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Acquired this boat well used and much abused but after two months of rehab, I was able to breath new life into a really well designed, fun to paddle, and great looking boat.

The Avatar is sleek and smooth handling. Think of a knife cutting through the water. Ideally suited for slim + trim paddler the cockpit is tight and the thigh braces large and accommodating to the needs of the paddler. You can move + control the boat with your thighs quite well, even if a novice in a Greenland style kayak like the Avatar.

For its size, the boat is relatively easy to move out of the water. The balance is near perfect which is a big help when lifting onto and off of a vehicle. The body is slim and narrows the entire length of the boat so it is easy to handle as you can always maintain a firm grip on the boat even when it is above your head.

The seat is surprisingly comfortable, although the backrest could use some design consideration.

Storage is adequate but for longer treks deck storage is your best option. Regarding the hatches, the Avatar has the older style neoprene caps with hard top deck covers. Although the coaming was shot on my boat, the hatches were still watertight absent it.

Word of caution to those thinking of acquiring an Avatar. Parts will be a real problem for you. Perception no longer stocks anything compatible with the Avatar and parts from other kayaks rarely make for an even swap without considerable modifications/adjustments. If you are to acquire an Avatar, make certain it is in really good shape and grab up any parts you can whenever they become available online- worst-case scenario would be you never needing them but being able to pass them along when you sell the boat.

I am relatively new to paddling, having been active for about a year. I was able to pick-up a Cayuga 160 at a great price. The boat is about 5 years old but was well maintained and required little maintenance before I set her loose on the water. I could not be more impressed. At 16' the Cayuga is a bit of a handful to manage outside of the water, especially without assistance. It is a heavy boat and with a rudder, the balance, bow to stern is off just enough to make you pay attention every second the boat is in your hands, lest the stern drop and hit the ground unexpectantly. Once in the water, the awkwardness disappears and the prowess and grace of the boat shine.

The Cayuga is incredibly stable in the water. I am able to move freely in the cockpit without fear of tipping. The boat sits low to the waterline and with its length, you can feel immediately confident in your ability to handle the boat, move around and lean without the kayak listing to tipping. When paddling, the boat does not exhibit any wobble. The width of the Cayuga is an important factor affecting stability. Generally, you would expect this level of stability from a much wider kayak but the design of the hull permits the boat to be narrower without compromising on stability nor maneuverability or comfort/confidence.

As noted above, the Cayuga's maneuverability is remarkable. Without the use of the rudder, the boat quickly and efficiently turns and responds to turning paddle strokes. Traditionally, the level of maneuverability I have experienced with the Cayuga had previously only been possible in shorter kayaks with flat bottoms- I was initially fearful the Cayuga would be a handful in the water but after having put it through multiple environments + under multiple conditions from surf to heavy rain with choppy unpredictable seas, the Cayuga maintains is responsiveness in spite of these conditions as well as a novice paddler in the cockpit.

Speed and efficiency characterize the Cayuga's movement through the water. I paddle with a club of seasoned paddlers and I find myself having to restrain the Cayuga's desire take the lead with minimum effort on my part. After a recent 5 hour paddle, I felt little fatigue at the end of the leg due in great part to the efficiency in the design of the boat. The Cayuga truly slices through the water with very little drag.

For me, tracking is where I struggled with other boats- when having to paddle in a large group in relative formation, tracking is essential so as to not distract other paddles in their cadence. The Cayuga holds a straightforward motion after you stop paddling. Although it has great tracking it still maintains its maneuverability.

As noted, I have experience in the Cayuga under multiple conditions from a flat lake to choppy surf and the boat maintains its capacity for quick turning and maneuverability.

This boat seems to never run short on space to stow gear from day trips to five days of camping. Surprisingly, even after stocking the wells + nearly maxing out the deck, the boat suffers little from the additional weight and requires limited compensation to maintain control.

The cockpit is roomy and at the same time makes the paddler feel secure and in control. At 5'7" I have plenty of space to maneuver and stretch during long paddles and the backrest, which is low and hits me right above the lumbar area, is soft enough to comfort and firm enough to support. The seat is long and wide and contoured- it caused no fatigue or discomfort

The rudder system is simple and effective with foot braces that are attached to the rudder in the rear of the kayak. I have paddled with + without the rudder and the Cayuga is pliable in the water without but obviously, more nimble and responsive with the rudder.

All in all, the Cayuga is an exceptional boat I look forward to maintaining for many years to come- you could not ask for a better design, a more manuverable and great looking boat than the Old Town Cayuga 160!