Sun Dolphin Aruba 10-Foot Sit-in Kayak

The other day we tried out a boat that people were asking us about. We usually stick to higher performance boats, but we understand that sometimes they are a bit expensive.

We have gotten complaints that we don’t have enough boats for beginners. So we literally went on Amazon and looked for the top selling boats that had a cheap price tag on them. We quickly saw a good number of kayaks that people seemed to be flocking to buy!

We ordered the #1 selling touring kayak on Amazon the Sun Dolphin Aruba 10-Foot Sit-in Kayak. We have used a couple of Sun Dolphin products before so even though it was a less expensive option we didn’t expect a bad product. We weren’t wrong in that assessment!

About The Product

The Sun Dolphin Aruba 10-Foot Sit-in Kayak is a very simple boat. You can unwrap it and get right to the water. It comes with an adjustable paddle that can fit a good number of paddling styles. The boat comes with some very comfortable padding actually. It is a little more for show though as you probably won’t want to be using this boat on choppy waters.

It has a high pad at the end of the cockpit to serve as a back rest. It doesn’t come with what we could call a full seat though. So at first it takes a little getting used to. We were not able to take long rides as it became a little uncomfortable. Out on the water though it rides very smoothly.

You won’t need to put too much effort into getting up to full speed. It isn’t the fastest thing out there, but really decent for the price. It is kayaking made easy for beginners which is exactly what it’s supposed to be! We do want to point out though that it really shouldn’t be used in waters with even a mild current. This kayak is exclusively for very calm lake use!

Key Points

  • Convenient gear storage with shock cord deck rigging
  • Adjustable foot braces
  • Rugged UV-stabilized Fortiflex High Density Polyethylene
  • Carrying handless and water bottle holder
  • 10 feet long

What We Like

We liked that the boat is really easy to use. You can get it straight into the water without having to worry a whole lot about any potential issue. At least in the shipping process. Also, you can reach a decent cruising speed without a monumental effort.

It makes the experience of being out on the water a very pleasant one. It does what it is supposed to for a boat in that price range. Don’t expect more or try and get more out of it.

What We Do Not Like

We already warned about using it in anything but extremely calm waters. The problem is that there are a lot of people out there on Youtube and other places comparing it to other higher performing boats. This has nothing to do with the manufacturer or the boat itself.

We want to point it out though because we don’t want you to buy this boat and end up in a difficult situation out there. Again not Sundolphin’s fault at all, but be careful with this boat. Try and stay within swimming distance of the shore. If you end up flipping or falling of the boat for any reason re-entry will be very difficult.

As the boat will be flooded with water and can quickly begin to sink. We could say that this boat is good as long as nothing unexpected ever happens. If something unexpected does happen you better hope you are close to shore. We don’t want to scare anyone away from this boat we just want them to be safe.

Buying Advice

We made the purchase online and got the boat wrapped in basically a huge plastic bag. Since the boat doesn’t have to many add-ons hanging on by a thread we don’t think you will have a problem. As long as you stick to basic colors you can get the boat for around 220 dollars with a paddle! It is one of the lowest prices out there.

Don’t expect a boat like this to last ten years and tackle anything you throw at it. It is a good buy to ride around until you get accustomed to kayaking. In our experience most people get hooked on kayaking especially if they spend long periods of time in the water.

If you live near lakes and things like that. You will probably want to upgrade in a hurry. If you want to step your game up and start riding in tougher waters we again suggest you upgrade to a better boat!

Conclusion

This boat is great for learning and getting a first hand experience into what being out in the water feels like. It won’t be to heavy in or out of the water so that is a definite plus. If you plan on buying this boat for kids we recommend that you never leave them unattended and don’t allow them to wander off to the middle of a deep lake. Keep as close to shore as possible!

At least until you feel very comfortable in your abilities, and you are not anywhere near currents or wakes. This boat is a bike with training wheels escentially. It teaches you how to ride, but sooner or later you are going to have to take them off if you want to get out on tougher terrain! Before we let you go we want to give out a final word of warning with regards to this boat.

There are a lot of people out there that recommend cutting it open to give you more storage room. This is just simply a bad idea. If you adapt your boat in that way it is going to sink if you flip over. Sure if everything goes great you will have more storage room on your boat. All you need though is for one bad day to put yourself in a dangerous situation.

This boat is not meant for thrill rides. It’s better to spend a couple more bucks on a boat with more storage room or one fit to tackle tough water. Than testing your luck pushing this boats limits!

About the Author Kayaks Reviewed

Leave a Comment: