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The Conduit 13 was my 8th kayak purchase. It was my second 13ft Kayak, my 1st was a WS Manteo (Buy if you can find). I have owned one 17ft kayak, an OT Millennium. Everything else has been assorted 11ft, 10ft, 9ft boats. The Conduit 13 doesn’t paddle like the big ol boat that it is. It’s a front and rear sealed bulkhead storage compartment party barge. It’ll haul the goods, and you feel good about the idea that your stuff will stay dry despite what happens in the cockpit. I bought mine used with some oil can (waves in the bottom) and it still paddles beautifully. Mine has no rudder. I don’t really see the need for the rudder thus far. I paddle the Holston, French broad, Tennessee (Lake London) and all creeks, lakes associated with the East TN/Knoxville area. It handles all of it. Fast, glides forever, tracks beautifully and turns very fast with a sweep stroke. You dig a bit to get it going but once it gets up it cruises. It has topside rigging located between cockpit and hatch openings to strap on whatever gear you could need handy. It has a generous space behind the seat for medium/small sized water bag if you don’t want the weight topside in front or between your legs. The seating situation on my boat was hammered, the bottom Cushion was gone and knee bolsters pretty raggedy. I have a Klymet blow up seat bottom anyways. Blow up seat cushion...best thing ever. On a 6 hour paddle I adjusted the Lower back rest a few times. The adjustable back rest is very nice, I think paddlers set their boat rigging once for a trip and never realize...you can change it as you go. Foot pegs/lower back rest....change it up if you need to. You can also set the tension on the lower back rest, a ratcheting mechanism on the right. Use it. It’s a beautiful thing. This boat was already massively successful as the Dagger Catalyst 13. My only complaint is that such a wonderful Kayak should have been produced in 4 or 5 different color combos. As it is..mine is orange and yellow. The brightest color boat I have owned yet. The only other option I have seen is Salsa. Those don’t turn up used where I live. This boat does it all well and that’s pretty amazing. I bought this boat after I had a life changing event in a smaller boat. Had that event happened to me in the conduit 13 that day would have gone completely different. This Boat is Home on The Water and will be for years to come. I intend to add threaded drain plugs to all three compartments. All paddlers should add drain plugs if they don’t have them. Imagine needing to get your boat drained as quickly as possible and get back on the water to assist other paddlers in an emergency situation. I also intend to add paddle Storage rigging on both sides. Modify your boats to fit your needs folks. I can’t suggest that enough.

This was my first Kayak, an insane bargain at $100. She’s dark green, looks to have been fleet rental and per the Hull # break down she is 22 years old. She shows heavy use and some stains here and there.

But it’s still in perfect shape. These are apparently amazingly rugged boats. It’s fast, very stable and has a large storage compartment in the stern. She is a bit heavy compared to what’s out there now I guess. I am considering retrofitting a rudder to make steering her a bit easier.

I have used it on the rivers around Knoxville while tending to both my kids in their own kayaks. It’s a rock solid boat that feels like home almost immediately.

Tiny cockpit hole that’s takes a bit of getting used to when getting in and out.

My seat was shot and gave zero support anywhere so I removed it completely and use a common aftermarket canoe seat with cushion and back that that fits down perfectly. This was the best thing I did to improve comfort on longer trips.

A great do all boat that you will love if you can find one.