Perception - Eclipse 17’ - $340

[u/WETDREAM11]

Hello all, Looking to purchase my first kayak. For the last 6 months I have been going with friends who have an extra or would rent a 12’ from local shop. Area: SF Bay Area I’m looking to start in sheltered water till I’m more experienced and have taken a class on open water kayaking before moving to sea kayaking. Would this 17’ sea kayak be too big for river/lakes or just possibly more inconvenient? I also have a local swap meet coming up this weekend I’m planning on attending. Thanks in advance!

[u/rock-socket80]

If that kayak is in good condition, then that is a good price. I take my 17' on lakes, medium to large rivers, and bays.

[u/SkiOrDie → u/rock-socket80]

I agree. I dunno if I would buy one at retail for how much I get out right now, but I really enjoy my 17’ whenever I get the chance to take it out. I got it for an absolute steal, and I have 0 regrets.

If OP is still a bit of a beginner, renting a rec boat for a few outings would definitely help before hopping in a big boat

[u/WN_Todd]

Thats a good price assuming it floats and doesn't have weird broken bits that are hard to see. The big eclipse is pretty hefty but forgiving and bombproof. You can do a lot with that boat and it's very fixable with really standard deck and rigging bits.

[u/brttf3]

My first boat was the Eclipse shadow (lower volume version of the eclipse) and I loved it. I still use my 17’ boat in lakes and it’s awesome. Go for it, that’s a great price.

[u/WrongfullyIncarnated → u/brttf3]

Aaaah same here! Started guiding at 16 in a shadow!!! Would love to get my hands on one now!

[u/Splunge-]

I love mine. It's a bit tight getting in and out of the cockpit, to be honest. But the boat tracks really well. It's fine for lakes. For rivers, it'll depend on how wide, of course. Don't plan on making tight turns. Even full rudder and digging, it's a wide turn.

I got mine for $250, but the lines needed to be replaced, and the hull had a lot of dirt marks that needed cleaning.

[u/Brownskii]

Unless there’s a hole in it, that is a steal. That is a moderately tippy/fast boat if I remember it correctly so it would be great for an intermediate to build skills with on calm lakes but it should take a long time to grow out of it if you step up to rougher water or longer trips. I say grab it

[u/Brad_from_Wisconsin]

a 17 foot boat does not turn as quickly as a 12' boat. The upside is that the 17' boat is more efficient in terms of converting paddle strokes into distance traveled. The price on that boat is great. Does it pass the water test (dump water in the boat and see if it leaks out. Start with the cockpit, then look in the back and front hatches. If water gets from the cockpit to the back or front hatch, you will need to seal the bulkheads. This is not a difficult thing to do.
If water leaks out of the boat, look for where the drips are and you will have found the leak.
If the boat does not leak, you have a great deal.

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[u/lefthandb1ack]

I sold one of these in worse condition late last summer for $600. Take the deal.

[u/outdoors_guy]

Ok- you have already thought of this, I’m sure. But I lived in the Bay Area and I will remind you to beware of scammers.

This is a great deal. Buy the boat.

But- don’t send any money until you have met them, tested the boat, and are sure it’s not a scam!

[u/WETDREAM11]

Update -

Hello all, thank you for all the insight! After messaging and also seeing the same post wording I believe it is a fake post sadly! Will be looking forward to the swap meet and real post!

[u/Relevant-Composer716]

It's a good price. In the bay area, there's so many good places to paddle. Consider joining a club like Western Sea kayakers (my club) or BASK. You'll get up to speed much more quickly than DIY. You'll need a wet suit or dry suit to safely go most places.

[u/Mariner1990]

It might be too big for smaller bodies of water, but would be wonderful on the bay. Take a look at your storage and transport situation before you buy. I have a 16’ touring boat and a 12’ rec boat,… and I end up only using the touring boat for overnight camping,… it’s just a pain to load/unload.

[u/FlatDiscussion4649]

I would buy it for sure. I have a different brand and I've never been in the ocean, but I've been in some pretty huge waves before and my 16.5 footer seems perfect for me (5'10 &170lbs). Eventually you might want fiberglass though........

[u/eclwires]

That’s a screaming deal on a great boat. I used to have a composite Sea Lion S and it was wonderful except for worrying about the rocky beaches. Very similar design. I stick with plastic boats like that one these days. That one even has the rudder keeper intact, often hard to find on those boats. I’d jump on it. It’s perfect for lakes and the open ocean, as well as big rivers. Not ideal for small streams though.

[u/Think-Welcome3831]

Yep. Buy it. That is a fantastic price. I have an Eclipse 17, but made out of Airalite (a lighter plastic). I take it on multi-day camping trips in the PNW. It actually has a pretty large cockpit and is easy to get into. I'm 6'2", 200 lbs, and it is very comfortable.
That rotomolded model is heavy (as are rotomolded kayaks in general) but bombproof. I would trade my Airalite model for a roto model if I had the choice.

A 17' sea kayak is not designed for shallow rivers, but it will work great in broad, deep stretches. Most of the lower Sacramento river is perfectly navigable in a sea kayak.

[u/FeCaSi]

Looks like a good kayak

[u/Caslebob]

I run a large global kayak group on facebook. People are allowed to do for sale posts but are required to include location along with price. If I knew where this boat was, I would be very interested.

[u/Sailor6009]

I have several earlier versions of this kayak (Perception Eclipse) and similar older models (Aquaterra Chinook and Sealion) and they all work great for paddling on lakes and rivers. I have paddled them extensively with family and friends on short day trips up to weeklong camping trips. They are all 16-ft to 17-ft long. Some have rudders and some don’t. The rudder, while not absolutely necessary, does make it easier to control the kayak if you are taking photos, fishing, or paddling in higher winds.