Ocean Kayak Frenzy Review

By Kayak Scout Staff

Published on: March 24, 2023Updated on: May 10, 2023

Bottom Line:

The Ocean Kayak Frenzy was discontinued and replaced by the Ocean Kayak Malibu 9.5

Experts are full of praise for how easy the Frenzy is to handle and get up to speed. This is a boat that seems to appeal mainly to the beginner market, but reviewers state it’s a lot of fun to ride even if you have experience on the water.

The Frenzy appears to fare well on choppier waters, and despite looking quite short and chunky, offers a lot of space and plenty of paddling confidence. It might not look powerful, but it holds its own at an impressive speed.

Price Comparison:

8.3

EXPERT RATING

based on 2 reviews

Performance Ratings:

Handling
Stability
Comfort
Onboard Storage
Portability
Durability

Specs:

Brand	Ocean Kayak
Size (length x width)	9'0 x 2'6"
Weight	44 lbs
Capacity	325 lbs
Material	Polyethylene (single layer)

Comparison to Similar Kayaks:


	Ocean Kayak Frenzy	Ocean Kayak Malibu 9.5	Eddyline Caribbean 14FS	Perception Hi-Life	Feelfree Nomad
Expert Rating	8.3	8.2	7.9	7.8	7.6
Size	9'0 x 2'6"	9'5" x 33"	14' x 29"	11' x 34"	9'6 x 29.25"
Weight	44 lbs	54 lbs	50 lbs	55 lbs	46.2 lbs
Handling	9.3	7.8	8.3	7.0	7.5
Stability	9.0	9.0	8.8	8.2	7.2
Comfort	8.0	8.3	7.8	8.0	6.8
Onboard Storage	7.5	9.3	7.8	8.2	7.2
Portability	8.8	6.5	7.0	7.5	8.5
Durability	7.5	n/a	n/a	8.3	8.3

Ocean Kayak Frenzy Review

Reasons to Buy:

Very well-made
Incredibly stable in most waters
Very lightweight and easy to carry
Easy for beginners to get used to
Good amount of storage on board

Reasons Not to Buy:

Not the fastest on the market

Performance of the Ocean Kayak Frenzy

The Ocean Kayak Frenzy, is a great example of why you should never judge a book by its cover. It’s a fairly short and wide boat, but testers feel the tracking and maneuverability is top-notch – to the extent that it’s surprisingly easy to handle.

Experts also state it’s a highly stable boat (visually so before even getting onboard) and that it has plenty of room for taller riders despite appearances suggesting otherwise. The main focus word for this kayak appears to be “fun.”

That’s why experts believe it’s a great entry-level boat. It seems this kayak will welcome beginners onto open and choppier waters with confidence while it boasts enough power and maneuverability to appeal to experienced paddlers.

It also receives top marks for portability, with handles and lightweight construction earning praise from reviewers online.

Expert Reviews of the Ocean Kayak Frenzy

9.5FrixtxThis is a super-fun kayak! I hired this boat for the whole family to use, but it was seriously difficult keeping the adults out of the unit. It's great for all ages to get used to, and I think it makes for the perfect beginner's boat. Even experienced riders will likely find this a great little leisure boat to paddle out on open waters. I'm seriously impressed!Read more

8.2PaddleVenture.comI'd honestly say I'd be comfortable taking the Frenzy out on almost any type of water. It looks short and wide, but it tracks much better than I expected it to. It doesn't take much effort to get a handle on this boat, and what's more, I never felt like it was going to capsize. It's a great all-around boat that's clearly built for ease of portability, though I feel most paddlers will find the performance standards more than adequate.Read more

Handling of the Ocean Kayak Frenzy

Expert Rating: 9.3

9.5FrixtxI found this boat to perform brilliantly on rougher waters, such as getting deep into the surf - it's just great fun to handle and paddle, and that goes for kayakers of all ages. It also tracked well when I took the kayak into open water - I think even non-kayakers will find it easy to get used to. For those with a little more experience, it's just a blast to ride.Read more

9.0PaddleVenture.comGiven this is such a short kayak, I was really interested in seeing how the Frenzy tracks. On the water, it removed all fear from my mind - it tracks brilliantly for such a short boat and really doesn't take much to hit higher speeds. It's never going to outpace a longer touring boat, but even with longer strokes, it's a dream to handle and move.Read more

Stability of the Ocean Kayak Frenzy

Expert Rating: 9.0

9.0PaddleVenture.comMy first impression of the Frenzy's stability - before I even got in the boat - was that this was always likely to be a stable ride thanks to its width and short length. Thankfully, I was right - this boat never feels like it's going to flip, and it copes brilliantly with larger waves. Read more

Comfort of the Ocean Kayak Frenzy

Expert Rating: 8.0

8.0PaddleVenture.comDespite being pretty short, the Frenzy gives a lot of leg room - I'd highly recommend it to riders with longer legs, or those over six feet tall. As a taller paddler myself, I was honestly surprised at how much room I had left in the boat once I settled in.Read more

Onboard Storage of the Ocean Kayak Frenzy

Expert Rating: 7.5

7.5PaddleVenture.comThere's plenty of room in this kayak even for taller riders, but the standout storage moment here has to be the bungee points at the bow and stern. These are nice and wide, and are great for holding dry bags. I think even very tall riders will still have plenty of space to maneuver here.Read more

Portability of the Ocean Kayak Frenzy

Expert Rating: 8.8

9.5FrixtxThis is a lightweight boat that's refreshingly easy to store at home and to carry around - making it all the more appealing for family journeys. The fact it's so easy to store has inspired me to invest in a Frenzy of my own!Read more

8.0PaddleVenture.comThis boat is surprisingly light! It really doesn't look that way - but for a two-person kayak, I had no problems carrying this up to the water on my own. It's also really easy to lift in and out of the car, as well as storing back at home. The side handles are great touches, too.Read more

Durability of the Ocean Kayak Frenzy

Expert Rating: 7.5

7.5PaddleVenture.comThis boat looks nice and robust before you get in, and it's clear a lot of care has gone into the design and finishing - even right down to the handles. It's a hard shell kayak that performs great on the water, and gives off a lot of confidence.Read more