Synchro

This Product Has Been Discontinued

Synchro Description

The Synchro is a kayak brought to you by Perception. Read Synchro 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!

Perception
Synchro Reviews

Read reviews for the Synchro by Perception 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!

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5

The Synchro is hands down…

Submitted by: paddler1924919 on 3/29/2022

The Synchro is hands down the best tandem kayak ever made. I repeat..EVER MADE. This is not an exaggeration or an opinion, it is fact. This is a professional grade boat. The plastic is twice as thick as any other boat and is extremely buoyant. As young high school kids we typically put four people, four spearguns and gear for four on it. We launched it by pushing off lava 10’ rock cliffs and extracted it by yanking it up and over sharp lava with a rope. Not sure if I’m getting my years right but we got our Synchro in 1997? We are a hardcore spearfishing/camping/adventuring family and we used this boat to fish some of the most rugged coastline in Hawaii. Anyone who’s been there knows that it is jagged lava rock for 70 miles from Kohala to south point. We are in 2022 and that boat is going strong, plenty of scratches but no holes, started as red but now light pink. Performance is exactly the same as the day we bought it. In fact I just bought another one because someone was foolish enough to sell it, they didn’t know what they had.

Professional grade people need professional grade gear and this boat is it. Typical comments are that it’s heavy (aka bulletproof), long (aka fast / tons of storage), wide (aka stable). Remember that your life and now my kids lives are on the line every time you get in the ocean. Best to have boat that stays above water!

If you can find this boat….buy it and enjoy it with your family and friends for life!

5

Bought a used Synchro back in…

Submitted by: doggymcnuggets on 6/19/2015
Bought a used Synchro back in about 2002, was my first kayak, and I fished the heck out of it in South Florida before kayak fishing was cool. Didn't know a thing when I got it, used it solo all the time, and have loved it.

This beast is heavy. And long. Makes solo loading & carrying night unto impossible, so I got a cart which made it hard but doable. With two people it's easily manageable.

Built to last. Mine is 13 years old and going strong despite much use and abuse. Had one strap break due to time & salt, not surprising. Lots of room for gear and easy access. Best investment was two padded seats with backs & rod holders.

Tracks well due to length. Don't expect to turn on a dime. I used it solo in creeks, canals, coastal rivers, lakes, bays, and even some ocean chop - always solo. Only once had a problem handling it alone when I hit a brutal ocean tidal current and could barely make progress.

Stability is tops. Paddled into waters I shouldn't have a few times, thought I was going to get tossed into deep ocean water, drowned in the waves, & eaten by sharks, but Synchro refused to give me up. Can feel tippy with two big bodies, but ultimately you almost have to try to turn her over. Super easy to get in and out, making it a great platform.

I have tons of great memories with this boat and it's still going strong. Super well made tandem if you ever find one for sale, excellent for fishing or diving, stable, tracks well. If you're man or woman enough to tote it, get it!

4

We bought ours used ($400)…

Submitted by: paddler230065 on 3/3/2003
We bought ours used ($400) and put a rudder on before our first outing. I can't imagine going out in the ocean without one. I used a perception Jocasee kit but had to fabricate my own mount for the stern. There must be a factory mount somewhere, but I couldn't find one. The boat is extremely stable and safe for beginners even in small whitecaps (Tomales Bay) and rivers (American River). Even in the winter, this boat is a good time, as long as you are properly clothed and have the right scupper plugs. The depression in the rear deck is perfect for a medium sized cooler or daypack, and the boat is stable enough to access pouches and other gear without danger of rolling. As someone mentioned earlier, this is a heavy kayak.
5

This is a truly great tandem…

Submitted by: paddler228910 on 9/18/2000
This is a truly great tandem boat, especially here in the South where the sea water is pleasantly warm for six months. The first day out was in 3 - 4 ft. swells with light whitecapping and it NEVER felt unstable on any point. While not the fastest boat, it is rigid enough and of good enough hull design that it acquits itself well against wind and tide, and its speed is suprisingly good considering its ample stability. Tracking is exceptional but correction effort is required on quartering waves & wind. I have about 10 yrs. whitewater experience (bow paddler only moderately experienced) and found it no problem to keep on course with paddle strokes and leans even without a rudder. More than a rudder, I strongly recommend you get at least one set of thigh straps (I used the ones from a Torrent). They are critical to properly control lean with this hard-chined boat's huge secondary stability. With gear, we had a combined weight of about 400 lbs. and it would easily take 100 lbs more. Both paddlers very tall -- leg room and carrying capacity is not an issue. Great storage for day trips through the deck hatches and deck straps, forward storage is accessible, dry, and secure. The only downside is that it is heavy at about 85 lbs. but it's probably a necessary evil to account for its other outstanding properties. A perfect boat to paddle with your girlfriend without closed deck concerns ("tandem roll, or deep-water tandem re-entry anyone?") and it's a boat with plenty of capability for new-to-boating couples as your experience grows. Looks like we'll be adding an extra set of cold water paddling clothes to extend the season even further (exposure to the elements is often a criticism of SOTs, but anyone who paddles a decked boat without proper cold water protection in case of a swim is a Darwin award candidate, so... if you gotta wear 'em anyway...) I understand that Perception may drop this boat from their line, and I hope they will reconsider or redesign it even better if possible.
5

I use it for…

Submitted by: paddler228870 on 8/29/2000
I use it for freediving/spearfishing, camping, daily lake/ocean outings. Very stable, tracks well with rudder, very convenient as a dive platform, although a little slow. Lots of open deck and hatch storage for weekly camping trips on isolated islands. You can paddle it by yourself if you have a rudder and can handle slow speeds and moderate arm work. I have been in 3 to 6 foot swells with no problems. Long for "easy" surf landings but you can plan on it.
4

Great paddling boat. Needs…

Submitted by: paddler228377 on 12/4/1999
Great paddling boat. Needs its own rudder system (vs one used on other perception products) as they ride up a lot.
4

My wife and I own one as well…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 3/29/1999
My wife and I own one as well as 2 Perception Swings. Excellent tandem but REQUIRES a rudder. Has a tendency to weather cock without it. Handles well in a medium chop (3 1/2 - 4'). Excellent load carrying ability.
4

Largest, heaviest and best of…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 3/18/1999
Largest, heaviest and best of sit-on-top tandems. Well constructed. With rudder, sails well. Carries large loads, stable, paddles easily, tracks, manuevers well, engenders boater confidence.