Reviews for Rascal Kayak by Wilderness Systems

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06-22-2011
Submitted by: Jim

Rating: 10 of 10

     My wife and I have had our Rascals for ten years. She likes flat water and I like ocean and (mild, class 3, a little 4) white water so we do it all. These little kayaks are GREAT!!! Fun, easy to transport and easy to handle.

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06-07-2004
Submitted by: Harbo

Rating: 10 of 10

     I love my little rascal! I picked this up at a garage sale at a very cheap price.PTL! I bought it for the grandkids but I ended up useing it mysef a couple of times and it works great! I am 6 foot tall and 225 pounds and it handles my big butt just fine.It doesn't track quite as well as its big brother the "Pungo"(I own three of them) but it will turn quicker. I love the hard chine on this line of kayaks as it really adds to the stability of the boat. I just took my 8 year old grandson out in it for the first time and he had it mastered in no time at all.

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05-15-2003
Submitted by: Wayne G.

Rating: 10 of 10

     I have owned my Rascal for three years and i have no regrets at all. I had never been in a kayak before. It is very stable and manuverable in all types of water. I mostly paddle rivers, and even in high water (my favorite) i always feel compfortable. Love it.

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09-09-2002
Submitted by: Ken

Rating: 8 of 10

     I bought my RASCAL in Aug and used it about 10 times. I still have to get used to it a bit it seems. It tends to 'waggle' some in calmer waters but it could just be technique, after all I am somewhat of a novice. So if you're looking for a great tracking kayak to dink around in calm water, this isn't for you. BUT when I went with my two friends in their 14' ZOARs in an ocean sound, my Rascal handled equally or better than theirs did. And the rougher the water, the better it SEEMED (key word) to handle. Stability is incredible... unless you're getting in and out of the boat, lol. It also rides waves very well also. In a nutshell, I'm VERY pleased with the RASCAL as my first kayak. I'll get a longer kayak next year maybe, but I'm keeping Pickles :) It's just a fun kayak! PS - DO NOT take a Rascal against a strong currant, thru a small tunnel (like an overpass tunnel or the like) unless you’re an experienced Kayaker!

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04-11-2002
Submitted by: Denise

Rating: 10 of 10

     Three years ago I bought a Rascal. It was love at first sight and I have not regreted a day of ownership since. I do a lot of paddling in ponds and lakes and the stability and manueverabilty of this boat is great. Two years ago I bought a second one for my niece, then 10 years old. I never worry while she is in this boat. We go around ponds catching and releasing frogs and turtles and you never have to worry about it tipping over. Great boat for water fights also. Last year one of my sons and my daughter-in-law bought their own Rascals. They use them to play in class II whitewater with no problem. One great boat!

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02-11-2002
Submitted by: VR

Rating: 9 of 10

     This kayak is terrific for its size. One of the best small boats out there. Tremendous stability. Decent tracking & surprising speed. Turns on a dime with short length and rocker. Easy to get to the water. At 5'10" and 200 lbs, the kayak fits great. Small cockpit like the bigger ones instead of the open cockpit of most rec boats of this size. Good for control. Better for a spray skirt. Will plow in a little heading into heavier waves/chop due to the short length and bow configuration, but still a blast to paddle. Like the rear day hatch to keep small stuff off the floor. Easy to do a cowboy re-entry in this boat (if you ever had to..or if you just hopped out). Floats well half full of water (tried that out in the pool). However,will drag a little earlier than flat bottom boats in real shallow water due to the hull shape. Beginners and people just wanting to mess around will love this boat for its solid performance.

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06-02-2001
Submitted by: Steve

Rating: 10 of 10

     Rascal is an A+ kayak. Easy to use, cuts the water without effort, and tracks well. Use it on the open bay (Long Island, NY), and it's very stable.

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08-07-2000
Submitted by: FB

Rating: 9 of 10

     The Rascal is maybe one of the most versatile kayaks made. It is fun on lakes and tracks well for its short length. The kayak is also great for class I and II rivers and turns on a dime in rapids and around down trees and rocks. I even managed to enjoy some surfing on small whitewater patches. With kids you can't go wrong with the Rascal because of its superior stability. It takes a lot to swamp one of these. The reason a 9 instead of a 10 - The storage bag that you access from the rear deck is not the least bit water-tight, which I think is supposed to be the purpose.

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06-17-2000
Submitted by: Kris

Rating: 7 of 10

     Comfortable seat, altho the seat is a bit too narrow for wide bottoms... tough on the knees to be bent a little for powering off the footpegs, but pretty stable, the swifty is more stable tho and tracks much better.. I got the rasta color and just love it!! can top it by myself, too.

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04-17-2000
Submitted by: TC

Rating: 10 of 10

     My first kayak was a Rascal and it's a great place to start. It's a blast in choppy water on lakes with the sprayskirt and equally at home on the Class II rivers where I fish. I sold it to my brother and he took to it right away. I am 6'1" but never felt cramped or too big for this rec rocket.

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04-06-2000
Submitted by: Dr. Jim

Rating: 10 of 10

     I bought a rascal last year and rigged it up to fly fish out of. I put on a fly rod holder, paddle holder, anchor and use a spray skirt for class three white water--the Rip Gorge on the Pennobscott in Maine. I plan to take it down Section 3 of the Chattoogga this summer, it is a great all around small boat. I own four other kayaks and this is the most versatile.

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10-25-1999
Submitted by: David Sable

Rating: 10 of 10

     I have had a rascal for over three years now. I use it to fish the New River and have taken Class III rapids without any difficulty. It is light and easy to transport. It tracks well and turns on a dime when you need it. It is a great recreational kayak for a day outting. It is stable and easy to paddle. I have used it with many beginners and they catch on faster with the rascal than with my Loon 100. Don't go to the New without one.

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09-20-1999
Submitted by: Rich O.

Rating: 8 of 10

     Me and my son are "newbies" to kayaking. We rented several different boats including a Dagger Bayou and a Wilderness Systems Pungo, but both of us hands down liked the Rascal. It tracks decently for its size (yes, the Bayou and Pungo track better) and is more comfortable than the other boats we tested. It also handles better than any other boat we tested and is quite stable.

Only downer - the cockpit narrows sharply in front, which isn't a problem for my 12 year old son, but makes entry and exit a little tougher for me. Plus side is it helps keep you dry.

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08-15-1999
Submitted by: G.

Rating: 10 of 10

     Great little boat. Very fun to paddle around in for a few hours. Very stable and manueverable.

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06-16-1999
Submitted by: Collin Bourgeois

Rating: 10 of 10

     My wonderful girlfriend's dad lets me use his Rascal every weekend because he paddles a loon now. Its a great boat for fishing as well as playing in smaller sets of whitewater. Most Rascal owners don't even know the boats ability to surf and run whitewater. I like the Rascal so much I might purchase one myself.

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10-13-1998
Submitted by: Steve

Rating: 10 of 10

     My wife and I bought 2 Rascals and love them. We live in a lake community and they are perfect for paddling around. We have been very pleased by the stability and also the speed of these boats.

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