Sun Dolphin Aruba 12 SS Review

We may earn a small commison by purchasing a product through our link. We do this at no extra cost to you. Learn More here… 

 

Specifications

Set-Up
80%
Portability
70%
Durability
80%
On- Water Performance
80%
Gear Storage
75%
Comfort
70%

Total Rating

3.5/5

Pros

Cons

We Review the Sun Dolphin Aruba 12 SS

We have rated a few Sun Dolphin kayaks on this site with, what I must say are rather mixed results. It seems there is not much of an in between when it comes to Sun Dolphin, some people swear by them while others hate them. A main strength of the company is the fact that Sun Dolphin pumps out relatively inexpensive kayaks that have some features but the downside that I constantly read with most Sun Dolphins is the fact that the material is not durable enough. A big factor to this is the fact that they are sold at many bigger retail stores such as your  Canadian Tire’s and Walmart’s. We will see if that is the issue with the Aruba 12 SS

Features

  • Rugged UV0 Stabilized Fortiflex High Density Polyethylene
  • Paddle Holder
  • Adjustable Foot Braces
  • P.A.C. (Portable Accessory Carrier) for more Storage space
  • Protective Thigh Pads
  • Flush mount Rod Holders
  • STorage Compartment
  • Adjustable Seat
  • Shock Cord Deck Rigging
  • Limited Lifetime warranty
  • Covered Console

>>Check Price on Amazon<<

Feature Analysis

The Sun Dolphin 12 Aruba SS is relatively streamlined for a recreational kayak but offers a good amount of storage space should you want to go on day trips. The Aruba 12 SS is a great “Cottage Kayak” in that it behaves best in calmer lake conditions and bodies of water. It’s straight line keel helps with tracking in calmer waters while not compromising manoeuvrability very much.

You may have noticed that I have mentioned “calmer waters” twice. Well thats because in rougher conditions the kayak does not handle as well, often it gets pushed around by bigger waves and water tends to flow over the nose of the kayak because it has little rocker on the nose. I would not try to go with your sea kayaking friends with this kayak as you will struggle to keep up.

Should you want to paddle the lake for the day the Sun Dolphin Aruba 12 SS has an ample amount of storage space available including a small bow hatch, Rod Holders, ample room in the cockpit and finally the P.A.C. . The P.A.C. or Portable Accessory Carrier is a clever little storage compartment that you can take in and out of the kayak with relative ease. In there you can put things that are meant to be dry like clothes, food, wallet cell phones etc.

>>Check Price on Amazon<<

If you are into lake fishing this kayak may be a good fit for you because of the two featured flush mount rod holders, extra storage room (P.A.C can be taken out to make way for more room) and the tray compartment that is located at the top of the cockpit. The tray can be used for small things like tackle, lines and hooks that are easily accessible.

One thing that is overlooked with the Aruba 12 SS is that the seat is lifted from the bottom of the boat. This allows your bum to stay dry while you are paddling around the lake. It’s seat and foot pads are also adjustable to fit people of various sizes.

What Customer Say

Similar to many Sun Dolphin boats people either like the Sun Dolphin Aruba 12 SS and other hate it. Most customers that are getting into kayaking seem to like it and the way it handles but more experienced paddlers seem to be less than impressed at times.

>>What Customers Think<<

Most of the common complaints by customers were directed to Sun Dolphin’s shipping and handling. Some customers noticed plastic shards that were in the kayaks while others complained about the flimsy shipping material that these kayaks are shipped in. As a result they arrive with scratches and the odd time even dents in them. Another common theme seemed to be that the waterproof divider would come loose during shipping and cause some problems. One reviewer even went on to say it was the worst Kayak they have touched in 5 years!

It’s not all bad though. There were relatively few complaints about the Sun Dolphin Aruba 12 SS on water performance. It’s rating also is not too bad with the majority of them being 4 stars from a wide variety of different customer review sites. A lot of new kayak fisherman enjoyed using this kayak for fishing and loved the extra storage and tackle compartment.

Related Kayaking Posts

2 thoughts on “Sun Dolphin Aruba 12 SS Review”

  1. We recently bought two of the Sun Dolphin Journey 10SS from Walmart. We really like the light weight and ease of movement through the water. Built in storage, seat, and adjustable feet rests are great. Spots for fishing poles to stand aren’t bad. We switched out the paddles. Be careful to examine your kayak at Wal-Mart. One of ours had a factory hole underneath, and WM employees drag them across concrete.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

best cheap inflatable paddle boards

Check the Latest Paddling Deals!

Check the latest deals on quality kayaking and paddle boarding equipment that is on sale for a limited amount of time!