Delta Kayaks Fifteen 5 Expedition Kayak with Rudder

Comments about Delta Kayaks Fifteen 5 Expedition Kayak with Rudder:

I am 195 pounds.34 inch inseam and size 14 feet.fantastic fit!take off the rudder and foot pedals and shove some foam for your feet to rest against and it now weighs what the 14.5 does.it is about 0.5 mph faster than my Merlin XT,and has better glide.Hangs next to my Delta 12.10.Buy one and you will enjoy it.

Comments about Delta Kayaks Fifteen 5 Expedition Kayak with Rudder:

I am 6 feet tall..34 inch inseam..size 14 shoe.my 14's are a little snug but ok.those neoprene undercovers are a pain.A 20 inch bicycle tube stretched around rim works bettor.boat does not need the rudder,so removed it first day along with the foot contols and put a solid foam foot rest in,as size 14 feet overwhelm the foot rests..just $200.00 of added expense.Those criticism's aside I love the boat.Very comfortable,stable,plenty of room to cram and jam.

Comments about Delta Kayaks Fifteen 5 Expedition Kayak with Rudder:

I have been kayaking in Alaska for about 15 years and have had experience with several different kayaks. I chose to purchase the Delta above a Necky, Wilderness Systems, Edyline or anyother manufacture for many reasons. This boat has TONS of storage, there is nothign I find more annoying then not being able to bring along items you want for a paddle, or having to take all of those items out of your favorite day pack (internal frame for me) and place them all in seperate little bags or place them loosly in the compartment because the hatch size is barely big enough to put a soda can in. I am 5'9" 180lbs. and the rear compartment is large enough for me to sit in.

The boat is much more stable than many of the other boats I have paddled but that is due to it being a few inches wider and having the American style chine. The deck rigging is ample, the rudder system is smooth and efficient and the boat seems to track very well. I took the boat out on the open ocean last night for a paddle with my 60lbs Boxer dog in the back hatch with about 20 mph winds and a pretty good chop and the boat was great. Even with the 20+mph wind I only needed minimal rudder imput to keep the boat tracking.

I was a bit concerned with it being shorter that I would not have as much speed as the longer boats but I used a GPS to see how fast the boat paddles at an average paddling speed and according to my handheld GPS I was getting an average of 5mph with my gear and the dog in the boat. I am sure that on flat water, no wind and with a lighter load it would do better better but all in all I was very happy.

The seat is super comfortable and very adjustable to fit a wide range of options. I especially like the fact that the back rest can be raised and lowered. At first I was not sure about the gas peddal type rudder controls but I really do like them, they keep your feet and legs in a more natural position along the floor of the cockpit and being able to brace without affecting the rudder is very nice in big water.

All in all I love this kayak far and above anyother's that I have been in and the thermoformed hull is amazingly tough and looks great. I get a lot of compliments on the look of the boat everytime I take it out.

Comments about Delta Kayaks Fifteen 5 Expedition Kayak with Rudder:

I bought my Delta 15.5 after owning three other kayaks. It has fantastic storage capacity for multi day kayak trips of 10 days. The thermomolded plastic hull makes it strong and durable for the rocky shore landings that we have here in Alaska. Super stable, lightweight, and tracks well. The rudder peddals are like a gas pedal on a car and are easy to apply pressure needed for turning. The seat fit is excellent with many adjustments both sliding forward to fit and back rest height adjustments. I can paddle for many hours without feeling discomfort. Great boat, great capacity, super stable in rough seas. I highly recommend it.

Comments about Delta Kayaks Fifteen 5 Expedition Kayak with Rudder:

I tried few kayaks and did tons of research and fell in love with this kayak. It glides better on the water than Delta 14.5. I think it is the best kayak for beginner kayaker. I just bought mine few weeks ago - it handels the choppy water very well. Rudder works great. I haven't tried it on the island trips. I also like Delta 16 for more experienced kayakers.

Comments about Delta Kayaks Fifteen 5 Expedition Kayak with Rudder:

Earlier this year, after wanting to buy sea kayaks for some time but holding off due to lack of sufficient time to use them, my wife and I each bought a Delta Fifteen5 kayak. Between the two of us, we have a lot of experience in canoes (she was a canoeing instructor at summer camps), sailing (San Juan 21) and rafting (me - 23 years of float trips down Class 3 and 4 rivers). But, not much kayak experience. We did research and consulted with friends and REI people and decided to get the Deltas. We are extremely happy with the choice. I have used my boat mostly on flatwater (Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish in the Seattle area) but have also done some (Class 1) river floats, and also had it on Puget Sound. The boat tracks well without the rudder, although with the rudder it is extremely good and the rudder should probably be used with wind, as I have noticed some minor wind cocking on my boat. The first thing we did was practice wet exits and re-entries, and the boat handled these well. The adjustable straps behind the cockpit to hold the paddle/float made the process easier than on a boat with just deck bungees. Stability is excellent - both primary and secondary, although this could be a slight criticism as well. It is a somewhat 'tubby' boat - by design, since it is set up to handle a ton of gear - compared to some, and as such doesn't edge as well as some other boats. (Disclaimer here - I'm no high-performance kayaker yet, either.) The seat is comfortable, and the footrests are easily adjustable and comfortable as well. (I'm a big guy - 5' 11" and 215 pounds, so for a smaller paddler it might take some additional foam if you wanted a tight fit in the cockpit.) The fit and finish on the boat is outstanding - I almost hated to take it into the water the first time and get the gel coat scratched. For a kayak with this much storage capacity, the thermoformed plastic construction is an advantage - most similar boats I compared specs on were heavier than this one's 54 pounds. I have no trouble lifting it by myself, although I have a Thule Hullavator to avoid too much physical strain when loading it onto the car by myself. I have not taken it on a kayak camping trip yet, but have loaded it up pretty heavily with gear (and me!) to see how it handled, and I believe it will be excellent. I've been out on large lakes with 20 mph winds, and a fair amount of chop from lots of boat traffic and it handles the swell and chop in those conditions very nicely. I also like the 'gas pedal' type rudder controls, which allow you to put a lot of pressure on the footrests when bracing without inadvertently moving the rudder in one direction or another. You have to specifically decide to use a different foot motion to move the rudder.

What don't I like about it? Hmmm, let's see. OK, so I won't win any races against a more typical (longer) length sea kayak that comes in at 17-18 feet or more. The stern and bow carrier handles utilize foam handgrips around nylon cord, and the nylon cord seems a bit on the small side for long term use - it might wear out sooner than the rest of the boat? It doesn't load itself on the car for me? Obviously I don't have much to be concerned about. Actually, one criticism (tongue firmly in cheek) is that I like this boat so much I'd really like to get a Delta Twelve10 as well, for the times when it would be nice to have a little less length and 11 pounds less weight to load on and off. Except I've not yet been able to convince my wife to approve this plan...lol!

Finally, a good friend of ours who has many years of whitewater and sea kayaking experience, and regularly does very significant saltwater camping trips has given our boats a thorough tire-kicking and is very impressed as well.

Comments about Delta Kayaks Fifteen 5 Expedition Kayak with Rudder:

After extended research (but not much test driving) I bought the Delta 15'5" Expedition in summer of 2007. Main criteria were stability, tracking, ample storage for extended camping trips, and weight. I am 64, 5'9" and 220 lbs. My wife (48, 5'4" and 120 lbs.) bought the 14.5 Sport and she is already a pro in it. Her model also has ample storage for extended camping trips, great stability and tracking. These kayaks are extremely light for their size and can easily be placed on car top with one- or two-person techniques.Our first trips have been excellent. Lake Sammamish, WA (touring), Jackson Lake, WY and Snake River, WY for extended camping, exploring and fishing. There hasn't been one negative to our experience. I believe a younger person would have no difficulty with entry and exit. I do, but that is attributable to my age and physical condition. If you are of similar age and stature, it won't be easy at first, but it is doable and it does get easier with experience.When our [...] These kayaks are so beautiful, I sadly sent it back. REI allowed me to pick up the new one in the Redmond, WA store where I was heading and credited the shipping chargeAs beginners to Kayaking, we couldn't be happier with our choice and have recommended Delta to friends and family. If you are on the fence, you can't go wrong with either of these Delta kayaks or REI's customer service.

Service and delivery comments:

When our Kayaks arrived from REI, mine was marred in shipping. REI customer service was great with the whole thing. They offerred to discount the damaged one so I could keep it, or supply a replacement. These kayaks are so beautiful, I sadly sent it back. REI allowed me to pick up the new one in the Redmond, WA store where I was heading and credited the shipping charge.

Comments about Delta Kayaks Fifteen 5 Expedition Kayak with Rudder:

This is my first kayak and I couldn't be happier. I test drove many kayaks before deciding on this one. The initial stability was unmatched to any kayak I had tested. The tracking was exceptional, and the maneuverability was great. I primarily use this kayak as a sea kayak hugging the New England coast. Wet re-entries are a breeze with the paddle straps located behind the cockpit. The rudder gives me the extra control I need on the rough and windy days, but probably not needed for experienced kayakers. The dry hatches hold a ton of gear, more than I have use for, and the deck rigging is more than adequate to hold whatever you could think of, both bow and stern. This kayak is also much lighter than other polypro kayaks of similar size. I would highly recomment this kayak to anyone.