Many anglers get the wrong impression that a good kayak must have a four-digit price. There are most certainly a variety of extremely good kayaks available at that price range but there are plenty of worthy options available for much less, such as the Sun Dolphin Excursion 10 Kayak.
A small and lightweight but durable boat, the Excursion 10 SS works and handles like many kayaks at higher prices and also comes with a number of features and storage options that high-end kayaks offer.
Build quality
Sun Dolphin Excursion 10 SS is a fishing kayak made in the USA, which is built to the same standards as most other kayaks manufactured by Sun Dolphin. Durable but lightweight, this 10-meter-long, 30-inch-wide vessel weighs just 44 pounds but is designed to withstand normal wear and tear.
Most anglers who tried the Sun Dolphin Excursion 10 SS praised its durability and reported that the boat felt well built and extremely sturdy. Some fishermen have reported that the kayak has a few sharp edges, so be careful when entering or exiting the boat.
Storage capacity
This wonderful kayak offers a surprising amount of storage space for such a small boat. Sun Dolphin Excursion 10 SS also has personal support for Sun Dolphin accessories, which can be removed from the boat and towed by a cable. This frees up space in the designated cargo area (the cargo area is equipped with cords to keep your gear safe) and gives you a place to store coolers, bait wells, and similar items. The Excursion 10 SS also comes with a hands-free electronic console for your mobile phone or other electronic devices.
Comfort
The Excursion 10 SS is a very comfortable kayak for its size, as it has a spacious cabin and adjustable straps to give you plenty of legs and hip space and allows you to customize the craft to fit your body. However, exceptionally tall fishermen may find the cockpit uncomfortable.
The cockpit is lined with thigh pads, and the padded boat seat can be adjusted to make sure you stay comfortable while paddling and fishing. The main storage area is located in the back of the vessel, so you will need to turn around to access it, but this is only a minor concern for most fishermen and does not significantly compromise the comfort of the vessel.
Stability
Although Excursion 10 SS is not the most stable boat on the water, most fishermen have found it to be stable enough to allow fishermen to paddle and fish with confidence.
It has a relatively light capacity (280 pounds), so large fishermen can find that they are relatively low in the water. You probably won’t find it stable enough to stand on, despite its 30-inch beam.
Maneuverability
Most fishermen have found that the Excursion 10 SS works well on water. The small size of this yak makes it very maneuverable and allows fishermen to easily navigate in the crowded area near the shore.
And because the boat weighs less than 50 kilograms and comes with retractable handles at the bow and stern, it is very easy to handle on dry land, which makes loading and launching easy. However, despite the fact that it is very light, the boat would follow very well and is not blown too much by the wind.
Sun Dolphin Excursion 10 Pros and Cons
Whenever you want to make a considerable investment in a product, you will most likely find it necessary to weigh both the advantages and disadvantages of the purchase. For the Sun Dolphin Excursion 10 Sit-In Kayak, we went ahead and found them for you and then included customer reviews to help you make the decision.
Pros
- Very light design with retractable handles – easy to carry and transport
- Provides improved stability and reduces the chances of overturning
- The layout design for increased comfort also facilitates the entry and exit of the boat
- It comes at a considerably reasonable and affordable price
- This kayak is ideal for all rowers of all different ages
- Small and compact enough to be easily transported in the car
Cons
- It may not be suitable for harsher water conditions and may lose some stability
- It should only be used on flat and calm waters and will not go well with choppy water or waves
- There are no drain plugs, which means that water can easily enter the boat through the drain holes.
- It has a limited storage space in the cockpit storage hatch.
- Really only suitable for a solo paddler
Features
- Brand: Sun Dolphin
- Model: Excursion 10 SS
- Check the price on Amazon.com
- Type: Sit-in
- Color(s): Sand, Olive
- Length: (ft / cm) 10 ‘/ 305cm
- Width: (in / cm) 30 “/ 76cm
- Height: (in / cm) 11 “/ 28cm
- Kayak weight: (lbs / kg) 44 lbs / 20kg
- Weight capacity: (lbs / kg) 280lbs / 127kg
- Cab size: (in / cm) 22 3/4 “W x 31” L / 58cm x 79cm
- Polyethylene hull material
- Number of people: 1
- Inflatable: No
- Saltwater friendly: No.
- Peddles: no
- Improved tracking: None
- Adjustable chair: Yes
- Rod holders: 3
- Adjustable straps: Yes
- Pallets included Nr
- Other items included: None
What customers say
A kayak newbie who posted a very favorable Sun Dolphin Excursion 10 review said the boat is perfect for its small size. She is able to load the yak on top of the Jeep and then easily unload the kayak on the waterfront. She also notices that Excursion 10 feels very solid and stable and is not afraid to turn over in the water.
Another satisfied customer claims that this is the perfect kayak for streams, lakes, and rivers. He gives Sun Dolphin Excursion 10 a rating of five out of five stars but adds the warning that this kayak is not really optimal for white water travel. This reviewer indicates that he uses his Sun Dolphin Excursion 10 for fishing and that he has made some low-priced additions to the boat, including a rod holder and a few more bungees, and considers the Sun Dolphin Excursion 10 to be an “excellent boat for the price.”
That being said, most customers agree that Excursion 10 is an excellent recreational yak for cruising calm lakes, streams, and flowing rivers. A few buyers even tested the weight limits, exceeding the recommended 250 pounds, successfully reported.
Short Summary
Excursion 10 SS is obviously not the best or best-equipped kayak available for anglers, but it is a very good quality vessel that will definitely help you catch more fish. It provides plenty of storage space for all your gear and equipment, tracks well, and offers more stability than many other kayaks of similar size.
