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I purchased my Tribute 12 used, late last summer (2022). I had considered a Tribute for years but since I had 3 other yaks I waited as there was no great necessity. However, when a Tribute12 became available at the right price I jumped. For the record i am a 5'7" male at about 155 lbs. Fitting in the cockpit is no problem. My consideration was for a lighter boat that could be used in rivers up to class 2 and also have good traction and good maneuverability. This one has good traction and pretty good maneuverability. The keel limits the quick turning ability, but I am working to compensate this with better paddling skill. The most surprising thing I found about this boat was its speed and how quiet it was. With a few strokes of the paddle (I use a low angle one), I was gliding effortlessly, quickly, and so quietly. My paddle made more noise than the kayak. It's a stealthy boat. Once I tried out a Tribute 10 and found it noisier but perhaps it was because it was overloaded. I'm still curious about that. Back to the 12, storage space is good. I've had no problems with the hatch leaking. Due to its low height, I'd recommend a skirt if you're going into rapids. The seating is comfortable. I do prop a seating cushion under my thighs to add back support and ergonomics on long excursions. It works. The thigh braces are also helpful for control. The only minor drawback: when encountering very low downfall requiring me to slip down in the cockpit, I'm hindered by the flotation foam in the bow. As such I have to prop my legs outside the boat to get underneath. Fortunately, this happens rarely, and I can often just duck under or scoot down partially. I have considered removing the flotation foam and replacing it with a flotation bag that I can stuff further up on the bow. If anyone has done this successfully let me know and what size bag to get. Lastly, I do notice the difference in boat weight as I load it onto my car...much easier even though the Tribute 12 is longer than my other boats (Perception Proline Sport, America, and Montour). I'm happy with this boat and hope this review assists anyone else looking into getting into a Tribute 12. Happy paddling!

I was in Dunhams Sports checking out the yaks and was not seeing what I wanted. Then I saw the Perception Sport Montour 11 which fit all my specifications, ideally. I'd never heard of it. Apparently it was distributed by Dicks Sporting and seemed to dodge the reviews in the Perception catalog. It was on clearance so I nabbed it and hoped it would perform to my expectations. The color was nice too-sunburnt yellow and orange. I read all the reviews including the one by dwz. Well any boat will plow going upstream or against a current. Anyway, I also have 2 other Perceptions-America 11 and Proline Super Sport (whitewater). I did reviews on them. I wanted a combination of these two and that's what I got. My comments are based on my maiden voyage on a very scenic flatwater river in southeast NC (Lumber River): The Montour 11 is really stable for a slim yak. Surprisingly so! It seemed heavy but it's not. 43 lbs is 43 lbs. I "plowed" upstream against a 4 mile current and did as good a time as with my Proline and the America. I was comfortable in the seat. There is enough room for me to stretch out. At 5'7 and 155 lbs, if I had to I could actually scrunch down in the seat and go under some very low obstacles. The cockpit is roomy enough not to be cramped and small enough to keep off water drip (that I get with the America w/o the spray skirt). With the skeg up I had more maneuverability but not like my Proline that corkscrews as soon as I stop paddling. That's OK. It is still more responsive with the skeg up. With the skeg down the yak tracks straight as it should (like my America) and you give up some maneuverability as expected. The slimness of the boat does give it some speed. I like having the choice for the sport or the "caddy". Someone said in a review that the boat was somewhat noisy with a gurgle. Well my Proline gurgles too. The America is quieter. I suppose the bow could have been designed to be more quiet. I guess all the wildlife will run away when they hear me gurgle down the river. Let me know when Percep makes a Ninja yak. Had no one mentioned it I wouldn't have even thought about it. And it was less noticeable going downstream. Another review mentioned a knocking with the skeg down as it (the skeg) weaves a bit as you paddle and knocks on the insides. I too heard that and was a little annoyed but then just got used to it. I suppose if I want to get obsessive about it I could fit some 1/8 plastic on either side of the skeg but I probably won't. I will get used to my subdued knocking and gurgling (like a mantra). Those alligators won't come near me! Or I'll turn the radio up! (That's a joke). Another comment was lack of a drain plug. Yep I could put one in. I read how to do it. But the hatch in back stays dry and I'd only have to worry about the forward half. I can manage it. My Proline doesn't have a plug. The America does and I rarely use it. Some people will "yak" about what their boat can't do or doesn't have. I'm looking at the boat for what it does. Remember this is based on one outing. I'll follow up in a year and present the rest of the story. Until then I'll be enjoying my Montour and be sure to give it some varied trials other than just on flat water. So far so good and I hope this helps someone else decide. See you on the water.

I recently purchased the America 11.0 from a friend. I wanted a bigger kayak with storage capacity, suitable for camping, and stable. The America 11.0 does all this. I have found it extremely maneuverable (comparing it to my Perception Pro Line Super Sport white water yak), tracks straight, and it has lots of room although no dry storage. The cockpit is huge and I was annoyed with paddle drip. A splash deck spray skirt solved this perfectly. As the boat is wide (28") I bought a longer (230 cm) high angle paddle to go with it which contributed to more power and maneuverability. Also the boat gets me though shallow areas with no problem. I look forward to many long paddles in this boat.

Bought this WW kayak used and have used it in lakes and slow black water rivers. Turns on a dime and the low profile allows me to get under downed trees. Also use of a spray skirt is a must as the low profile in the stern will allow water to sneak in otherwise. There's no keel and I have to use the paddle more to track straight.

For day trips and getting in and out of tight spots and in the shallows it's great and a lot of fun. And it's light and easy to transport. For camping purposes I'd recommend a touring kayak with a keel and some storage.