Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I'm a female turning 63 recovering from a prolonged illness with reduced strength and stamina. As usual, at my last doctor visit he told me to get more exercise. I hate exercising; it's torture and boring. However, I love to fish and many in my fishing club have started kayak fishing and have recommended it to me. Well I found this on sale at Wal-Mart for a honey of a price and jumped on it as an early birthday present to myself. I take it out 2 - 3 times a week and couldn't be happier. I'm getting some good exercise and building more muscle mass. I've only had it a short while and already lost 10 lbs! If paddling correctly you work your arms and core. Mine arrived in excellent shape and I have had none of the problems some have complained about. I did notice that if you're leaning towards one side for a while, the scupper holes will let some water in (maybe a gallon?). This alarmed me at first and is probably what scared some reviewers. However, I found that when I sit straight, so the keel is level in the water, the water quickly drains out through the scupper holes. Stability was good. I'm a newbie kayaker and had no problems. Only fell out once when I got my fishing rod caught up in a tree and instead of pulling up my anchor and repositioning the kayak, I tried reaching too far behind me and way left and oops over I went - my bad. Although I was in water over my head and I don't have the strength as yet to hoist myself back on top in deep water, I just swam pulling the kayak behind me to the shallows and re-entered. I always wear a PFD and stay close enough to shore that I can swim to the shallows and of course keep everything teathered. Tracking is fine for my style of paddling; I'm not a power stroker or racer. A strong wind came up later in one of my trips and even this old bird had no problems paddling against current and wind even after 4hrs on the lake paddling and fishing and being pretty tired. No problems with water entering the interior, as some have stated. As a precaution, I removed drain plugs and turned over, but no water came out. Love that it comes in so many beautiful colors (I got the lime green). I'm 5'10" and 190 lbs and find it very comfortable. It's not too heavy for me, so I can load it into the back of my truck by myself. I actually prefer that it doesn't have rod holder's, as I can put rod holder's in the style and place I prefer. For now,I just place my rod between my legs with the tip over the bow and that works fine. All said, if you want a sit on top kayak for casual paddling and/or fishing that's economical, colorful and fun, and not too heavy to lift this is a winner. UPDATE: I have now had this kayak for over a year. I live near Lake Palestine, in east Texas and take it on the lake 2 - 4 times a week during good weather, approximately 8 - 9 months out of the year. It has held up to rough treatment very well. Where I launch, I have to go about 75 feet over gravely ground to the water. Lazy me, I usually just drag it on the ground. I know, I'm bad, but this kayak has held up, only minor scratches. I also back up and wedge it on the rocks under the over pass to fish, still, only minor scratches. I have added an anchor trolley system, side handles and rod holders (all purchased from amazon). All in all I have less than $300 invested and have had so much fun. Also, I regularly supplement mine and my neighbors diets with fresh fish. I would definitely buy this kayak again.