As a waterfowl kayak, the Phantom is a Beavertail Sneak Boat that is purpose-built to overcome the challenges often found when hunting out of smooth bottomed conventional kayaks.
This was the very first kayak I ever purchased. I researched kayaks for literally months and when I found the Beavertail Phantom (advertised by an online retailer at 55lbs), I thought I found the perfect kayak. I was so excited for it to arrive, but when it came off the truck, I could not believe how heavy it was. I measured it on a bathroom scale (awkwardly balanced so I won’t claim it to be a super accurate measurement) at close to 100lbs. It was simply too heavy for what I wanted and so I had to return it.
This kayak is not a versatile option, which is why I rank it fairly low at 2.9/5 stars. However, it does a few things extremely well. It is small, very stable, and comes in at a very reasonable price. The Beavertail Phantom will not be a good fit for a lot of kayak duck hunters, but if you have a hunting situation in which you prioritize a small kayak with excellent stability, this could be the perfect fit for you.
The Beavertail Phantom has a catamaran style bottom, which adds a lot of stability. It is a fairly small kayak, only 9’ in length, and combined with the hull type, it might feel a little wobblier than some of the larger kayaks. Meaning that when you first sit in it, it will probably rock a few inches side to side, but that doesn’t mean that it is unstable. In terms of stability while shooting, or leaning over the edge to pick up gear, this is probably the most stable kayak you can get in this size. If you prioritize stability or are at the larger end of the weight capacity of other kayaks, this could be an excellent choice.
The Beavertail Phantom weighs 75lbs*, which is relatively heavy compared to some of the other kayaks in the market. This number comes from directly from Beavertails website, but if you search around on the internet, you will find numbers ranging from 55-125lbs. One thing is for certain, I can speak from experience when I say this kayak is heavy. For a 9’ kayak that is 32” wide, it is surprisingly heavy.
If you are going to be dragging this kayak any distance at all, I would recommend you find something different. But if you are able to unload it right at the spot, the weight is certainly manageable and the smaller length makes it easier to transport in the back of a truck bed.
The Beavertail Phantom is moderately priced, making it a reasonable option for those looking for a compact and rugged hunting kayak. It is probably the most duck hunting specific kayak at this price point that you will find.
This kayak is not a great option if you plan to paddle frequently to get to your hunting spot. The lack of raised seating and no back rest means you will fatigue quickly. It is also a heavy kayak with little to no keel meaning tracking will be poor and it will take a lot of effort to pick up some speed. If you want to paddle around a small pond to pick up ducks or decoys it will do fine, but if you plan to paddle a fair distance to your hunting spot, I think you will quickly regret this kayak.
You will feel very crowded in this kayak if you try to load up your gun, decoys, and blind bag, and then hop in to paddle out to your spot. This kayak is a great size for laying out in, but it just doesn’t leave a lot of room for gear once you get in it. The molded seat/backrest really takes up some storage space for decoys. The storage hatch gives you a place to put smaller stuff, but access to that storage hatch is very inconvenient once you are in the kayak on the water.
Need help picking the best of the best? See poll results and an in-depth review of our 4 favorites here: 4 Best Duck Hunting Kayaks
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