Manitou 13

Fun boat in calmer rivers and lakes.

Love this boat! Seat is well padded and very adjustable, I can paddle all day in comfort. Tracks well, paddles easily into the wind. Does tend to weathercock in cross winds, would benefit from a skeg.

I upgraded from a used Perception to the Necky Manitou some years ago and have never regretted it. It is a wonderful boat. I bought it for its tracking, and comfortable seat and cockpit. But now I appreciate its durability and stability in the roughest water. I paddle on the rivers, lakes,and ponds of Vermont, and it has kept me safe in some very rough water. And when I want to move fast it does. I have found it relatively easy to put on my roof racks once I build my muscles up. Although I would like a lighter boat I don't want to give this one up. My only complaint is the lack of any storage in the front. I would love a place to store food, water, phone, etc. that would be accessible while paddling.

Had my Manitou 13 for 5 yrs & love it. I've had 4 back surgeries so the seat is why I bought it. Very comfortable & I can adjust it several ways to fit my back. Never had a moment's discomfort in it. Kayak is very stable & a joy to paddle.

The Necky Manitou 13 is a good entry level kayak for day paddling with easy entry, great stability and acceptable handling and speed for a 13 foot boat. Its comfortable for a day trip and for casual paddles on lakes and calm streams. Its seat is very comfortable and adjustable. Its a good entry level kayak.

Our "go to" boat. We were looking for a smaller recreational boat that would not paddle like a bath tub. We wanted something that was reasonably easy to tote around, could carry a day's worth of adventure, tracked true, and something we wouldn't worry about paddling up a shallow river or taking through a choppy harbor. The Manitou fit the bill perfectly.

I have owned my Manitou for approx 2 yrs. It's a very durable, lightweight straight tracking kayak. I am 5'10" and 174 lbs, the kayak has great stability on both the lake and river. Lots of storage and deck tiedowns are a plus. I gave it an eight only because of the color choices and seat (seat options are much better now)

Left behind? Never again! I bought my 13 foot Necky Manitou several years ago as an upgrade from my first kayak and I have been totally satisfied ever since. A comfortable cockpit and seat allow for all day trips. Where others may get stuck in obstacles, I seem to coast right through. The lime green color is apparent from afar (good for safety). I love this kayak!

Follow up to my review from a year ago (2012-07-19).
After using it through the fall and then again in the spring and this summer, it still rates as a 9. The only thing preventing this from being a 10 is the lack of a storage hatch in the front. I've purchased a velcro strap-on item from REI to compensate for that lack and it works pretty well.

A few comments to my negatives and positives to add on to this kayak review.

1. The neoprene cover is MUCH easier to put on as I've figured out what to do and how to do it! I don't use it frequently but can now get it on in the first or second attempt.
2. and 2A still an issue but the strap on works fine as a stop-gap. If I ever go on an extended trip with this I'll probably find that it's more of an issue than it is right now.
3. The drain plug would be great but I find that it's not really an issue for me.

Positives
1. I still find this one of the lighter kayaks that I've had to lift and move those times that I've been in a group.
2. Turns out I had the foot brace set too far forward on the leg that fell asleep. Since I've adjusted the braces to the correct length, I've had no issues, even after a 6 hour paddle. The seat is fine although a little bit of padding would make it a bit more comfortable.
3. I have no problems with tracking or maneuverability. Turning is a piece of cake (nothing too sharp and nothing in fast moving water so can't comment on those types of turns). Those short wide ones that some of my friends have purchased make some pretty wide turns and if the wind is strong, it makes it that much harder for them to turn. I haven't had that problem at all.
4. Stability is just as good as I mentioned a year ago. I've been out in 3 foot swells now (not big but still big compared to most of the flat water we have in Indiana) and am not concerned about capsizing. I've been out in strong winds as well (20-30 MPH gusts) and have no issue with possible capsizing or drift. I did purchase a spray skirt after that trip to minimize the amount of water I got dosed with as well as the amount getting into the cockpit.
6. As I've gotten better and stronger, speed is better but I'm not racing anyone. I'm usually enjoying the time by myself on the water.

As of right now, this is the perfect kayak for what I'm doing and I feel no need to upgrade or look for a better boat. I still consider myself a beginner and this is one that I would recommend to my friends if they're on the market for a kayak.

I love my Manitou 13. It has served me very well for many years. I started with a smaller Zydico Dagger but had trouble keeping up with the gang. Now they are trying to keep up with me. It's a plastic boat and is getting a bit heavy for me (55 lbs) but I am still crazy about my kayak. I think I will replace the Dagger with a Manitou 11 so I will have two of them.

This boat is ok but the Old Town Cayuga 13.6 is much better kayak I have owned both, and the Cayuga has two hatches and more room and tracks much better, you have more control.

CB back again.
After a week and 5 trips out in varying conditions the new Manitou is being the champ I expected. A little weather cocking in heavy wind but otherwise as easy to track as a 13' boat could be. Smooth all around and comfortable to use and transport. The low 45# weight is a big plus. Enjoy. New model hatch stays dry and is easy to use.

When we decided to buy our first kayaks, we knew nothing. I bought a Perception Pacifica and my husband bought a Dagger Blackwater. The Pacifica was a tub, but I didn't know the difference because I didn't paddle anything else. Well, let me tell you--after renting Necky Manitou kayaks one day on the Allegheny, we were hooked. What a great kayak!

I sold the Perception, at a huge loss and couldn't be happier--I was going to buy a Necky Manitou 13. Since then, my husband sold his Dagger and bought a Manitou 13 as well. We both kayak Boreal Design kayaks for our big trips, but the Manitou kayaks are just as nimble and for 1/4th the price.

We initially purchased them to take to Florida for the winter. We thought we would leave them there to alleviate bringing them back and forth every season. We can't do it. We love them so much, we bought 2 more, and are going to have them both north and south. We love them that much. I am small 5'0 and 115, my husband is 5'10 and 190--the fit and comfort of paddling is the same for both of us. They are responsive and track really well. And they are relatively fast if you need speed. The seat is amazingly comfortable, and easily adjustable. They are easy to transport and durable in both fit and finish. The only downside is the hatch cover. If you use your knee to hold one side, the other side slips on easy enough.

All said, we now own a fleet of 4 which we will transport back and forth in order to introduce all of our friends to the wonderful sport of kayaking. We highly recommend these kayaks!

I purchased a polyethelene Manitou 13 a month ago after many months of researching and "test driving" boats. I had initially decided upon a Manitou 14 simply because I felt the extra bulkhead would afford me options that the single bulkhead Manitou 13 may not. In any case a very good deal on a 13 came up and I opted for it. I have paddled 4 or 5 times since purchasing and as mentioned earlier, since I was already somewhat familiar with the boat there were no surprises. I can tell you that, as advertised, these boats do indeed perform as though you are paddling something longer. The 13 has no rudder and doesn't need one, in my opinion. Each time I paddle I'm reminded of how well it tracks and how easy it is to maneuver. I've paddled mostly rivers, sheltered bays, lakes with this boat to date and I've thoroughly enjoyed each outing. I love the ease of transporting (45 lbs) and the comfort of the extrasport seat as well as the ease of entry and exit (I'm 175 and 5'11" and have LOTS of room) and overall stability. Just my humble novice opinion, for what its worth.

It has been shy of a year since I first sat down in the cockpit of my blue Necky Manitou 13 and what a year it has been! This kayak has been on the water in a profuse amount of excursions from the bayous/rivers/lakes of south Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama to the coastal waters/barrier islands off Mississippi/Alabama along with stints in Mobile Bay as well. I'm glad I decided on this kayak after all the research and positive reviews posted on this website. The Manitou 13 has been a faithful vessel. The following review comes from a standpoint of someone with 1+ years of experience along with basic sea kayaking and rescue training.

Personal notes:
• It is incredibly stable. I have yet to accidentally flip this yak or have I ever felt close to do so. It took an intentional roll while practicing wet exits to turn it upside down the first time and even then I had to really lean to the side. The roughest water I've taken it in has been 3-4 ft swells with moderate winds and never once did I worry about my safety in this department.
• It tracks straight. Now I don't have experience with kayaks that have retractable skegs or rudders, so I cannot compare with them. This kayak does have a molded skeg in its hull that does the trick. From my limited experience, I've found that as long as my left to right stokes are equal in their application and not barring wind or current, this kayak stays true. If the wind or water does push me off course, a simple J lean corrects the deviation.
• It can keep up with the big boys. Once I got my forward stroke efficiently tuned, I found that I was able to keep pace with a composite yak costing 3 times more. Now keep in mind I was probably working much harder in the Manitou then in this true sea kayak, but I was keeping up. I must note that a quality touring paddle is essential.
• Rescue techniques can be accomplished in this boat. Paddle float re-entries are a piece of cake with the Manitou. The stern deck immediately behind the seat is recessed to allow the shaft of a paddle to sit under the bungees. This in company with the stable shape of hull makes it a breeze. T-Rescues can be done with practice. Due to the size of the cockpit and no forward bulkhead, the Manitou can be challenging to drain when it is swamped with water. The cockpit combing also creates suction to the water when upside down. With dexterity and strength it can be drained in open water with the T-Rescue technique. The self-done draining method done at the bow of the kayak can be extremely difficult to successfully perform. It has been suggested that a few well-placed non-leaking dry bags placed in the bow along side the foam pillar would lesson the amount of water that the Manitou takes in. I have yet to try this.
• At just under 13ft and about 45lbs, the Manitou is easily manageable. Loading up the yak onto a car, portage to the water and even carrying it up the stairs to my third floor apartment is easy.
• The water displacement/cockpit size is adequate for many body types. I'm of average build at 5' 8" and 168 lbs. I've had no issues with foot placement on the foot pegs or discomfort with the seat/cockpit. My brother on the other hand who is 6'2" and 260 lbs was able to use the kayak. However, the water line did seem high and he had trouble getting in/out of the cockpit. We were able to find a comfortable foot peg adjustment for him. Though, at his size, I would only recommend the use of this kayak in calm flat water. Very large builds may want to look elsewhere.
• I do wish I had the 2009 model for one reason. The 2009 Manitou has the Comfort Fit thigh pads as standard. My 2008 model has a thin padding on the inside of the cockpit and combing area. Without good thigh pads, it is hard to perform competent J-leans,hip snaps and other techniques. I'll be outfitting with the Comfort Fit pads here in the future. The new model remedies this, so I suppose this is only my problem.
• The Extrasport seat could use some refinement in my opinion. The foam backrest separates from the plastic frame of the seat when I practiced wet re-entries. This same problem occurs with my friend who has the same kayak. The foam does reset back on the plastic, but only after some sweat and toil on dry land. The backrest also grabs your clothes, PFD, or junk while sliding in the cockpit after a wet re-entry. However, this seat was built for recreation and it probably wasn't designed with re-entry in mind. Another outfitting project will be to replace the Extrasport backseat with a sea kayaking back band.
• The polymer material used in the construction is durable. I've knocked it into obstacles in and out of the water with no damage but a minor scratch here and there. In the beginning I was careless in launchings and landings at boat ramps and this has lead to some scratches underneath. That is expected. This kayak is best kept indoors or covered if possible whenever it's not going to be used for long periods. A fellow yakker who bought her Manitou the same time I bought mine leaves it under a carport uncovered. It is sheltered from the sun, but in one years time the hull color has lightly faded and the bungees are discolored too. After paddles, I rinse my kayak off and keep it indoors when not in use. In contrast to her Manitou, the color of mine looks the same the day it was picked up at the store.
• There have been numerous complaints in previous reviews about the neoprene hatch cover. Yes, it can be troublesome if you don't approach it with the right technique. Simply hold down part of the cover with your knee while stretching the cover over the combing with both hands from left to right. This works every time. The cover does keep almost all the water out. I've had the kayak upside down in the water many times practicing re-entries and only a minute amount of water creeps in.

In conclusion, I must add that some of my negatives with this kayak arise with from the fact that I use it beyond its intended purpose of recreation. I personally feel that this kayak meets and exceeds everything required in a recreational kayak and more if you have the skill to handle rougher conditions. Necky built this one right and I have little doubt I will stray from their brand when I upgrade many years from now.

I bought the Manitou 13 early January and have finally gotten out a few times this month. This is my first sit in kayak as past experience has been with WS Freedom and Tarpon 120 SOT kayaks.

To start with the pros, I purchased it on REI-Outlet.com site for an exceptional price when you factor a 20% discount coupon. The glide is smooth and it's relatively fast though have yet to race with it. The stability is forgiving and have yet to come close to tipping it. It's a manageable kayak, weight wise for portage and easy to get in and out.

On the con side, at 6'3" size 12 shoe, I've reached the comfort limits of the pedals and the height. I highly recommend that if you are interested and similar in shoe size to try it before you buy it. I also have had a challenge with the Neoprene hatch as noted in other reviews. I'm told it takes awhile to get the trick of securing the cover but time will tell.

With all things considered this is wonderful kayak and I rank it at 8 other then a 10 which it deserves due to the hatch and shoe/leg limitations.

I recently purchased a Manitou 13 recycled in a charcoal color and do a lot of paddling in the South Jersey and surrounding region. I found the Manitou to be very stable and easy to handle in the many twisty and turning rivers. The only problem is what every one complains about - the hatch. Other than that an awesome boat .

I bought a lightly used Necky Manitou 13 off of Craigslist the day before yesterday, and, taking out for the first time last night, figured I'd post a review.

First, 12 feet, 10+ inches is both shorter and longer than I imagined, even after eliciting the help of a tape measure. At 45 pounds, the Manitou is almost a joke to pick up and move solo (I'm 27, 6', 145 lbs., swimmer's build), and really doesn't seem like an object nearly 13 feet long. That said, two inches longer and there'd be no way to get it up the stairs to my third floor apartment. It fits so-so in the back of my regular cab Colorado (6 foot bed). Being bright red on the prow means I don't need to tack on a flag, but even with the tailgate down, 5 feet of kayak hangs out (I have a hard tonneau cover, so there's no other way for me to transport it).

As far as performance goes, I've only ever used an inflatable tandem before (and that, only twice), but the Manitou feels fast, fast, fast. According to the GPS, I got it up to just shy of 6 MPH in short bursts, and my two 1.5 mile circuits of Park Lake took a little less than an hour, including time spent goofing off, watching people fish, and back-paddling to look at this, that, and the other. The Manitou tracks straight as an arrow—so straight, in fact, that I think it might be a little difficult to navigate any particularly twisty rivers. It's also very stable—the only way I came close to tipping it was when I was getting out. The foot pegs are nice to push against, easy to adjust, and help you keep your knees pressed against the knee braces. The seat is couchy, but I need to make a few adjustments when I have time to figure out all the straps (none of which seemed to get in the way of paddling, etc).

Regarding the hatch, follow the advice posted below about using your knee as a third hand. Simply hook one end of the neoprene seal under the lip, hold it in place with your knee, and stretch it over to the other side—takes all of five seconds. The guy I bought it from said the hatch is water tight—unless you roll it—even without the seal, but I've not tested that.

My only complaint—and this may simply be due to ignorance on my part—is that the slot for securing the paddle to the boat is behind the seat, rather than in front. I can't for the life of me figure out how to put the paddle in there while under way (if I wanted to, say, stop and have a sandwich).

So I picked up my newest boat last weekend, and it's the recycled Manitou which is the same as the new for 2008 Manitou select except comes in an awesome shade of "eco" green.

I test paddled a Manitou a few years ago and the added thigh and knee braces, more complete deck rigging, paddle float recess and improved foot braces make the recycled/select a major improvement over the more recreational oriented original. It's still by no means a touring boat, but boy is it fun. I've taken it out twice so far, once in some rough conditions in Jamaica bay, nyc right after I got it, just to try it out. Couldn't help myself! handled the 5 footers and major boat wakes no problem, I'd wear a skirt in those conditions though.

It's one of the fastest boats for its length I've ever paddled, the other day went out with my friend in his 14+ footer and I kept up with him no problem. Even in a 20 knot headwind it cruised. This thing literally dances on the water. light as a feather compared to my Tsunami, I can carry it one handed and car top it solo no problem (I'm 5'5" and drive a Cherokee).

Incredibly stable, and tracks excellent, though for novice or beginner paddlers it may take a little more time to perfect your stroke. for a more experienced paddler lookin to fill out the stable with a fast fun day touring boat that has all the features of a full sized touring yak this is definitely a good choice, haven't tried rolling it yet but seems like it wouldn't be a problem, paddle float re-entries are really easy too. I wanted to wait to post a review until I'd tried it out a bit more, but I know there's plenty of other people like me who want to know the difference between the select/recycled and the basic Manitou, so hope this is helpful.

Only complaint I have that keeps it from being a 10 is the hatch, and cover, if it was a dual density plastic one I would be much happier because those are rock solid, and this neoprene with plastic strap-on cover is hardly sufficient for keepin all your gear dry if going on an overnight. simple solution obviously, use dry bags, but i'm picky :)

Great boat, after I've had it in some more diverse conditions (ie rivers, tidal streams and a campin trip or two), I'll put an update if my thoughts have changed. if anything, the rating will go up! Happy paddlin, Necky nailed it with this one.

My Manitou 13 is going to be two years old this August. Took it to my first race and placed first in the rec class 3 miler... Beat out a tandem by a few minutes!
Has to be one of the fastest sub-14 foot boats on the market, one of the best boats for the K1 Short racing class.

I really enjoy this boat. I have a 17 ft fiberglass boat that I pretty much never use. I take my Manitou out in the ocean all the time and enjoy puttering about rocks, so the plastic is nice in terms of durability. The length makes it very maneuverable. I've had no problem edging or rolling it.

The only complaints I've got about it are: 1) the paddle float system is pretty lacking - could go for some buckled straps 2) the seat gets in the way when doing a re-entry 3) very little flotation in the bow...

Back in March 2006, I gave the Manitou a rating of 5 after just purchasing it. Since then I have used and probably abused my Manitou many times and had nothing but great pleasure with it. Great kayak.

I bought a Necky Manitou to fill out a stable full of kayaks -- Pungo 12, Dagger Delta, FeelFree Nomad, Tarpon 100, Dagger Zydeco. I wanted a boat that was longer but not too long, able to do flat water and mild rapids, pack some gear, be smoother and faster than what I had already. The Manitou has filled that wish list very well, and I'm very pleased. It's incredibly smooth and fast for a boat its size. It's fairly maneuverable -- no whitewater boat, but I've had it on Class II rapids that it handled without a problem. It's got a nice hatch for carrying stuff -- I finally figured out the somewhat annoying fabric hatch cover, which takes some practice. The seat is very comfortable, but if there was something I'd change, it would be the straps that hang on either side of the cockpit, for adjusting the seat, as someone else mentioned. But this is a minor caveat. Overall this is one of the best boats I've ever paddled, and for the price I think it's hard to beat.

Great kayak. Highly recommend. Lightweight. Tracks great. Very fast. Comfortable seat. Fits like a glove.

Only feature I do not like about the kayak is the neoprene cover on the hatch. It is impossible to put on. Even the sales rep could not get it on without my help. I cut my own rubber gasket and glued it to the inside of the hatch and do not use the neoprene cover.
Necky needs to address this issue and redesign.

I thought it about time to write my reveiw of the Manitou 13 since I've owned it now for over a year and have had it out quite a number of times. Last year I purchased 2 of these kayaks after reading many reviews on all kinds of boats. I was most impressed by all the imput about the Manitou 13, so after a lot of thought my wife and I took the big step and made our purchase. I was very nervous, especially for my wife...not knowing how she would do. Well, she absolutely loves her kayak and is totally at rest with it on the water. That impressed me very much. The stability is all that I read it would be, and at the same time the design of the kayak allows it to be exceptionally smooth on the water. I love the speed, and the manueverability that this boat offers. I read in quite a few reviews about the seat adjustments being a problem, and that they got in the way, so I thought that's just something we would have to live with. Well, the truth is that my wife and I have had none of those difficulties at all. In fact the seat adjustment set-up has worked really well for us. I'm right at 5' 11" tall and way approx. 165 lbs. I'm 60 yrs of age, and have some on going back problems, and am very greatful for the weight of the kayak not being over 45 lbs. As you can tell, my wife and I are very happy with our purchase, and are having a great time with our times out on the water, which mostly lakes, slow streams, and tital waters. To be thoroughly honest, and the only reason I can think of to not rate the Manitou 13 with a 10, is that the hatch cover in the rear of the boat is hard to put back on after it is taken off.....we think twice before considering using it, which is unfortunate. Guess I need more practice. Overall it is a great boat!!

this is my third kayak and I love it. It tracks well, and moves with little effort through the water.

Got the boat delivered today, walked down to the water ten minutes later. Can agree that the seatback adjustment bolt point can be in the way, but it wasn't too bad for me. Spent a couple of hours on the water, ranging from tight three-foot wide rock-strewn channels to 1/4 mile wide areas with a foot of chop. Kayak handled all the conditions well, which was what I was looking for. Really looking forward to an after-work paddle now!

I just bought this kayak a week ago, and I'm totally in love with it. I'm a beginner paddler, but I wanted to buy something with which I could grow, and have decent stability without sacrificing too much in the way of tracking. I think I found the best combination for my money in the Necky Manitou 13. I'm not completely green in my experience with kayaking, so I can say that it's more than just a beginner's boat, but it is very user friendly. It rode smoothly and straight (except for my lopsided paddling at times, but that's my fault, not the boat's). It's stable, too, I never felt too wobbly in it, even with my feet hanging out of the cockpit on either side when I was being lazy. At 700$ it was more than I was looking to spend, but I decided that it was worth it to make the investment in a mid-priced boat that will probably last me forever (or until I decide to upgrade). I'll update my review when I've used it more and I'm more experienced, but right now I'm incredibly happy with it.

This February I purchased a Manitou 13. While checking it out at home I found it to be terribly deformed. When sitting in it, the right side was basically flat while the left side was rounded like a canoe. I called the dealer and exchanged it for another one. The second kayak seems to be symetrical left and right side but there are rough areas like medium sandpaper and small spurs of plastic on the surface. I contacted Necky about this by phone and e-mail and found them to be of no help. This review is only regarding my feelings about manufacturing quality control and partly Necky response. I have not had the kayak into water but anticipate it will perform beautifully.

I owned two Manitous, a Pungo 140, and three kids Carolina 12 for couple years now and I am very pleased with the Manitou’s performance. My family paddle in Minnesota and Wisconsin rivers and lake. We (me, my wife and four kids-ages 5, 6, 7, 9) went river camping several times the past couple years and had a blast. The Manitou should be able to hold enough gear for a weekend trip. I am 5'7" and 200lb, but I don't seem to have problem with the seat adjustments at all as others have observed. It's quite comfortable for me and my wife. In fact, the wilderness Pungo 14 with the 3-phase seating is quite uncomfortable for both of us. I have backache with the Pungo seat after paddling for a few hours whereas I don't experience the same with the Manitou.

I even took my brother-in-law to Wolf River in Wisconsin and we paddled the Manitous in solid class III white water without problem. He tipped over a few times initially but once he got the hang of it he paddle well. The kayaks have big scratches from the sharp boulders, but are very sturdy and well built.

I am very pleased with the Manitou and will definitely buy more as my kids get old enough to paddle them.

My first kayak, but a lot of canoe experience. I chose this kayak as a compromise. I wanted something more than the standard rec boat, but didn't need an ocean going clipper ship type. The Manitou WORKS. It is light and small enough to easily throw on and off the top of my bronco, yet is capable of weekend trips. It is truly a good compromise. For $600, you can't beat it, no way.

The boat can also take a beating. I have run it over lots of submerged logs, a few hard landings, and been careened off a number cypress trees in the black water systems I am usually in. None of this did anything to the Manitou.

Only one complaint - the Extrasport seating system. This is a real Rube Goldberg system. The ratchet adjusters kept knocking on my knees, and there were far more adjustments than I would need. I have been working on re-doing that set up. So far I have removed the ratchets.

The boat has earned my confidence. I would have given it a 10/10, but for that seat system.

For reference, I am 5'6" in height and weigh 150 lbs. Having paddled a few "recreational" sub-10 foot kayaks at a friend's cottage, I knew I wanted to get into kayaking, but was well aware that I wasn't impressed with the tracking or efficiency of the "toy" boats. At a trial day at a local paddle shop I tried boats that ranged from $300 to $1800. I noticed that the longer more expensive boats tracked a straighter line and glided better, but would also severely dent my pocket book. After trying several longer and more expensive boats, I tried the Manitou.

Once out on the water I found that it would glide nearly as well as the longer boats, but turned easier. I decided that it matched my value point and purchased one. That was June of 2004. Since then I've paddled countless miles on lakes and rivers. It still tracks as straight as the day I bought it.

Once I was cutting the mouth of a small bay up the Door Peninsula (Wisconsin) and a terrible storm swept up. I wasn't skirted and the waves grew to nearly 5 ft. The Manitou was completely swamped but kept me high enough out of the water to successfully paddle inland to take cover. Had I been in a boat without the sealed stowe in the stern and the float beam in the bow, I wouldn't have made it to shore with the boat. I owe my quick learning curve and skills to the exceptional behavior of the Manitou. The extra $200-$300 cost to get into a Manitou over a short purely recreational boat will pay for itself quickly because the experience will be so much more enjoyable and rewarding that you'll be out on the water more getting more use out of your kayak.

I highly recommend this boat to anyone who is a beginner looking to learn true kayaking skills. The rating of 9 is a result of two gripes I have about the kayak. 1. There is no drain plug. 2. The hull is curved deeply at the point where my feet rest and after a long day out on the water my ankles become fatigued. I can eliminate this fatigue by wearing water sport shoes and in cooler weather I just wear my mid-top hiking boots.

The Manitou is a great kayak. I had little experience with kayaking. When I decided to buy a kayak I was suggested this one from a retailer. It’s a great cost for what you get out of it. It’s great for starting off in as well for learning much, you don’t grow out of it right away. The whole time I’ve use it I’ve never had a problem with the seat or any thing. I'm 6'3” and I have plenty of leg room to spare in it. When I was looking at other kayaks most I couldn’t even fit in because the pegs wouldn’t go back far enough. I have about 3 slots up on the Manitou.

Once in a great while you're able to become friends with an inanimate object. Such is the case with me and my Manitou (the 12.8' version, that is -- I have no knowledge about the SPORT version).

I "replaced" my Manitou this year with a kayak which competes with the Manitou that is almost 3 times the price, but I kept the Manitou just in case, and I'm glad I did so.

The Manitou has a seat back angle adjustment that can be adjusted on the fly (just like your car seat), the footpegs can be adjusted while you're in the water, it cuts through the flat water as though it's traveling in air, it tracks divinely, it is friendly, and it is sublime.

I spent 1800 dollars to replace my Manitou but this coming Wednesday I'm taking out the Manitou. We have a date. I love this boat. The designers did well. When you outgrow the Old Town offerings, the Necky Manitou is your next step.

I’ve paddled canoes for years but this is my first kayak. I went to Canoesport (they’re awesome) in Houston, TX and told them my needs. They hooked me up with the Manitou and it’s an outstanding boat. She’s stable, maneuverable, and an absolute joy to paddle. My one beef is the lack of a forward bulkhead and hatch. Even so, the rear bulkhead provides more than enough buoyancy to float the boat and my 160 lbs. when I roll it. Not that it rolls easily, I did it on purpose for practice. She tracks amazingly well and is very responsive to leans when turning. Right now I’m glowing orange from sunburn but still can’t wait to get back on the water tomorrow.

I bought my Necky after reading lots of good things from this message board. I recently purchased the Old Town Adventurer 125 for my husband and wanted something similar but lighter and tighter fit…which is exactly what I got. I love this boat…it’s quick, light and easy to turn. The spray skirt thing is tricky...I haven't found one that fits great but have settled on a Seal Islander which I purchased on Internet. The storage is not great but I am not going out for days of camping. I basically use this boat for a great exercise machine...and wonderful yak for fishing and photography. It is great for women and seniors who can't lift over 45lbs. I am going to purchase a deck bag which should solve the problem of not having storage accessible from seat. I do like that feature in the Old Town...but I just bring my husband along and throw all the big stuff in his boat...ha!

The nearest dealer is 200 miles from home. This dealer handles only canoes and kayaks across a wide spectrum of manufacturers. The owner, knowing the type of kayaking I do, gave the pluses and minuses of several kayaks without making any recommendations. I was very excited because it served to strengthen my opinion that the Manitou is the boat.......I purchased it, put it atop my VW Golf TDI and drove back home.

The following day (2 days ago) it went into the water and performed exactly as I had anticipated after reading all I could find on the Internet...especially the reviews on this site. I guess that I was a bit surprised (pleasantly) that it turned as well as it does without a rudder (with a lean). Regarding the hatch arrangement, I was not surprised at it being tricky to seal and that the fabric gets wet if water splashes on the top. I don't envision using it much but still, it will be a minor "pain" to take it off to dry after an outing on a choppy day. Regarding the ease of placing the seal, the dealer suggested using 60 grit sandpaper to rough the edge and underneath side of the lip. I did and he was correct.

Thanks for all of the reviews ..... I really am glad I made the purchase.

My wife and I as well as our three daughters ages 4, 8, and 10 recently began enjoying family kayak outings, mostly in large recreational boats such as Acadia II tandems and Sundances as well as Swiftys and Americas.

For my wife's 40th birthday, I arranged time off work for both of us while the kids were in school so that we could take a formal kayak introductory lesson together. The instructor outfitted both of us with Manitous for the day and we both really enjoyed the experience and purchased one shortly thereafter. Other reviews have expressed concern about rescue re-entry with the high seat back; when we were performing paddle float rescues during the class, neither of us had particular difficulty getting over the seat and we represent a size range from 6"1" 210 to 5"7" 130. Our instructor did say he had drilled new holes to lower it slightly more than the factory fit, but I still don't think the lowest available "stock" position would be a problem for re-entry.

We purchased the Manitou for ourselves, but our instructor assured us that our older kids would enjoy paddling it as well. We wanted to get a good intro boat for them, but were concerned with the width and lack of tracking length found in typical beginning rec boats like the Swifty. My 8 year old paddled the boat for the first time with me yesterday and has now foresworn her previous affection for the America 11. She really loves the boat and had no trouble beginning the outing by paddling one mile upstream in a somewhat slow but by no means still river. When I told her I would be posting a review, she said, "Be sure and tell them that it feels really fast and I like the way it leans but won't roll over. It's easy to turn, but I had no trouble keeping it straight." It sounds to me as if my 8 year old is getting a good lesson in tracking, carving turns, and secondary stability from the Manitou. We will probably wind up with another Manitou in the near future.

Some notes about the Manitou: the high seat back is very comfortable, but does make fitting a spray skirt problematic. I had to return the initial skirt I purchased because it stretched over the seat back creating a seam of fabric that dug into my back. It was no trouble finding a skirt with a more relaxed fit (a Gull), but I would recommend testing the fit in the boat before purchasing. I don't let my daughters use skirts yet and they have no trouble staying dry. The boat is very well made and is the only "rec" boat I know of with perimeter lines and good paddle float rigging. My rear compartment has stayed dry and the Manitous from our lesson also stayed dry despite a lot of wet side up time during the course. Despite a boat weight of only 45 pounds, the plastic is high quality and does not seem to scratch and scrape quite as readily as other boats. All the deck fittings are recessed into the plastic within the hull: a really nice touch for an entry boat. There is no paddle park, but I added one with a fitting just behind the front bungee.

The neoprene hatch cover has a bit of a learning curve, but goes on easily with a little experience. The plastic hatch cover is tethered to the perimeter line, but the neoprene one isn't. I used 2 mm cord to tether mine and keep it from getting lost. The foot braces are metal and feel more secure than plastic ones I have used; they also adjust easily while in the boat thanks to tabs that are in front of the braces themselves. The seat and seat back are very comfortable and both my wife and I can adjust for good fits with the thigh braces. The bow and stern handles are on the ends of the boat where they should be for easy access while in the water. The handles themselves are quite comfortable and, unlike rubber handles, do not chafe with car topping bow and stern lines. I did have a little flaking of the bow foam flotation, but that was easily fixed by duct taping the corners while I had the float out to install flotation bags. Bags are probably not absolutely necessary with this boat, but I am neurotic about installing them wherever there are no bulkheads.

This is a great boat for my kids to start off with, but I must admit that I enjoy paddling it as well and have spent very enjoyable hours in the cockpit. The Manitou is much more of a true kayak than other entry level boats. It is fast with good tracking for its length. It leans well and carves into turns and is stable without being stodgy. While I look forward to a bigger boat sometime in the future (Elaho?), I am thrilled to be starting our family's kayak education with a Manitou.

After reading lots of reviews and hearing great things about the Necky Manitou, I decided to buy one. Though likely not the best approach, I purchased mine sight-unseen from an eBay seller - thankfully, the trasaction occured without incident and I received my boat just before the Labor Day holiday.

Prior to taking delivery, I was a little concerned about the cockpit size - literature states 16.25" wide. Being 6' and 195 pounds, I had visions of shoehorning myself into the boat. Worse yet were the thoughts of dying a slow, agonizing death as I squirmed around in an inverted kayak. Thankfully, my concerns were totally unfounded. The cockpit size is really very comfortable and a nice balance - provides protection from spray while still offering enough room to move around a bit. Perfect. High back seat with ratchet support adjustments makes for a comfortable ride for sure.

Stability is as other have written - very good initial stability - inspiring confidence for us new paddlers. Tracking is very good for a kayak with such reasonable length (~13')- not sure how the design enables this, but it works well. Kudos to Necky design team.

Manitou paddles very easily - I don't have much to compare with, but I took my GPS out with me on the lake to see what I could do. Easily maintained 3.5-3.8 mph and with a little extra pace, kept the hull moving along at over 4 mph. Max speed - wasn't able to drive the boat over 6 mph on the lake, but that was less a reflection of the of the boat's design and more related to my physical design.

After completing my "sprint" and regaining the feeling in my arms, I hopped out of the boat and easily loaded it into my truck. Fantastically light and easy to handle. Again, perfect.

The good far outweighs the bad, but I have noticed some negatives during my short stint with my Manitou - know that I don't have much experience with other kayaks and may no tbe being completely fair.

The bow floatation appears to be a rectangular chunk of low density foam which easily sheds when kicked lightly or nicked with paddle during transport. Thinking this block of foam will need replacement or additional floatation purchased sometime within a year or so. Not sure if this is similar to other kayaks in this price range, but I would think it could be improved. Second observation, the hatch is a sealed bulkhead with a neoprene cover stretched over the access port and a lightweight plastic cover over the neoprene. This would explain the water "resistant" nomenclature used by Necky - not sure if the rubber (Old Town style) hatch covers are better, but these could easily leak in my opinion. As with many kayaks that clain waterproof, a dry bag probably makes sense.

Other than those two (what I consider minor) complaints, I think that the Necky Manitou is a FABULOUS boat and I look forward to many more trips to the lake and Delaware River before old man winter closes the door on the 2004 season.

I got my manatou a few weeks ago and so far I am very pleased with it.It tracks great(without skeg or rutter)it has a reasnable sized hatch at back and bungy cords at front.I went on a lake on a very windy day and I was hitting 4 foot waves and not at one time did I feel I was going to flip over. it is a very stable boat.I recomend this boat to kids,adults,beginers and experts.The necky manatou is a fine peice of work.

This is an incredible little boat! I was a bit sceptical of some of the claims in the other reviews here but it really is an incredibly fast kayak, not only that but it goes exactly where you point it yet turns easily, in fact it's so responsive to leaned turns that under normal paddling conditions sweeping is unnecessary. Fit, finish and comfort are great and it's light enough to be a joy to transport. On top of all that its a very pretty little boat. Attention Necky.... whoever designed this kayak deserves a raise.

I agree with all comments made in the review by FVH. I was looking for a kayak as a back-up to my QCC-500. I wanted a shorter boat to paddle in tight winding creeks with fairly strong currents (a 16'10" boat is a bit much for this), but I also wanted a second boat for family/freinds to use, that could allow them to cruise at a comparable pace and in comfort, with me in my QCC. The Manitou fits the bill admirably. When I demo'ed the boat, I was carving figure "8s" with ease, yet in the stiff cross-breeze, it tracked arrow straight for several hundred yards back and forth, I don't know the winds speed (maybe 8-12mph), but If I had traveled the same distance in my QCC (empty and rudder up), I'm sure I would have had to lift a knee on edge for several strokes to compensate for the wind. The Manitou has very good initial stability, I was actually a little surprised to get it up and hold it on edged turns so easily. The speed I get from the Manitou is also good. Since I can't accurately factor for wind, current and waves, all I can do is give my honest opinion/comparison which is that at my average cruising/daypaddling speed of 3.2-3.8 mph, the effort is no different between the Manitou and the QCC. The manitou starts to need a bit more effort at my workout pace which is around 3.8-4.5. After around 4.5 mph the bow seems to plunge a bit. I never could quite get 5 mph to show on the GPS, but then I don't plan to race it, I just wanted to see if the manitou could keep up, and I think it does. For day paddling purposes, the Manitou performance, stability, and comfort is a 10. Now I'll be as critical as I can. The seat back does stick up a bit to high for a comfortable (watch you package fellas)paddle float rescue. The seat will bend fwd a little to allow to slide over it, but it's not ment too. The padded knee contact points under the cockpit/deck are comfortable, but I can already see that I will have to re-glue the left side padding in a few months. Lastly, there is not a whole lot of storage in the "water resistant" (not water tight) hatch but it is adeqate for a day-tour or a spartan over-nighter. I think that they could have managed space a little better by installing bow floatation that is shaped to "form fit" in the nose, and allowed for better stowage in the bow, beyond the foot pegs. The rectangle of styrofoam in the bow does provide good floatation though. Like I've stated, I'm trying to be picky, but (without repeating observations already made by FVH)I am extremely pleased with the value.