Bali 10 SS

10'
Length
30"
Width (in)
44
Weight (lb)
discontinued

This Product Has Been Discontinued

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Bali 10 SS Description

Great for lakes and rivers and lightweight, easy to carry, The Bali 10 SS Tracks and paddles with ease while offering maximum stability. Sports a large, comfortable seating area with protective thigh pads and an open cockpit for easy entry.

Bali 10 SS Specs and Features

  • Structure: Rigid / Hard Shell
  • Cockpit Type: Sit Inside
  • Seating Configuration: Solo
  • Ideal Paddler Size: Smaller Adult/Child, Average Adult
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Ideal Paddler Size: Smaller Adult/Child, Average Adult
  • Skill Level: Beginner

Additional Attributes

  • P.A.C. (Portable Accessory Carrier) can be used as extra storage
  • Adjustable Foot Braces
  • Storage compartment
  • Shock cord deck rigging
  • Paddle Holder

Sun Dolphin
Bali 10 SS Reviews

Read reviews for the Bali 10 SS by Sun Dolphin as submitted by your fellow paddlers. All of the reviews are created and written by paddlers like you, so be sure to submit your own review and be part of the community!

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1

I just want to thank you for…

Submitted by: paddler2732056 on 12/27/2023

I just want to thank you for the incredible job of misleading your customers in believing this is a good product. This has to be the worst kayak on the market, it will not go straight, you have to constantly paddle to keep it straight, every stroke of the paddle you feel like your going to tip over. But your company don't care as long as you get the customers money. im screwed because I'm in the low income range and can't afford to go out and buy another one and I can't, In good conscience, sell this one.

The thing is, your company know this product is crap but you still sell it.

Thanks for ripping me off 👍👍

And you dont need to reply, i know its just going to be excuses and nothing will be done about it. (We can see that in the reviews) people are telling you it's a bad kayak and you continue to sell it. how low down is that?!

5

This is the best on the…

Submitted by: paddler2449575 on 12/13/2022

This is the best on the Market for the money. It doesn't fit someone overweight and non-athletic, but if your a beginner to intermediate this will fit your needs perfectly especially on the Lakes and Rivers. Granted not for whitewater but is great for the weekend warrior

1

this is the most unstable…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 8/9/2022

this is the most unstable kayak I've ever been in. It was so unstable I only used it once. It felt like it could roll at anytime.

1

this is the most unstable…

Submitted by: paddler2190098 on 7/19/2022

this is the most unstable kayak I've ever been in. It was so unstable I only used it once. It felt like it could roll at anytime.

2

Pros: It's light weight. The…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 1/11/2021
Pros: It's light weight. The storage compartment works well for extra clothes. It can get into low level water and tight spots well. Cons: Handling horrible!! You must paddle all the time or the kayak will spin around. If you like a workout while kayaking this in the kayak for you! You will be paddling the entire time to keep the kayak pointing straight. I have had this kayak for about 2 years now. I finally have enough money to buy something more stable, so I'm moving on. The sit isn't that comfortable but I dealt with it. I wouldn't recommend this kayak.
5

Awesome. Tracks well. Fast.…

Submitted by: paddler862838 on 8/26/2020
Awesome. Tracks well. Fast. Stable. Used it in rivers, lake, and close in coastal waters. It was my first kayak and I was 63 when I bought it. Never regretted it.
1

This kayak is terrible, the…

Submitted by: paddler818009 on 7/21/2020
This kayak is terrible, the tracking while gliding is horrible. We have multiple kayaks and has nothing to do with paddling or currents. After a few good strokes when gliding you will literally spin in a circle. I have asked the manufacturer four time to recommend a Skeg or rudder that I could purchase (not have for free) to improve the tracking and have not received an e-mail back other than the E-mail to say they have received my email. Their customer service is on par with the Bali 10 SS tracking....terrible.
1

Don’t waste your time and…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 6/22/2020
Don’t waste your time and money. Extremely unstable from the moment when launched. Husband flipped immediately and we spent the entire trip wobbling and trying to keep our balance on the things. To make matters worse, it was nearly impossible to get it to go straight and we paddled three times the distance our friends did because we were zig zagging all over the place. We are relatively new to kayaking but we know that this is not how these boats should perform. We've paddled enough different types of watercraft to know how it should. We ended our day after two hours because we were miserable and already exhausted from trying to control our boats which was unfortunate since our friends would have liked to have carried on since their boats were NOT total junk.
1

This kayak is so unstable.…

Submitted by: paddler797906 on 6/14/2020
This kayak is so unstable. For a kid or really small woman it may work but anything over 100 lbs. it wants to wobble and is not stable. Would take it back but let family borrow it before I tried it so it's too late to take it back. They also had issues with it. Would not recommend. would give it minus stars if I could for use. Appearance is only thing nice.
1

Not good at all, a poor…

Submitted by: paddler797331 on 6/11/2020
Not good at all, a poor handling unstable kayak. This craft will not track in a straight line. It constantly tries to turn to one side or the other suddenly and may flip an unwary paddler. It is easier to paddle backwards than forwards. Nice deck features, too bad it is dynamically unstable.
5

This is the second year I’ve…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 5/27/2020
This is the second year I’ve had the Bali 10SS out on the water. I was mainly kayaking the local river. I am impressed. Handled great on high and low water. Yesterday, I took it out on a busy lake. The ripples didn’t impact the kayak at all and there were some big ones. I like all the storage areas. I have no issues with balance. On hot days I take out the scuffer plugs. Things I do not like is, it is awkward. I always need help loading and unloading. I kayak by myself but always go to public places. There’s a lot of good samaritans. Also, strapping it down to my forester. It’s difficult because there’s nowhere to link straps threw. I know to look for that feature on my next one.
2

Bought for my wife so she…

Submitted by: paddler516692 on 2/7/2020

Bought for my wife so she could go paddling with me on the rivers. The boat is well equipped and came with a paddle (square bladed nasty thing).

Tracking is quite terrible, it seems to like to go backwards better than forwards when paddling down slow streams. Primary and secondary stability are both lacking for me at 200lbs, though my wife has no issues as she weights quite a bit less.

We've replaced this boat in the regular rotation when the family goes out on the water, but retain it as a spare.

For the price point, you could do much better. I really wanted to like this Michigan made boat, but can't recommend.

1

I was very disappointed. We…

Submitted by: paddler504737 on 2/7/2020

I was very disappointed. We picked the kayak up on Thursday and took it on a 17 mile trip on the Cumberland River over the weekend. If you stop paddling even for one minute, the boat will turn towards shore. I've used other sit on kayaks and have not had this experience. I'm planning to return it.

2

This thing is soo unstable…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 1/30/2020

This thing is soo unstable if you barely shift in your seat it feels like you're going to flip it..not a good purchase!! Feels top heavy . Going to try putting a little water in it so its not overly buoyant

5

The quick response and…

Submitted by: paddler550516 on 9/4/2019

The quick response and manuver ability, very stable in all waves from any angle,many options it comes with and especially the tow behind storage box

3

It's the second season with…

Submitted by: paddler512736 on 6/6/2019

It's the second season with a couple Bali 10ss and this just my opinion of them... Pros - Price - The towable PAC is really cool. - Construction seems good - Not super heavy - Tracks like a short kayak

Cons - Low 250 lbs capacity - Included paddles are trash - Decals tore & came off - Needs better cockpit drainage

4

Pros: Great price. Seems to…

Submitted by: paddler463884 on 9/10/2018

Pros: Great price. Seems to be built very well (durable, looks attractive). Lots of storage that so far has been completely water tight - I can fit my car keys, wallet, phone, shoes and an extra water bottle with no problem in the storage compartments.

Meh: self-bailing drain holes are roughly right under your butt, so the back of your shorts will get wet - I'd recommend using a seat cushion and/or drain plugs to stay dry. Tracking is a bit difficult, as with any kayak of this size and weight, but I was able to get the hang of it with an hour or two of practice.

Cons: Not many handles, makes it difficult to load/unload out of the truck. Foot rests seem built for short people. I'm not real tall (5' 8") but it still feels like the foot rests are too short, even at their most extended position.

Keep in mind, this is an inexpensive, entry-level kayak. Its great for a beginner and/or a leisurely paddle around pretty still water. If you're looking for something more than that, you'd be best spending a little more on a higher-level model. But for what you get for the price, I've been very pleased

2

I have been in different…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 7/31/2018

I have been in different kayaks and this one is the worst. If I am not paddling I will be circles. Around and around I go. I can't take it to a river due to the circles. I can take it to a lake cause I won't run into anything when doing circles. Don't buy this!

1

What a nightmare. Its very…

Submitted by: paddler450902 on 7/9/2018

What a nightmare. Its very unstable I was petrified for the little amount of time I was on it. Very tippy I'm sending it back!not worth the money I paid for it.

1

This kayak is pretty bad. It…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 6/18/2018

This kayak is pretty bad. It should be sold for no more than $100. Really unstable. The slightest wave over a few inches will make you jerk for balance if you're not a regular kayaker. I took this thing out fishing yesterday on the river, and it was pretty sketchy. The current wasn't even that fast but I sure worked hard to cross, probably twice as hard as my brother and he is obese with a cheap $150 kayak. This kayak does this weird thing where it wants to keep turning, unless you're a professional kayaker who knows how to paddle with precise power on each side, you're gonna turn circles. Don't get this kayak, look somewhere else.

1

Don't buy this thing

Submitted by: paddler280650 on 1/10/2017

I have three kayaks that me and my daughters use and this is one of them. I will not let my daughters paddle it on a river because I don't want to go in after them. It is very unstable, don't even think about reaching behind you. It tracks well in circles if you want to go around and around this is your yak. Took this yak out on flat water rivers twice and after each one I was wore out after only a few miles.
You get what you pay for but there are several nice yaks in this price range if you shop around.

4

I'm sorta a newbie to…

Submitted by: Paddling_Patrick on 9/18/2016
I'm sorta a newbie to paddling. I didn't know what to expect with the sit on kayak, I always used a canoe in the past. This Bali 10 SS is light and maneuverable in the water and very easy to paddle. I don't have to switch sides with the paddle but I still manage to get water in it. That isn't a problem because it has 2 holes that the water will drain from.

I'm not gonna fall out but I found out that balance is an issue. Not with the boat but with me. If I lean to one side or the other it affects the direction. I kept wondering why I was making 180 turns and now I know why. It is not very light but I didn't know what to expect. The adjustable foot rests are nice, the seat back is comfortable. I do find that the little hooks for fishing rods or for a pole lanyard (I guess) catch my hands every once in a while while paddling. Not a big deal. No blood no foul.

Loading and unloading on the Outback is not too difficult but I have not tried doing it alone. Storing them is simple with the hanging straps. Nice little boats. I like 'em.

5

As a new paddler, this is a…

Submitted by: Howell_Paddlers on 9/16/2016
As a new paddler, this is a nice boat for flat water paddling. The adjustable foot pedal makes it easy for anyone in my family to use. The back of the seat is adjustable and is comfortable for the length of time we have been in the boat, which has been about 2 hours at a time. The water proof container in the cockpit makes it convenient to put a small phone, but a larger iPhone 6 will not fit. The cupholder is very nice to keep a bottle of water handy. The kayak handles well in the water, and storage areas on both sides of the boat are great places to keep a granola bar or other snack. Also the storage in the front and rear with bungee cords are perfect places to store your lunch/snacks or extra gear. It also has a towable storage area that fits nicely into the rear bungee hatch. I recommend removing this when you transport the boats, as it is not secured unless you tie it off, but can still slip out of the hatch when on its side.

The length of the boat is 10 feet, and getting the boat on/off the rack is a little challenging for a smaller stature person, but can be done. Overall we are very pleased with the boats we purchased and have taken them out several times this summer.
Overall a modestly-priced kayak with lots of versatility for storage and handles well.

2

Bought this Bali 10 at…

Submitted by: paddler236982 on 7/28/2016
Bought this Bali 10 at Walmart last week. this week I took it on a 28 mile 2 day float. Miserable every minute on the water boat tracks horribly. You have to paddle constantly. I would not recommend this boat to anyone. I've been on several ten foot kayaks for over night trips. This one is by far the worst I've been on. Just glad it was stolen out of my truck less than 12 hours after the float! I'll never buy a short boat again. prefer a 12 foot or longer sit in with bow and stern storage. Most of these short sit on yaks are crap!
1

We were lucky in that the…

Submitted by: paddler236830 on 6/6/2016
We were lucky in that the store we purchased it from allowed us to return it even after having it in the water. This kayak doesn't track. Gets carried off in a light breeze and it's UNSTABLE. So much so that after two hours in still water my husband said he was tired of "puckering" and wanted to go back in. He did not enjoy himself on that kayak at all. Couldn't even turn his torso to get in the back compartment because he was afraid of tipping.
4

My fiance and I purchased sun…

Submitted by: kmedders on 5/19/2016
My fiance and I purchased sun dolphin Bali 10 SS as our starter kayak. They are relatively cheap, we didn't want to spend to much money on something we didn't like. These kayaks have some pro and cons to them but overall they're pretty nice for the price you pay.

Some of the pro's I have noticed about them is that they are vary comfortable. We have taken ours on trips down the river where we've floated for nine hours strait and nothing got sore on our nine hour float. They sit very high off the water so you can put a lot of extra stuff in the kayak with you and not have to worry about it falling out unless you are tipping over. These kayaks come with all the essentials but nothing to fancy. They definitely hold their weight limit and more if you want to try it. water comes in the scupper holes but not over the sides, you can plug the scuppers.

Some of the cons are that this kayak is so short when you paddle you just turn back and forth back and forth until you get up enough speed to stay strait. When you do get up enough speed if you stop paddling they do not stay strait then either they will turn by them selves to one side. This was very annoying when I first got started but once you get used to both of these things its not so bad. Another thing is that they are very small so the storage on them is very limited, but I don't consider that a con because they didn't waste the space for storage on the kayak its just a short boat, there's not much boat there. I say this is a small boat but they do have smaller ones that I have never been on and I hate to see what they are like.

This brand of kayaks has several different solid colors to choose from, ocean blue ,red , navy, lime green, orange, and pink for the ladies,they have a recreational style and fishing, and they come with some really sturdy paddles that float. Their paddles are square on the end which I prefer over any other paddle now that I've used it so much. It pushes you through the water a whole lot harder in my opinion, but I know everybody is different when it comes to their paddles.

4

My sister and I bought the…

Submitted by: paddler236783 on 5/19/2016
My sister and I bought the 10' Bali Sun Dolphin sit on top kayak last summer. We have never owned one before and only borrowed one a couple of times, so very inexperienced. We live on a lake so we started there. Then hit the river and a couple of creeks which had wind and or current. We found that on a flat lake they track nicely but in a current not so much. Out in the river with wind and chop it was a workout for sure but we never felt unstable or tippy. Just constant paddling required. Definitely don't track straight in these conditions.

Recently we took them out in the Gulf and back bays. Gotta say they did better than expected. Again lots of work in the wind and current but awesome where there wasn't any and on the way back in.

Our biggest complaint is the storage compartments. There are two of them. The one closest to the seat is a complete waste. Always full of water!! The other one is awesome as it comes out of the boat and can be towed behind and has pretty much stayed dry inside. The big complaint here is getting the dang things open! There's no handle to speak of, just a short impression in the plastic lid, that requires spinning one way or the other. We're talking finger tip deep. Can't get a good grip to spin it, especially with wet hands. Then to top it off there's no way to remove the lid. Fingernails won't cut it. We have used small hammer to spin it open then a screwdriver to pop the top!! Not a good design. No gaskets, just plastic to plastic. The lids need a little D-ring or something to grab onto and pull. What good is storage that you can't get into?

Our only other complaint is how shallow all the little doodads are that hold the bungies in place. I mean wow, they are barely deep enough to hold the cords and pop off easily.

All in all, for our first kayaks we are happy enough but will be upgrading to 12 footers with more of a keel. Believe they will track much better and be a little less work. Hope this helps.

4

Nice sit on top kayak. Great…

Submitted by: Devotedtoad on 4/28/2016
Nice sit on top kayak. Great for little lake trips. Tracks well in open water. In a current situation on a reasonably flowing river this kayak is a pain. The ribbing underneath that makes it track so well in open water is easily pushed by he current and will constantly push you side to side. The water proof rear compartment is very nice and can even be tied to the kayak and towed floating behind allowing for much more gear to be stored on the kayak.

Not sure of the top end weight allowance but had no problem as a 170lb person and easily 50lbs of gear lashed on top. This kayak is great for a sunny day out on a pond or lake.

3

I had a friend purchase a…

Submitted by: Soggybottomboys on 10/8/2015
I had a friend purchase a Bali ss earlier this year the same time I bought a Future Beach Fusion 124. We took turns trying out each other's kayaks and the differences are astonishing. The Bali ss would not track straight, it was severely unstable and the waterproof compartment by the seat is not even close to being waterproof. This kayak went up for sale the next week and now he is sporting a new Fusion 124.
4

For an inexpensive beginner's…

Submitted by: paddler236389 on 7/24/2015
For an inexpensive beginner's kayak this is a decent buy. The seat and ride is stable and comfortable and there is plenty of storage areas. The weight is not too heavy for a man (or reasonably strong woman) to lift by himself although getting a good grip on this boat is a challenge.

Tracking is not so great and you will have to work hard to keep this yak going straight. The plastic body scratches easy but seems secure. After a couple of trips the boat will look very used. Vinyl stickers start peeling immediately.

The storage compartment behind the kayaker can be a challenge to open, especially if you're exhausted from an all day paddle. I recommend removing it and not using it. Storage areas to stay remarkably dry, but they're very difficult to open/close.

Overall a good boat to tip your toes in the water if you're a beginning kayaker to see if you like the hobby. It is cheap, stable, and easy to use. You'll quickly want to move on to a better boat though.

4

Just got my Sun Dolphin Bali…

Submitted by: Paulette on 7/4/2015
Just got my Sun Dolphin Bali SS. And I am loving it. Because I am only 4ft. 10 inches, I have to sit on a thick pad in order to row correctly, but it all works out! I do have a problem keeping it straight. If I use my husband's Pelicans it on I do fine. This I seem to have to keep adjusting. All and all for the price I think it's great!
4

I just got into kayaking this…

Submitted by: paddler235862 on 8/19/2014
I just got into kayaking this year. I started with the Lifetime Lotus 8ft... too small for me but cheap and it got me on the water for this summer. I live next to the Animas River, and I am within walking distance of it. Paddling upstream was a challenge but I quickly learned the tracking limitations of an 8 foot. I was looking at a ten foot option, and to give the smaller kayak to my wife. I liked the design of the Bali, but was torn between it and the Lifetime Tamarack. The guy at Sports Authority told me the Bali was probably slightly faster, with the Tamarack being slightly more stable.

I saved up my 329 bucks and went into Sports Authority on August 17 to find the Bali was on sale.. 209 bucks! I grabbed it and took it to the river immediately.

I've found that the Bali 10 tracks FAR BETTER than I'd hoped. (I knew it would be better than the 8ft, but it far exceeds my expectations.) It also is somewhat more unstable. It took a few minutes to get used to the rocking motion, but I suspect that's normal for this style of kayak. This thing is fast. I can leave my wife in the dust... Keeping up with the stand up paddleboarders. I actually paddled up the river a distance in half the time it took me in the old kayak. I flipped it once while getting in it, but while moving it felt really stable.

I noticed you must really pay attention on the kayak to keep it going straight once you reach a certain fast speed. If you stop paddling at top speed, for me, the kayak would swing out from behind me to a stop. Once I learned this kayaks caveats, I found it to be highly enjoyable, high quality, and really solid feeling. The accessory box, paddle straps, water tight space, drink holder (2 if you use another space for one), carry handles, and price makes an excellently rounded package. I'm extremely happy with my purchase.

I give it 8 out of 10 because it has no carry handle for a single person, the foot rests are not comfortable (I ended up removing them within ten minutes and it was extremely comfortable that way) and the spacing of the bungee cord for the paddle carrier doesn't seem widely enough spaced to carry a paddle without it tipping into the water. (At least my heavy paddle kept doing that.)

I'm around 220 pounds, 6ft tall. I found with the foot rests removed, it fit my shape perfectly.