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Name: BgrossPN

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Better than I am!

After several years of dreaming about kayaking, I took the plunge.
Yeah, my OCD kept me from rushing out and buying the first rec/yak I saw and then outgrowing it. Living at the beach near a harbor, I wanted something I could grow with and found a 20-year old Eclipse Sealion on Craigslist. The original owner was "finally" ready for a new boat and my timing was right.f
I'm not small (6'3" 215#) and neither is this kayak. That allows it to be a perfect fit for me. The cockpit is roomy enough but also good for bracing.
I launch from a sandy beach in the harbor and find the initial stability to be excellent. When running with the rudder up, she moves on edge very nicely with no surprises. With rudder deployed she turns fine and the weather cocking is minimized.
I've taken my time and I'm still learning but she is forgiving of my fumbles and hasn't dumped me in... yet.
Very stable kayak. Durable, even after 20 years. Fun to learn with and grow with. A bit heavy (70#) as a you'd expect a touring boat to be, but well balanced and not difficult to handle.
Sure, there are newer, shiny, and expensive boats out there. But for me, this one is perfect!

I've come to paddling late in the game (64 years) so what I lack in experience I make up for in enthusiasm. I'm not small (6'3"/210#) so as I did my research, I kept an eye out for a kayak that received good feedback from full-size paddlers.

After a few weeks of looking, an Eclipse/Sea Lion became available nearby. The original owners had given her a full life, and taken good care of her too.

This is a great kayak. Yeah, she's a bit heavy. So what - so am I! So far, that's the only thing I can find to 'complain' about.

I've read other reviews about primary and secondary stability and find myself wondering if I am missing something? I haven't had any problems with stability. If I do something stupid and forget that I'm in a boat, she reminds me. But I haven't been swimming, yet. A couple of 'pucker' moments, yes. But I blame myself, not the Eclipse. I'm learning and she is pretty forgiving of my occasional sloppiness.

The rudder works like it should, allowing me to focus my paddling on forward motion and making course corrections with my fever as needed.

The cockpit is roomy enough for my long legs, allowing me to paddle without getting cramped or uncomfortable, but able to effectively use the thigh braces without feeling sloppy.

The previous owner replaced the backrest and it gives comfortable low back support. It didn't come with a seat pad but, so far, the seat has been great without one. When my 3-times weekly sessions begin to last more than 70-90 minutes, I'll contact Harmony for a solution.

So, if you are a Real Grown-Up size person looking for a great used kayak that you can use/learn/enjoy, I say go for it.