Santee XL 116
This Product Has Been Discontinued
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Santee XL 116 Description
The Santee XL 116 is a kayak brought to you by Hurricane Kayaks. Read Santee XL 116 reviews or submit your own review to share with the paddling community. Check out a few other kayak recommendations below or explore all kayaks to find the perfect one for you!
Hurricane Kayaks
Santee XL 116 Reviews
Read reviews for the Santee XL 116 by Hurricane Kayaks as submitted by your fellow paddlers. All of the reviews are created and written by paddlers like you, so be sure to submit your own review and be part of the community!
Just bought a used (2004)…
Seat is not very adjustable but was comfy on the short paddle I did. I was able to push myself up onto the deck behind the seat to get out, even though seat back doesn't collapse out of the way. So far, rating it a 9 for a fairly short rec kayak. Once I spend more time with it, may return with update.
This is my first kayak, but I…
The Santee 116 has a lot going for it - it looks beautiful, it's fairly fast for an 11'6" kayak, is easy to place on a car, and is remarkably stable. The Trylon material the kayak is constructed of is tough, smooth, and rather nice looking. I was especially attracted to the kayak's dual bulkheads, which not only provide some degree of safety but also provide a great deal of storage space. The bulkheads are actually glued in place pieces of the Trylon material the boat is made of - no ridiculously cheap and leaky pieces of foam. The front storage compartment is small, but can handle some light camping equipment. The rear compartment is huge - I was able to easily store a one man tent, 32 degree bag, sleeping pad, and stove with no trouble. So in effect, you've got a nice, capable, and very small touring boat.
The Santee is a pleasure to paddle, easy to turn, and quite maneuverable. There's decent foot space, and it's easy to get in and out of. It is possible to edge the kayak, and to maneuver into the tightest of spaces. The Santee is surprisingly fast for such a small boat - or at least it feels fast. It also handles mild waves quite gracefully.
Fit and finish of the kayak, however, are issues. There was a small plastic barb on the coaming that would have easily cut a spray skirt, and in a few spots the caulking looked hastily applied. More serious was the new seat - very comfortable, very plush, and pressing in a U shaped pattern on the bottom of the hull. Be sure to check your hull if you have the 2006 Santee by removing the seat to ensure that the seat has not penetrated the hull. Mine had reached that point, but Hurricane has excellent customer service, and corrected the issue to my satisfaction.
Despite those few issues, I'd say that this is a great boat - and certainly remarkably more sophisticated than nearly and rec boats in its price range. Its true competitors are the Eddylines, and the various Airalite kayaks that cost far, far more. Hurricane has raised the bar in this category, and deserves credit for making a wonderful kayak.