In the market for a new kayak? We’ve got one for you today that may peak your interest. In today’s post were reviewing the Ocean Kayak Malibu 2. As the name might imply it’s a two seater but with the added bonus that it has a molded seat base and center foot walls so it can be converted from a two seater to a very large one seater. This makes it pretty versatile if you sometimes paddle with company and other times go solo. This makes it a great option for family kayakers, the large kayak can easily accommodate two adults and one child.
Features
A light weight sit-on-top tandem, the Malibu has an aft seat set very close to the stern which allows for very easy steering. When two people are seated, there isn’t a lot of storage space of the aft deck which could be an issue for some people. Some modest room can be found in the front but not a lot. The large skeg almost might also be a concern in rough waters with a full load, something to keep in mind when heading with two into rougher waters.
Once converted to a one-seater though and you are blessed with copious amounts of room. Even the heaviest packer will have a hard time filling all this space. If you do a lot of hiking or camping as part of your kayaking this is a huge bonus by allowing you to take on a lot of gear. The foot walls come molded with notches in the side allowing it to easily accommodate various leg sizes. The seat bottoms are booty shape molded which when combined with a bit of padding and clip-in seats make for a comfortable ride. The seat backs can also be easily adjusted to tailor them to your liking. Plastic webbing with straps allows you to secure your gear at the bow, mid-kayak and stern. As for drainage, drain holes are molded into the bottom to allow any excess water to escape.
Final opinion
As a recreational kayak, this is a great choice for a family or a regular hiker/camper. When paddling solo it allows a lot of room for manoeuvring and huge amounts of space. Space which is a bit more limited one you’ve got two people and gear inside Regardless, with a carrying capacity of 300-350lbs it gives a lot of room to play with. For stability, it easily outperforms others in its class though the large skeg may be a cause for concern of tipping in rough water.
Made of very solid plastic this is a very sturdy kayak that should hold up for years to come even after a lot of beating. What it’s really lacking in is speed, which is no surprise considering its size. All this makes it great for family’s or sole hikers on day trips but for speed and long distance, it’s best to give this a miss.
