Islay 12

The cockpit leaks, can’t determine exactly where. Water also drips from the skeg cable into the cockpit. I have to use a pump multiple times to get rid of the water. Only had it a month and trying to get a resolution from the dealer but so far was just sent a seat bolt kit to do it myself! Will be contacting the manufacturer. Not happy as the boat is new.

I bought this kayak in 2015 after doing an awful lot of research and renting a different lengths, styles and types to figure out what I liked. I wanted something plucky, short enough to be manoeuvrable and portageable but long enough to use in sea-like conditions. My LV Islay came up on sale at a local shop that was discontinuing it. I got it at a steep discount, making it a no-brainer. It's a beautiful little boat, and I've been incredibly happy with it. I've used it in calm and choppy waters all over southern Ontario. From small dirty rivers and swamps to open Great Lakes waters and bays, it tracks like a dream and has gotten me through tight and tough situations. It has been stable everywhere (topping 20kt winds gusting 25kts, couldn't tell you wave height with certainty), and has happily waded through gross muskeg like a glorious, slimy beaver. I don't have a spray skirt, but I will likely be investing in one soon. I'm a small person (5'4 and 120 pounds soaking wet), so it's low-volume nature is awesome. I sit more comfortably and with more stability than in any other kayak I've ever used, which mostly seem to designed for strapping 200-pound, 6'3 hockey players. The Islay's braces are all positioned reasonably well for me and the seat's fine. Right out of the box, it fit me like it was pretty much moulded to me. When I go out, I almost always sleep out. The watertight bulkheads have plenty of room for my camping and fishing gear. I've packed it for week-long trips, but I'm sure I could do more than that, as there's usually space left over for any extra panties I would want. The skeg is my only issue. If it falls all the way out, it drops and starts to swivel, usually sticking in a way that leaves the kayak tracking in circles. When it does this while I'm paddling, it becomes a potentially-disastrous scene that involves me lying down on my stomach, scooting back, trying not to flip into water and pulling the skeg back in. I reached out to Venture, and their solution (tightening the cords) hasn't worked. So I just try not to let it fall out all the way. I think I have to change out the skeg line, but this is on a boat that's now more than five years old — so it's not too bad, all things considered. I move the Islay around with foam blocks and straps on my wee tin-can of a car. I've never had a problem with it. It's a bit of a lug when I'm carrying it on trails, and it has some scrapes from bad portages that were equivalent to dragging it across the coals of hell. It's quite durable, but even so I got it wheels to increase its lifespan. All in all, I've been very pleased with this boat. A great kayak for big lake country.

I purchased the Islay after an outing with friends who had touring kayaks. We went to Elk Horn Slough in Moss Landing California for our outing. I had a 10' Wilderness Pungo and got waxed trying to keep up with them. I called California Canoe and Kayak to ask their opinion on touring Kayaks with durability (plastic) The recommended the Islay. When I tried it out I was ex tactic, It handled and tracked like a dream with the skeg. After I purchased it I have been in Carquinez Straits which are along my home town Benicia. The straits can be difficult with tide current and wind. The Islay was awesome. It has great balance and secondary lean which took some time to get used to. I have been able to zip around in a comfortable cockpit that was not wide open as the Pungo was. I have used with and without the spray skirt and like the option of being able to have an open cockpit on hot days. The Islay has two storage compartments fore and aft that are more than adequate. The kayak is very squirrely without the skeg and does not track well. I have a 5th wheel RV that I used to mount the Pungo to (vertically on the back ladder I have kayak stirrups and straps) I was able to take the Islay on my RV ventures and in a lake it is an absolute dream. It is heavy but that is what I expected because I am hard on kayaks and wanted durability

I've been paddling this kayak for nearly a year, so it's time for a review. Though I'm a medium sized guy (5'11" tall, Eur 43 shoes, fat thighs) I chose the LV version, and it's definitely right for me. The boat feels light in the water, I still have plenty of room for adjustment in the foot pedals, and loads of space to stretch my legs.

The Islay 12 is a tough plastic day touring boat, with good quality outfitting and safety features like a proper sea kayak: full perimeter lines, deck bungees, front and rear hatches, floating backrest, adjustable thigh braces, and skeg. A 'skudder' (combination skeg-rudder) is available as an optional extra, but on a boat this short, the normal cable-operated skeg is plenty. It weighs only about 20kg, making it much easier to lift and carry than most sea kayaks, so it could be a great choice for anyone paddling on sheltered water where a full 17' sea boat would be overkill.

On the water, there isn't much primary stability, but there is loads of secondary stability. This is not ideal for absolute beginners; my beginner tester (Mrs. SeaBadger) found it hard to keep the Islay tracking straight without dropping the skeg. But for intermediate paddlers, rolling is easy (also thanks to the low rear deck), and weaving around rocks using edging and low brace turns is great fun. A sustained straight line speed of around 4mph is achievable. The surface area of the skeg is generous, making it simple to keep the Islay tracking straight in breezy conditions, and it handles confidently in a 1-2' swell - and maybe more, but then I am a fair-weather kayaker :)

Overall it's a great little boat. Only a couple of minor niggles: the spraydeck size is nonstandard; and it would be better if the removable pod fitted into the front deck with a more positive click. But apart from that, if the 'mini sea kayak' idea appeals then this boat is definitely worth a look.