“It was a bit of a journey to get the Kayak delivered, on the first trip it fell off of the delivery truck as well as 3 other kayaks, causing all 4 to get damaged. Had to communicate with police in another state (NSW) etc, Im in (VIC).
So that was a bit of a hassle but mistakes happen so I got a replacement kayak delivered.
Took it out on the lake and did well. however, it needed some adjustments to the "knee braces".
Unfortunately the plastic casing that used to be securing one of the nuts on the left side knee brace was broken, causing the nut and bolt to spin freely making it impossible to get the bolt out.
I had to cut the plastic around the nut to get a spanner in there to hold the nut still as i took the bolt out,
whoever put in the knee brace might have overtightened the bolt causing the nut to strip away the plastic casing.
Overall though it's a nice kayak and I enjoy it, the customer service was great when getting my replacement kayak.”
“I purchased the Aquanauta Pro 2023 in April 2023 and have used it for several paddles between 8-12 KM in inland creeks and rivers as well as on Port Philip Bay in calm water.
Firstly, are the cons:
- My box was labeled as the 2022 model, which I was not happy with. The office confirmed that they had "mislabelled it" but I think they are simply selling the 2022 model as the 2023 one. For this, I have taken off one star. They should have been upfront about this prior to the purchase and at least offered a discount for an older model.
- A minor complaint is that the notch for securing the seat adjustment is positioned so that my fingers hit it occasionally while paddling and it hurts like a SOB.
Pros
- This Kayak has one of the best storage capacity for its length and price bracket, if not the best
- The 3.3m length is perfect for storing this in a standard garage with a pulley system
- The 23KG weight is perfect for loading and unloading on tall SUVs by a single person
- It tracks well and is fast, though nowhere close to the 12 KM/h stated speed. A fit person can get close to 6 KM/h
- It is quite forgiving of scrapes and bumps. I am looking into a plastic welding kit to smooth out the scrapes later on.
- I initially found the padded seat uncomfortable and used to get numb legs, but that has improved with a better paddling technique based on engaging the core while paddling
- I love the retractable rudder and that it has a bungee to secure it while travelling
- The screw slots at the front perfectly fit a RailBlaza star port which is perfect for accessories like a RailBlaza coffee cup holder or the RailBlaza stern light for night paddles
Tips
- Get the spray skirt as well. It helps keep the water out.
- Get the RailBlaza coffee cup holder (you will thank me)
- If you are drilling to mount cameras, etc, use some Silicone from Bunnings to make it water tight”
Shailen, thank you for your detailed review of the Aquanauta Pro! We're thrilled to hear that you've been enjoying your paddling experiences in the inland creeks, rivers, and Port Philip Bay.
We sincerely apologize for the confusion regarding the model labeling; your kayak delivered was definitely the 2023 model, we confirmed this was just a old label from the factory applied on your package, hence your 2023 model has the ComfortFlex system, as well as the retractable rudder system you mentioned :)
If you have any more questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out. Happy paddling!
Best,
The Bay Sports Team
“Took it out for the first time (due to lock downs) the stability caught me off guard, when first in not as stable as id want it to be, was very easy to capsize it same at very very slow speeds BUT once you take off and start paddling man was i surprised on how AMAZING this thing actually was, im 6'1" at 120 and muscular and this was a breeze to sit in comfortably, had space to move around and stretch my legs all while tracking through the water, the new rudder system is fantastic cant fault any of it quality's good, customer service is amazing, only issue was the primary and secondary stability points as ii couldn't find a secondary one while STATIONARY.”
