Delta Kayaks  Delta 14 Kayak

I have a Delta 14s which is labeled "new" on the manufacturer's label and may not be the same kayak as being sold by REI. I purchased it 1 month ago. I requested information by e-mail from Delta on whether the 14s is a new model and also of the weight of the kayak which is listed as 42 pounds. I mentioned that I was hoping to do a review of this kayak but wanted to make sure I was reviewing the same boat. No response from Delta. This may not be the same kayak. Two previously tested 14 feet kayaks by popular manufacturers seemed sluggish to me. I have paddled more than 50 miles on this kayak all on lakes -- small and relatively large on the eastern side of the Canadian Rockies, mostly in choppy waters and with gusts up to 25mph. I have not tested it in rivers, but some of these lakes are created and therefore still have submerged logs which one has to maneuver around, sometimes quickly. I have not used the rudder at all in order to get the feel of the boat without rudder. Rudder is standard with this kayak. Previous commentor is probably taller and with longer legs than mine. I am 5' tall, with short legs. I have found many longer kayaks to be made for taller people; height, girth and leg length matters. On the previous evaluation: 1) Agree that the boat glides well, even in choppy water with fetch, facing or with the wind. 2) It is stable in cross waves and deep troughs (2'). 3) Compared to my other 12'8" also plastic boat, this cut through the waves more than floats -- although that may be a relative issue. It behaves well in waves. Because it has more exposure to water resistance in these conditions, more effort is required when paddling a boat which "floats" over a boat which cuts through a wave (my own analysis). "Effort" is also a relative term -- I am used to paddling consistently, not stop and go as some paddlers are prone to do, and the extra effort I mention above is not taxing at all, requires more conscious paddling than normal. 4) I have no way to weigh the boat, but it seems much lighter than my other thermoformed plastic kayak (12'8" long - 38 pounds with additional 5 pounds of gear in hatches). 5) The seat took some getting used to. I liked the adjustable seat because on all kayaks my short legs made adjustment difficult (I have had to put hard foam extensions on my other plastic kayak pedals). I am now comfortable with the seat. 6) The cockpit opening is just fine for someone with shorter legs; width is also good for entering and exit. 7) The keyhole cockpit opening to accommodate the thigh braces does not impede my getting in or getting out and actually makes bracing much more natural. 8) The previous note about bow and stern lines should be noted by Delta -- she is correct. 9) Ditto the day hatch -- it has become less difficult to remove the cover and tighten it with use, but I cannot remove it while in the kayak, much less secure it. I carry my SPOT and waterproof palm sized camera with me and I attach both on the bungee lines. I use the small front hatch only to hold my car keys and wallet, which I don't need while on the water. I don't think that adds to the kayak, but neither does it take up space which is not usable. The regular front hatch is already closer to leg adjustment bars than many other kayaks and even without the front small gear hatch, it would be difficult to put even a small duffle there, even for someone who uses the closest to the seat setting of leg pegs. In my case, since I adjust my seat forward closest to the pedals setting, I have sufficient room behind my backrest for lunch, water, snacks, even a compressed jacket. 10) If you camp while paddling, as we do, the large capacity hatches are a plus, but I have not yet tested it to see whether it carries our normal 44 pounds of gear, clothes, water and food per kayak. 11) Exterior coating and color. Unlike my other thermofoamed kayak which has great color and which resists dust very well, Delta could use some work on exterior coating and colors. The coating, even when treated with 303, does not resist dust -- in fact it seems to attract road dust which cannot be easily wiped off. Color does matter if one is doing long paddles and my new kayak's orange is opaque and like food which sits on your stomach -- heavy. My other thermoformed plastic kayak's color dances in sun which I appreciate while taking a break on water. 12) Regarding the "softness" of the exterior, I beg to differ. My other plastic kayak is even "softer" and it has gone over fast running rivers on shoals (on the Brule in Wisconsin), hit cypress knees, boulders, dragged over concrete landings for over 4,000 miles and still paddles as well as when I bought it. The Delta, by the press test used by the previous paddler, is less "soft", but I am not sure that this is a good test of durability of material. 13) I would add that it seems to track well without rudder -- something I consider very important. 14) Also, it is easy to maneuver, another important point for me. I have given the Delta 14s, paddled only 50 miles, a 4 star because I have not yet tested it with rudder and have not tested it for maneuverability under river conditions (which I will get a chance in a month). Also I am just now getting used to the craft -- it is 1' 4" longer than my other plastic boat and narrower, requiring a slight adjustment in paddling.

I purchased the Delta 14 but can really only claim to have demoed it. I returned it after paddling it once because of the seat and other problems in and around the cockpit. PROS: In quiet water the Delta 14 paddles very well. I’ve owned or demoed the Delta 12, 14, 14.5, and 15.5. Out of that group, the 14 shines for its great glide. Tracking was fine in a light wind. I didn’t get a chance to paddle it in rough water, but I would expect the 14 to be very stable because it has the same flared bow as other Deltas, which translates to great buoyancy to carry you up over waves. Like the other Deltas, the 14 has a ton of volume for your camping gear––over 200 liters. CONS While the Delta hull shape is great, I found that the 14 falls short in several other areas. At this price point I would expect the details to be well thought out, and I found that they just weren’t. 1) The weight of the 14 is incorrectly listed just about everywhere on the internet, including Delta’s own website. I asked Delta to weigh it with the rudder and they reported that it weighs 46 lbs, not 42 lbs. Those four extra pounds mean a lot to kayakers, especially at this price. They also change how buyers compare Delta to the competition, since it’s hard to make a 42-lb 14’ kayak in thermoformed plastic. I hope Delta and REI will revise their specs, since the rudder is standard on this kayak. 2) The 2013 Delta seat was quite good––stable, comfortable. This year’s new seat I would rate as very poor and a deal breaker. The support that allows the seat to slide back and forth intrudes well into the center of the cockpit, exactly where you want to put your foot for getting in the kayak. The seat pan is quite deep, giving an illusion of leg support, but it’s way too low in the front to provide actual leg support. It didn’t even touch my legs in the front. The seat back is flimsy, made of thin plastic and attached to the post that holds it up with a very small rubber line. It slipped down out of position several times and I couldn’t get it back up while on the water. 3) I found the cockpit wide enough but too short, making exit difficult. The length of the cockpit is more typical of a sea kayak, while the Delta 14 is in the transitional class. 4) It’s quite difficult to attach bow and stern lines to this kayak as there is nothing secure to hold them. There are two steel security loops––which can normally be used for bow and stern lines––but they’re located near the cockpit. 5) The day hatch is convenient, but it takes up valuable storage space in the cockpit. I had difficulty sliding my medium-sized duffel under it. The duffel contains items I need on the water (clothing, food, water) that won’t fit in a day hatch or that you don’t want in a day hatch (food on a hot day). To accommodate tall paddlers the front bulkhead is placed rather far forward, reducing the storage space in the front hatch. This makes the space at the front of the cockpit valuable real estate for storage. 6) The cockpit rim is quite small in diameter, making it difficult to grasp the kayak safely by the rim to lift it. Unlike most thermoformed kayaks, the rim is molded in. 7) The Delta 14 comes standard with a rudder. A well-designed 14’ kayak shouldn’t need a rudder, and I doubt that the Delta 14 needs one. The rudder adds to the weight and the price. 8) Sorry to get too picky, but the Delta colors are a bit jarring: orange red, lime green, and egg yolk yellow. In passing, Delta’s plastic and/or construction is somewhat soft. You will feel this if you press down in front of and behind the cockpit. SUMMARY Delta got it right with the main priority: the hull design. But at this price point there are several other things that need to be right as well, and I think the Delta 14 needs some more design work. For me the seat and short cockpit were unworkable. Otherwise I might have kept this kayak. I think Delta sacrificed the quality of the seat in the quest to keep the weight of the kayak down and be more competitive. I’m giving the Delta 14 two stars because of the seat and other problems in the cockpit area. It could easily be redesigned into a 4–5-star kayak, since the hull is right.