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Name: brewerpaul
Most Recent Reviews
I'd like to add my recommendation for the Tucktec kayak for anyone who wants a very portable and storable rigid kayak for recreational paddling in calm water. Some paddlers have used them in mild rapids, but I haven't tried that yet.
My wife and I had two Pungo 120's that we loved, but at nearly 72, hauling them up onto a roof rack was becoming a real problem. Plus, I'd need a new roof rack for my new car and the expense wasn't worth it. I looked at a friends Oru which looked great, but too pricey for this retiree. I tried a highly recommended inflatable which paddled like a bathtub, and was a major pain to inflate, deflate, reinflate to dry out, etc. Back it went and we ordered two Tucktec.
I have been very impressed with this inexpensive little boat! As others have mentioned, I struggled with the first assembly. When new, the plastic is quite stiff, especially if it's cool. After flexing the fold lines a couple of times and letting the plastic warm in the sun, it's actually pretty easy to assemble.
The kayak has a retractable skeg which keeps it tracking nicely.
My only problem is the seat, as many other people have found. Personally, I find it comfortable enough, but it sits me 'way down on the bottom of the kayak. I'm 5'2" with a short torso, and the kayak is quite wide so I can't paddle efficiently without hitting the gunwale bolsters. Other users have found ways around the seats' shortcomings* and I'm investigating a few options which should pretty easily make my paddling easy and efficient. Apart from the fixable seat issues, I'd unhesitatingly give this ingenious boat 5 stars.
* There is a very active Facebook forum devoted to the Tucktec. People there have posted numerous solutions to the seat question and a ton of other topics;