The Pelican Unison 136T kayak is a premium watercraft made by Pelican, which has some great features and design qualities. Pelican is a renowned manufacturer that has produced many quality products in the industry. With this background, there is a lot of expectation for this watercraft, considering that the market is saturated with good options. The watercraft borrows heavily from various design aspects of previous products by the same company.
However, the 136T is out of stock which is why we are recommending another kayak that fares better than what this review was dedicated to:
The Driftsun Teton is superior to the Pelican 136T, has accumulated excellent reviews, and was tested by one of our staff, making it an amazing replacement.
Most boats made by Pelican are aimed at a specific niche of users who want to get the best value out of an affordable product. The same principle seems to be the idea behind the manufacture of the Pelican Unison 136T kayak. There are many other things that give this kayak its character. While it does not fall short of features, the main determinant of the real value of the Pelican Unison 136T kayak is the user experience. Any good product needs to have a careful balance of features and user value.
With such huge clout behind it, will the Pelican Unison 136 tandem manage to impress? We will find out shortly when we analyze this watercraft in detail. Since there are many different things to explore with this kayak, we will look at its frame, features, storage options and a number of benefits the kayak offers. Any disadvantages will also be listed in the following comprehensive Pelican Unision 136T review.
Frame
Starting off with the frame, the Pelican Unison 136T kayak is made of Ram-X Premium, which is mulitple layers of polyethylene treated with a high quality resin to be more rigid than regular polyethylene. There are many advantages with this kind of plastic, but it is most preferred because it is strong but lightweight.
Because of these qualities, the Pelican Unison 136T tandem kayak is built for great performance and durability.
When it comes to the dimensions of the Pelican Unison 136T kayak, the total length of the frame is 13’6” and the beam is 31.75″. With this length, the watercraft is not difficult to maneuver in the water. The cockpits are 102″ long and 26″ wide.
In terms of capacity, it is able to carry a load of 500 pounds. That simply translates to two adults and a reasonable amount of gear, or option 3 at the end of this Pelican Unision 136T review. Not many tandem kayaks have such specifications without an off-putting price.
Looking at the exterior of the Pelican Unison 136T kayak, you get to see a well-designed hull bottom. This is typical of modern watercrafts that are specifically designed to optimize speed and reduce drag. It is also streamlined for maximum strength in the water, and the frame can be described as modern and improved. The obvious design language of traditional Pelican watercrafts included in this boat goes a long way to give users an assurance of great performance.
Pelican Unison 136T Kayak Features
The Driftsun Teton is superior to the Pelican 136T, has accumulated excellent reviews, and was tested by one of our staff, making it an amazing replacement.
There are many features that come with the Pelican Unison 136T kayak. The first main feature of the kayak is a multi-chine, flat-bottom hull design that is constructed for stability. This feature is created from a modern machine-aided design for optimization of speed and reduction of drag. There are handles at both the front and back for easy transportation. In addition, you get a spacious cockpit that is well-designed to give you ample room to move around.
The Pelican Unison 136T kayak comes with seats which feature ERGOfit seating for comfort. They are also adjustable for various heights. The backrest of both seats are built creatively to ensure decent support, which is thoughtful for a tandem boat. There is enough space for a bottle holder for each paddler on the deck of each cockpit. An open compartment for each paddler is also available, as well as a 4″ day hatch in the middle for additional storage.
In terms of functionality, there is a tie-down mechanism included for securing paddles at the sides of the Pelican Unison 136T tandem kayak. The bungees fitted in the bow are great for securing paraphernalia at the front. Comfort features like the adjustable foot pegs for sufficient stability when paddling are not left out. There are a number of other minor features which only serve to make the Pelican Unison 136T kayak a unique product.
Storage Space in the Pelican Unison 136T Kayak
The Pelican Unison 136 tandem features a number of storage options. Starting off with the small storage areas, there is a drink holder available for each paddler, as well as a 4″ day hatch in the middle. You can store your keys and possibly a cell phone in there, or other smaller items. The main storage for the boat, however, is the water resistant storage at the rear. This hatch is big and capable of holding up to 60 liters of water.
It is quite a welcomed addition that the storage on the Pelican Unison 136T tandem kayak features a quick-lock mechanism. Its location in the stern is also advantageous as it can hold all of your important gear.
Other storage options include the various tie-downs for securing gear. These storage options are quite sufficient for a tandem kayak, especially for a day trip. More storage would be made available to the paddler who decides to use the boat as a single-person watercraft.
The Driftsun Teton is superior to the Pelican 136T, has accumulated excellent reviews, and was tested by one of our staff, making it an amazing replacement.
Pros
- Easy to transport, with handles at both the front and back
- Modern hull design that gives it stability in the water
- Great performance, due to its sturdy construction
- Multiple comfort features in the backrest and footrest
- Storage options are sufficient for day trips
- The Pelican Unison 136T kayak is affordable
- Lightweight, weighing 67.4 pounds
- Great for taller people
Cons
- Tracking might be difficult for beginners, as there is no rudder
- Width might make quick turns more difficult
- The Pelican Unison 136T kayak’s storage is not great for overnight trips
- Can’t be disassembled for easier storage
Pelican Unision 136T Review Conclusion
The Pelican Unison 136T kayak is a unique watercraft made with the great features of other Pelican models. The Unison is roomy for both paddlers, has adjustable footrests, and it is extra sturdy because of the company’s Ram-X Premium construction. There is also the multi-chine flat bottomed hull that adds stability and improves tracking, staying flat on land while loading gear onto the kayak.
Since it is optimized for great performance, the Pelican Unison 136T kayak is a decent option for tandem kayakers. There’s so much room in each cockpit, you can take your dog out with you if you’re going solo! They can be completely comfortable and stretch out while they enjoy the ride.
