The 12' long 120X is really stable and if you point it facing into the wake of jet skis and boats, it handles it pretty well and is reasonably fast....it doesn't pull one way or the other (some of these reviewers have paddle issues, haha). I definitely would not want to go around boat-wake in something shorter or narrower. I agree with other comments about the foot rests. Mine also came all banged up and missing manuals from being dragged around inside DSG by workers in the years it sat there. (It's intimidating to transport, but it's not *really* a big deal, so the 10' models probably outsell it at a place like DSG 50 to 1.) They at least brought me out a scupper plug, which was found to be missing as I left the store. It was also missing some stickers (not the important one) and had some marks (but not scratches) on the bottom. I was able to snag the Neptune version and I found a discontinued Field & Stream (because they rebranded to Quest) car transport kit for cheap. Note that although it's under 50lbs, it is 12 feet long and has no lift/balance handles to get a grip on while loading onto the roof of an SUV, so if doing it myself, I use pool straws or blankets to avoid scratches. All told, I would return it, if I could, and buy it again at $399, but never again at $499 as there is a newer model (Spirit 120X) for what I paid. There is no real value to buying it in-store because the workers seem to abuse them and they're missing bits and don't share or don't have important knowledge. I will fix up the marks on the bottom with stickers or something. Also have ordered Pelican's new canopy (wouldn't pay that much for it relative to other brands on Amazon, but I had ScoreRewards that expire soon), a bilge pump (always a good idea), an emergency paddle to mount up under the deck (500+ feet of water with wake splashing over boat or freak storm cell...good thing to have) and have already added a paddle-bungee cord to it. I use its phone "mount" for a matching-colored BT speaker and wear my phone in a waterproof carrier around my neck (can't see it in direct sun if it's sitting in the built-in mount...will come up with a better solution eventually) along with an emergency whistle (required by NV law) and life jacket (must at least be on board, even if you don't wear it, by NV law). I also added the required AIS sticker from NV DOW to the stern. Will add bright flashing white light that sticks up a few feet from the bow to help visibility to the power boaters and add a mount for a can of airhorn. Maybe will add a plexiglass enclosure to sit in that forward bay with the flimsy plastic hatch so I can mount the light and a motion-tracking camera (it could also serve as a waterproof drone launch/landing pad when not in a National Park).
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