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Back in 2008 I submitted a glowing review of my Solstice GT with a promise of an update at the end of the summer. It's now 13 years later, I still have the same boat, and I can't imagine a better one to own. It has been paddled with joy on multi-day trips in Jasper National Park, Banff National Park, Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and countless other lakes in Canada and the U.S. It tracks flawlessly, is incredibly stable even in really rough water, is durable, dependable, and everything I could possibly want in a kayak. And, it still looks as good as it did when I bought it. Perfect!

I got my Cronje this past spring and couldn't be happier. I'm totally pleased with the "blue steel" (kevlar/carbon composite) lay-up and the 54 lb. weight (slightly heavier than standard blue steel because the unique "paint job" required a double gell coat) is easy on my aging bones when portaging.

I've had it out to mountain lakes in the Canadian Rockies, and best of all, on a trip to Quetico Provincial Park in September to celebrate the 100th anniversary of QPP and Superior National Forest. This boat is fast, stable, easily maneuverable, and can carry more gear than you could possibly use. We paddled Pickerel Lake with confidence.

This boat is built to handle big water with ease. To top it off it is an incredibly beautiful boat. Its classic lines are definitely eye-catching. This is going to be "my ride" for as long as I can paddle!

I've been canoeing for years but just got started with kayaking. I got a great deal from Kidder Kayaking in Brainerd, MN on a demo kevlar Solstice GT. Since I'm just getting started, I don't have all the "expert" experiences to draw from, but I can tell you this boat is a joy to paddle. It's stable, quick, responsive, and exactly what I was hoping it would be. It's smoke over smoke and is a beautiful boat. The only reason I'm giving it a 9 instead of a 10 is that I just feel I need more time in it to rate it at "perfection", though I'm pretty close to doing that now. At the end of the summer I'll post additional comments.