Having owned ten kayaks over the last 30years from a $3,000 Necky to an $1,100 Ocean, the Stealth is by far my favorite! The Stealth does not excel in any one area, it simply does everything well, (kinda like a dual sport motorcycle). The price point on the Stealth is what I call a “great smile per dollar ratio”! The forward deck is flat, (unlike most other sit on-tops), and is perfect for an 8” deck hatch! The rear deck is perfect for gear and or a dog! (If you kayak w/ a dog, I recommend cutting a neoprene yoga mat or one of those foam 2’X2’ exercise floor mats, that fit together like a puzzle, and glueing it, (after lightly sanding), to the rear deck for your K 9’s claws to grip into).
This boat will bring you heaps of fun, it is extremely durable, very forgiving and you won’t cringe when you scrape over barnacles or rocks. The rear wheel is a nice thought, but doesn’t really work effectively in dirt or sand. I may make a little skid to replace the wheel. Nonetheless, the “skeg wheel”, still protects the boat when dragging the stern, so Bob’s your uncle! At the end of the day, the more expensive boats may be marginally better in a few areas that rarely come into play, for example, if you are portaging several miles over boulders and logs, through deep ravines and up the sides of mountains, having molded-in grab handles, instead of the stealths sturdy “T” handles, might feel better. And if you want a zippy color like pink or yellow, you’re gonna be disappointed. However if you’re “anti bling”, like myself, I’m sure you’ll love the earth tone, semi military, utilitarian look of the Stealth.
For the average person, this boat is all you need, and you can use the cash you save to buy more gear. With the money I saved, over a higher priced competitor, I literally bought a compass, paddle, PFD, overhead sunshade, stainless canteen, front and rear deck hatches, safety whistle, hand held 6 mile laser, (to let boats know I’m there), tent, sleeping bag, some freeze dried meals, new battery for my handheld VHF, a quality hatchet, plus my girl and I got a great taco truck meal and two beers, not to mention, I filled my car up w/ Petrol and I got a $2 lottery ticket, (and won $4!). ;^D With that said, my Stealth, doesn’t, have molded-in grab handles and my girl could not get it in pink as white swirl🤷🏻♂️
Those are my thoughts, (from a guy who’s sailed and kayaked heaps):
https://sedonaeye.com/collins-rhog-in-the-belly-of-now/
Good luck & have fun - Collins
