I purchased a Tucktec foldable kayak so I could easily take a kayak when I go camping, and to have a convenient way to explore the many lakes, ponds, and waterways near my city. People there have posted numerous solutions to the seat question and a ton of other topics * There is a very active Facebook forum devoted to the Tucktec. Apart from the fixable seat issues, I'd unhesitatingly give this ingenious boat 5 stars. Other users have found ways around the seats' shortcomings* and I'm investigating a few options which should pretty easily make my paddling easy and efficient. I'm 5'2" with a short torso, and the kayak is quite wide so I can't paddle efficiently without hitting the gunwale bolsters. Personally, I find it comfortable enough, but it sits me 'way down on the bottom of the kayak. My only problem is the seat, as many other people have found. The kayak has a retractable skeg which keeps it tracking nicely. After flexing the fold lines a couple of times and letting the plastic warm in the sun, it's actually pretty easy to assemble. When new, the plastic is quite stiff, especially if it's cool. I have been very impressed with this inexpensive little boat! As others have mentioned, I struggled with the first assembly. ![]() I tried a highly recommended inflatable which paddled like a bathtub, and was a major pain to inflate, deflate, reinflate to dry out, etc. I looked at a friends Oru which looked great, but too pricey for this retiree. Plus, I'd need a new roof rack for my new car and the expense wasn't worth it. My wife and I had two Pungo 120's that we loved, but at nearly 72, hauling them up onto a roof rack was becoming a real problem. Some paddlers have used them in mild rapids, but I haven't tried that yet. I'd like to add my recommendation for the Tucktec kayak for anyone who wants a very portable and storable rigid kayak for recreational paddling in calm water. For me, the Tucktec checked off all the boxes, and I love it. I can assemble, disassemble, and carry the Tucktec by myself, and it stores nicely in the trunk of my car. The hard plastic shell is durable - no leaks and able to withstand water obstacles like rocks and tree roots. The Tucktec Folding Kayak is about one third the cost of an Oru. However, the cost was prohibitive for me, and I had read that water could become trapped in the corregated plastic creating a breeding ground for mold. The Oru looked easy to assemble and sleek on the water. Inflatables we're my next option, but having to inflate, watch out for possible leak-creating obstacles in the water, and then deflating for storage seemed like it would take the fun out of the sport. For those reasons, I began to consider my options.Īdding roof racks and then purchasing a device to help lift a kayak would be costly, and I'd still have the storage issue. ![]() Even if I did, the challenge of lifting a boat over my head onto my car would have been prohibitive. ![]() I love to paddle but had no roof racks nor storage space to accommodate a kayak.
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