Boats: Old Town Otters

Old Town Otters

REVIEW

I picked up this boat from Craigslist as a boat as a friend boat for when I went paddling with people that didn't have a boat. I decided to try it out and make sure it was OK for that purpose. I'm almost 6'4" and vary between 210-240lbs., currently closer to 240lbs. and I couldn't believe this boat. It held me, was fine on small lake, mild river, and light surf is still a question. I threw on a spray skirt and throw it in my pickup and go. From a BS friend/backup boat I find I use it all the time. It's just fun and easy to move, although not a lightweight.

Very inexpensive for a store bought kayak $250 from a sporting goods store

Sinks like a submarine when one tries to reenter and roll.

Weighs 40 pounds - heavy for a 9 1/2 foot long kayak.

Makes a lot of noise pushing this little blunt nosed and short kayak through the water.

When used more than a few yards from shore in cold water is a hazard to one's health. Very difficult to get back in the boat with any sort of reentry procedure other than pulling it to the shore full of water.

Sold without any deck cords, and without foot pegs.

The seat is hollow rotomolded plastic and fills with water, only to leak out slowly into the kayak.

A bar is bolted to the underside of the seat to decrease the risk of trapping the kayaker in the boat when it runs into a boulder in whitewater. It might work, but I would not trust my life to it.

I have stopped using it on lakes, but it makes a fine pool toy. The kids enjoy paddling it around underwater. Also, if you can roll this little beast, you should be able to roll anything.