- I am considering the Hurricane Phoenix 12 for me
and the Hurricane 11’6 Santee Sport for my wife . Recreational kayaking and some fly fishing, mostly transporting to fishing. Are there any fans ?[/i]
There are definitely some Hurricane Phoenix fans out there. The thing about poly yaks is how much of a beating they can handle. And my kayak does take a beating, including getting dropped on the pavement from car roof height. (Although I do try to avoid that.) I’ve also been known to drag it across rocky beaches. (More bad form, but I was tired and had to get there.)
I’ve been considering a Hurricane 16 for distance paddles, as well as others.
As I understand it, the jury is still out on Trylon as far as durability is concerned. But, other things being equal, the Trylon construction probably makes them paddle better than the poly yaks.
My main attraction to huuricance products are they are light weight and supposedly are speedy relative to their lenghths, their color does not fade, and they are competitive price wise with rotomolded yaks
okflyfisher,
I just bought a Phoenix 120. If you are willing to buy mail order, check out http://www.diamondbrand.com/cgi-bin/DiamondBrand.storefront/453ef4e30038844a2740ac100331061f/Product/View/144951. They also carry the Santee XL, but not at clearance prices. Delivery was 4 days. No commercial connection, etc. - just a customer. I hope to get my boat in the water this weekend (weather permitting).
I chose the Phoenix because I hope it’s the right compromise of weight, design, and compact size. I will be cartopping to small ponds/lakes. I wanted a small kayak - not a kayak bass boat. I wouldn’t worry about the durability if you aren’t running nasty rapids. Trylon is the same material used to make ABS plumbing pipe - it’s tough stuff.
For what it is worth, my boat actually weighs 39 lbs, is 28.5" at the widest, and is 11’3" long - probably a little under 11 feet at the waterline.
Tom
- Thanks jgestar That is a great price!
I wanted to post a follow up - now that I’ve paddled the kayak a little.
The boat is light and easy to handle, particularly getting it on and off the car. It is less tippy than I expected 
. The hardest part is getting in and out. There’s a little water in the cockpit when I am paddling quickly. Otherwise, the water is up to the top of the scupper tubes (I’m 185 and I bring very little gear). The boat is quick, not super fast. But I can go faster than the jonboats with trolling motors! The boat maneuvers and tracks well IF I am paddling correctly.
I did have an initial problem 
. After the first voyage, I had a few gallons of water in the hull. My boat had a cracked front scupper. After talking with Brad Taylor, the owner of Hurricane, I decided to repair it myself rather than ship it back. The repair was a success and the hull interior is dry. But the repair was more work that I expected.
So far I am pleased with the kayak. It has met my expectations (except the crack).
Tom