Ocean Kayak Caper Review

By Kayak Scout Staff

Published on: March 28, 2023Updated on: August 30, 2023

Bottom Line:

Experts agree that the Caper is one of the best sit on top recreational kayaks of 2023. The Ocean Kayak Caper is a well-built, lightweight kayak that’s ideal for beginners looking to start with sit-on-top boats. There’s ample storage, including a paddle holder and cup holder, which is reasonably easy to access, but the hatch onboard isn’t great for dry bags.

The stability of this boat is also impressive, giving a lot of confidence to novices while still offering pros a lot of secondary stability if hitting choppier waters. This is a kayak built for gentler journeys, but it will take on heavier rides if you’re willing to put some effort in.

Price Comparison:

7.2

EXPERT RATING

based on 2 reviews

Performance Ratings:

Handling
Stability
Comfort
Onboard Storage
Portability

Specs:

Brand	Ocean Kayak
Size (length x width)	11' x 31"
Weight	45 lbs
Capacity	325 lbs
Material	Polyethylene (medium density)

Comparison to Similar Kayaks:


	Ocean Kayak Caper	Ocean Kayak Malibu 9.5	Eddyline Caribbean 14FS	Perception Hi-Life	Feelfree Nomad
Expert Rating	7.2	8.2	7.9	7.8	7.6
Size	11' x 31"	9'5" x 33"	14' x 29"	11' x 34"	9'6 x 29.25"
Weight	45 lbs	54 lbs	50 lbs	55 lbs	46.2 lbs
Handling	7.3	7.8	8.3	7.0	7.5
Stability	7.5	9.0	8.8	8.2	7.2
Comfort	7.0	8.3	7.8	8.0	6.8
Onboard Storage	6.3	9.3	7.8	8.2	7.2
Portability	8.0	6.5	7.0	7.5	8.5
Durability	n/a	n/a	n/a	8.3	8.3

Ocean Kayak Caper Review

Reasons to Buy:

Very stable regardless of how you sit
Highly customizable
Nice and easy to carry
Lots of room on board
Tracks great in calm weather

Reasons Not to Buy:

Not ideal for choppy waters
Some onboard storage is likely to let in water

Performance of the Ocean Kayak Caper

Reviewers agree that the Caper’s strong points lie in its ease of tracking–thanks to its tri-form hull–providing you keep this boat to calm lakes or slow moving rivers. Experts say it never takes much of an effort to turn or move in any direction, but it’ll need a lot of encouragement if taking to the sea.

The boat earns a lot of high marks for storage space and options, plus it has an impressive weight capacity of 325 pounds. However, experts are unanimous in the fact the main storage hatch is always going to get items waterlogged.

The bungee storage on the rear of the boat coupled with this hatch should, reportedly, give you ample room for overnight trips. It has paddle keepers to free your hands when you’re using it as a fishing kayak and a cup holder for your drinks.

The Caper sit-on-top kayak also seems to grade well on portability. It’s notably light for its size, and experts love the handles and ease of over-shoulder carrying.

Reviewers reassure newbies that the Caper – for all it’s built for performance and secondary stability – really won’t tip over unless you absolutely force it. Experts state this boat will stay completely still when you first get in, and you can sit in the boat however you wish.

Overall, the Caper seems to score well on general handling, but it’s made exceptionally clear that it won’t really cut it on deeper waves and faster currents.

Expert Reviews of the Ocean Kayak Caper

7.2Anglers AfloatI found this to be a well-made kayak that tracks well on calm, flat water, but needs a little more technique when bracing waves. On the flat, it's a great beginner's kayak, though if you're new to sit-on-tops, be prepared for water to soak through. I'm really impressed by how stable this is on the whole, it's designed for performance but doesn't seem to lose much in terms of comfort.Read more

7.0Avoiding ChoresI was really surprised both by how roomy and how stable this kayak proved to be - it just needed a little bit of time getting used to. I'd probably recommend it for calmer journeys as it does struggle in high winds, and the main hatch - while there's tons of space - is likely to let water in. It's reasonably stable, but it does need a little bit of a push in stronger weather.Read more

Handling of the Ocean Kayak Caper

Expert Rating: 7.3

7.5Anglers AfloatThe Caper seems to track pretty well, it's easy to keep it running in a straight line, and I didn't have any difficulties getting the boat to turn when needed. I think it's great for beginners who are completely fresh on the water. It's a nice, smooth ride that's only really spoiled by a slapping sound from the bow (but that was easy to fix). The boat does fare a little poorly on bigger waves - it's more likely to dig in and roll rather than cut through the water.Read more

7.0Avoiding ChoresThis boat handles pretty well on calm waters - I've tested it on a couple of rivers and lakes. However, when I hit a windy stretch of more than 30km per hour, the tracking started to get more difficult - it needs more effort in choppier conditions.Read more

Stability of the Ocean Kayak Caper

Expert Rating: 7.5

8.0Anglers AfloatThis boat's secondary stability is helped along thanks to its round, smooth keel and shoulders. Getting in and out of the boat is really simple, it won't tip at all - whether you prefer to step in or swing your legs into the kayak is really up to you. I could tell how stable this boat was within seconds of boarding. It keeps steady even when I need to move around at short notice, grabbing gear or reaching around. It's not so easy to use the hatch if you're at sea, meaning there are some techniques best left to experienced paddlers here.Read more

7.0Avoiding ChoresThe Caper sit-on-top kayak definitely surprised me after a while, as initially, it really doesn't feel very stable. However, once I got used to the paddling style, it was really straightforward to pivot. Even with around 250 lbs loaded into the boat, it never felt like it was actually going to tip over.Read more

Comfort of the Ocean Kayak Caper

Expert Rating: 7.0

6.5Anglers AfloatThe molded-in seat on board has reasonable width, but as I was using it as a fishing kayak, I fitted an aftermarket option with an accessory bag for ease of use. I'd recommend other anglers do the same. It's very easy to get on board and swing into. This boat does fill up a little over time thanks to the scupper holes positioning, but you're going to get that with a sit-on-top. Read more

7.5Avoiding ChoresThe drainage holes position under the seat with this boat, meaning that getting in made things a little wet at times. It's all about how you position yourself as you enter the kayak, however. It's to be expected from a sit-on-top boat, as you might experience elsewhere. It's typically easy to get in and out of, too, and the seat is comfy and simple to adjust.Read more

Onboard Storage of the Ocean Kayak Caper

Expert Rating: 6.3

6.0Anglers AfloatThere's a sizable elastic bungee on board here which really helps with larger items. For anglers, I'd recommend investing in some aftermarket storage options you can easily access from your seat - so you're not having to reach around for your gear. The screw in hatch offers a cat bag, but it's going to let water in - I'd recommend containing items in waterproof boxes where possible. The inner hull access onboard is great for fishing rods and other accessories.Read more

6.5Avoiding ChoresI was really surprised by how much gear I could load onto this boat! I initially assumed I just had the rear bungee storage, but there's also a sizable front hatch. I didn't need to leave much behind, and I'm confident it's a great fit for overnight stops or longer journeys. I only kept my sleeping bag and pad in the back, everything else went straight in the front - but the hatch wasn't particularly waterproof going over choppy waters. It does drain, but it's not perfect.Read more

Portability of the Ocean Kayak Caper

Expert Rating: 8.0

8.0Anglers AfloatThe Caper's carrying handles allow for ease of carrying at either end as well as on either side of the seat. It also carries reasonably well on the shoulder, but I wouldn't hoist it up there for long distances! It's nice and light for its size and probably won't cause many portability woes.Read more