Ultimate Eddyline Comparison: Recreation & Sit-On-Top Kayaks for Day Use

[@boatman222345]

The best overview of Eddyline kayaks I've ever seen. Anyone new to Eddyline kayaks should watch this excellent video as it covers the whole line in detail and offers very helpful comparison between the models!

[@HappyPaddlin]

Glad you enjoyed it and thank you!

[@2000orni]

By far the best Eddyline rundown on KZbin. thank you!

[@HappyPaddlin]

Wow, thank you!

[@rickquist3992]

I love the side by side comparisons & appreciate the effort that goes into it. Thanks guys.

[@HappyPaddlin]

Our pleasure!

[@ohblackwater]

Great job of demonstrating all the models and pointing out the strengths of each.

[@dansouthcomb5439]

Great job on this video. Best full line tutorial of any Manufacturer. I'm waiting patiently for my new Sanpiper 130. February delivery.

[@jscook54]

Excellent rundown of the Eddyline kayaks. Super helpful for one in market for one.

[@lisamarie1280]

thanks so much for doing this! the side-by-side comps are very helpful!

[@jeffccr3620]

A buddy of mine has the Sandpiper130 and it is an awesome craft it is fast and tracks very good . I can attest to that it holds a lot of gear. We do regular 3 day river trips on flat water. I would have no problem buying one.

[@anninwhack1998]

Thx for great info for a newbie!!!!

[@blinderb1032]

Great review!!! I dream of owning that Caribbean 12FS!

[@KenGerathsDuck]

My goal is to on one of these.... I'll be in the market to buy next month. Just have so many choices....

[@groovymoon]

NICELY DONE Video!! I really really want an Eddyline. I have a 2017 Pungo 120 right now. I have paddled: 10ft Pelicans, a Pelican 120XR (YUCH), Pungo 120, Old Town Loon 126, Tsunami 140, Widlerness Systems Cape Lookout 135, Perception JoyRide 10. I love my Pungo for comfort and stability and the Dashboard. I have made some mods to it too. I Loved the Tsunami for how it felt like I was totally one with the boat. But deck height is to short in the Tsunami and my feet were really cramped. The Pelicans were junk. The Joyride was ok. The cape lookout was kindof cool. I am 6' 1" 215 with long legs and arms and size 12 feet. I consider myself to be a novice paddler.

[@HappyPaddlin]

Sitka XT or Sandpiper 130 would be what I would check out. Maybe Equinox.

[@RoughRidersTV]

Can you get a skylark with the thigh braces? I think that would be a perfect fit for me.

[@HappyPaddlin]

This is no longer an option offered by Eddyline Kayaks for the foreseeable future. High demand on factory output has them trying to focus on just supplying the large amount of dealer orders they currently have backlogged. For a recreational kayak, I do not think this customization is necessary Because there is still a padded region to make contact with the kayak when needed.

[@RoughRidersTV]

@@HappyPaddlin definitely understand the backlog. Anything other than the cheap big box kayaks are near impossible to find right now.

[@Sardosam]

Great video! For a beginner who is 6'3" and 250lbs what would you recommend the skylark or the Equinox? You seem to fit well in the Skylark

[@HappyPaddlin]

Skylark is a hard “no”. I think the XT or the Sandpiper 130 would be best. The Equinox will be a pretty tight fit but could work. I’d try one first.

[@Sardosam]

@@HappyPaddlin thanks for the feedback!

[@cooperdog9956]

I have the Eddyline Journey (a discontinued line). I love it, its a great boat for touring, camping, and handles the big water easily. But I would like to add a Sitka ........a kayak that is lighter, and more playful that I can work on my skills. What do you think or recommend?

[@HappyPaddlin]

Very familiar with Journey! What is your size (height, weight, fit, hips/legs)? If you are small/medium you might like dropping 5 lbs and going with the Sitka ST but you'll want to sit in it if you can to check out.

[@etc-and-more]

I have about 12 feet of space to work with. What is the choice if the possibility exists for a situation where the wind and waves could unexpectedly start picking up on the ocean and we need to get back to home base? Loving the energy of your videos.

[@HappyPaddlin]

Skills, experience and other equip are an important part of it. Baby steps, watching weather and getting some instruction should be considered in any kayak. But, would I paddle out into the ocean and be ok if the wind whipped up yeah. Sit inside or sit in top, then you will need to practice rescue skills. Both models do have the safety DNA needed. But, pilot skill set is a much larger part of the equation.

[@mikeyseibert1406]

I’m tall and skinny. 6ft 3in. And 167lbs. You said the rio felt tight. Was that length or width? I want to get an eddyline. But I live in the middle of nowhere Texas. So seeing one in person is almost impossible. Which kayak would you recommend. I load by myself, it’s a Chrysler minivan. So weight is important. I’d like to stay 13ft and under. I have a prism and it’s 14.4 and can be unwieldy after a long paddle. Thanks for any recs?

[@HappyPaddlin]

You definitely would be past the footbraces on a rio. Maybe even cramped w your feet against the bulkheads. You’d have to go micro footwear. Like me, you are also not the optimal sized paddler (designer once told me 145 LB paddler and under). Could you maybe make it work? Maybe. But it’s gonna be cramped and not optimal especially w gear. Skylark would be better but you’d want to factor in footwear/size. Loading is also a lot about technique. I think some hints there could help you. I load a Sitka LT on top of my 3500 truck all the time but I use some hints and tricks. I’ll have to do a vid on that! Soon as I can!

[@mikeyseibert1406]

@@HappyPaddlin I appreciate the quick response! I don't have a size constraint if there is a technique to help load it. Mostly just a weight issue 😆 🤣 . That would be super cool if you did a video on loading.

[@Ujeb08]

I'm interested in buying 2 lightweight kayaks for me and the wife who are young seniors. we live in lower New York in the hudson valley. can you tell me where we can physically look at your kayaks near us prior to buying? I'm 5'8" and 195 lbs (all muscle) do you think a 10 foot Sky at 35lbs would be good for me (I have some back issues)?

[@HappyPaddlin]

My agency is based on the West Coast so we are not tied into the East Coast dealer network. Right now, it is hard to find Kayaks in general and most definitely hard to find Eddyline‘s sitting on the showroom floor gathering even a days worth of dust. Demand is unprecedented and there is not one kayak company in the industry that has been able to keep up. You will certainly fit in the sky 10 and as you mentioned it fits the requirement for a nice lightweight kayak. If you’re willing to go 2 feet longer to the Skylark you will gain about 20 to 30% efficiency on the water.

[@jeromehebert3184]

I want a kayak for fishing but I am at 270lbs and trying to figure out how much capacity i need. some sites say my weight plus gear weight need to be smaller than weight capacity of boat. Other sites say add my weight + gear + boat weight needs to be less than boat capacity. Another site says add all 3 of those weights and divide by 0.7 to get a 70% weight capacity (as apparently you don't want to load the boat more than 70% the capacity) then look for a boat that meets that numbers. Any advice I would appreciate it.

[@HappyPaddlin]

Go big: Nu Canoe, Native Titan, Feel Free Lure 13.5 etc. 14-15 tandem canoe rigged solo (That’s where my heart lies) Depends on what kid of water. I don’t use those equations...I just know the boats and how they would do with your build and gear.

[@jeromehebert3184]

@@HappyPaddlin Thanks, Appreciate it. What you think about Ocean Prowler Big Game II Angler, BKC FK13, or Vibe Sea Ghost 130? I will mainly be fishing fresh water and inshore.

[@HappyPaddlin]

Bigger fan of Ocean Kayak using US labor vs Vibe’s Chinese labor. Prowler serves a lot of fisherman right and I’m sure it would be great for you.

[@surelladasilva3647]

This was very informative and I appreciate it! I am looking to buy an Eddyline in the next few weeks. I had my heart set on a Rio as I am 5’1 and 165 lbs. I’ll be moving the boat on my own and so I like the at of the boat. What I’m having questions about is I want to take my little dog with me she is 6 lbs fully grown. I think we will fit fine in the Skylark if I need to increase the hill size, the sandpiper I fell may be more than we need. Any suggestions??

[@HappyPaddlin]

Agree that the Skylark is the better choice. The Rio has a much smaller cockpit and would be much tighter in the hips and thighs and possibly not something you would not want to spend a day in. You should be quite comfortable with your pup in the skylark.

[@surelladasilva3647]

@@HappyPaddlin thank you so much for the advice. I went in to the Flagship REI and they had a skylark available for me to sit in and it was a nice fit and not as heavy as I had expected. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@lancebuckley7086]

I like speed but I must get something really light weight as I'm getting up there in years. Which kayak would be faster the Sky 10 or Sandpiper 12? I'm 5'9" with long legs and 147 pounds so I think the Rio would be a little tight for me. Do you agree - even tough it would probably be the fastest of the three? Thanks!!

[@HappyPaddlin]

Longer is faster (if the motor can power it) and will also track straighter which also adds to efficiency. However, most average males can over power a 12’ hull’s speed capability under fitness effort and paddling harder just makes a bigger bow wave and more resistance. So, when you are in a 10 or a 12’er you kinda of have to adopt the “I’m just cruising” mentality. A nice light paddle is another great way to add to your efficiency.

[@Blackcat-fw4tl]

Can you buy eddyline kayaks in UK ??

[@HappyPaddlin]

This year, domestic demand has not much going over seas from Eddyline direct.

[@steveprinty5674]

I notice the weight capacity ratings on at least some of these models is considerably higher than the same models available now. For example C14 is now 50 lbs lower and C12 is 25 lbs lower. Why was it lowered? 🤔

[@HappyPaddlin]

Ya have to subtract the boat weight to get actual capacity but that is a figure I don’t really commit to memory bc the real test also involves so many factors (paddler’s skill, type of waters, leg length, etc). The capacity is a rough guide and you certainly don’t want to be way over listed capacity. But, I’ve seen outliers work and gear down low is different than large shoulders and head. Will check our weights in description to make sure they match. Thanks for the comments.

[@steveprinty5674]

@@HappyPaddlin In any case I am very happy to be taking delivery of a new C14FS, blue/silver (Frame seat 👍🏻) It will be better for me in every way than the C12FS I sold. Now I will love my 2 kayaks equally. Other is Sandpiper 130, red/silver. ☺️

[@jasonbaldridge4281]

@@steveprinty5674If you had to pick just one, the C14FS or the Sandpiper 130, which would you settle with?

[@steveprinty5674]

@@jasonbaldridge4281 After comparing thoughts with my wife, both of us would choose the C14FS. It would be easier to get back in if you flipped, and the cockpit wouldn’t have to be pumped out. It is easier to load stuff onto the 14. Longer is always better (it seems) so the S130 looses. ☺️ So even though the S130 is better in cold weather and protection against sunburn, and its weight capacity is more, we would sell it if we had to sell one. But PLEASE, 🥲, don’t force us to choose! ☺️

[@jasonbaldridge4281]

@@steveprinty5674 😃Thanks for the quick response! I’m sold on the C14FS, but I really want it with the Angler package; I didn’t like that the standard C14 had the storage/cup holder right there between the legs, and then they removed it on the FS version.🤦🏻‍♂️