I recently purchased the Viscya. I had test paddled almost everything out there except for the Viscya. I called everywhere within WI and MN and could not find one. Because nothing else I paddled quite seemed right for what I wanted I rolled the dice and ordered one. Well the results are very positive. I have only been out on it a few times but this appears to be the correct boat for me. It tracks very well even without the rudder. The primary stability is perfect not too tippy not too stable. The secondary stability appears to be great (I do need to do more testing here). I am able to put the boat on a very steep edge when making a tight turn (make sure you have the spray skirt on!). I have spent some time in the perception Eclipse and the Viscya is almost as fast, doesn't weather vain nearly as much, turns tighter and is more stable. I am 6'2" 220 lbs and use the boat for bass fishing (and musky eventually). I just don’t know why Perception doesn’t push these boats. Their rep in Minneapolis has never even paddled one.

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Storm, Carolina, Eclipse, Captiva, Halifax, Seayak and many others.

Just wanted to qualify my earlier review. I paddled a factory demo of the Vizcaya (which I learned after I posted my review was bent from being stored in a reps trailer.) After looking down the length of the boat you can see it was not straight, so take my stability comments with a grain of sea-salt. However, my opinion of the rudder system stands. I did not like how it retracted due to being mounted on an angle, instead of vertically like other Perception models. In the water it worked fine, but retracting it so it rested in the cradle was frustrating. I ended up purchasing a Carona, so I do like Perception boats...the Vizcaya just wasn't the one for me.

Similar Products Used:

All Perception touring & Recreational boats

To the guy that had the negative comments about the Vizcaya, stay away from that boat... it doesn't fit you!
The Vizcaya is a happy medium between long touring kayaks and sea/expedition kayaks. It is short for a sea kayak, but accomodates large to very large paddlers and is styled more for them. I have test paddled this boat twice, in 1999, and 2000 and still come away liking this boat very much. The new super-linear polyethylene is great! Even stiffer and lighter than before. The boat tracks like a knife without the rudder, and like a monorail with it deployed. The rudder system on both boats I tried out worked effortlessly, and the steerable pedals were easy to adjust and provided very good bracing, with the rudder up or down. But one major thing that one of the reviewers touched on is the incredibly comfortable seat! This kayak must surely have one of the best seats in the industry. It also is adjustable forward and back which is a great feature for us taller (over 6' crowd) paddlers. Everyone who tried the Vizcaya that day came away quite impressed. It isn't going to break the land speed record, but for a short sea boat, the Vizcaya holds its own quite well. My only objection to this boat is that it is a bit pricey (considering the other Perception rotomolded models).
Otherwise, fit, finish, features, value, fun factor, ease of entry, great looks and comfort are ALL top notch.

Customer Service

I own a Perception Swifty... two years old, and NO trouble whatsoever.

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Test paddled Eddyline Merlin XT, Necky Kyook Plus, Perception Eclipse/Shadow, Prijon Seayak/Kodiak, and Necky Narpa.

I agree with Kathryn. The Viscaya bridges the gap between 17' glass boats and 16' poly boats. I have a red 2000 model and like everything about it. It is also the coolest looking boat on the water. The speed is not as fast as a 17' glass boat, but not far behind.

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None

I couldn't disagree more with Mark's review. While the Vizcaya is slower than I would have hoped, it is very stable. I have experienced lots of waves from wakes and winds, taken bow-on and sideways. The Vizcaya rolls with it but shows great secondary stability. My first few trips were a little tense, but once I was comfortable and relaxed, all was calm. My tense posture made the boat wobble. I love the extra carrying capacity and the day hatch is a handy feature, I couldn't live without. The foam seat allows me to paddle for 6 to 8 hours without needing to get out and stretch. My boat has a standard rudder style which works just fine. I estimate in the 4 months I have owned the Vizcaya, I have paddled over 60 hours. (+100 miles) I paddled over 15 boats before making a purchase and the Vizcaya was the boat that most closely matched my needs.

Customer Service

I have had one part break, the clip for the rudder line, and a second part show ed undue wear, the rear carry handle. Both have been cheerfully and rapidly replaced by the manufacturer. They were also helpful in answering my questions about the installation of these new parts.

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I also own a Perception Prizm. This was my first kayak, which I paddled for 5 years. I love it and will keep it around as the "beginner" boat for friends and family to use.

Perception missed the boat in my opinion when they made the Vizcaya. Initial stability is poor. Very tippy. Secondary stability is worse! Very, very tippy. I felt like I couldn't possibly balance. I was either leaning one way or the other, no matter what I did, how I sat, how hard I tried. This effected the boat's ability to track straight without using the rudder. And about that rudder...why did they change something that wasn't broken? The model I paddled had a different type of rudder than every other Perception model. It was very hard to put up correctly, and didn't work as effectivly as the regular one. The cockpit was roomy enough, more than enough for my smaller frame. I paddled on inland lakes with a slight breeze. The other boats I tried (all Perception) were great. The Vizcaya was my least favorite. Response, tracking, stability, turning etc, etc, all were sub-standard for Perception. Try this one before you buy it. It is not at all like their other boats.

Customer Service

No problems to report. Factory reps are very nice.

Similar Products Used:

All Perception Touring and Recreational boats.