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We bought this SOT to tote our boys around who were not strong enough to paddle their own kayak. We can get our entire family of 5 on this kayak for family adventures, granted my kids are 11, 8, & 5. There are several things that make this SOT stand out from the others we were considering.

1. Instead of plastic seat/thigh brace attachment points, FeelFree molds stainless steel bars at well place points along the gunnels.
2. This SOT can be set up for tandem or solo, which is great when I want to take it out for some fishing or play in the surf.
3. For an SOT this size & not designed for surfing, it is a fun beefy kayak to take in the surf, tandem or solo.
4. Two "dry" hatches logically place for access in a tandem or solo setup. Hatches stay dry for average paddling, but will take on some water when playing in the surf.
5. The rear wheel is a great addition, which allows for one person portage to and from the water.
6. The molded in side handles bow, amidships, and stern are well done, especially the placement of the side handles at the amidships.

This was a great purchase for family use as it serves a multipurpose of group family adventures, surf play boat, and rudimentary fishing kayak.

At first glance, the P&H Delphin 155 has a more pronounced rocker than the average sea kayak, but this was P&H Customs Sea Kayaks intent. The cockpit is slightly aft of the kayak center and has a flat hull beneath it, giving this kayak a playful spirit in surf, tidal races and rough water. The Delphin also has a buoyant bow that is designed to keep it from bow plunging in surf. There are 3 dry hatches, bow, stern and a mini hatch in front of the cockpit, and a retractable skeg to improve tracking on flat water.

Water Conditions & Location
I paddled the Delphin 155 in Tubbs Inlet on the west end of Ocean Isle Beach, NC in the surf & tidal races. The wave height was from 2 - 3 foot rolling and dumping surf.

Outfitting
The Delphin is almost "out of the box" ready. It comes with hip pads, a ratcheted back-band adjustment, molded seat, and foot pegs that can be adjusted while sitting in the kayak. I like a tight fit, so I replaced the stock hip pads with adjustable ones and installed a foam brace under my knee and a foam heel pad. The molded seat really holds your bottom in place and I did not slide around like you would in a non-molded seat. I really felt like I was part of the kayak. The retractable skeg is rope deployed via an ingenious bungee system, which translates to easy field repair and a skeg that will easily retract back into its slot when you forget it is deployed during a beach landing.

The two bulkhead compartments stayed dry during all surf sessions and after a couple of rolls. The mini-hatch in front of the cockpit is a great place for snacks, H2O proof camera, etc., though items need to be protected.
Note: The rubber rand spray skirt I had did not get a good seal due to the external seat anchor screws on either side of cockpit rim; therefore, you will need a bungee rand spray skirt or a rubber rand skirt with a thin rand to get a good seal.

On The Water
The Delphin feels very stable on flat water and just as stable in rough. It had good speed on flat water despite its more aggressive rocker and I had no problem paddling against the current. The hull design allowed easy ferrying across tidal currents and surfing tidal races. Punching through the surf was only surpassed by surfing in enjoyment. The bow planed to the top of almost every wave and required little effort punching through 2 -3 ft. surf. When caught off guard, paddling the stern into surf was just as successful.

The Surf Zone
Surfing the Delphin is where this kayak excels. When I thought I was going to nose dive, the bow would plane to the top of the water. The Delphin has good wave speed and could surf a swell well before it broke. The flat hull below the cockpit allowed the kayak to be spun on the wave foam to easily change directions. The hull was responsive to edging, which made it easy to carve wide turns on the wave. The Delphin was so much fun to surf; my whitewater kayak did not make it out the entire week. The high profile bow will be prone to weather cocking, though the skeg should alleviate this. This is a link to the surf session in the Delphin 155:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koWc5aSANm0 Rolling
The Delphin was easy to roll and its low deck behind the cockpit permitted good laybacks when finishing the roll.

Carrying
With the cockpit just aft of the center, carrying this 58 lb. Corelight kayak will take some adjustment. So if weight is a concern, the Aries, which is the composite version, will shed 3 lbs. and more as you choose lighter composite material.

Conclusion
After a week of paddling this kayak, I did not want to give it back. The Delphin is a good all around kayak that is stable enough for beginners, yet it will take a while to grow out of this kayak. For the intermediate/advance paddler, it will provide a new level of enjoyment in rough water and surf. A weekend paddling trip, with careful packing, is possible in this kayak, though do not expect to maintain the same cruising speed as a true touring kayak, like its cousin the Scorpio.

You do have the option of having a rudder system, but I do not suggest it. The skeg, along with edging and correct paddle strokes, should keep you on track in the roughest conditions. If you choose the Aries, you will be able to truly make your new kayak unique with 20 different composite colors, which can be different for the hull and deck. If budget allows, the Aries will be the path I will go when purchasing this kayak design, though the plastic version will serve just as well.