Sun Dolphin is a brand of kayaks that offers both recreational and fishing kayaks, as well as some other types of boats such as canoes, stand up paddleboards, fishing boats, and jon boats.
One of the best things about the Sun Dolphin brand is that it offers a limited lifetime warranty on all of its kayaks. Another reason to buy Sun Dolphin kayaks is that it is an American brand.
All of its kayaks are made in small-town USA. They have high-quality materials that will last you a long time. The kayaks tend to be simple in nature, without too many bells and whistles.
However, they offer excellent stability and great performance. They also come in all sizes.
Whether you need a fishing or recreational kayak, read on to learn about the best Sun Dolphin kayaks currently on the market.
While all of the kayaks that Sun Dolphin sells are solo kayaks, not tandem kayaks, I will include some other options from Sun Dolphin for those paddling with a friend or two.
Quick Summary
The best Sun Dolphin kayaks include:
- Aruba 8, 10, and 12
- Journey 10
- Boss 12
- Bali 6, 10, and 12
- Capri 10
- Fiji 10
Read on for the full list.
11 Best Sun Dolphin Kayaks
1. Sun Dolphin Aruba 10 Sit-In Kayak
The Aruba 10 is a 10-foot kayak that features a comfortable, padded backrest to keep you nice and cozy on the water. Furthermore, the thigh pads add to your comfort and make long expeditions bearable.
The adjustable foot braces and paddle holder make your life even easier while kayaking. Meanwhile, the drink holder keeps your bottle safe and secure, protecting you from dehydration on those sunny, hot days.
This sit-in kayak is best for recreational use, but it can be used for occasional, light fishing expeditions as well.
For heavy-duty anglers, I’d suggest one of the more fishing-specific kayaks from Sun Dolphin, which we will cover later in this article. It’s lightweight and nimble, making it easily maneuverable in tight fishing spots.
The kayak is made of high density polyethylene, with a UV resistant coating. It comes with a storage compartment, allowing you to store all of your tackle and fishing gear within reach, and shock deck cord rigging.
2. Sun Dolphin Journey 10 Sit-On-Top Fishing Kayak
This kayak, the Sun Dolphin Journey 10, is great for anglers. It comes in a nice and non-flashy olive color. The kayak features one swivel rod holder and two flush mounted rod holders.
The storage capacity on this fishing kayak is great. There are recessed tackle holders so you can easily locate your tackle.
The portable accessory carrier gives you even more room to store your fishing gear. There are paddle and water bottle holders to make fishing easier. Ditty trays are built in as well.
The kayak features a spacious seating area, so you will never feel cramped. There is a padded backrest and adjustable foot braces to increase your comfort, as well as thigh pads for a more luxurious experience.
3. Sun Dolphin Boss 12 SS Sit-On-Top Angler Kayak
The Sun Dolphin Boss 12 SS sit-on-top kayak is a fishing kayak that is great for hardcore anglers. The Boss 12 SS comes in a nice grass camo color.
It has a Catamaran. It also features a flat platform design, increasing stability when struggling to reel in big catches. The comfortable seat in the middle has two positions and can be adjusted for comfort. It can also be folded to increase space.
Non-slip pads on the deck ensure you can stand and fish without losing your balance or slipping, even if your deck becomes wet.
Not only that, but there is a standup strap that further helps you maintain your balance while fishing in choppy waters. In addition to the small storage hatch in the front of the seat, there are two pretty large storage wells in the front and back of the kayak.
There, you can store a cooler or other gear and use the bungee cords to keep them secure. The paddle holders keep your paddles secure while fishing. When transporting the kayak, you can use the carry handles to carry it with ease.
4. Bali 6 Sit-On-Top Kayak
A great option for kids and small adults alike is the Bali 6 sit-on-top kayak. It is only six feet long and weighs a mere 28 pounds. Its peach berry color is also quite interesting.
Its small size makes it incredibly nimble and maneuverable, but it’s still incredibly stable. Meanwhile, the wide open cockpit makes it easy to hop in and out, avoiding the need for complicated launches.
There are multiple foot wells that allow you to comfortably place your feet in different positions, making it perfect for people with short and long legs alike.
These are built into the kayak, as is the molded-in paddle holder for storing your paddle. As if the kayak were not light enough, it comes with a carry handle to make transportation easier.
What this kayak is lacking, though, is storage. It doesn’t have much in terms of storage space, so it’s not really suitable for long expeditions.
5. Retreat 10 Sit-On-Top Kayak
The Retreat 10 is another sit-on-top kayak from Sun Dolphin. It has a bright purple color, almost like a grape. The kayak can support a load capacity of up to 250 pounds.
Like all of Sun Dolphin’s kayaks, it features a spacious seating area. You can sit comfortably and stretch your legs without feeling cramped, which is super important on those long adventures.
There are multiple molded-in foot wells for people of different sizes. There are also some pads on the side for your legs. In terms of performance, this kayak has a lot to boast of.
It can both glide through the waters and remain stable in choppy conditions, making it perfect for both fishing and recreational purposes.
What about storage? This kayak is not lacking in that department, either. There is a small circular hatch in front of the seat for storing your immediate items, while a larger hatch in the back of the seat makes it easy to store larger accessories.
At the very front of the kayak, there is an additional storage well with bungee cords, where you can tie down all those extra accessories you can’t fit in the hatch.
6. Aruba 8 SS Sit-In Kayak
The Sun Dolphin Aruba 8 SS is a smaller kayak for smaller adults. It weighs just 27 pounds. It’s a sit-in kayak with a spacious cockpit and a built-in backrest to keep you nice and comfortable.
It offers a pleasant, snug fit with adjustable foot braces and thigh pads for added comfort. There is a small storage hatch right behind the seat, allowing you to store basic items and access them without too much effort.
Behind the hatch, there is a very small area where you can tie down some other things with bungee cords. Although this kayak wouldn’t be my first choice if you needed a lot of storage, it does make up for that in terms of comfort.
7. Bali 12 SS Sit-On-Top Kayak
The Sun Dolphin Bali 12 SS is a 12-foot sit-on-top kayak that features a large and spacious seating area.
Like other Sun Dolphin kayaks, it has adjustable foot braces and thigh pads to increase comfort. It has plenty of storage. At the front end of the boat, there is a tiny hatch where you can store small items.
There is also a rather large tank well with bungee cords for tying down items at the front. Furthermore, there is a large hatch in the back with additional bungee cords on top of the hatch, so you can both store items in the hatch and tie down additional items there.
It also comes with a portable accessory carrier to use for extra storage. It comes in two colors: red and blue.
8. Fiji 10 SS Sit In Recreational Kayak
The Sun Dolphin Fiji 10 SS comes with useful features like a portable accessory carrier for storage and an adjustable, padded seat. At 115.5 inches long and 29.5 inches wide, it offers plenty of space for kayakers of all sizes.
It also features shock cord deck rigging. There is a large hatch in the back, along with a paddle holder and a bottle holder to keep your paddle and drink secured. It offers excellent stability. It is perfect for recreational use in lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water.
9. Capri 10 SS Sit-On-Top Recreational Kayak
The Capri 10 SS is a sit on top kayak from Sun Dolphin. It comes in a total of six colors, including pink, red, green, light blue, dark blue, and orange.
With carrying handles to make transport easier, this lightweight kayak is a delight to own. For storage, you have a very small hatch right in front of the seat, making all of your personal items easily accessible while protecting them from the water.
There is also a large tank well behind the seat with bungee cords, where you can tie down additional items like life jackets.
The seating area is large and spacious. It also features a backrest for added comfort. There are also adjustable footrests for legs of all lengths and sizes.
10. Bali 10 SS Sit-On-Top Recreational Kayak
The Bali 10 SS from Sun Dolphin has an interesting and unique design. It features a wide open deck, with a molded-in seat that comes with a padded, adjustable backrest for maximum comfort.
At the same time, there are also adjustable foot braces, allowing you to find just the right spot for your feet. The open nature of the deck allows you to get in and out of the kayak easily.
The layout of this kayak was designed for maximum stability. What about storage? There is a small hatch in front of the seat, as well as a large hatch right behind the seat that can fit pretty large items.
There is another tank well in the front of the kayak. Bungee cords are provided to secure any items you store in the tank well.
11. Excursion 10 Sit-In Fishing Kayak
The Excursion 10 is a sit-in kayak from Sun Dolphin that has a nice, cozy cockpit with an adjustable, padded, comfortable seat.
Adjustable foot braces further add to your comfort, while the three rod holders make it easy to store your fishing rods.
Out of the three rod holders, one of the rod holders is a swivel rod holder, while the other two are flush mount rod holders.
One disadvantage of this fishing kayak is that storage space is somewhat limited. There is a sizable hatch behind the seat, though, where you can keep your fishing gear.
In addition, there is a water bottle holder, allowing you to stay hydrated.
Additional Boats From Sun Dolphin
In addition to kayaks, Sun Dolphin offers several other types of vessels, including canoes and paddleboards. For the sake of comprehensiveness, I will include some of the best boats you can buy from Sun Dolphin that are not kayaks.
Scout SS Canoe
The Scout SS Canoe is a great option if you are looking for a canoe that can hold more than just one person, since Sun Dolphin kayaks can only hold one person.
It has a whopping weight capacity of 765 pounds! It can hold up to three people as well as some additional gear, depending on the weight of the passengers and the weight of the gear.
It is also designed to be compatible with electric trolling motors, allowing you to avoid the physical exertion that often comes with paddling a canoe.
Despite that, it can be steered and maneuvered just like any other regular canoe. The seats are quite comfortable and have padding to make the ride more enjoyable for you and your fellow passengers.
It is CE rated. It also has a horsepower rating of two. The built-in rod holders allow you to safely and securely store your rods. If you’re confused about the difference between a kayak and a canoe, we have an article that explains it very well.
Seaquest 10 Stand Up Paddleboard
The Seaquest 10 is currently the only stand up paddleboard that Sun Dolphin offers. It has a wide open deck that features non-slip pads, allowing you to stand without slipping or falling.
It’s designed for ultimate stability. Iit’s also very light and easy to carry around. Not only that, but it offers excellent performance, which is enhanced by the tracking fin that is built into the stand up paddleboard.
This stand up paddleboard actually offers an enormous amount of storage, something you don’t always see with stand up paddleboards. For example, there is a tank well with bungee cords in the front of the stand up paddleboard.
There, you can tie down important items. An additional hatch is located within this tank well, allowing you to secure items you don’t want to get wet. Furthermore, there is a cooler area designed to hold a small cooler.
A paddle is included with this stand up paddleboard. If you are confused about the difference between a stand up paddleboard and a kayak, we have a good article explaining that as well.
We also address the question of whether stand up paddleboarding is better than kayaking, so check out the answer to that here!
American 12 Jon Fishing Boat
The American 12 Jon Fishing Boat might look like a kayak to the untrained eye, but a jon boat is actually a different type of boat than a kayak. It is somewhat in between a kayak and a canoe.
It tends to be incredibly stable due to its flat bottom. Jon boats are best for hunting, fishing, and cruising.
Due to the excellent stability of these boats, they are great for somewhat rough waters, but they aren’t as nimble and maneuverable in tight spaces.
This boat is great for fishing expeditions that involve two people. It comes with oarlock sockets, rod holders, and storage trays. The two seats are molded into the boat; they are wide and comfortable, almost like benches.
You can attach a trolling motor as well. It has a maximum horsepower rating of 6 HP. It truly makes fishing easy, so if you plan on going fishing with a friend and thus can’t use any of the Sun Dolphin fishing kayaks (which are all designed for just one person), try this jon boat instead.
Conclusion
Both sit-on-top and sit-in kayaks are available from Sun Dolphin.
One thing that stands out from this list is how much of an emphasis Sun Dolphin places on comfort, ensuring that seat padding, foot braces or foot wells, and thigh pads are present on almost all of its models.
Before buying a kayak, evaluate your options. Some models offer a lot of storage, for example, while others offer very little in terms of storage. If you know what you want before you buy, you will be able to make the perfect choice, without regrets.
