Trophy™ 126 (10’6”)

My brother-in-law has 2 Future Beach Quantum 124 kayaks, that my wife and I have been using for the past year. I figured that we should buy our own, so I started looking at kayaks. I liked that the Quantum had a water tight storage compartment in the bow, and that it had ample room in the stern to stow your gear. I also liked the two fishing pole holders. I could fit 2 of the kayaks in the back of my Toyota Tacoma, and the weight of the kayak was manageable for easy loading and unloading (~50lbs). I also liked the adjustable footrests inside the shell. I did not like that it did not seem to track straight, and the drain plugs were a pain, because they would get blocked if you turned the kayak upside-down to drain.

I found that Future Beach and SunDolphin were acquired by KL Outdoor, and that the Quantum 124 is no longer available. I found that Dick's Sporting Goods sells the Evoke Trophy 126. This kayak seems like an improved version of the FB Quantum 126. The number in the name of both kayaks is the LOA in inches, so the Trophy 126 is 2" longer than the Quantum. The weight of the Trophy is virtually the same as the Quantum, but the storage compartments forward and aft are both watertight. The forward storage compartment of the Trophy is MUCH bigger (deeper & longer) than the Quantum. There is also a "dashboard" with small compartments for fishing tackle, or a tablet (better get a waterproof case) or other stuff. Because the aft compartment is watertight, there is no access to what could be a huge storage area behind the seat.

I bought 2 of them ($450 each) and have cut out the rear storage compartment out of one of them. Cutting the compartment out allows access to the rear storage, and it reduces the weight of the kayak (and gives you a piece of polypropylene for the inevitable repairs). On the water, the kayaks track straight, and seem to glide well. They also seem very stable. I have only used the kayaks once, but I will update if there is interest.

this was my first kayak and I have had it for 3 years now, very lite and easy to carry off the water and tracks and paddles very well on the water. I'm getting ready to upgrade however i will be keeping this on around as a buddy yak and creek boat. highly recommend.

This is my first kayak. I've had it for a couple years now, and we've been on quite a few adventures together. It's performed well in some precarious situations. The giant cockpit is nice for lakes, but is a safety risk on the bay, so I'm looking to upgrade. I actually like the little tackle box. Mine hasn't broken, and it holds just enough fishing stuff for me. But I wish that it was easier to seal the bulkheads. I've purposefully swamped the boat in the lake and it's nearly impossible to get back in. You have to swim with the thing back to shore. Not good if you're far from land. Overall though this kayak has performed really well.

Had the 2009 version of this kayak. I could yak your ear off about this kayak but, I'll try to keep this short. Pros: Price; Good beginner kayak at a fair price that is ninety percent set up for fishing and paddling the water it was designed for, as well as some it wasn't. Could have added an anchor trolley and would be at a hundred. Speed and tracking; For a smaller kayak, its a fairly fast paddler allowing for longer trips and keeps you in a straight line, unless wind or current dictates otherwise. Stability; Nice, low center of gravity. Never flipped the kayak, even in rougher conditions. Durability (hull); Had this kayak for ten years. Hull only ever had light scratches even after banging up against rocks, oysters, bridges, etc.

Cons: Comfort (seat); Cushioning and back support are fair for about a three hour trip but, any longer then that and you start to feel it. Bulkheads; Size for storage is acceptable, able to have a small soft cooler with some room in the rear bulkhead and store a smaller dry box that held things that I didn't want to keep wet dry mostly. However, after 7 years, hatches started to wear, front hatch busted completely making it leaky, and rear foam block came undone and needed to be resealed and was never really water tight. Durability (plastics); foot peddles snapped, hatch covers lost their ability to seal and broke, drain plug screws snapped. Weight Capacity; thinking 300lbs may be generous. When loaded with a 185 lb person, two rods, small tackle box, soft cooler with 10lbs of ice and another 15lbs of fish, and a water bottle, made this kayak sit fairly low making paddling more difficult. Rather then riding across the surface of the water I was pushing water out of the way with the kayak.

Overall I think this kayak makes for a rather good kayak on most bodies of water and will work for a beginner looking to start kayak fishing and allow for growth to the intermediate levels.

I've had the boat for a couple years now and love it. I'm ready to upgrade, but I will keep this one also. As for it being a fishing kayak, it has two rod holders behind you and a cheap plastic tackle box. The extra space in front of the cockpit for the tacklebox is handy, but the only real fishing feature is the stability. This boat is very stable. I've had it in the Columbia and the Willamette rivers, Scappoose bay, numerous lakes and a few waterways I'm not remembering. It has been a fantastic first boat. It is roomy enough for a 6' tall, 250 pound man. This is a top notch kayak in this price range and should last anyone many years. Now my problem is I want a nice sit on top fishing kayak AND a sea / touring kayak!

Have owned my Trophy 126 Yak for 2 full summers now and love it. Stability and tracking are incredible. Family and friends say they love to watch it glide through the water.

I did a lot of comparison research before buying and looked closely at the pros and cons of sit-on-tops (SOT) vs. sit-in (SIK).

For me, the sit-in (SIK), made more sense. I have plenty of room and feel like I have more control by being closer to the water.

At 6' and 260 lbs. (former weightlifter turning soft around the middle), I needed some way to exercise and relax at the same time.

I took the original seat off and replaced it with the Ocean Kayak Comfort Tech seat. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!

I use a 230 Carlisle 2-piece aluminum shaft paddle.

Also added a DIY anchor trolley, DIY hand-weight anchor, DIY perimeter deck lines for bow and stern, DIY safety flag and 360 white light combo, bow red / green navigation light, deck compass, cockpit rod holder, Sea to Summit foam paddle float, DIY paddle keeper, DIY paddle leash, Anchor cleat, Bow and stern tie lines and NRS rescue throw bag.

Would buy another Future Beach product in a minute (was looking at a sit-on-top for the wife, as she has been borrowing our son's Future Beach Discovery 104. She ended up with a multi-color Vibe Skipjack because of visibility on the water…oh well)

This has been a good kayak for my lake, pond and small river fishing. I even took this out in the bay but I really suggest a cam day. I'm average height at 5'7" but I'm a stocky guy at 230lb. never had issues with buoyancy as it does displace the water nicely. If I was a taller person I can see needed more foot room. I feel it just fits my legs. It's very easy to maneuver and spin around what makes it a great fishing kayak. The seat is not the best so I bought a kayak seat from Dicks and It made all the difference. No problem being 6+ hours on the water. If you fish a lot of small inlet creeks and side creeks at 10'6" this kayak is the right size. I'm interested in something bigger though as I would like to do some larger water fishing. I just don't have the confidence for larger water.

Over all this is an amazing kayak but I was a little frustrated when I found out it was 10' 6'' and I would have to register it with the state

It is sold as an Angling Kayak but really the only thing it has is two rod holders. I generally like it. I bought it on sale, over $130 off. The kayak handles pretty well and tracks true while you are paddling but if you stop and just drift forward my kayak always starts curving to the right or left, which is annoying. I weigh 210 lbs and I usually have about 25 pounds of gear with me on the boat yet it still floats in five inches of water. 

The lure box that came with the kayak is junk, I don't use it any more, but the three trays in the dash area are nice and I use them all the time. I find the seat to be comfortable enough, many others complain about it, but I wish it could be moved and wasn't a permanent part of the hull. There is a lot of storage space behind the seat but you can only access it through the hatch. That limits what you can get into the space. Also, smaller objects can slide under the seat to disappear in the rear hull area. That then requires a trip to shore so you can dig it out. I use the integrated bottle holder to hold my bailing cup and a large sponge. That is a convenient spot for that and I'm able to get rid of excess water from the floor easily. I added the much needed anchor trolley system (home-made for about three dollars), that really should be included if you want to call it an Angling Kayak. I also had to modify the two rod holders because they don't work if you used a push button closed reel. The rod holder pushes the button and releases your line. I added a tow line for dragging my kayak up rapids and across shallow water areas, the kayak is light and drags very easily. Shooting rapids will get you wet and flood the kayak; water comes right over the front and runs into the hull. That might be a problem with all kayaks, I don't know. I only found out that the front hatch was a water tight compartment at the end of the season when I was cleaning the boat. I will make use of that. 

I wish the cockpit was about 6-8 inches longer. My knees jam up against the dash when I get in and out and I cannot flex my legs at all once I am seated. I am 6'1" and 210 pounds but I am athletic, not fat. It is a tight fit. I am pretty happy with it though and would recommend the kayak to any beginner or infrequent angler.

This is a great little sit-in all around Kayak. It is just as home in flat water as it is on the river. It can be a little sluggish taking tight turns, but overall performs very well. It has a small Bow dry container, and the whole back can be loaded with gear. I would both recommend this kayak, and buy it again.

I am an 'off road' NJ fishermen who likes going out in the in the many small rivers of Northern New Jersey. Many of these rivers are not accessible with a regular fishing boat, and shore fishing is difficult.

I find the Trophy 126 perfect for my type of fishing. It is durable, and extremely stable. I use a 'cushion type' life preserver on the back of my seat to make it more comfortable.

For North Jersey Rivers, the Pompton, Passiac, Ramapo and Pequannock, I have them all to myself with this kayak.

This Kayak has been used on the larger reservoirs with no problem. Got caught in high winds Lake Wawayanda and got back with no problem.

As for any Kayak, if you plan long trips, you will need to make seat adjustments to be comfortable.

This Kayak is safe, and affordable; meets my needs for routine freshwater fishing trips.

This yak is awesome because it is stable, tracks well, and is very compact. The places it allows me to go are unbelievable which also allows for amazing "honey hole" (fishing spots) to be found. Thank God for the Trophy 126 kayak

I am an avid fishermen who likes going out in the bay. I genuinely enjoy my Trophy 126. But there would be a few things I would of liked differently:
Seat lacks any type of cushion which makes long paddles uncomfortable.
Pole holders are in a terrible spot.
Lack of accessories for this kayak.

Not a bad kayak just middle of the road. The comfort is ok and the extras are minimum. I have fished from it with success, but stay away from waves. The back compartment is open to the whole yak and the front is unusable while in it. Its light and cheap. A good starter for most.

I sold my fishing boat and thought it was time to try something new. (I also had to sell me truck so I needed something I didn't have to trailer) Dicks had this yak on sale plus some other discounts I had I couldn't pass it up for the price.

Unfortunately I just had back surgery done so I won't be able to use it right away, but my 14 yr old son made me drive him right to to local lake so he can give her a try. He was able to get it off and on our car and into the water by himself, which I liked. He spent about 2 hours fishing out of it caught a few nice bass. So I decided to give him the boat til I'm able to get out there and I'll be buying another.

I will be upgrading the seat. We put a Berkeley quick snap rod holder in the front and will be installing an Anchor system on it. Besides that it seems to be a great kayak for the money. I highly recommend it!

Very stable, tracks well but... it has a very low end seat for fishing and paddling for longer than an hour, and!!! do not trust the rod holders! make sure you leash your rods when you use them. I usually take 2 or 3 with me and almost lost one because it fell out and luckily floated for a moment.

This has been a great Yak for the money. Tracks straight, great storage, not heavy, and I think it would sink before it would roll! I have had this boat for over 4 yrs and have had. O problems with it. I'm 6ft 230 lbs and it fits me well. Gave this boat a 9 because the seat stinks! Rough eve with a gel cell. Would recommend this boat to anyone for fishing or just to put around in.

The only kayak I have owned. I had borrowed several other brands from friends before I purchased my own but never felt they were very stable. After researching the Future Beach Trophy 126, I purchased one on sale at Dick's and have been very happy with it for the past 3 years.

I have used it on lakes from choppy to still and on several rivers. It' not made for speed but if you want stability - this is it. I would recommend this for any beginner buying their first kayak or anyone wanting a stable kayak. With it's length you can really go through some tight places and maneuver around obstacles with ease. The only thing I wish it would have had on mine was a solid bulkhead behind the seat when I bought it. You can now get a kit from the company to retro fit one. The new ones come with a bulkhead.

I highly recommend the Trophy 126 to anyone buying their first kayak or some one wanting a more stable one.

I bought my Future Beach Yak from Dick's during their summer sale, being impressed by the hull structure and the addition of rear fishing rod holders. My neighbor got me into the sport of Kayak Angling and I was eager to have one of my own.

First things first, this yak is incredibly stable. The Dihedral Hull is an amazingly straight tracking design as my neighbor noticed the first time out on the river. With minimal effort on my part, I am able to keep my yak on a true and steady path which is amazing to me. The front hull is designed to cut through the water and channel it evenly which makes navigating some of the more tricky spots where I like to fish possible (mostly reed beds and grass fields).

All in all I would rate it higher, but the hull has its draw back. While it is a sit-in, the hull makes it float more like a sit-on and it takes more effort to paddle.

I've used my Trophy for about 5 years. I think it's great! Very stable and versatile. Ive had it in Lake Erie and Presque Isle bay with 1 to 3 foot chop, as well as the Allegheny River in PA and the Grand River in Ohio and many creeks. For trips longer than 4 hours I find that my tailbone gets sore. And that's with the premium seat. I also found that getting a hold of Future Beach is not very convenient. I had to replace a foot peg. And it took about 4 days to get it ordered.

Overall I would recommend this kayak to others.

Dihedral hull makes it extremely stable and track well, but also makes for difficult turning. Large rear compartment is not sealed well from factory and is not water tight. Seat doesn't provide much support for back. Kayak is rather heavy. Good beginner's kayak.

Excellent kayak for flat water lakes and rivers. Super stable! Bought this as my first kayak due to the stability and have absolutely loved it. A little hard to access the hatches when you are on the water, but there is a lot of storage space. Mine came with the foam bulkhead and I've had no problem with leakage even though I bought it used (3yrs old). I enjoy the open cockpit and have even had my 70lb lab sit with me on occasion.

A great first kayak! And it's worth sacrificing a little speed for the extra stability.

For a $289 yak from Ocean State Job Lot you can't go wrong for lake and river kayak fishing. I'm 6' 3" / 205 lbs and have a size 13 foot and I fit in this thing fine. I upgraded the seat to an Ocean Kayak one for more back support, but the stock one is OK. You get what you pay for, it's not top grade quality, but it gets the job done. Spent many 5-7 hour fishing days in this boat.

I bought this kayak from Dicks on 12/31/13. I am loving it. I just spent 3 hrs in the cockpit on Willow Lake in Prescott, AZ. No discomfort at all. Paddles well, turns good, and handled 6" shallow perfectly. I'm 6-0, 215 and fits me well.

the kayak i got is the angler edition sit in, and i love it. the bottom of the hull is a little flexible meaning it isn't rock hard it has some bounce to it when you push on it. there is no bulk head in the back only one small dry area in the front people say it isn't water proof but i have only seen little drops in side of it. love the little tackle box holder in the cockpit, the seat is comfortable for the first hour or so but i don't know if because the seat gets wet it makes it uncomfortable or what because when i get out my back doesn't hurt only my butt. the boat is super stable as well i can stand up in it sometimes when there is no wake. i am listing the cons of this to let people decide what they really want.

I bought this Kayak the end of June. It was a demo unit so I was able to get it for reduced price. I wanted an entry level fishing yak and after adding a few things to it, I have exactly that. It is very stable, tracks well, and is easy to paddle and turn. The 2 compartments are nice, although since there is no bulkhead, the rear compartment is not watertight. The seat is not very comfortable for long periods. I plan to add a better seat soon. The cockpit is ok for me, although I wish for a bit more foot room.

I am only using this on flat, calm water, and so far it has proved well. I am 5'11 and 225lbs, and with my gear I still sit well in the water. It is not a fast yak, but that's not what I wanted.

This heavy duty plastic kayak is rock steady! Although it is heavier then some, about 53#, the quality is built to last. Can be dragged over rocky beaches, good handles and great hatches. Plenty of storage space to go camp for a week. Can stand up to fish even in wavy water.

The Future Beach is a great kayak for beginners. It is extremely stable and can hold a line like a champ, I was able to easily pull in a 80 lb Black Lab in the boat with me and there was plenty of room for both of us. It is not a really fast boat but is extremely durable. I love my Future Beach Trophy 126. Great boat for the price.

I've had two of these Kayaks for close to five years and never had a problem. I've taken one of them in rough river water many times and have overturned and swamped it more than once but on calm to heavily choppy water they're extremely stable. They also carry the weight of all my camping gear when river camping. I would buy from Future Beach again.

I purchased this kayak at Dick's about 2 months ago. It's my FIRST kayak. I have used it a few dozen times, including Night Bass Fishing. I find it to be VERY STABLE on the water, and as far as speed goes, it goes as fast as I care to go, considering rocks and stumps under the surface of my Bass Waters.

Only draw back I can see, is the SEAT!! Man, it hurts, but I added a few soft chair cushions on the bottom and against my back and find I can go for a few hours before I have to get out and limber up.

ONE NOTE, as one person previously mentioned, check under your seat at the last two seat rivets that hold your cushion down. When you sit in your seat THEY COME IN CONTACT WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE KAYAK!! Both rivets I found were beginning to damage and almost penetrated the bottom of my Kayak. I immediately cut and removed the rivets, and substituted plastic/nylon Tie-Downs in their place, thus leaving nothing to protrude from under the seat. I weigh in at 200 pounds, so maybe someone lighter in weight might not have that problem, but if you own one of these models, CHECK UNDER YOUR SEAT through the rear storage port to see if it's damaging the bottom of your Kayak.
Other than that, for the $$$, Not a Bad Investment.

Just bought this Trophy 126 today. We took it out on the lake when I got home and after a few minutes, water started coming into the hull. I paddled back to shore and discovered that there is a screw under the seat that popped right through the bottom of the kayak after I sat in it. The plastic on the bottom of the kayak appears to be very soft. It is a very poor design to have it do this. I am average height and average weight. I am taking the half hour ride back to Dick's Sporting Goods to return it tonight.

If you are near 6' tall and have a shoe size bigger than a 6? THIS IS NOT YOUR KAYAK !!There is NO room for my legs and feet. I've had other kayaks and this Trophy 126 is like PADDLING A BRICK. The front compartment is small an is NOT watertight. The fishing pole holders are mounted BEHIND you. Are you going to TROLL from a kayak?
DON'T buy one unless you SIT IN IT FIRST!! HUGE BUYER REMORSE!!

We had purchased two Pathfinders Kayaks .. we took them out on the 4th of May... I got into mine it was wobbly, but I maintained my balance.. My husband got into his and he almost flipped over.. He got out was really disappointed... The weather was great.. and I said lets just take them back and get different ones.. So we did, returned to Dicks in Puyallup, WA. We explained, look we have a blow up Kayak and we felt more safer in that, then these pathfinders .. So their salesperson Maverick helped us out, he said these will do the trick . We bought the Trophy 126 and we never felt so safe, we took them out on Sunday the 5th of may out on the river, they held up with all the boats and jetskis buzzing around... And I love fishing - can't wait to buy some gear, and go fishing... and we do have the rubber cover compartments... they work out great!!!

Well, I've had this boat almost 2yrs now and I'm still glad I bought this boat! Had no problems with it. Would buy one again. Would recommend to any one looking for a box store boat.

Would love to give the 126 a good review, but...
Bought this at Dick's because a friend has one and loves it. Very stable [a bit slow - not a big deal] and it has the sealed bulkheads. Being a novice and not a strong swimmer I wanted one that wouldn't sink if I happen to flip it.

Mine does NOT have the sealed bulkhead even though it's advertised with one. Husband went to Dick's and not one of their stock has the bulkhead and they were as stymied as we were. Called 2 other Dick's and same thing. Contacted Future Beach [only way to get to them was by fax - none of their emails, etc... work]. Someone got back to me nicely, but now can't get them to answer me again with a solution.

Plan to take back to Dick's and go with another brand.

I love this Kayak because it is great for fishing. It has a pole holder and additional holder which I use for a net. It is slow in the bay/ocean but tracks amazing. Also it is very stable and I can carry it anywhere. There is a bulge which occurs under the seat on the bottom of the boat but it does not effect your ride. Check me out fishing on the Future Beach Trophy kayak on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3fGuczeCTk

Bought it last summer at Dicks. I use it primarily as a fishing platform on the nearby lakes. I can get three rods, a small fishing bag, myself and a seat pad in it without any issues. It tracks nicely, is stable, and it came at an acceptable price. Highly recommended, especially as a first kayak for someone wanting to start out and enjoy the experience without spending a bunch of money.

My Future Beach Trophy 126 was a birthday present and I could not have ever been more pleased. It was purchased at Dick's on sale. I love the stability and have never felt the least bit nervous when in this Kayak. It is not terribly affected by the waves and if you add a skirt then you are snug as a bug. I have not found the seat to be the least bit uncomfortable and since I have only size 7 feet, the foot room has been fine also. I just wish it was a little lighter. We use it for primitive camping and can fit a significant amount of gear on the kayak. We love our. Oh yes, the person who gave me mine, tried it once and went out and bought himself one, so now we match!!!

I bought this kayak last spring and used it a ton! I love the stability and storage, but don't like the seat, and foot clearance. I adjusted the foot rests to make it more comfortable, but I still get some cramps in my feet when paddling a long distance. When fishing I usually hang my feet out the sides and let them rest in the water. I took the seat out completely and now use a nicer canoe seat with back, and that pretty much resolved the problem.

Overall I would recommend this kayak, but I would also suggest looking into other yaks with a bigger cockpits if you're going to use it for mostly fishing. Sometimes it can get a little cramped if you are not well organized.

This is my first kayak and the Future Beach Trophy 126 is a great kayak for the price and I could sum it up in 9 words:
More foot room!
More foot room!
More foot room!
I said I could sum it up that way but will say more:

The Future Beach Trophy 126 paddles easy, glides nicely and tracks well. It has plenty of features usually seen in higher priced kayaks. The seat is OK for about 1.5 ± hours. Our first time out was for almost 2 hours and it was reasonably comfortable for that time. Our second time out was over 4 hours and it started getting uncomfortable at the halfway point. As mentioned earlier I think the Trophy 126 needs more room for my feet. I am 6' tall, weigh 218 lbs and wear size 11.5 shoes, not exactly giant feet and I my feet are pretty cramped in this kayak.

With my size I can get in and out pretty good, the cockpit size is adequate for a recreational Kayak but could be a little longer than the 39". My wife's Future Beach Fusion has a 46" cockpit and I wish mine was similar especially considering how I have to twist my feet around to fit inside.

I paid $269 for this well built and feature laden kayak. With a little more foot room and a little better seat it would be the perfect kayak for recreational paddling and fishing.

First kayak I have owned. Bought this at Dick's. This boat was comfortable on a river then moved to a lake and it was a great ride. The only problem it could not keep up with the wife's. She bought Future beach 124 (forget the exact model). But I bought this mainly for fishing not racing.

Just make sure that you get one with the new Adjustable Easy Rider™ II comfort seat cushion. It turn this good value but not so comfortable kayak into a great value and very comfortable kayak. For those who already own one, Future Beach or Equinox will sell you the new seat for a reasonable price (i.e., my buddy said under $40, I think). It doesn't appear on either of the Future Beach or Equinox websites, so you must call and speak with someone directly. Just make sure that you have your American to Canadian dictionary handy when you call. ;)

I bought the kayak at Dicks Sporting Goods, and then hit the lake. I was nervous at first because all the training videos on YouTube teach you what to do when the kayak flips assuming it happens a lot, but that's not the case. This kayak was plenty stable on the water on a windy day and even when boats went by. The width of the kayak is 29.5" making it stable enough to reach behind me and grab my fishing pole that was in the pole holders. Tracking was ok. You're not going to set any speed records but it gets you were you want. The weight capacity is 250 pounds and I weigh that give or take. But the kayak was just fine. I assume that the lighter you way the better it will go. Another good thing is the weight of the kayak. It is light enough for me to put it on top of my Ford Escape by myself. The only thing I didn't like about it was the seat. My life vest would get caught on it and make it ride up. Other than that this was a great buy. The Kayak was 349.99 orig 499.99 than I got the paddles for $50 and a life vest for $30. And a cup holder for like $2. I spent $432.00 on it and it has been a great buy. I got to places on the lake were non paddle boats can't go and caught 5 fish in 2 hours. I do recommend a bracket to hold the paddle. They do have the bungees you can put it in but if you want it in and out a little quicker than get the paddle holder.

This is my first Yak. Bought it at Dicks after renting others. After being in more expensive boats I was really pleased with this boat. The seat lacks on the bottom, but I added a gel insert and that has helped. Tracks better than my wife's Perception. I'm 235 and 6 ft. Boat has great storage. Great boat for the money!

The Trophy 126 is my first kayak, and I had done a lot of research before buying--which mostly just served to scare me and convince me that kayaking was difficult and frustrating.

To my surprise, the Trophy 126 is none of those things! It is AMAZINGLY stable at rest, even in choppy waters--I leaned it to the point of the coaming touching the water with no problems. Leaning it is a bit of a chore in the first place; the dihedral hull is very stable, and resists tipping well. I never have to pay attention to my body position while I'm fishing or fooling around.

As this is my first kayak, I can't say anything regarding speed. It goes as fast as I think it should, and I was pleasantly surprised in this area. Tracking is dead-on; waves and high wind may shift it laterally just a little (not noticeable unless you're specifically looking for it), but never causes the 'yak to change its heading. It's such a joy to paddle in that fishing is now an afterthought. I just spend most of my time gliding around the water!

I'm also very impressed with the cargo capacity. The front hatch isn't much to scream about--it holds my GPS and emergency supplies--but the back hatch opens up into the rear bulkhead, and about a full third of the kayak can be packed full. Holds my rod, tackle box, backpacking tent, a small dry sack, and still isn't half full. Easily could be a weekender 'yak.

The rod mounts are in a good spot, I think, behind the seat and angled outward. They're easy enough to reach, and just right for trolling. My only gripe is that the flush-mount holders won't accommodate a fly rod. Not to worry, 'cause there's plenty of room in the cockpit!

Speaking of which, I'm a 6'0" guy at 185lbs, and there is legroom to spare! I can stretch my legs and feet all the way out, and there's still room!

In all, I'm VERY happy with my purchase. I'll add some more accessories as I get settled in, but I've already been out on it five times and haven't really felt I was missing anything. $300 on sale at Dick's made it a steal!

This is my first Kayak and I had it out for the first time. Absolutely no problems. This Kayak tracked perfectly, was incredibly stable and cut water pretty well. I was able to keep up with a friend of mine that was in a 14' kayak. I don't have much to compare it to, but it seemed extremely comfortable. I was in it for 3 hours fishing, and cruising around.