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The Rawson Tangent 15 kayak I purchased in December 2013 is an excellent kayak for me. Jeffery Rawson personally delivered it to my home – wow was I lucky that he was on his way to the Florida Keys this winter. It was also priced less than the prices on the Rawson Kayak website. Call him!

I live in Miami, FL and I paddle mainly in Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys. This area is mainly shallow - protected water. I was looking for a light weight, well built, affordable, easy to paddle kayak for day use and exercise. It has one large and one small hatch, so this kayak could also be used for overnight trips. The Tangent 15 fits the bill.

It is fast and super maneuverable. It took me a couple of weeks to get used to the unique design of the kayak (you sit closer to the bow of the boat than other "symmetrical" kayaks). It was a little tippy to begin with, but once I got used to the design – I became extremely comfortable with this nimble boat. This is a very fun boat. I get a kick out of paddling it every time I got out.

I paddle almost every weekend and a few times during the week, if weather permits. The rudder makes the boat a very easy boat to paddle in various conditions. I have paddled in smooth conditions to 4 foot waves. This boat rides waves like a champ and cuts through them when needed! Lots of fun. It will even pivot 180 degrees on a dime when you pull up the rudder and do a power left or right stroke - amazing. I paddle 10 -20 mile trips with ease. I have been paddling for over 20 years and this is – by far – my favorite kayak.

A few of things to consider... This fiberglass kayak is much more delicate that my other fiberglass or plastic boats (it is also MUCH lighter – 35 lbs!). I never land it on the rocky shores that are all over the place in Biscayne Bay and the Keys. Landing on sandy beaches is fine. I usually anchor it near the shore and hop in or out. The cockpit is plenty large enough to easily climb in an out of in shallow water. I am not a fisherperson, so I can't really say how great of a fishing kayak this is. If you are a newbie paddler, you might want to consider a different – wider model of Rawson kayak. Call Jeffery!

I would also recommend that you use a spray skirt as the boat sits low in the water (especially the stern). I ordered a custom neoprene skirt from Rawson Boat Inc. and I also purchased a Synergy nylon spray skirt 41x23 (it is a little cooler in the summer).

Everyone asks me about this unique kayak. I’ll tell you what I tell everyone who asks – call or contact Jeffery Rawson to get custom pricing and options. It is well worth it.