Best Pelican Kayak for the money in 2020. Tried, tested & reviewed

Image	Name	Top Choices	Latest Pricing
	Pelican Prime Sit-on-top Recreational Kayak	Our Favorite	Amazon
	Pelican Maxim 100x Sit-in Recreational Kayak	Premium Pick	Amazon
	Pelican Tandem Recreational Kayak	Great Value	Amazon
	Pelican Sit-on-top Fishing Kayak		Amazon
	Pelican Solo Youth Kayak		Amazon

Pricing of these Pelican Kayaks Range Between $140-$580

Pelican Prime Sit-on-top Recreational Kayak Review

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The Pelican Prime Sit-on-Top Recreational Kayak is an all-rounder and versatile boat of its kind. While a little bit more expensive than other kayaks in the same category, it offers some incredible features that make it worth its price. For example, it has secure tie-down points for the paddles when these are not in use, a bottle holder and a bungee storage net for storing miscellaneous items like a dry bag, a fishing crate and anything else that may be needed while on the water.

When it comes to weight capacity, the Pelican Prime Sit-on-Top Recreational Kayak can carry up to 325 pounds (147.7 kg) and can easily be used as a fishing kayak. It has a multi-chine flat hull on the bottom, which means it’s more maneuverable and stable. 10 feet (3 m) long, this kayak also has an adjustable Ergoform seat that makes paddling more comfortable. It’s constructed with the Ram-X thermoform technology that incorporates a few of the most robust and durable plastics.

Weighing 50 pounds (22.6 kg), the Pelican Prime Sit-on-Top Recreational Kayak can be considered a little bit heavy, but this is the case with almost all sit-on-top kayaks, as they need to have a bulkier construction in order to offer stability and to sail smoothly.

Pros

• Versatile
• Stable
• Multi-chine flat bottom
• High load capacity
• Adjustable seat
• Retractable carry handles
• Adjustable footrests
• Easy to maneuver
• Bottle holder
• Bungee storage net

Cons

• Heavy to carry on land
• Expensive
• Uncomfortable backrest

Pelican Maxim 100x Sit-in Recreational Kayak Review

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The Pelican Maxim 100x Sit-In Recreational Kayak is suitable for both newbies and those paddlers who have more experience with kayaking, as it performs just like its user wants it to, not to mention it offers increased performance and comfort. Not only that it’s very lightweight at 39 pounds (17.6 kg), but also versatile and available at an attractive price. Other kayaks in its category can be quite expensive, so this model is the perfect choice for those who don’t want to spend that much on their sailing hobby.  

The hull of the Pelican Maxim 100x Sit-In Recreational Kayak is made from triple-layered Ram-X polyethylene, a very durable material that doesn’t deteriorate, even if abused for years. This kayak is designed for only one person and can hold up to 275 pounds (124.7 kg). It has a shallow V chine that makes it more responsive and maneuverable. The seat is designed with Ergoform cushioning, so very comfortable during longer trips on the water.

Featuring rear and front T-handles, the Pelican Maxim 100x Sit-In Kayak is easy to transport on land. What’s also great about it is that it has a storage hatchwith a bungee cord and a storage platform that’s covered with a mesh deck.

Pros

• Maneuverable
• Lightweight
• Ergoform cushioning seat
• Good price
• High load capacity
• Triple-layered Ram-X polyethylene hull
• Rear and front T-handles
• Storage platform
• Durable
• Cockpit table

Cons

• Difficult to adjust footrest while afloat
• Narrow
• Shallow storage hatch

Pelican Tandem Recreational Kayak Review

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Especially designed for those who want to make kayaking more fun, the Pelican Tandem Recreational Kayak is designed to hold 2 people and has a weight capacity of up to 500 pounds (226.7 kg). It’s designed with Ergoform cushioning seats and adjustable backrests for increased comfort when paddling. But its features don’t stop here, as it has 2 waterproof hatches that can store all kinds of personal items, also bungee cords for carrying the sailing or fishing gear.

Since it’s built for 2, the Pelican Tandem Recreational Kayak has the length of 13 feet (4 m), which means it can even hold a third smaller passenger, perhaps a child or a person who doesn’t weigh too much. Being longer, there’s no surprise it’s 73 pounds (33 kg), so quite heavy. However, it can still be easy to carry and transport on land, as its load would be shared between 2 people, and its 2 ergonomic carrying handles are very comfortable.

The Pelican Tandem Recreational Kaya is designed with a multi-chine twin arch hull, meaning it offers increased performance and is very stable. Besides, it’s also easy to maneuver and doesn’t require too much force in order to paddle it on longer distances.

Pros

• Tandem kayak
• High weight capacity
• Ergonomic design
• Ergoform cushioning seats
• 2 waterproof hatches
• Comes with many accessories
• Stable
• Maneuverable
• Fast
• Agile

Cons

• Heavy to carry on land
• Expensive
• Quite long

Pelican Sit-on-top Fishing Kayak Review

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The Pelican Sit-on-Top Fishing Kayak is the best choice for the solo angler who wants adventure and to fish in the most difficult-to-reach spots on the water. It’s not only easy to maneuver, but as well stable and designed with performance in mind. Weighing just 50 pounds (22.6 kg) and having retractable handles at the rear and in the front, it’s also easy to transport. Just like other Pelican kayaks, it has a Ram-X polyethylene hull that’s very durable and resistant to scratches.

When it comes to comfort during long hours of waiting for a fish to bite, the Ergoform cushioning seat of the Pelican Sit-on-Top Fishing Kayak is just what any angler needs. It’s adjustable and features a backrest. Furthermore, the kayak is built with 2 rod holders in the proximity of the seat, bungee cords for a fishing crate and tie-down straps for the paddles when they’re not in use. Besides, it has a waterproof hatch for personal belongings.

The Pelican Sit-on-Top Fishing Kayak is available in the colors Granite/Magnetic Grey and Olive Camo. The latter blends nicely with the environment, so it’s perfect for camouflaging. The warranty for this kayak is 2-year limited.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Available in 2 colors
• Ideal for fishing
• Good price
• Responsive
• Maneuverable
• Comfortable
• Waterproof hatch
• Retractable handles
• Adjustable seat

Cons

• Unstable in windy conditions
• Can’t hold that much load
• Doesn’t come with a paddle

Pelican Solo Youth Kayak REview

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The Pelican Solo Youth Kayak can be bought in the colors Cyan Blue, Red and Yellow and is an ideal kids kayak. It’s 6 feet (1.8 m) long, so ideal for young paddlers to maneuver it. The fact that it’s especially designed for children and smaller people doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have a high-quality construction, just like the other adult models built by Pelican. It still features a hull made from triple-layered Ram-X polyethylene, meaning it’s very durable and stable on the water.

The seat of the Pelican Solo Youth Kayak is ergonomically shaped into the hull, padded and adjustable. It’s not the Ergoform cushioning seat that Pelican got its customers used with, but it’s comfortable enough when having to spend long hours on the water. This kayak has a maximum load capacity of up to 100 pounds (45.3 kg), so larger people can’t use it. One of its greatest features is the rear deck that allows the paddler to climb back on it in case of an overboard fall.

The Pelican Solo Youth Kayak has a very affordable price and is covered by a 2-year limited warranty against defects in materials and/or workmanship. It also comes with a safety flag for the case in which is being used by children who need to be supervised on the water.

Pros

• Available in 3 colors
• Durable
• Triple-layered Ram-X polyethylene hull
• Stable
• Ergonomic seat
• Molded footrests
• Swim-up rear deck
• Bottle holder
• Comes with safety flag
• Lightweight

Cons

• No other accessories aside from the safety flag included
• Very bright colors
• No backrest