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We've owned the Easky 15LV for several years, and generally are very happy with it. We've paddled it on lakes, rivers and ocean bays. The feature I like most is the way the hull slices through the water with almost no bow wake. Very efficient, and gives a smoother ride in choppy water than other boats (like our Eddyline Journey) that tend to slap and splash on every wave.

The narrow beam and smallish cockpit make it feel tippy on entry and exit, but that's the trade-off for a sleek hull. The only time it's a problem is in the ocean surf where quick entry/exit must be made between breakers. The seat has a minimalist design with a folding band for a backrest, but it works and is reasonably comfortable. There is a small water bottle holder directly in front of the cockpit which is very convenient. It has a watertight cover so can be used for a cell phone, watch, wallet, etc.

The real wet dog in the design is the skeg. It's spring loaded with a thin elastic string in the skeg recess in the underside of the hull. This is connected to a string with a catch near the cockpit. On dry land with all components clean, the skeg operates correctly, but lazily. There is a lot of drag in the linkage, and not much pull from the elastic. In the water, when things get wet and gritty, the skeg sticks and the elastic doesn't have enough pull to operate it. I've tried tightening the elastic, but then it's too difficult to retract....the leverage is wrong. Luckily, the Easky handles well without the skeg.

Overall, this is a great all-round kayak except for the useless skeg.

First off, I should point out that as far as I can tell, the Manatee, is a re-badged Perseption Swifty. I've seen them side by side and they are identical...(the Manatee even includes a Perception water bottle as part of the package) This is my first kayak, although I have canoed for years. I bought it on a whim while vacationing last year in Maine. The Manatee is made of plastic and is short and wide with a roomy cockpit. I am 5' 8" and can sit with my legs folded up or straight out. Weighing 39lbs, it is easy to load on the car. The seat is nothing to write home about, but comfortable enough for several hour trips. As might be expected of a short wide craft, it is very stable but doesn't track very well. Almost immediately I regretted not buying a longer craft. On the positive side, I took it out in the ocean and rode out some prety large swells with perfect confidence. It also will turn on a dime, something that longer kayaks don't do as well.

Recently, I went kayaking with a friend in a Necky Manitou 13. We traded off so I had an opportunity to compare the Manatee with a sleeker craft. Although I was able to keep up with the Necky, I had to expend much more effort. It soon became evident that the longer craft would track and glide much better than the Manatee. Where the Manatee did shine was when we came to some small rapids and current. The shorter kayak was much more maneuverable and less susseptible to getting turned sideways in the current.

The bottom line is that there are trade-offs. While not the sleekest craft, the Manatee is very stable and can slip in and out of tight places easily. It is a good kayak for beginners, but if you are looking for performance.....spend a little more and get something longer and sleeker.