Dagger Kayaks Zydeco 11.0 Kayak

I bought this for recreational flat water paddling and it works great in that capacity. I can’t attest to how it would hold up in whitewater conditions but if you are looking to use it on relatively calm or slow moving streams you’ll enjoy it.The kayak is light so it’s easy to carry, maneuver and load. The dry storage compartment stays dry and is of sufficient size to hold whatever you’d need. The cockpit is big enough for a full grown man but tight enough you don’t feel like you’re in a “sit-on” model. And the lip is molded for a spray skirt if you elect to wear one for rainy days or whatever. The seat is probably the best ever ever used and the foot braces are easy to adjust and stay secure once latched.The only learning curve I experienced with this kayak is that it feels a little tippy when you first start using it. After a few tests I determined it won’t actually tip over (unless you full lean of course) but it will make you think it’s going till you get accustomed to it. After that period has passed you’ll enjoy the maneuverability offered by this hull design. The only other thing I don't like about it is that it doesn't have a drain plug, which I thought was odd for a model in this price range and it makes it a pain to drain.

I have mixed feelings about this boat. At first I was seriously put off by how flimsy it appears, but I'm coming around to its better side.This price looks like a steal for an 11-foot boat - and there's a reason. The Zydeco 11 hull is made from super thin plastic that "gives" very easily. That can be a good thing, say, if you hit a butt-rock. It would make recovery easier and perhaps less likely to flip. It's a bad thing if you strap it too tight to your roof rack, or you get pinned between rocks in a rapid.That said, it does maneuver very well for an 11-footer, and it's nice to have a large, well-made dry hatch. Love the seat. Overall I'd recommend it for easy water. Care for it well and it should do fine.

Love the maneuverability, really comfortable.

This is a great boat for a bunch of different reasons, and not a great boat for a few others.First off , Dagger is a company that is focuses on "play boats". They are White Water/ Surf oriented boat maker. If tracking is your number 1 or 2 priority, dont by this boat, its not supposed to be a great tracking boat. Secondly, its only 11' long and it's day, which by nauture handicaps its ability to fly straight as an arrow. All that said, I found it quite decent and didn't have any major issues paddling a reasonable course.What makes it a great value?First off its build quality is very good for its price range. This is much nicer than the Perception stuff for similar money and miles ahead of Pelican or Sun Dolphin stuff. The seat is quite good for a few hours, but its not a day touring boat so who would spend 6 hours paddling it.Secondly it's very nimble and fun to twist and lean and carve in. For such a wide hull, its very nimble, reasonably fast (relative to other 11' boats), and ultra stable, like have to try really hard to roll it over.What else? So its quite light, but can easily run a 250lb or more person around in comfort. It has a nice big dry storage compartment, good solid foot braces, and the outfitting is high average for its price point. The cockpit opening is unique in the sense its very large for a touring size boat but not the typical bathtub size or a rec boat. I'm 6'2" and can pull my legs up onto the bow with my butt inside. This isnthe only boat I've paddled that I can do that in. A hefty fella could easily get in this boat.Lastly is the ease of transport. Toss it in a pickup or roof top it. The weght is manageable and just works for that do most things acceptabley kayak.Dagger makes really good value stuff. No kayak is perfect at everything, I own 6 boats from 11 to 15 feet a reason. If I am going on a narrow river or tight water ways my 14.5 isnt my boat of choice , if I'm in the bay paddling in the chop, the Zydeco isn't coming with me. After work I can load it in the truck, hit the local pond and spend an hour on the water.Buy it for its intended use and you will be very happy. Buy it to paddle with your buds in their 14' light touring boats and you'll hate it. Good boat that is far under rated!

The Dagger Zydeco 11.0 does NOT have a retractable skeg, as one of the bullet points says it does. From the photos, it looks similar an Dagger Axis, which does have a drop-down skeg, but also a little more of a rocker profile. It also looks somewhat like a Dagger Katana, which has a retractable keel, but much of a rocker profile. I assure you, the Zydeco is not a rocker, and does not have a skeg.