Aruba 8 SS

This is my child's kayak that we picked up in 2019 after she injured her leg and we could not do 10-miler hikes that summer. We were new into kayaking and I didn't know if we would stay into kayaking, but this for a bit would get us outside and active while she could not hike.

We knew nothing about what to look for in a kayak, but we lucked out buying two at the end of the season sales. Mine is also a Sundolphin, but another model.

I have not kept track of other years, but so far this year (2021) she has done 96 miles in this kayak in the last 3 months. My daughter is 4ft and a bit, and weighs 58lbs currently. We do 8 mile paddles each time we go out, which is about once to twice a week.

Pros:
Lightweight. She can carry her own kayak and help get it onto the truck, or pull it onto the shore.

Stable for her. I see alot of reviews that this boat is unstable. I am wondering if the stablility/unstability has to do with weight and center of gravity for the person/boat. This last weekend she went swimming in the middle of the lake right out of her kayak (on purpose) and it took 3 of us to get her back into her boat. The boat did not even come close to taking on water or tipping in trying to get her back into the craft.

Takes wakes. We go into some large lakes and this last weekend we had 2-2.5ft swells repeatedly from party boats and skiiers. I was worried at first and had her nose into the wakes (like 10 or more in a row) and even though she got caught on the side, and a couple times had wakes coming in from all directions at the same time, she bobbed like a cork. Many of the wakes had white caps on them.

My daughter has never complained about it not tracking well, and it does not look like she has issues with tracking.

Price at the time was excellent. Prices now, if you can find one is double what we paid for almost 2.5 yrs ago. This model is discontinued.

You can fish from this boat, and we will likely keep it just for that.

Cons:
No storage, except one tiny waterproof one for car keys or something
No bottle holder
High profile catches the wind and pushes her around
High profile and harder to paddle, as she has to hold the paddle up higher than normal, and it does tire her out
Drain plugs must pop out easy, as 1 was missing and we never took it out. I have bought replacements.
Came with a very cheap seat, so my daughter uses a floatation cushion to sit on.
My daughter says her boat is slow. I do believe that it probably is and does not glide in the water as well as my kayak (which is also a Sundolphin, but a different model).

An adult friend borrowed the Aruba 8 SS to see if he wanted to buy a kayak, having never been in one. For him and his weight, 225lbs, the boat did not track well. After he found his balance, it also was not tippy, although in the beginning it seemed to be.

All in all, it is a good boat for my daughter's needs and for a beginner/entry level , but we are looking for another one for her that is lower profile, easier for her to paddle at a natural level, since we are now breaking out of the 8 mile paddles and heading towards 10-15 milers.

I love this kayak because it's very portable. I bought two so I can kayak with my daughter or someone else. I am 5' 4" and about 130 pounds. I'm able to load both of them into my CRV with the passenger front seat down. I've kayaked in the past on oceans, lakes, and rivers. This kayak is stable if you're using it in the right environment. It is not an ocean kayak and I wouldn't use it on anything above class 2 rapids, (though I'd love to try class 3 just to see what happens:) but it's not made for that. It's a great kayak for environments other than that. My sister has limited mobility due to MD symptoms and she went in it without any stability issues. She even got out on a few sandbars and was able to get back in fine without it tipping. I will be putting foot braces in for comfort more than because they're needed. Overall great kayak when used in the environment it's designed for.

Yes it’s very unstable. Note though that it is a 8 footer so if you are taller than 5’5” and (IMHO) weigh more than 150 lbs, you should NOT be using this size kayak. With that said, I would never trust this kayak to a beginner or leave a child/teen without on-water supervisions. Dangerous. Actually all sit-in sun dolphins are dangerous. Get a sit in top if you’re going with this product line!

Perfect for first timers and great for fishing I really like it and it's perfect size and weight

This Kayak is dangerous. It is not at all stable. I bought two and the wife and I used them a number of times (river and lake) and at no time did I feel comfortable with the Aruba 8 ss Kayak. I always felt it was about to capsize. I would suggest that anyone thinking of buying one find a way to try it out first. And, I bet you won't buy. I ended up giving my away. Sad but true.

Very light weight, only 27lbs. It's a perfect beginner kayak, very maneuverable, easy to control and transport. Excellent kayak for the price

This is a relatively small kayak I purchased and set up for fishing in narrow rivers and streams we have in Ohio . I take it to ponds , lakes and other bodies of water as it is light weight and very easy to get around . I have noticed that several people have thought that this kayak is "unstable in the water " , not sure what they mean by that maybe their balance or lack of experience should be taken into consideration , as I have not had problems with that fishing many lakes in some very adverse conditions . I have a spray skirt , splash jacket and neoprene pants go down parts of the New River in W.V. and not had any problems with instability . I am quite fit for 64 and it is possible people mentioning instability should be in a canoe and not a yak ? I don't know . I have had a blast in this Sundolphin and would just like to see more people go out and enjoy themselves . Have fun see you on the water . It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt , then it's hilarious !!

Bought this boat for the kids, they used it twice and totally lost interest. Didn't want it to go to waste, so on a day on the Chesapeake Bay windy and wavy enough that I surfed two hours I got stoked and took this thing out. Fought the waves and made it out to about 15-foot deep water and the 3 foot chop on the sandbar immediately sunk me, luckily the extra foam floatation blocks were enough assistance to get me back in but it was no fun fighting my way back to shore. LESSON LEARNED - an 8 foot kayak is no boat to take out on a choppy day in deep water, by a 225lb 6'1" man no less. So now I paddle it almost daily in the mornings closer to shore when the water is still relatively calm in lighter winds, and I do not believe you could have more fun for $150. I will never start referring to my kayak as a "yak," which I believe most people giving this boat bad reviews have a high enough opinion of themselves probably do. It's great for a boat so inexpensive, but has the drawbacks you would expect from the value-pricing.

Pros: It is light and easy to get around, just keep it in shallow water on calm days or stick to shallow lakes and small rivers.

Cons: if you're larger it can be a little unstable even on calm water but you should be in a longer boat anyway.

I bought two Aruba 8 footers. I can fit both of them inside my van and I can take them on the freeway without worry. The Aruba sit on is a great barefoot kayak on super hot days. It splashes well and surfs like crazy. My 8 foot Aruba sit in was also very good choice. It is more of a creek boat than a lake boat. It is very stable and quite comfortable. Three years ago I was new to kayaking and did not want to spend a fortune on something I might only use once or twice. As it turns out, I love kayaking and get out often. It took some getting used to but now I have all my techniques down to second nature and I have a great time running two small local rivers, and surfing at the dam.

First of all, this kayak is a good value for entry level. Dunham's regularly has coupons for big discounts. My kids are loving this kayak.
What's Good:
* It's light to carry.
* It's fast.
* Inexpensive
What's Bad:
* No access hatch for rear storage.
* Drain holes in front and back are too far away from the ends to drain completely.
* Drain plugs are un-tethered rubber stoppers that can get lost. Takes effort to reinsert them.
* Not extremely stable, but it's manageable if careful. Hey, it's not a pontoon boat!
* No pad for your butt - get one.

I own 6 kayaks and have been paddling sporadically for about 20 years. Mostly on a small lake but a few calm ocean trips and river runs in class 1 and some 2 rapids. I like inexpensive boats that are easy to load in a minivan and I don't have to worry about banging up. I have 3 Daggers and and 3 Old Towns. I bought this kayak for my grand kids and for the size and weight. At 73 years old weight is becoming an issue and 27 lbs. is very attractive. I do find this one less stable than my normal lake kayaks, but it's OK for me and really easy to carry. I do find the sides higher than normal and I have to hold the paddle higher. I probably won't buy another one but I do use this one more than the others for it's ease of handling on dry land. My grand kids say it's tippy.

To who said that its unstable I disagree very much. I myself am 220lbs and I have no problems with this kayak I'm guessing that you have never used a kayak before. Yes, it was unstable the very first 10 mins of being on it before I got use to it. You just have to get use to the feel of the kayak

My son at 200lbs tried it, his friend at 170 lbs tried it, and I at 220 lbs tried it. All three of us found it to be very unstable. Maybe OK for a child or a small woman but I would not recommend it for anyone over 150 lbs.

I got this kayak because of the size and the weight of it. I had a larger and much heavier kayak years ago, but never used it because I couldn't load it onto my car or off from it by myself. This kayak is perfect for when I'm heading out on solo adventures. It's easy to carry and load onto my car by myself and I've had a great time with it out on the lake and on smaller ponds. I don't understand the reviewers who say it's unstable as I've not had that problem at all. In fact, my first time out with it was on a large lake on a windy day and the waves were coming up over the front of the kayak. I never felt unstable. I do wish it had rigging on the bow, not just in the back and foot pegs would be nice. Having said that, this boat is really inexpensive and rigging and pegs can easily be added. I would recommend this kayak to anyone looking for a cheap and fun way to get out on the water.

This kayak is a great beginner boat. It is priced right for a starter. If you are concerned with stability, this kayak cannot be rolled. I love the luggage compartment and bungi straps for easy accessibility. It is an all around great recreational boat.

This is my first kayak, and at $140 + tax at a local sporting goods store, I couldn't pass it. I took it to a local lake and paddled for 1 hour yesterday, a calm day at 60 deg F in lower Michigan. Directionality and picking up speed is adequate for a 8' long boat. I'm satisfied with it for a fitness paddling purpose in a summer time. It fits in my pickup truck, which is a key requirement for me. Overall, a good, cost effective beginning boat.

This kayak is a good beginner kayak for flat water (no higher than class II- rapids). However, be warned; I fell out my first time and nearly flipped the second time using it as well. This kayak is not very stable, and it is not very good maneuvering through tight turns and twists, especially when there is a current. It is not built for speed, as one small mistake can lead to capsizing. This boat is great for the gentle, relaxing rivers and creeks one would take to enjoy a sunny day or gaze upon the diverse flora, fauna and wildlife you can find in any given river route. It really is a good kayak for easy takers, and I have enjoyed many peaceful trips with it. Cost efficient and lightweight, which means it can easily be carried out of a site. I would recommend it to any beginner or yaker looking for an easy ride.

This is my third kayak. I also own two 15 and 14 foot SOT touring kayaks. The one I mostly use is a Freedom 15 which is a highly regarded boat. It's highly regarded and heavy. I love it but I wasn't getting out on the water too often because it's such a deal to load up. I got this Aruba 8 because I wanted something lighter that would also fit in the back of my Volvo. This thing is so compact it FITS IN THE BACK OF MY STATION WAGON!

It tracks well for its length and can get up decent speed. I'm going to install some flush mount rod holders on either side behind the seat but it doesn't have a lot of extra space there. I'm also going to cut out the inside of the little rear storage compartment to allow me to access the entire compartment to fit in more gear.

I would absolutely recommend this for anyone 250 pounds or less. For you larger folks you could try the 10 footer.

I originally bought this for my wife back in April 2014. She decided after I bought it she didn't want to solo Kayak so I ended up buying a twin to take her out. I ended up using this one off and on as I had bought myself another kayak. This one is so light to handle and super stable in the water. Fishing out of it is no problem. I can't imagine anyone having any issues with this kayak as far as stability. It doesn't track perfectly straight but what can you expect for this cheap? This past weekend took it down the river and it was a blast. No issues at ALL, some minor rapids and it flowed straight through no problem. This is an excellent starter kayak to see if you are going to like the sport or just want something cheap to fish out of.

I purchased this kayak for my wife in early summer 2015. She wanted it for recreational use in front of our cottage. She used it about six times before she went to Europe for three weeks this summer. While she was out of the country, I had a crazy idea to take her brand-new kayak down the Mississippi River starting at the headwaters in Itasca, Minnesota. of course an 8 foot kayak is not necessarily the most logical choice for such a long journey. but in my case it actually was great. it was small enough and light enough for me to easily portage more than a dozen times during the first 500 miles. and there were many moments when I scraped rocks on the bottom of the river. But this kayak was able to withstand all of those bumps.

I'm 5'10" and 200 pounds. this kayak was able to hold not only just me but also all of my equipment... a tent and a sleeping bag clothes and food and other necessary equipment. it was cramped a bit but still comfortable. I paddled 508 miles in 17 days in this 8-foot kayak. next year I intend to continue the journey starting exactly where I stopped this summer. and although I know that this particular kayak would be successful I'm considering using a longer kayak for the next segment of my journey.

Overall I highly recommend this small portable kayak for both at home recreation use as well as longer journeys.

We purchased a used Aruba last summer for our son. He showed interest and I found this little yak. It is a durable yak which is a must with boys, it is also very stable which is very important to a beginner. They usually come with a paddle too making them an excellent value for beginners. Being that this is a smaller boat, it is sized for children and small adults. I am 5'6'' and am comfortable in this little yak. It is also easy to maneuver. My son is a beginner, only being out a few times, but I have no doubt that his good experiences with his Aruba are to credit him wanting to continue.

Great product for the price to get you started off on a low budget. Only complaint is the location of the cup holder and the storage being in back.

Easy to carry, launch, and paddle. Great value! and at 8 feet, it stands up in a corner in our apartment. I miss molded-in or adjustable foot braces so I'm rating it a 9 instead of 10.

Got the Aruba 8 SS and have been using it on a lake this summer. It is very stable and can use it to fish out of. I would recommend this kayak for anyone young or old. Great exercise and I love it!!!

I bought four of these for my family. I gave it a generous 3 stars based solely on price, weight and the fact that it floats. Otherwise, I pretty much hate it. I have never tipped but probably only because I am very careful as it feels very unstable. The seat is extremely uncomfortable... your butt WILL hurt! The sides seem high making paddling uncomfortable, there is enough leg room to straighten legs but is so narrow that your ankles are turned and you will definitely not be kicking back with your legs on top unless you want to capsize.

I can only recommend this for a young child playing around in calm waters or maybe for messing around at a summer cottage. If you are looking to spend an entire day on the water, especially in strong current, spring for the extra hundred bucks or so for a real kayak. The only reason I am not even more disappointed is that I paid 99.00 for it. I'll be upgrading next month.

I wanted to try kayaking but didn't know where to start. I found this Aruba kayak at Walmart on clearance. Loved the price, the weight and the length, it also came with a free paddle (since replaced). I'm a 50ish year old woman, so the weight is important. I've since purchased 2 other kayaks of different brands and when given the choice, I prefer this one. I use it on a very calm lake so I don't know how this would do on a river or a lake with high boat traffic.

I rated this an 8 out of 10 because I did have to put in foot pegs (very easy) and I will get a padded seat eventually. It would have been nice to have both of these already installed.

Great for lakes and calm rivers and streams. They are affordable enough for a family of 4, hold 270 lbs. easily and have lots of leg room and a cushioned seat. They could be more stable but they could also cost $300 like most other kayaks. Good value for a starter kayak.