Kodiak Reviews — Prijon Kayaks | Buyers’ Guide |

Outstanding, but not ideal for river rapids.

As a kayaking newbie, I took this canoe on a 7 day, 240km trip down the Tano river in northern Finland.

It’s very stable and easy to paddle in straight lines, and importantly for a wild camping trip, has ample storage. I had a hammock, tarp, sleeping bag, stove, axe, saw, bag of clothes and bags of 3 days of food, and still had room for a couple more bags.

The hatches are also quite watertight with the neoprene covers — even after capsizing in rapids there was only half a cup of water in the hatches.

Which brings me to my last point, having been given these yaks as newbies, we didn’t realise that they are really too long to be good in rapids. We only went on level 1 rapids but turning out of the way of rocks in a fast current is a hard battle, and 3 times I didn’t make it, the tail hit the rock and I got turned sideways and rolled over. Probably if you’re an experienced paddler this wouldn’t happen to you, and if you’re not crossing any rapids it’s irrelevant.

The other point is that as a 6 foot 1 man I have been in very tight and uncomfortable kayaks before, but this one is incredibly roomy. I had the foot pegs 9 holes from the end and they still had another 3 or 4 adjustment holes to go. Yes I did get uncomfortable after about 3-4 hours of paddling but I expect that’s normal. The seat back is well made and comfortable, although I had to knot the cord to stop the seat back slipping backwards and the gripping device on the cord wasn’t up to it.

great yak.

Had to spend the day in this boat (rental) and as you can guess from my rating, I didn’t exactly dig it. It gets a ‘5’ (which is average in my book, not a slam) only because it probably works fine in its niche.

Here are positives and negatives, with what I didn’t like first:

Negatives:
– Pretty low initial stability.
By no means the worst I’ve encountered (something like the Current Designs Scirocco is considerably worse on this), but low enough to be very annoying. Nor is it a case of ‘yeah, it’s twitchy, but you’ll get used to it in no time’… more like, you’ll put up with it and it’ll feel a little bit less twitchy after awhile, but still pretty darn twitchy. This was surprising to me considering the Kodiak’s width, which is a reasonable 23″. My guess is that the hull is pretty rounded, a la something like the Nordkapp. Whatever they did, the boat doesn’t let you fully relax, ever, which is a bummer. Not confidence-inspiring.

— Manueverability.
Uhh… there is none. The Kodiak turns like a tank, especially without rudder, and even the rudder is a bit undersized/not up to the task. I went mostly w/out rudder because I wanted a challenge, and boy oh boy, did I ever get one. Only way to turn this beast was with front and rear sweep strokes, and a whole lotta brute muscle… and even then, the turns were wide. Maybe if I edged hard it’d be a bit better, but the low stability makes you not want to try that too much.

— Main hatches.
These are fussy affairs with dual belts and buckles and a sprayskirt-like liner underneath. Quite cumbersome and slow, you really wish they’d gone for KayakSport or Valley-type ‘tupperware’ hatches instead.

— Deck hatch.
This is a small screw-top hatch placed right in front of the cockpit. You think it’s convenient and neat, until you realize that it isn’t waterproof.

— Deck rigging.
Would rather have deck lines than the front and rear nets… they just feel more secure.

At this point, I almost have to wonder if Prijon is being ‘different just to be different’ in order to differentiate itself from other kayak manufacturers.

Positives:
— It does fit large paddlers pretty well.
I’m a fairly big boy and it felt plenty roomy to me, and had enough room for my feet (size 10s) which, shockingly, even some fairly big boats don’t always (the Etain RM 17-5 for example).

— TONS of cargo room. It is an expedition boat, for sure.

— Handles small waves well.
This is the plus side of the poor initial stability… the rounded hull shrugs off small waves pretty well. However, I wouldn’t want to deal with large waves in this thing, because I prefer a more stable platform to brace from than the Kodiak provides. With the Kodiak, you’re not sure where the tipping point is, so you don’t feel confident leaning hard into a wave and bracing.

-Speed
The Kodiak has above average speed (probably due to its length and low rocker). It’s no super-speedster, but it’ll get up and go.

Overall, I’d say the Kodiak might make a decent loaded expedition boat (it’s probably more stable with a bunch of ballast weight sitting down low) for large paddlers who are of the mindset that they’re willing to learn the boat’s quirks and put up with them.

But as a day boat (i.e. ‘get in and go’), it would be pretty unwieldy/sub-par for most anybody, and I do think it suffers from a big dose of ‘being different just to be different’ syndrome.

I hear that Prijon doesn’t make this boat anymore, and it’s probably just as well as even large paddlers who are expedition-focused can likely find better options out there. But to those out there who might buy one used or rent one, well, you’ve been warned.

I have had my Kodiak for 6 months and have paddle it under a variety of mostly calm conditions. I’m 6’3″ and 200 lbs, with size 12 feet, and the Kodiak fits me like a glove.

Positives:
• I think it is well laid out. I’ve come to really like the day hatch ahead of the cockpit, but as others have mentioned, it is not waterproof. Unlike one other commenter, I have no trouble reaching the cargo netting that’s forward of the day hatch.
• The storage space really is cavernous, and this is one of the reasons I chose the Kodiak. However, someone that doesn’t over-pack would not need this kind of space unless out for more than a week.
• The hatch covers, though somewhat unwieldy, are very dry and secure.
• I like the fairly stiff plastic. It will dent if you crank down on the car-top carrier straps, but less so that most other boats.
• If you want a rudder, and I do, then the pivoting pedals are the only way to go. They give you the support of fixed pegs. I don’t find the hardware arrangement to be a problem.

  Negatives:

• This boat is a beast to maneuver. With little rake in the bow and zero rocker, you will not finesse it through turns, by edging or otherwise. Time and/or brute strength is required.
• Given the difficulty in maneuvering, the balanced rudder that is often sold for this boat does not have enough surface area. It’s OK for counteracting weathercocking- which is all I really use it for, but it quickly stalls if turned more than a few degrees.

Overall, I like this boat and it works well for someone my size (or larger!) in open water where a lot of maneuvering is not required. It should make a great expedition boat and has been use as such in some publicized trips. If you are of average or smaller size and don’t need to carry weeks of supplies, or if you favor small rivers and creeks, you could make a better choice.

Ignore the 10 at the bottom of this review — it doesn’t mean much. Here are some numbers that might be more useful: I am 6’1″, 165 lbs, shoe size 10, 12 years paddling experience on Georgia Strait, BC. I’ve had the Kodiak for a year and put a couple hundred nautical miles on it, mostly day trips but also a 9 day trip.

The Kodiak is a big, fast gear hauler, suitable for going from point A to B. It is not playful, but it handles loads and rough water well. It is rudder dependent in wind. The rudder pegs are the gas-pedal type and work well. The neo plastic hatch covers are very water-tight and absolutely cavernous: lots of room to swallow gear. The boat rolls fine if you pad out the cockpit with foam.

Conclusion: if you are looking for a big tripping boat to cover long distances under load, the Kodiak should be on your list. If you want such a boat in quality plastic, then the Kodiak should be near the top of your list.

I picked up a Kodiak a couple months ago. I had previously owned a Dagger Magellan 16.5, but found it a little too confining for my feet when using the rudder pedals. I have no such problem with the Kodiak. It’s larger, but doesn’t feel or handle like a big boat. It’s stable, but not a barge. The gas-pedal type foot braces are amazing. All boats should adopt them. The bungee nets on the decks are handier than I thought they would be. With only two 1/4″ neo pads (one for each butt cheek), the stock seat bottom is very comfy. I didn’t care for the Prijon seat back and that’s the only reason I didn’t give the Kodiak a 10 rating. I replaced it with the best back band around, an IR Reggie.

One of my kayaking buddies calls it the Hummer of kayaks. It’s big, it’s tough, it’s not as elegant looking as a composite sea kayak and it can carry a ton. The plastic Prijon uses is incredible. It can take any abuse a paddler could dish out. The plastic has a matte finish that takes some getting used to. I had intended to upgrade to a glass or kevlar boat, but my finances didn’t allow it. I am glad I decided on the Prijon. The composite boats may be cooler looking and lighter, but when the going gets tough (and rocky), they can’t compete.

I would recommend the Kodiak to any skill level paddler and whatever you do, get the rudder.

Okay… I’ve read all the reviews on the Kodiak, and I must agree with the majority. As is typical, being a large 6′-1″ 250lb., I searched the internet and paddling shops until I settled on a mighty Yak that could carry me comfortably along with a good amount of gear for camping. I’m a novice paddler who didn’t want to buy an intermediate kayak, only to out grow it’s skill level within a season. So I did a bunch of research and settled on the Kodiak. I’m sure glad that I did!

The good — It’s a durable Kayak with a type of air induced plastic manufacturing that creates a stiffer and more durable kayak. It doesn’t scrape or scratch half as much as my wife’s Venture Easky 15. It’s a heavy kayak, being about 66lbs. This seams to help in the water, allowing for better secondary stability. In fact, when paddling into the wind or through some choppy water, this yak seems to hunker down and carry you through like a champ! It’s a fast boat for such a big kayak, and I can out-paddle just about everyone on the lake except for the racing kayakers.

The bad — Primary stability was a little less than I had expected. In truth, I tipped the yak in 6 inches of water on my maiden voyage when trying to shove off a low grade boat ramp in a dry entry (darn bow hung on the ramp). I’ll admit that I was a fool, not to mention being a novice. Wet entries are much better for me. Also, it took a while to understand what a tri-hydral hull handled like. It was different than the Easky 15 and the Necky Zoar I had tried. You can lean this kayak a bit more than you would think, and when I finally get a rudder, I think I’ll even learn to edge it through turns.

Overall, I’d give it a 10! I love this yak! Its got great storage space. Its got a very comfortable seat and thigh braces that are fully adjustable as well. You can’t go wrong with this one!

A few months ago I purchased a Prijon Kodiak for myself and a Prijon Seayak for my wife. We have been paddling for 3 years and have used Prijon Combi’s on rivers and in the ocean. Decided it was time to get real sea kayaks.

I am 6’3″, 225lbs, size 14 feet. The Kodiak has more that enough room. I do not have to have the seat all the way back and the foot pegs are still not all the way forward. I test paddled and looked at as many boats as I could and finally settled on the P&H Capella 173 with a skeg. In the end I did not want to spend $6,000 for 2 Capellas and instead took a hard look at the Prijons. I am really glad I did.

I kept hearing about the light weight and speed of fiberglass vs plastic. But the 17′ Kodiak weighs only 4 lbs more that the 17″ Capella. Also, the Prijon’s blow mold process produces a very stiff plastic boat. With the Prijons I don’t have to worry about dragging them over rocks on shore. They will stand up to anything. They are beatutiful, very durable, high quality boats at half the price of fiberglass.

I originally was looking for a skeg, but the Prijon balance rudders are much more versatile in all conditions. We have been out in 20 Knot winds with 4′ seas and these boats handle beautifully.

Anyone considering a sea kayak should definitely take a look at the Prijons. Depending on size and what you want do with it, either the Touryak, Seayak or Kodiak should be on a short list.

Price — $1725.00 (w/rudder)- Kind of high esp. for plastic.

Stability- Excellent primary / Good secondary.

Speed- Excellent/ Tested with a G.P.S. (unloaded). -Against a stiff wind and 1-2 ft waves, I averaged a steady speed of 6.1 mph. On flat water managed to exceed a speed of 8.0 mph.

Turning- Excellent/ (Without the use of the rudder). Once you learn to «lean» on the tri-hull design along with 3-4 well placed paddle strokes, it is surprisingly easy to turn this 17′ beast.

Tracking- Excellent/ Even without the use of the rudder.

Rudder- (Wildwasser Balanced Wing Rudder)/ Great- Minimal drag, efficient foot pedal control, turns kayak well. (Rudder design is very much improved over previous designs).

Storage- Excellent/ This boat has plenty, front and rear bulk hatches (w/ neoprene covers), and cargo nets. -also added was a water tight neoprene day hatch in front of the cockpit.

Durability- Excellent/ The blowmolded HTP plastic is stiffer than most other plastic boats and will take quite a bit of abuse before it is severely damaged.

Quality — Excellent/ For a plastic boat, this is the top-of-the-line plastic boat. Also a lot of detail went into the rigging on this boat as well.

Weight- 62lbs./ Fair- Not the best boat to have to carry around either unloaded or loaded. Highly recommend a kayak cart with this beast.

Comfort- Excellent/ This boat is designed for bigger paddlers. If you are around 6′ and 180lbs. This is a great boat for you. Everything on this boat is adjustable. Seat, seat back, thigh pads, pedals… -A very comfortable ride!

The bad- Size/ Remember, this boat is a beast, 17′ and 62lbs. This boat was designed for long trips and to be loaded with a lot of gear. This is not a boat that I would recommend to someone just to take out for a day paddle or to use as a «light
touring» kayak. This is an expedition kayak.

The ugly- The size and weight of the Kodiak combined make this a hard boat to store and transport as I quickly found out. The heat especially is bad for this boat as if it is not evenly distributed, will warp or dent severely either on its side or when setting flat. The only good thing is that if this happens, applying heat with a heat gun or a hair dryer will «pop» the dents out and the plastic will return to its original form as plastics have a «memory».

Bottom Line- An excellent expedition kayak especially for the bigger paddlers. The quality is top notched and a high level of detail went into this boat at all levels. The Kodiak by Prijon has set the benchmark for plastic kayaks and will be a classic boat for a long time….

The first time I ever paddled this boat I howled and then took out my credit card. It was and remains the best boat I have ever paddled. It is stable, fast, manuverable, tough, comfortable, and has good storage and looks great too.

Stability- standing still you have a tippy feeling beacause it moves from the center stability position to the side stability position so easily, but once you get a feel for that it is quite stable. When moving it feels very stable and once you get used to leaning it into its side positions you can turn smoothly and rather nimbley for such a long and great tracking boat.

Fast- a great top speed. Gentle strokes give an easy 4-5 knots and a good hard paddle gives about 7 or so sustainably for me. Very efficient and quiet on the water. This boat likes speed.

Manuverable- I have not yet put on a rudder and while I had planned to add it quickly last year, I found I really didn’ need it. This boat has rapidly become a mindless extension of my body so I really don’t have to think about turning, it just moves with me. Very nice in a long boat!

Tough- the platic is very rigid. I have managed to scratch it from rocks and dragging but it is a very durable and much stiffer than normal plastic boats.

Comfortable- the padded seats are very comfortable for long trips, there is enough room in the cockpit for you to move your legs around and strech out a bit.

Storage- the storage is very good! Big compartments that seem tight fore and aft and a handy easy access watertight compartment right in fromt. Bungee nets on top. Nice appointments on boat.

Looks great- I saw one once on the water and was impressed. Now I am doing that to people. It is a cool looking boat, I have had a number of other paddlers single me out of a group of boats to complement. (Not me I think, just my boat, but still, it feels good!)

This is a good a boat as you are likely to ever need. I give it a solid 10!

The Prijon Kodiak is the flagship model of the Prijon line, and it is a superb boat with many virtues and few vices. Made for a larger paddler, I am 5 foot 8.5 inches and weight 168 lbs, and I feel very comfortable in this ‘pit, although I have added some minicell under the thigh braces. Please note that I own the 2004 model, produced before the 2006 remodel. Like all Prijons, the workmanship is truly superior for a plastic boat (blow mold, not rotomolded), and the dry hatches, coaming, and deck lines are well thought out. My version does not have paddle rescue deck lines. The seat, although not as comfortable as a rec kayak seat for those that like a reclining paddle position, is made for superior upright sitting in order to optimize the paddling stroke efficiency. When the padded seat back (a vast benefit over many yak’s backbands, in my opinion) is upright and secured, the positioning of the lumbar spine and buttocks is perfect for a strong stroke. Some minicell can be added to the seat pad, and I find it better than the stock Prijon removable seat pad. I cannot comment on the seta back being too high to roll as I am not a roller.

The performance of the Kodiak is stellar, and in wind-whipped chop it seems to stay steady and straight thanks to the 17 foot one inch length. This length compensates for the weathercocking that is famous for shorter Prijon models. I have no rudder, and find that the boat seems to edge well; I have not yet been in conditions that warrant a rudder, although I am a rudder advocate when necessary. This boat appears to do well without.

The Kodiak’s speed is better than fair, but it is with a 24 inch beam. It is, by reviews I have read, the second fastest Prijon. It would likely not be as fast as a 21-22 inch sea kayak, and if shear speed is the goal, try the Prijon Barracuda (see my review on that boat). If longer treks, distance paddling, especially if on stumpy, icy or rocky waters, the Prijon Kodiak rules over fiberglass and Kevlar. If one were paddling in debris-clear water, a very long distance, on low to middling chop, another 21-22 inch yak would likely get you from point to point quicker. The Barracuda should be considered in those cases, esp. as it can handle some abuse.

In summary, the Kodiak is a workhorse of a sea kayak, favored by expedition kayakers like Renata Chlumska and Jon Turek. It holds loads of gear (but not startlingly more than the Prijon Barracuda). Please note that, although I am below the height and size that is generally thought of for the “big man’s boat” Kodiak, I feel perfectly confident and comfortable in this 2004 model year boat. It paddles like a charm, has high initial and secondary stability. It has a generous cockpit opening that allows great leg stretch, and requires an XL Wildwasser or Snapdragon sprayskirt. The boat performs well with a 220 cm or 230 cm paddle length. The quality control at Prijon is exceptional.

I just bought a Prijon Kodiak this past weekend; my prior sea kayak was a Aquaterra Scimitar. I looked at the Necky Looksha IV, CD Storm, and the CD Sirocco. My favorite place to paddle is the Texas Gulf Coast, where there is almost always a strong onshore breeze, so I was looking for a kayak that would pose little wind resistance and track straight as a rail. I’m 5’11», 210 lbs, and the Necky was just a little too tight for me, and the amount of rocker aided maneuverability, but at the cost of tracking. The CD Storm seemed okay, but the hull was a bit too flimsy. I liked the Sirocco until I saw one at my local paddle shop that was returned due to a broken seat. The high, sweeping bow also looked like it would act as a sail in beam winds. The Kodiak fits me very well, the hull material is strong, there’s ample storage, and there’s a lot of «niceties» thrown in. Mooring lines fore and aft, full perimeter lines, a hex key stored in the cockpit to adjust the seat and thigh braces, and the gas pedal foot braces are awesome. When I first took the Kodiak out it was a little tippy, but it just took some time to get used to. The first day was on a local lake with a lot of power boats (too many in fact), so I didn’t really get a chance to paddle up to speed. The following day I went to another lake which doesn’t allow power boats (yeah!). The Kodiak is FAST for a plastic boat. My brother has a Perception Captiva, and I was able to put a lot of distance between us very quickly. The Kodiak also tracks extremely well, I bought mine with a rudder and have yet to use it. Although it tracks very well, it’s also quite maneuverable with a good sweep stroke and lean, but, you REALLY have to lean it to make a quick, smooth, tight turn. If you’re looking for a touring «play boat», the Kodiak isn’t for you. If you’re looking for a solid, comfortable, well appointed sea kayak that you can put some serious miles on (without a lot of course corrections), the Kodiak is your boat. As for aesthetics, I like the looks of the Kodiak, but aesthetics are a matter of opinion and really shouldn’t matter unless you want something that will look good on your roof rack. Aesthetics won’t make you go faster, keep you safe and comfortable, nor will keep your hull from oil canning (blow molding ROCKS!). Also, the deck pack nets work very well. I didn’t have to worry about losing my water bottle or bilge pump when I practiced wet exits.

If you’re serious about paddling, don’t base your purchase off looks, base if off functionality, comfort, and features. There’s no other plastic Kayak out there that has the features of the Kodiak, but again, if you’re looking for a touring «play boat» look elsewhere.

The Kodiak, by Prijon, is a 17’1″ expedition-class touring kayak. It is an excellent combination of configuration, performance, and reliability. Possibly the most outstanding feature of the Kodiak is the construction. Prijon’s HTP «blow-molded» construction combines the strength of fiberglass with the durability of a plastic kayak. This is one tough boat!

Prijon’s touring boats are also very accommodating. Considering its size this kayak is rather light at 58lbs. The Kodiak is equipped with an adjustable seat and thigh braces. A great feature for getting proper fit and function out of the kayak and especially a nice feature if more than one person uses the kayak. The gas-pedal type foot braces are a very nice touch and are extremely comfortable to use with or without the rudder. Prijon has one of the best rudder systems on the market. The optional rudder is easily deployed and control is both effective and comfortable via the pedal system. You can’t beat it! The rudder system is simple but practical, and I installed it myself with no experience, just the directions, in a little less than an hour.

Other useful amenities are the recessed deck-fittings, deck pack nets, a safety deck line, and fore and aft «tow-lines», or mooring, lines. The Kodiak provides ample storage for multi-day trips. The hatches are a combination neoprene cover with a hard plastic shell covering the hatch. The web straps hold well, even under intense conditions, and so far I have not had any water leak into the hatch. And I’ve been in some intense conditions. One feature that Prijon does not advertise well is the mooring lines. The lines are secured to the deck but can be easily released. They come in handy for two reasons. One, when you’re in shallow water you can easily disengage the lines and pull the kayak along. A very practical advantage! Two, if you pull up to a dock you can easily secure the kayak.

While I find the deck netting very effective, some people are not crazy about it. The netting in front of the cockpit is a little far forward and some paddlers might not like that. I’ve considered placing some extra shock-cord a little closer to the cockpit. The back brace has received some criticism, but I’ve found it very practical. It provides excellent comfort on extended trips. Some criticize the overall design and colors, but Prijon maintains its own unique style and design. And it’s a style and design that definitely performs.

Whether is the fish-form design, the trihedral hull, or the Kodiak’s contours, this kayak is a true performer. The Kodiak cuts through the water like a glass or Kevlar boat. And it’s fast! It accelerates quickly and maintains speed with little effort. In heavy boat wakes, chop, and fetch, the Kodiak handles extremely well. The fish-form design allows for very specific boat control in regard to edging and bracing in extreme conditions. The trihedral design allows for a smooth transition from initial to secondary stability. The Kodiak does not have an upturned «Greenland» bow like the Sea Yak, but it does quickly shed water from the deck and efficiently cuts through waves. I’ve had this kayak out in a variety of places and conditions, from wide rivers, large lakes, marshlands, open bays, and even in the turbulent Atlantic Ocean in windy conditions. The Kodiak met my expectations in every condition. As an intermediate kayaker I felt very comfortable even in very rough conditions with the Kodiak. And I feel this kayak will serve me well as I advance my skills. The only thing I haven’t done with the Kodiak is a roll, but that’s more because of my lack of skill rather than a fault of the kayak (I keep lifting my head up). With proper outfitting and skill, this kayak can be rolled. The one relevant issue people have with the Kodiak is turning. It should be mentioned that this kayak was designed specifically to track well. And it does track well. It takes some serious gusts of wind to weathercock the Kodiak. The Kodiak will make efficient, sharp turns if you combine good sweep strokes with slight edging.

This kayak is ideal for a larger paddler. I’m 6’1″, 250lbs. I’ve modified the cockpit with closed cell foam to increase comfort and paddling efficiency, but otherwise I required no special modification to the kayak’s design. After test paddling several models, I chose the Kodiak and have enjoyed it ever since. I’m giving the Kodiak a 9, but only because of my limited experience rather than because the Kodiak’s excellent performance.

I’ve been paddling 2-1/2 years and have had the Kodiak since the Winter of 200/2001. My first experience in the boat was in a pool in rolling class. I paddle it regularly on Lake Michigan off of beaches and out of harbors in Chicago. The Kodiak is a big boat for larger people. I believe that if you are less than 200lbs and have less than say a 36″ waist, you could probably fit in Prijon’s Seayak, their flagship sea kayak, and paddle it more efficiently and fit better than in the Kodiak. That said, if you ARE a bigger-heavier paddler, give the Kodiak a try.

The first thing I want to mention is how great the material is for a plastic boat. The blow molded manufacturing process really does yield a more dense, stiffer, thinner and lighter hull. The Kodiak, at 58lbs, is one of the lighter plastic boats of its length and only about 5 lbs heavier on average than fiberglass boats of the same length. The large keyhole cockpit is easy to get in and out of even with my 36″ inseam. The seat contour is good and the seat is comfortable for me without padding. There’s a cup holder in the seat like on typical rec boats and that has come in handy on lazy river paddles without a skirt. The back support is low, soft and comfortable and adjusts in angle easily with one hand while seated in the boat. The seat adjusts fore and aft a few inches and the thigh braces also adjust fore and aft a few inches making it easy to «fit» the cockpit. The adjustments are made using an allen key which is conveniently stored in a little socket in one of the thigh braces. All of the boat’s hardware seems to be good quality stainless steel that holds up to lots of adjustments. No deforming of any screw heads or allen sockets yet. I found the thigh braces to be just a tad aggressive for me, the edges dug into my thigh a tiny bit but they are easily removed and filed or sanded since they are solid blocks of plastic. Additional braces can be ordered from Prijon’s web site so you can have a go at reshaping them without worrying about wrecking you boat. I purchased the boat without a rudder. The footbraces are easily adjustable and generous in size but are really designed for use with a rudder. The rudder is controlled using the pedals in a gas pedal like fashion rather than sliding back and forth. If you want to get a boat with a rudder, seriously consider the Prijon boats for that feature. The cable ways and rear mounting block are stock so adding a rudder later is a no brainer. One downside to the rudder design is that it does interfere slightly with the rear carry toggle when stowed. The Kodiak has handy safety lines all the way around the perimeter laced through recessed plastic hardware that also act as places to attach additional rigging or lights or a compass. There are bow and stern mooring lines which can be reached from the cockpit to toss to someone already on the dock or to grab upon exiting the cockpit. Carry handles are sturdy plastic handles attached by a loop of nylon webbing. The webbing is short stiff enough to keep the handles from clunking on the hull while bouncing around in waves. The hatch system is nice too. Almost flush mounted thin thermoformed plastic covers over tough neoprene inner seals with 3/8″ bungee rands have kept my compartments bone dry even through lengthy self rescue classes. The thin plastic covers appear to be high impact ABS or similar material and are held down by nylon webbing with fastex buckles. The covers are captured by the webbing on one side so they don’t blow away when you take them off. Where the webbing attaches to the deck there are D rings so you can lash additional gear on top of the covers using rope, bungee or webbing. The rear hatch opening is huge and the compartment is too. Large enough to fit my cart (model name: Pop Cart) without breaking it down. The front hatch opening is much smaller but still larger than most other front hatch openings. Bulkheads are well sealed and keep water out. The Kodiak comes with stretchy netting type of rigging fore and aft of the cockpit. I found the netting a little difficult to quickly get things in and out of so I removed it and replaced it with the typical bungee deck rigging laced through pad eyes (inchworm eyelets) that I mounted with SS hardware. The flat part of the deck around the coaming resolves in an upward scoop toward the rear deck. While it’s not likely that this contour was designed to do so, I find it helps steady the paddle during a paddle float re-entry which I’ve begun practicing without rigging the paddle to the rear deck. The coaming on the Kodiak could be taller and deeper. The Wildwasser skirts made from Prijon stay on just fine but I’ve had trouble with a couple other brands with heavier rands slipping off. Luckily the Wildwasser skirts are very nice skirts so this is only a minor negative. A more serious negative is the undesireable flexibility of the deck next to the right thigh brace. The boat could be stiffer there. I think my boat might be an exception in this case as the left side seems plenty stiff.

The boat paddles very nicely and is very easy to keep on track. The trihedral hull does what it is supposed to. Getting this boat up on edge is easy without going over too far and once on edge it stays there until you are ready to put it back. Edging to stay on track and turn the boat is not difficult and works well. Turning without some edging is a chore. This boat has little or no rocker when flat in the water and was designed to go straight. Initial stability may seem to suffer a small amount from this trihedral hull design but I have never felt uneasy in it. It’s fast. Keeping up with more experienced paddlers in glass boats is no problem. Recently I paddled with 5 experienced paddlers all in glass boats on Lake Michigan in 3 foot waves plus serious powerboat wake and I could see in their eyes that they were surprised that I was staying on course and at one time was leading. One of these guys didn’t want me to go due to my lack of experience but the boat and I together were up to the task. I would not have tried to go out that day without the others and I was impressed by the performance of the boat and proud of myself as well. The lack of an upswept bow does not seem to hinder the boats ability to ride over such waves. Weather cocking is noticeable in stronger tail winds but edging a little combined with one or two corrective sweep strokes keeps in on track but does slow me down a bit. I have not successfully rolled this boat (or any other for that matter) but have seen other class members do it successfully in pool sessions learning the C to C roll so I’m not giving up!!! Also, it’s a very handsome vessel. Since I don’t have even a full season in this boat and I’m not ready to take it out in really challenging water, and there are some things that could be improved I can’t give her a 9 or 10 just yet.

I tried this boat as part of taking the Basic Kayaking Course from California Canoe and Kayak. It was a bit heavy to lift on top of the car rack, but I expected that for a 17′ boat. It is very nicely outfitted with Peg pedals, flush fore and aft hatches, perimeter rigging and cargo nets which are substantial enough to hold a paddle for a paddle float entance. The plastic seems quite durable, and the rudder system was very well done. The seat was comfortable and the adjustable thigh braces were a nice touch.

When I entered the water I immediately noted that it tracked very well and was exceptionally swift. It seemed that I could almost relax between strokes because it cut through the water very rapidly. This is a fast boat. I felt that it was very good in the primary stability department, and acceptable in secondary stability. It did not turn on as short a radius as the shorter kayaks paddled by the other classmembers, but in the open water they could not keep up with the Kodiak. During a water entrance using the paddle float, the netting was strong enough to secure the paddle during the entry. I really like this boat, because it is reasonably stable, tracks well, and paddles effortlessly. The hatches are exceptionally roomy, and will hold tons of gear. It looks good, and has nice detail. The only draback is that it is a bit heavy at 58 lbs, but considering that it is 17’1″ long, this is to be expected.

I purchased this boat and am just as happy as when I first demonstarted it. It is very durable, continues to track better than most, even without the rudder in the water. The hatches keep the interior contents dry. I found that a spray skirt with a zippered pouch makes most essentials accessible. This kayak does very well in rough water, and it was not substantially affected by winds. The 24.5″ width did not seem to make this kayak any more tippy than others of the same width. I would give this kayak a rating of 9.5 out of 10.