon as you build up some speed, it tracks well. I had it out this morning in an area lake with 1 foot chop and no skirt...did fine and there was very little water in the boat.

I see some folks want to say the boat is a bit tippy; I can only say..."Compared to what?" Again, these are usually novices. Finally, every forum will have their snobs who preach doom and gloom..."If you don't spend $2k on your boat you're bound to have to swim it back to shore". Ugh...this is a recreational yak and as such, it does quite well. Sturdily built, well designed and quite portable. And currently they are $188 at Wal-Mart so...what are you waiting for?

In the water it handles well. It's pointed prow cuts through the water nicely and adds a little speed over my friends' rounded prow (and much more expensive) kayaks. My kayak also is not terribly affected by the wind and cross-currents. It is also light enough (40lbs) so I can lift it in and out of my SUV by myself. I have added a memory foam seat which has greatly enhanced to amount of time I can sit. I am physically challenged so entering and exiting a kayak is exciting.

The Aruba is very stable both nosed in to the shore for entry and exit, and it's stable in the water while cruising and paddling. I highly recommend this kayak.

I am a beginner, female, 30 years old, 125 lbs, 5'3". I kayak easy rivers, lakes, etc, with this kayak a couple of hours at a time. Just purely recreational and some fishing.

PROS:
-Stable/Sturdy
-Large cockpit
-Price (purchased mine at Farm & Fleet 3 years ago, I believe the price was $175 if I remember right)
-Easy to maneuver
-Semi easy for me to load and carry, but the dilemmas just have to do with my stature.
-Excellent beginner kayak.
-Great for calm lakes, rivers, cricks.

CONS:
-Hard to drain water out of it.
-Cockpit is rather large so as you are paddling lots of water drips in.
-I personally feel that it does not track well at all. Especially noticeable out on the lakes. (Wonder if I could makeshift a skeg?)
-Due to my stature I sit low in the kayak and I really have to sit tall to paddle comfortably and efficiently. When I paddle I'm constantly bumping the sides.
-The seat has zero padding, but the backrest is decent.

I feel if I was slightly taller and weighed a little more this kayak would track better and I could paddle more efficiently. However that being said I still really like this kayak. It's quality, the price is good, really can't go wrong with it as an entry level kayak. However if you feel and know that kayaking won't just be a phase for you and you want to travel and seek kayaking adventures (even if those adventures entail just calm waters), invest some money and research.

About me: Beginning paddler, 6'2", 200 lbs., using kayak for 2 hrs at a time on area lakes in calm and windy conditions. I had some previous experience with an inflatable SeaEagle kayak, and purchased a Pelican Trailblazer kayak recently.

Thoughts about Aruba 10:

Size - This kayak feels wide in comparison to my other kayaks, and also feels much deeper. This could problematic if you have T-Rex arms, but I found it to be a much more comfortable size for me. The huge cockpit opening makes it very easy to get in and out of, but I did find that a small amount of water would flow into the cockpit in white-capping conditions (specifically while paddling perpendicular to the direction of the waves). The footpegs extended just barely far enough for my 6'2" frame, but if you are taller, you may find this kayak to be uncomfortable.

Tracking - I have seen several reviews claiming poor tracking with the Aruba 10 (and other makes/models for that matter), but I saw no problem with tracking. It could be that my lack of experience means I don't know any better, but the kayak did seem to hold a line really well. It could help that I weigh 200 pounds, so sitting lower in the water may help it keep a straighter line?

Extras - I love the paddle holder. Didn't think I would use it much, but I miss having a paddle holder when using the Pelican Trailblazer, which doesn't have one. The water bottle is nice, but I would rather not have to reach so far for it. The storage compartment is a decent size (we have a small lunch pack that fits perfectly inside it), but I am not sure how dry it keeps things - there was water in it the last time we went out.

Comfort - I only use it for a couple hours at a time, and the seat has not been a problem at all.

Summary - Great price, perfect size for me, good performance, and decent extra features. I am very happy with my purchase.

We've had these for about a month now and head to the river every Friday. These yaks are VERY easy to control and are able to float in pretty shallow water due to their width. The width also gives you confidence and stability. They are not the fastest but do glide thru the water with ease. The foot pegs are great for bracing yourself and easily adjustable. The handles on the front and back make carrying, loading, and unloading very easy.

The only downside I've found so far is the cup holder on the front. The sun tends to heat the drink up pretty quick making it more beneficial to just throw it in the bottom and go so the drink stays cooler longer. Is this a big thing, of course not. Still an awesome buy and I strongly recommend this kayak to anyone who would like to try out kayaking without spending an arm and leg.
A+++++

This kayak does well with a pilot under 200lbs even though it is technically rated for more. Last summer I did an overnight trip (170lb person and 30lbs of gear) and was pleasantly pleased with the kayaks performance. I would consider it a good buy for anyone looking for a kayak under $200.

I found the kayak quite easy to get into, and a little harder to get out of. I felt it was very stable. To me the tracking was not that good, but that could be operator paddling problems. I need to get better technique, but the kayak seemed a little too wide at the beam for me and I have 240cm paddles as I am 5'8" I scraped the top of the cockpit frequently. Overall, it seems to be working out and I think we will become good buddies before I will move on to another kayak.

The Sun Dolphin Aruba 10 comes with many great features. Features such as, but not limited to, built in dry compartment, water bottle holder, roomy cockpit, protective thigh pad. I have been using my Sun Dolphin Aruba 10 for fishing for two months now and I love it. I have had it on three different lakes, and in different weather conditions, and It handles great. It's a very steady water craft. I have not tipped my kayak yet, although I know I will some day.

In short, not only would I give the Sun Dolphin Aruba 10---10 out 10 for a score. I would also give it 4 S's The S's are for it's Sturdiness, Steadiness Smooth sailing, and the last S is for the Savings. So if you are looking for a starter kayak, Sun Dolphin Aruba 10.

I mostly use it on a small river and have also ventured onto some small lakes. It's obviously not made for whitewater or ocean waves. I like the adjustable foot pegs and was easily able to adjust the pegs and seat back for a comfortable ride.

I did make a few modifications: I bought an inexpensive foam seat pad and I added an after-market fishing rod older and a few nylon eye straps to connect a paddle leash a leash for the fishing rod and a fish stringer.

I've read complaints about water getting into the rear hatch compartment, but I have not had that problem. I would never trust a hatch without a dry bag for anything I did not want to get wet, anyway.

I also do not find the scupper plug to be as hard to manage as others have said. Works fine for me.

To sum up: the Sun Dolphin Aruba 10 is a great boat for getting out on the water without spending a fortune. I highly recommend it.

I was skeptical about how well a stubby, wide boat would track. We promptly went to his place, since he has a lake, and I had to throw mine on the water. It was easy to board. Take off is quick, and it gets to cruising speed easily. With a moderate wind, on the flat water, it tracks pretty straight, and glides long. My 4 year old was able to grasp the paddling concept quickly, and had us moving easily from my lap. On his first ever water trip.

The following week BFF and I went on a 5 hour trip, 14 miles. (11 miles on Little Pigeon creek, 3 miles on Ohio river) On the calm water of the creek we had 4 hrs of travel. One log jam had us climb out and over, but I had no concerns of getting wet. Boarding once again was a snap. On either side of the seat was plenty of space for a camelback bladder and snacks. The rear storage box holds a fair amount of goods, but doesn't stay very dry. A spray skirt will be a good idea soon, because of timing issues on the swells of the Ohio river.

The seat has no cushion of any kind, so you'll want to get anything for bulk. I've got a gel seat cushion for my Ninja that I'm using next time. The included paddle is more than sufficient for us recreational types. I prefer the slight cant, BFF used straight blades, and we were running neck and neck. I'll eventually upgrade to a nicer one, but it's not a requirement.

I read a thread in the forums about speed. My GPS watch had us at an average of just over 4 mph. In the beginning of the trip we had a good sprint of just over 6, and later a solid mile at 5ish mph. I'll certainly repeat that trip. Despite having not ever paddled in about 3 years, we made the journey with only two short breaks disembarking. After I get a longer, nicer boat, I'll still keep this for a loaner, and for the kiddos. We're both thrilled with the purchase, and would recommend these for others.

This boat definitely gets me where I need to go and I plan to hang on to it after I upgrade for trips I have to scoot along rocks. I have managed to dent the front but it popped back out.

Here are some dislikes of the kayak: I don't like how wide it is, I don't like it having such a flat bottom, spray skirts seem pointless and there is definitely no rolling, I have heard you can install thigh braces but not sure if they would work on this one, would prefer it to be faster/easier going, my "rear bulkhead" is two styrofoam blocks shoved in the back of the kayak so it is all one compartment, my rear hatch doesn't even connect to the boat when closed so it lets in a ton of water, not sure how important but no perimeter lines, the cockpit swallows me up, I feel like it is impossible to twist while paddling because my legs and butt just twist as well, and a hard plastic seat (currently using outdoor lawn chair cushions.)

Overall you could get a decent used boat for $200 and rec boats seem quite popular right now. Remember all rec kayaks under $300 are the same, just pick a color.

Stable - VERY stable, we got in to float around and the first thing I did was try to find the tipping point (without dumping myself) and you can lean a considerable way without tipping and the point at which it does tip is pretty forgiving! Highly recommend this for beginners!

Kinda fast - I was paddling it around thinking it's broad hull wasn't very efficient and that I could go MUCH faster in something else. After trying a couple of friend's kayaks I found that it wasn't too bad, I couldn't go much faster or glide too much farther.

The foot perches are sturdy and the backrest feels good (beginners take a minute to figure out how to adjust these on shore, watch some YouTube vids), but there is no padding for your bum... We added a hunting seat for about $15 (inflatable foam), well worth it without sacrificing any stability!

Do we have plans to upgrade sometime? YEP, a little longer boat with hatches for camping and a little sleaker hull, but without these we NEVER would've dived into this sport! Just do it! Grab one of these and get out and paddle!