The Champlain is the champion of all the machines in the price range, and we tested a lot of machines! It is the smoothest and sturdiest of all the machines we tried, even the most expensive ones didn't match it's feel. I don't know what else to say except,if you are looking to buy a good treadmill, I've done the shopping for you and the Champlain is your winner! Roseville Bounce House Rental

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My friend in concrete countertops bought this boat and has let me try it a few times. It is a good beginner's boat. He got the basic version with no rudder. It's a little too wide for me. The seal for the cargo compartments leaked while playing in the surf, but maybe he didn't get the gasket on tight enough. I got the Kecky Looksha sport for about the same price and like it a lot better.

I think this board is good but it is very weird because on mine it has a second engraved in it do you think its use

I recently purchased a Perception Carolina 160 (really 15.5) and I love it. I tested it at the Oak Orchard center in Rochester, NY and decided this was the touring kayak for me. I am big, 250 lbs and weight lift, so I am top heavy. This kayak hands my size well - a large cockpit and is very stable. I live on Lake Ontario and paddle on the lake, bays and the Erie Canal. I am very pleased with its stability and speed. I highly recommend the rudder because its tracking in the wind and waves without it is not good. Overall, a 9 out of 10 (saving room for the higher priced models to be 10s).

At 6', 235 pounds, and 55 years old, I am not as aggressive as I once was, but I still get out a lot, in all conditions. Previous kayaks have been: Perception Captiva, which I paddled fully loaded the entire length of the Maine coast in 2002, Current Design Scirocco, Current Design Squall (too small), and a self built cedar strip 18'. Ten years, and 1500 miles since June 2002. Coldest day on water -5 F, hottest day 98 F, and all kinds of conditions in Maine and Florida.
Been paddling my Carolina 14.5 for two years now, w/o rudder, and enjoying it as a day tripper, and short weekend camp outs on Maine islands, and the Gulf of Mexico shore. It's stable, tracks pretty well, and takes rough seas adequately. It is not fast, but it is very comfortable.

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Changes I would make: smaller cockpit opening, to close better with a spray skirt, larger and (tighter) thigh braces, gel seat cushion, lower seat back.

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Perception Captiva, good for packing a lot of gear, but heavy and a little ackward, Current Design Squall, too tight for my size, but an excellent boat, Current Design Scirocco, nice boat, but never 'settles' in the water, needs constant attention to balance, better when it is loaded with camping gear.

I bought my kayak for only 525. you cant beat a price like that for a carolins 14.5

I bought the 13.5 Carolina and it is all and all. Narrow, tracks, double bulkheads, fast, and open class II is easy and fun. I live WV which means streams, lakes, rivers, and ocean paddling. It does it all and at the price above you can't go wrong.

Customer Service

Galyan's goes out of their way to give you a good deal. Go and see them and find out for yourself. Be careful, they have a lot of boats in stock.

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Carolina 14.5 was a little too wide for me, 5'11" 185lbs. The 13.5 is cyborb stuff.

I purchased the Carolina last summer and I have nothing but positives for this kayak. I use it for day touring, Fishing and I even like to take it in the Atlantic Ocean. My hatches do not leak and the kayak is very stable. It tracks perfect. I use my rudder all the time and if you want a carolina. Pay the extra money for the rudder. You will not regret it. It is fairly light too. I transport myself on top of my Pathfinder and it easy to handle. Perception really made the 2003 kayaks strong. Yes I somehow got a 2003 model. The new seat padding is great also. Overall It is a great kayak and I can't wait to buy my wife one too.

I got this boat because I wanted to be able to paddle everything from small winding creeks and rivers to lakes and bays without having to have a yard full of kayaks. To be honest, the price is what sold me. (It was on sale) However, it does handle and track very well while keeping very stable. I have heard complaints about leaky hatches, but the ones on mine do not leak. The rudder is a nice option, but I have only felt the need to use it a couple of times.
This boat is a great compromise between a true sea kayak and the standard recreational boats. It can do a lot of sea kayak stuff but don't think it will keep up with them. It is also faster and holds more stuff than the standard rec boats.
While I give the Carolina a great review, I am rating it for what it is. A great recreational touring boat.

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I bought a Carolina for my first kayak and kept it about a year. It is a good starter boat. It is easy to handle and tracks surprising well for a smaller sea kayak. The fit and finish was a pleasant surprise also considering the entry level price. I only have two complaints. First, the storage hatch covers are hard to get sealed and even when they are sealed they will still leak in rough water. Not much but enough to get something damp. Second, the boat's wide beam makes it very stable but also means that you will eventually outgrow the Carolina's abilities.

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Perception Eclipse
Necky Looksha IV

We recently bought two Perception Carolinas. We have friends who have Perception Acadias, but we wanted something a little larger that we can use on overnight trips. So far we've just played with them on short day trips, but we've enjoyed them. For some reason, the rudder on my boat worked itself out of the mount and fell off. I screwed it back in - thank god the bolt was still attached - it could have easily sunk to the bottom - and I haven't had a problem with it yet. Be sure to store plastic boats on a flat surface. We first stored them on blocks to keep them off of the garage floor, but that put dents in the bottom of the boats. I've since built fully supporting shelves for the boats, and the dents have disappeared after a couple of weeks.