Sun Dolphin Aruba 10 Review

Are you ready to invest in your very own kayak?

If you are, you’re probably shopping around online, looking for a design which offers just the right blend of affordability, features, comfort and performance.

Today, we want to share our review of the Sun Dolphin Aruba 10 kayak. Its a sit-in kayak of medium length. Its ten-foot length will allow you to manoeuvre easily…and enjoy good speed and tracking.

The laws of physics dictate that shorter kayaks are simpler to manoeuvre. Longer styles are faster and track better. By choosing a kayak of medium length, you’ll get the best of both worlds. Good performance in all important areas will be yours to enjoy.

Perfect for recreational usage, this attractive kayak is one that you’ll be proud to paddle. Ideal for budget-conscious outdoor enthusiasts, this make and model fits into the “under 400 bucks” price bracket.

While it doesn’t have every bell and whistle of a deluxe, high-end kayak, such as a spray skirt or a lawn chair-style fishing seat, it’s got all of the basics and more.

Sun Dolphin Aruba: The Details

Via Amazon

The Look

If you appreciate modern style which is sleek and stripped-down, you’ll love the minimalist lines of this good-looking kayak. It’s streamlined and beautiful. It comes in different colors, including two shades of blue.

We’re showing “Blue” here and there’s also an Ocean Blue model which is closer to turquoise.

Other color choices include red, green, tangerine and pink. Available colors may vary based on retailer.

Choose a color that fits your personality and then prepare to own a kayak that you’re proud to show off. You’ll glide through the waterways in style in this budget-conscious boat from Sun Dolphin.

Weighing in at just forty pounds, this ten-foot kayak makes portaging a total breeze. As well, putting it up on a roof rack will be easy. It’s nice to find a kayak that you can carry around yourself if you need to. Help from others may not always be available.

Specs

• Weight: 40 pounds
• Dimensions: 10 foot length by 30-inch width by 13-inch height
• Capacity: 250 pounds

Accessories

The Aruba doesn’t come with any extras.

The Company

KL Outdoor is an American company and it’s the manufacturer of the Sun Dolphin collection of kayaks and other types of watercraft, including paddleboards, fishing boats, dinghies, pedal boats and canoes. This company is the world’s biggest kayak manufacturer.

Established in 1982, this respected USA brand started out producing two-person pedal boats. Now, KL Outdoor manufactures an extensive array of all-season recreational products. This company’s headquarters are located in Muskegon, Michigan.

The Warranty

If you want to access a Limited Lifetime Warranty, you may do so by requesting a copy from KL Outdoor. This is the company that manufacturers Sun Dolphin boats.

Features

If you want to paddle through lakes and rivers, this recreational kayak will be perfect for you. It’s got all of the right features.

Crafted from hardy, high-density polyethylene which is UV-stabilized, this kayak is built to stand the test of time. Its UV-stabilized plastic protects the kayak from degrading when it’s exposed to sunlight. Plastic which isn’t UV-stabilized is more susceptible to degradation from the sun’s UV rays. The durability of this kayak makes it a smart investment. It’ll provide you with pleasure for years.

We also like the cockpit design of this model. It’s big and open, so you’ll find that entering and exiting the kayak is easy. Also, you’ll be comfortable when you’re inside of this sit-in kayak. Another bonus of choosing the Sun Dolphin Aruba 10 kayak is that the seat is padded and adjustable. It’s important to choose a boat with a truly comfy interior and you’ll find that this kayak delivers in this vital respect.

If you want to bring some gear along on your river adventures, you should know that this kayak comes with a storage compartment. Bring your essentials aboard with you, such as bottled water, snacks and sunblock. The storage compartment comes with shock cord deck rigging which makes the entire compartment very simple to access. Getting stuff in and out will be so easy.

The foot braces which come with this model may be adjusted for a perfect fit. They’ll help you to access superior stability and balance and also make your ride more comfortable.

Other impressive and practical features found on the Sun Dolphin Aruba 10 kayak include carrying handles, a holder for a water bottle, a holder for a paddle and pads which protect the thighs. You won’t wear these thigh pads. They are found inside of the boat.

Sun Dolphin Aruba Review

The Positives

Some of us don’t have a fortune to spend on new kayaks.

We want affordability, but don’t want to sacrifice comfort, performance and style. The beauty of this kayak is that it offers superior comfort, good performance and sleek style, while usually retailing for under 400 dollars. If you want a boat that doesn’t sink you financially, this one may be just what you’ve been hoping to find.

Perfect for exploring creeks, rivers, lakes and other gentler waterways, this recreational kayak is “sit-in”, which means that you won’t get as wet as you would in a sit-on-top kayak. You may not get wet at all, depending on your paddling style, the water conditions and the weather conditions.

Sit-in kayaks provide amazingly immersive experiences. In a sit-in style, you’ll be right in the water, but protected. It’s a classic way to kayak which is so pleasurable.

Sit-on-top styles have their place, but most kayaking purists do opt for sit-in kayaks, because they love the feeling of being inside of their boats.

The Sun Dolphin Aruba kayak ticks all of the boxes in terms of tracking, speed and manoeuvrability. Since it’s not the shortest or longest kayak, it offers perfect balance. A shorter kayak might not go as fast as this one. A longer one might not be as easy to maneuver. This ten-footer is just right for most people, whether they are beginners or more experienced kayakers.

Since it does have so many comfort and convenience features, included a padded seat, a bottle holder and onboard storage, the Sun Dolphin Aruba 10 really delivers on value. Most people who buy it love it. It’s a kayak that sells well day in and day out. It comes from a brand that everyone knows and trusts.

The Negatives

This kayak doesn’t have a lot of bad points. However, some people have complained that its scupper plug, which is used to drain out water that gets into the kayak, is difficult to use. The scupper plug does work. It gets the job done. It’s just that a few people have struggled with it, at least, at first, until they’ve gotten used to it.

This isn’t a sea kayak. It’s not something that you should take out in open water that is rough and very deep. It’s not the right style for riding the rapids, either. If you want an adventure kayak, you’ll need to look for a sit-in style which is made for more challenging conditions. If you want a fun kayak which is ideal for use near a local beach or at your cabin, then this one will be right for you.

Overall Verdict

Via Amazon

This is a best-selling ten-foot kayak that remains popular, year after year.

Created by an American company with a sterling reputation, the Sun Aruba kayak is fun to use and perfect for light waters. It won’t break the bank – an excellent choice for kayaking beginners and intermediates alike.