Review Of the Perception Carolina 14 Kayak
Today for our review series we will be reviewing one of the most popular kayaks in the market. The perception Carolina 14 kayak. For our review we have gotten a hold of the Carolina 14 inch.
Perception has been a company that has been in the business for more than 30 years. It’s one of the higher rated kayaking companies. They’re known for being some of the first to start in the plastic kayak
market.
Introduction:
The first thing that stands out with the Perception Carolina 14 when you get into it is that it’s a very comfortable boat which tracks well and gives you a great value for the money you’re willing to spend on it. The Perception Carolina 14 really shows itself as a good value kayak which excels in giving the user some comfort and a kayak that is easy to handle while still remaining durable.
Let’s jump right into it!
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The Pros:
Stability:
The Perception Carolina 14 is known to actually track very smoothly and allow you to be able to work out a great rate of speed on whichever water you are using it. It can also cruise along very nicely. It stands out as a very fast boat and gives you a very smooth ride for a good price.
The Carolina has been tested and known to handle well on slow rivers, ponds, large lakes and small lakes. Could probably be used on the sea, but I don’t know if I’d recommend it for the ocean as the waves and wind could be an issue on turning.
The boat is known to edge very well. Regardless of the fact that it is a larger vessel and can even maneuver her through twisting spring runs without many issues (this can be helped by the purchase of the rudder).
Room:
If you’re looking for this kayak. It’s obvious that you’re looking to either upgrade or get something that has a lot more room. The smaller versions of this kayak are also great, but the obvious upgrade here for the price point is the extra provided space which makes it a great kayak for anyone over 5’10’ or over 180 pounds. You will find this kayak to be great and accommodates your larger legs and weight.
The Perception Carolina 14 comes with back in front bulkheads which are sealed and allow you to hold plenty of storage space for any type of trip. This extra storage space is especially great for any overnight trips and allows you to pack in virtually anything.
A friend that had use this kayak was over 250 pounds and had no issue getting in and out and maneuvering.
Price:
The price point of this kayak is very reasonable, especially for the upgrade from the other sizes. It comes with a lot more space.
Other:
The kayak is very fast and this is a huge benefit when paired with the fact that it is also very light . This makes this a perfect kayak for beginners and intermediate paddlers.TThe Cons:
Cons:
There were not many cons of using the Perception Carolina 14 there were a few that are common for most kayaks, but some smaller considerations are discussed.
Firstly, the seat is somewhat comfortable but could definitely be an improvement. The seat is very thin and designed like it is for someone of a smaller weight class, even though the boat itself seems like it was built for someone of a larger weight. This usually leads to purchasers of the kayak to having to install another seat which could run up to hundred dollars plus any installation.
Also for a larger person in the 200 pound weight range. The thigh braces on the kayak could be a little too tight.
The handles on the kayak have been known to fail after some use because the bolts are not tight enough.
Finally, and I know this is common to any kayak of this size that the Perception Carolina 14 can be a little hard to control on turns because of this new size consideration.
Recommendation:
Maneuvering the Perception Carolina 14 through very windy and winding streams can be a challenge since the boat size is not built for this and turning around in a stream could be difficult.
The kayak does not come with the rudder. However, you do not really need one because it goes exactly where he you wanted to go without issue. One can be considered only if you paddle in very windy areas and you would like to be steered with the wind behind you, but this is a common issue with kayaks. If you are going to be kayaking in a very windy area I would definitely suggest getting the rudder.
Where to buy the Perception Carolina 14 kayak:
West Marine currently has a deal going on kayaks and can give you free shipping to a store. The currents online only price is $895 you can get the kayak here.
Check Price and Availability Here