Profile

I purchased my Explorer used about 6 months ago. It is my first kayak and I consider myself a beginner paddler. This boat is light and easy for me to load on top of my 4Runner by myself. At 5' 5” this was a main consideration for me when selecting a yak. This boat is very stable in the water. I've only unintentionally tipped it once on a fast, narrow river run. I think this was due mainly to my own inexperience more than the boat. It is very easy to right and re-enter.

My first outing I took it to a protected area and practiced tips and re-entries and was really pleased at how quickly I became comfortable with it. The boat tracks extremely well and has a decent speed to it. I have mine outfitted for fishing and look forward to getting into this aspect more.

The only drawback is the hull slap – everything hears you coming in even a little chop. So it can be a bit disappointing trying to get close to birds and, doing most of my paddling in S. Florida rivers, I prefer that the gators stay on the banks where I can see them instead of sliding in the water where I have no idea where they are.

All in all I love my little boat and the fun that I have with it. I think this is a great first time, all purpose yak for the beginner.

I looked for other carriers and even tried one other, but this carrier has proven to be an excellent choice. It is well built and sturdy. It's quick to load/unload. The kick stand stabilizes the carrier while you load or unload taking all the frustration out of attaching this to the boat. The design also allows me to position the cart more to the center of the yak reducing front carrying weight making it even easier to “take my yak for a walk”. I've carried two yaks, one on top of another, simultaneously with ease. The wheels fold up for easy storage in my vehicle. The large bicycle wheels make portage over rough terrain a breeze.

I highly recommend this carrier for anyone looking for sturdiness, ease of use, and particularly if you have to move your boat and gear by yourself. When I use this I'm looked at with envy while others try to muscle their boats from car to shore or vice versa.