After much kayak research, I decided on the Perception Joyride as my first kayak because of its quality, features, and cost.
I especially like that this kayak has a sealed "bulkhead", which means if I capsize the boat will float because it has a sealed-off area of air. The bulkhead doubles as a dry storage area, so I can keep things in there that I want to stay dry (sweatshirt, beach towel, shoes, phone charger, etc.).
I wish this had a drain plug. I plan to drill and install one myself.
I can reach the storage area while seated in the kayak. I do have somewhat long arms, so I don't think everyone will reach both locking-handles easily. But regardless, it's great to have a dry storage area that doubles as a bulkhead.
The adjustable foot rests are fantastic. That gives me a feeling of stability, and also helps my back not hurt.
The seat is comfortable. The base (supporting the legs) can tilt up for thigh support. And the back can tilt back if you want to lounge, but I prefer to keep it more upright while paddling.
I like the stretchy ropes to hold stuff on. I used one to shove a very light blanket under, and I stuck a thing of french fries in another of those areas! The water bottle holder is nice; I prefer to tilt my bottle down so it doesn't impede my view, and also so it is secured in case of waves - and it's wonderful to be able to be able to stow the water bottle either way.
The selfie slot will take some getting used to. The bungee there was pretty taut. I could fit my phone upright without a case; but trying to tilt my phone put too much pressure on my phone. So I stretched out that part of the bungee, and now my phone with case fits well (but still snug enough to stay put) in either of the 3 tilt angles.
The kayak is very sturdy (thick plastic), floats nicely, tracks well (I didn't feel a pull either left nor right), and feels stable.
The handles are nice, especially that they're built-in.
The small rubber skid plate at the back bottom is nice for when moving this around on land. Tilting it on end doesn't cause the plastic of the boat to get scratched.
The freight company that delivered my kayak to my yard was fantastic! The kayak did get a little bit scratched - on the side where the factory sticker is was just some very small scratches, and on one end was a big gouge. For the gouged area, I cut the sharp areas off with scissors. Because I'd read reviews that mentioned this possibility, I wasn't too disappointed, and I realized it's part of the risk of having a kayak delivered rather than picking it up in a store.
I've since ordered a 2nd Joyride from Amazon. The 1st of those got stolen by the freight company, and never arrived. That was a bummer, since I woke up at 5:30am to be ready for the delivery, not to mention the price of that Joyride was a really good deal. The 2nd of those didn't arrive on the delivery date, and they sent me a notice to reschedule the delivery for a few days later. That was again a bummer because I woke up at 5:30am for that delivery. So when I clicked to reschedule, I opted for a delivery later in the day. That one arrived as scheduled, and the kayak was in perfect shape!
Overall, I had an awesome freight company the first time (for kayak #1), a horrible one the second time (for kayak #2.0 that the freight company stole), and a good one but didn't arrive as scheduled the first time (for kayak #2.1).
So half the battle is finding a kayak in stock, and the other half of the saga is if/when/how it gets delivered. But once they've arrived, hopefully not too badly scratched up, the Joyride is a fantastic kayak!
| Brand | Perception Kayaks |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 50 Pounds |
| Material | Polyethylene (PE) |
| Color | Dapper |
| Style | Sit Inside Kayak |
| Seating Capacity | 1 |
| Weight Limit | 275 Pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 120"L x 29"W x 15"H |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 131 x 31 x 12 inches |
| Package Weight | 30.39 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 120 x 29 x 15 inches |
| Brand Name | Perception Kayaks |
| Warranty Description | 5 years limited warranty against material or manufacturing defects in the hull and deck and 1 year on installed accessories |
| Model Name | Joyride 10 |
| Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Manufacturer | Confluence Outdoors |
| Part Number | 9331779178 |
| Included Components | Kayak |
| Size | 10' |
| Sport Type | Boating, Outdoor Lifestyle, Kayaking |
