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The Old Town Cayuga 146 is an excellent intermediate kayak, especially for longer day trips. A versatile boat, it has excellent stability without sacrificing tracking or paddling efficiency. It's larger cockpit and adjustable foot pegs can accommodate paddlers of pretty much any size and is comfortable and spacious. The Cayuga has both a bow and stern dry storage compartment as well as a screwtop small dry storage area on the deck right in front of the cockpit.

This kayak handles well on many different types of water and I have taken it on one day 30 mile trips on the ocean, short excursions on lakes and ponds and even on some low level whitewater.

The Cayuga is fairly light and made of tough roto-molded polyethylene plastic so it is durable. It can take scratches, dents and warping without affecting performance in the least. It has front and rear bulkheads so if you swamp, the boat will remain afloat.

The one drawback to this boat is that the front and rear storage hatches are not completely watertight when taking a wave, though they are really easy to put on and take off.

I bought this kayak in 2009 when training for an event where we paddled 14 miles across LI Sound (pretty heavy water). I bought it because it seemed like it could handle all types of water and it was the wisest paddling investment I've ever made.

I've paddle my Cayuga on ponds, lakes (big and small), rivers with and without current and even used it in class 2/3 whitewater. It is the most versatile boat around in my opinion as it is very stable and not tippy at all, but still tracks well and is a great introduction for novice paddlers to see what kayaking is really all about. Though considered a day touring boat, I've kayak camped off of this thing for days at a time and since it is simply polyethline plastic,

I've dropped it, dragged it, scraped it and even had my racks fail and have it go flying off on the highway, and it still paddles like the first day I got it.

The boat is tough, stable, moderately fast and has considerable storage space. It can be on the heavier side to lift and portage and my only other critique is that although the dry hatches are easy to open and close, they don't seal completely dry like those with the neoprene sealers (though they are a pain to put on and off). I rarely even use the spray skirt since cockpit is high decked, even on heavy water.

Cockpit is open enough to be comfortable and even at times to fish from, but tight enough to have control of the boat and hot take on water with every wave. I have pushed this "day touring boat" to a touring boat with no problem, and though my skill level is probably beyond my Old Town Cayuga, I'll never get rid of this versatile, durable and great performing kayak.

I bought this boat prior to paddling in a 14 mile kayak charity event. I've paddled it on heavy, ocean-like waters (even crossed the LI Sound in it twice) and also on calm lakes and rivers. Very stable, tracks very well, and has ample storage room. Only drawbacks are that it's heavy to carry, its rear handle is in awkward carrying spot, and the dry hatches don't seal great. Overall great performing and extremely versatile boat.