When the military relocated me from the East Coast to the West Coast in 2007, I stopped in Michigan to see my family. My stepmother told me that her family shared a kayak that no one used anymore and offered it to me. It had sat at her family's summer home on Lake Huron for decades. I grew up on the Great Lakes in canoes, motorized fishing boats, and speed boats but I had only ever used kayaks while playing around on the coasts of the Mediterranean. Still, I didn't hesitate to accept this gift. I snatched it up from its lakeside retirement and put it back into action. I threw it into the back of my pick-up and hauled it out west, where I spent two years paddling around Monterey Bay. This little boat was meant more for lakes than the Pacific but it was up for the challenge, even fighting through 4 ft waves, carrying my 180 lb, 5'7" frame comfortably. It's not made for touring but there's just enough space on deck for a day's worth of gear and water strapped on top. The sturdy plastic hull takes screws easily, so a cargo net could be installed. We definitely had a few spills but it was very stable, even in that kind of chop. Whatever I was willing to take on, it charged on in. These days, I keep it on the rivers and mountain lakes of Oregon. I often keep it on top of my Suzuki Samurai, a tiny boat on top of a tiny car, so that it's with me for impromptu trips. Also, since I still drive antiques that aren't manufactured anymore, I'm used to making creative repairs. The boat's plug had long ago disappeared, so I opened the drain hole up to 2" and inserted a test plug that I found in the plumbing department of a hardware store. This boat is sturdy, rugged, and tons of fun. I wouldn't try to take it on an overnight trip but for the 12 years that I've had it, it's been a great little boat for exploring and just getting out and feeling free, without any hassles. So long as you don't expect your Dimension Cricket to be a top of the line cruiser, you can't go wrong.
