Prodigy II 14.5 Specifications
| Length: | 442cm |
| Width: | 79cm |
| Weight: | 33kg |
| More Information: | https://www.perceptionkayaks.com/eu/en |
The Perception Kayaks Prodigy II 14.5 Tandem Touring Kayak is a strong advert for choosing open cockpit tandem kayaks as a tool of choice for family-friendly days out on the river.
Its stable, predictable and solid handling are confidence inspiring, and mean that this kayak can be piloted easily even by people with very little paddling experience.
Although it is most certainly a tandem kayak in size and configuration, it performs equally well with a single paddler, or if paddler number two is too busy sunning themselves to lend a hand!
Whether it’s just for a leisurely few hours on a short stretch, or for a longer day trip, complete with picnic, the Prodigy will prove to be a comfortable and versatile companion.
Out on The Water
Performance & Handling
We got on River Wye at a very healthy level, with enough flow to create some quite distinct eddy lines.
The Prodigy II handled this liveliness impressively well, and we had no trouble whatsoever crossing the flow, bow pointed upstream, feeling completely stable an in control.
For a kayak that you mean to fill with all of the things that are important to you in the world – partner, child, pet, picnic – this solid, predictable handling is a must.
Breaking into the not unsubstantial flow of the river, everything about the way the Prodigy II felt was confidence inspiring.
A great start, then.
Throughout our time paddling the Prodigy II it continued to impress with how robust the handling was; we found it to be nimble, and turn surprisingly quickly for a boat of its length and speed when required, but it never felt flimsy or out of control.
The moderately rockered hull design is to thank for this, with a lot of emphasis placed on forward speed and tracking.
What it achieves is a very smooth ride; with both paddlers paddling in harmony you can achieve a very respectable forward speed, the hull tracking very true with little or no need for correction, even with some bothersome wind blowing about.
The soft hull chines are just enough, though, that when you want to break out of this pleasantly hypnotic rhythm to turn the kayak it does so intuitively, at a pleasingly light touch.
And this handling isn’t limited to the tandem side of things, either.
If you ever find yourself piloting a Prodigy II 14.5 solo, there’s nothing to worry about.
It’s big and buoyant enough that the trim barely changes (if carrying some gear you might have to be careful to place it at the opposite end of the kayak to the paddler), and the tracking and nimble turning remain.
Outfitting & Comfort
When it comes to the comfort dimension, the comparatively unusual open-cockpit design of this tandem kayak comes into its own.
It may be an illusion caused by not having a plastic and neoprene deck sealing you in, but it feels, when you sit in the Prodigy II 14.5, that there’s just so much room.
Room to position your legs comfortably against the ladder-adjustable foot pedals, room to lift your knees, rotate your ankles and wriggle your toes when you’ve been going a while.
It really is rather luxurious.
In this way, the Perception Kayaks Prodigy II has achieved the happy middle ground between kayak and canoe: there is space onboard for all the amenities you might want for a day out on the river.
You have the long waterline and resulting efficiency of a canoe, yet you’re sitting, not kneeling, in a rather comfortable position.
Plus the seats are somewhat of the icing on this cake.
With multiple adjustment options, including height adjustable backrests and leg lifter support to reduce leg fatigue, the Zone DLX seats are heavenly on long journeys, it’s not often that the seat in your kayak is more comfortable than the one in your car!
Storage
Storage is in the form of a small hatch behind the rear paddler, and under the deck bungee in the bow, but there is also room for a few extra bits in the generous cockpit.
Along with two adult paddlers there is ample storage capacity for all of the gear – spare warm clothes, camera in dry bag, picnic etc. – that you would require even on an extended day trip.
Review Summary
Pros
- Great for couples or families looking for a tandem touring option.
- Good stability even on a lively day at the River Wye.
- Robust handling with quick turns given the size of the boat.
- A tandem boat that you could comfortably paddle solo.
- Ample storage space.
Cons
- Need to be careful where you place your gear if you are paddling the boat solo.
Overall, a great touring kayak that really proved itself even on a more lively day out on the River Wye. We hope this touring kayak review was helpful, and enjoy your time out in the water in your very own Prodigy II 14.5 kayak (assuming you choose to make the purchase!).
