Perception Carolina 14.0

Among the best in its class, the Perception Carolina 14 offers a spacious cockpit you can easily board and exit and abundance of challenges as your kayaking skills progress and become bolder and more technical. Embark on a long trip while sitting in comfort and paddle your way supported by the kayak’s performance, safety and stability.

Size and Weight

With a bulky length of 14′ (427 cm), width of 24.5″ (62 cm), deck profile of 14.5″ (37 cm) and weighing only 53 lbs (24 kg), the Carolina 14 is portable and manageable to cartop. Although the length can be a bit of an issue, many kayak shops cell carts and gear that help with transportation and storage.

Perception optimized the kayak’s weight and load distribution, making it ultralight, yet capable of bearing a maximum load of 300lbs (136.9 kg) for overnight trips. This allows you to go on a weekend camping and paddling adventure and still not worrying about your water-sensitive gear and having plenty of room for taking outdoors essentials. It is always advisable not to load the boat with more than 80 percent of its total weight capacity.

Materials

Perception makes their kayaks from a proprietary High-Density Polyethylene material using the company-specific, one-piece rotational molding technology. The process involves pouring beads of polyethylene into the mold, which gets heated up and slowly rotated so that the material fills up every nook and cranny. After the mold cools down, you get a one-piece, leak-proof construction that is extremely rugged and durable.

Features

Perception Carolina 14 comes rudder capable – a feature than less affordable sit-inside recreational kayaks don’t provide.

You can carry the boat’s weight by two toggle handles at the front and rear.

Having sturdy foam bulkheads at the bow and stern enables efficient buoyancy, improved safety, and sizeable water-resistant storage areas accessed through the neoprene-covered front and rear hatches.

Outfitted with bungees throughout the whole deck, both paddlers in the Carolina 14 have plenty of room to stow their gear or access it on demand. The bungees at the bow often double as paddle parks.

Perception’s Carolina 14, as well as her smaller sibling, the Carolina 12, come outfitted with reflective safety deck lines that help the boat remain visible in low-light or foggy conditions.

The easy-entry cockpit with dimensions of (LxW): 39.5″x21.5″ (100×55 cm) is padded along the edges to protect the paddlers’ legs.

Carolina 14 features a highly trimmable, Zone DLX ergonomic seating system. It allows all-sized yakkers a comfortable seating fit, matched with the adjustable foot braces. The base seat additionally includes leg lifters that allow paddlers to place their legs in a relaxed position or tilt them down for more efficient paddling. The seat also includes decent lumbar support.

Performance

Perception Carolina 14 is a well-rounded performer.

The superlinear, V-shaped hull with soft chines excels in maintaining shallow draft, stability, and speed.

The low seating keeps the paddlers centered and well-positioned on the water. The added flotation from the bulkheads and a stable V-hull make this kayak fairly difficult to capsize once you get used to it.

In terms of maneuverability, the Carolina 14 has a fast response to paddle strokes, but it does not turn on a dime, of course. This is entirely normal for a touring kayak. Under the circumstances, the Carolina 14 handles well on the water.

In calm waters like sheltered open lakes and peaceful bays, the Perception Carolina 14 tracks remarkably well. This may change if you enter more choppy water, but if a rudder is deployed, the kayak can track remarkably well in rough and windy conditions as well.

Warranty

Perception kayaks are warranted against material or manufacturing defects in the hull and deck for five years from the date of the original purchase of the kayak. Parts, accessories, and outfitting are warranted for one year.
To learn more about Perception Kayaks’ warranty terms and conditions, click here.