Rated 5 out of 5 by ChicoandTheBean Perfect for the canal!
My husband and I ordered these based on a recommendation from a neighbor. Boy were they right! We've used them in calm and windy conditions on the canal system behind our house. Easy to get in and out of, no problem navigating, light enough to move with little effort, seats adjust and are really comfortable, and the footrests are also easy to adjust. The cockpit covers work well so we can leave the kayaks on our dock. We did a lot of research on kayaks and we're glad we chose these.
May 8, 2010
Rated 4 out of 5 by poncho1982 Good, have had it 3 seasons now
I really like this kayak. It's stable, and turns extremely well. It's also pretty quick! If I have one complaint, it's the way the seat mounts to the bottom of the kayak. The mounts are rather small, and there is a great deal of force on those small areas, after three seasons of probably 25-30 total trips down the rivers, it developed a crack on the bottom of the kayak at the left rear seat mount and is now leaking water. I'm not an overly large person, I'm 6'1" and 205 lbs. I will fix it of course, and see if I can reinforce the area a bit, but honestly, after 3 seasons, I thought it shouldn't do that quite yet. But then, as we all know, we do hit some big rocks sometimes, and it may have just been a lucky shot.
June 8, 2013
Rated 4 out of 5 by Maxx40 Quality, lacks bulkhead
Well built kayak and paddle. Light weight, very comfortable, easy to maneuver, a joy to paddle around lakes and moderately moving rivers and creeks. Large cockpit is great! Am disappointed in lack of bulkhead or dry well to keep items dry even though it has a tight fitting cover behind the seat.
June 7, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by wranglerindy Fantastic!
Wow, this kayak was even better than I had hoped for! I chose the Manatee because of the large cockpit (I am planning to bring my dog with me and didn't want to get a tandem.) The cockpit is HUGE, enough room for both me and my 40 lb dog! And it's still short enough to fit in my Jeep Wrangler (though it sticks out a bit over the tailgate.) Very happy with my purchase - thanks LL Bean!
May 15, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by 1lancer1 Maiden Voyage
I am very pleased. I have a tandum sit-on-top kayak I share with my wife. But, I wanted something I could use for fun, alone. I looked on-line at many manufacturers and kept coming back to this one. The reason - some of the features included that come with other kayaks at much higher prices and the weight. Comfortable seat and lots of room. I threw it up on the roof, by myself, on my Mini Cooper, very light. Dropped it in a local river, jumped in and paddled away. It's fast and easy to turn. Tryed to flip her, but she stayed upright. I was very interested in the Pungo 100, but a bit too heavy.
April 25, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by bandb24 Just do it!
We did a lot of research starting at LL Bean and ending at LL Bean before purchasing two of these packages last year. It was the best money we ever spent! I don't know why we spent so much time researching. They are quality items that are a ton of fun with a great company that backs their product. Stop thinking about it and do it!
April 3, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by jerseygym kayak
Did a lot a research and found this to be the best kayak for the money,actually more expensive kayaks did not have the features that the LL Bean one has, i.e. padding for knees and very comfortable seat (not molded plastic).
October 10, 2012
Rated 5 out of 5 by FloridaKayakers 100% Happy and Satisfied!
We ordered two of these. One for the wife and one for husband. The reviews were extremely helpful. We are delighted with these kayaks. The weight of just 40 lbs each was a deciding factor. We were lucky with fast shipping as we ordered them on a Sunday, they arrived Friday morning and we had them out for a test run the same day on a local lake. Next stop will be the Peace River in Florida. Many thanks LL Bean for your continued quality products, reasonable pricing, fantastic customer service, and 100% satisfaction guarantee.
September 28, 2012
Rated 5 out of 5 by
OutHunting Manatee Kayak Package
I purchased the angler kayak package by Manatee thru the Freeport, ME store. I went to the warehouse to pick up the kayak. When I got the kayak home, I found that I did not have the cover for the cockpit. My loss and LL Beans gain. I plan to purchase the cover this year. I have used the kayaki on several lakes and ponds in the past year and find it to be very stable and manuverable. I like How ligtht this is compared to my husband's kayak. I do have trouble loading it onto my truck but that is because I am only 5 feet tall. I love my kayak and would not trade it for anything.
September 6, 2012
Rated 5 out of 5 by swinth Great beginner kayak
Excellent kayak for a beginner: easy to get in & out, stable, light for carrying, easy to turn -- it has it all. Also, the seats are very comfortable (first thing my 15-yr-old daughter said).
Customer service was six stars excellent, if that's possible: helped me pick the right kayak for the right person in the right place, and all for a very reasonable price.
August 1, 2012