i have been wanting a kayak for a while now and found one i kinda like. i would be kayaking lakes around college station and was wondering if this kayak would be any good for paddling open water. i couldn't really find any reviews on this kayak so any input is great. here is the kayak http://www.academy.com/index.php?page=co...0142-02305-0800 does anybody know or have read any reviews. if yall have any other suggestions please let me know i would buy a used one if it was in good condition. i really don't want to have to spend over 300$. any help is greatly appreciated.

pelicans are not very good. the hatches will leak and its just a cheap boat. You get what you pay for. Look for a used scrambler xt online.

A lot of people here will tell you to spend $600 plus for a snob kayak. Pelican has had a few lemons but others seem to be happy with them.

Others will tell you to buy a good used one. They forget to tell you that a good used one will be $50 or $100 dollars less max from brand new.

Buy it as your first kayak and it will give you a "taste" of the sport. That way you don't spend a lot for something you don't like. If you do, then sell it at a loss. On the other hand, go to a demo place, pay a lot and make it the luck of the draw if you like it or not.

That model is a smaller version of the 116DLX.

My kayak was $600 but it isnt a snob one by any means. Its just a quality boat. There are lots of kayaks in the $800-$1200 range. Some hobie ones are $1700!

My first kayak was a scrambler xt that I bought for $400 with paddle and life jacket off craigslist. I have owned about 6 different kayaks from Ocean Kayak to Cobras and I like my heritage redfish the best.

Speaking of Kayaks
it is time to play another round of ....

SPOT THE KAYAK

anybody ? anybody .... ?

I just bought this at dicks sporting goods this past saturday. Its nothing hardcore but will get ya around and has some good reviews. The yak alone was on sale for $299. I got the yak, vest, and paddle for $430 after tax.
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3471608

I See It! Wait, never mind, that is just a dimple......

my friend has the exact kayak. Its OK. Im not a fan of sit inside kayaks though. Sit on tops are just so much more practical.

Sit on tops are sweet especially because they're perfect for salt water. I just decided to go with the sit in so I wouldnt be wet all the time and it was in my price range. But I did get the Mango color like yours. Cant wait to take her out.

kayaking is a very wet activity! I wear waders when its cold.

best advice is to look for a good deal and wait for it unless your just itching real bad to get a yak. I got a Heritage 14ft and an Ocean Kayak 11ft for $450 cash. Thats for both and they came with leashes, highback seats and carlisle day tripper paddles. Not super high end but retail that would have cost WELL over $1500. Patience, if you can stand it, is helpful.

You can find decent used yaks for a good price. My brother in law got a Tarpon 140 with Rudder, PFD, Paddle, FF, Anchor etc for 550.00. We had to drive a ways to get it but its a very good yak.

The Pelican you are considering will at least get you in the water. You will be able to get most of your money back when you decide which way you want to move or if you run into a bargain online later.
I have heard fewer complaints about Pelicans quality than I have stability. I paddled a LX 116 for a couple of days and was kind of surprised after reading all the negative posts. It was not as stable as my other yaks, but I did not feel threatened in it at all. Most folks stay with them for about 1 summer and find a bargain during the off season.

Just getting started is the secret. You can can make improvements as you find them justified. If at all. There are a lot of folks that are quite loyal to their Pelicans.


Check the TKF "kayaks for sale" forum and you will see some real bargains regularly.


Best of luck, Phill

PS SteveNDallas, you can't fool us, that was a trick question. There IS no kayak ! That is a floral print !

i dont like the lite weight plastic they use. havent been in one so i cant speak from experiance. but they sure dont look quality. i think thats why they are so cheap.

well i was looking for used kayaks and found an ocean kayak for sale. are those good quality yaks?