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Name: paddler272491

Most Recent Reviews

This site says the Manitou Sport has been discontinued, but I just purchased one from REI -- Old Town has taken on some of the Necky models and simply rebranded them! It's a lovely "little" boat (at just under 11 ft in length) that strikes a nice balance between stability, speed, tracking, and maneuverability. Other reviewers have called it a "mini sea kayak" and that is a pretty good description, although the cockpit is pretty dang large (42" x 20") -- presumably to accommodate larger paddlers and those seeking more of a 'recreational' experience. I will probably get a spray skirt (or a splash deck, at least -- see the Seals website) for paddling in rougher conditions where overwash into the cockpit is a possible concern. But most of my paddling will be on relatively calm lakes, coastal creeks, and local rivers with nothing more than Class II rapids. Perhaps the best feature of this boat is its remarkably adjustable and comfortable seat -- it's truly a revelation, at least as compared to some of the older model kayaks I've had in the past. The adjustable foot pegs work very well also. It has a sealed bulkhead in the stern, and plenty of deck lines for storage and safety. I'm 65 years old and reasonably fit/strong for my age, but at 44 pounds it does take a bit of grunting to get the boat up onto my car's roof rack. At 5'9" and 190 lbs, the boat fits me almost perfectly, although the cockpit size is so wide that bracing my knees into the padded interior of the hull is a tad uncomfortable. Overall, a great do-it-all boat.