Let me begin my review of the Oru Beach LT Sport Kayak—an “origami” boat that unfolds in mere minutes—by stating what it isn’t. An Oru kayak is not a substitute for a thermoformed ABS plastic boat.
Those kayaks can handle routine punishment on rocks and barely show a graze.
Though an Oru is more durable than you might think a foldable boat might be, you should not drag it over rocks. Oru’s tough, lightweight 5 mm double-layered, custom-extruded polypropylene hull comes with a 10-year UV treatment; Oru rates the material for 20,000 fold cycles. (That’s 20,000 uses: Oru confirmed that a cycle refers to one unfold/refold.) And that is a more-than-adequate lifetime for any kayak.
But time will tell if the rigors of using the kayak will significantly shorten this impressive lifespan. (Where you paddle it will, of course, have a bearing on the lifespan. Oru recommends flatwater for the Beach LT Sport. We paddled it on a deep, slow river with no near-surface rocks, and on Lake Huron.)
Assembly: The Fold Cycle
The Oru design is an engineering marvel you will hopefully appreciate because you need to get intimate with it. And the first-time assembly wasn’t a cakewalk.
I’m not naturally adept at assembly so I needed to closely follow both the printed instructions and Oru’s video where the guy makes everything look effortless (see below).
The first assembly is tougher since the polypropylene is factory-stiff; unless you have three arms, holding everything in place (mainly the sides of the bow while you install the zipper and bulkhead) is tricky. The first assembly would be easier with two people. However, the second time was easier and faster.
On the Water
When I looked at the hull before my maiden voyage, I felt the boat would not track well. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Beach LT Sport mostly self-corrects. That is, your right-left kayak strokes cancel each other out so your bow stays more or less directional.
However, there is a skeg sold separately, and we recommend it. It is buried on the Oru website (it should be an option on the Oru Beach LT Sport page) but is easy to install and helps the boat track more like a hardshell kayak (most of which have an integrated skeg, if not an optional rudder). I found I could move faster with the skeg attached.
And though the polypropylene hull doesn’t glide through the water with as much speed as fiberglass, the Beach LT Sport’s speed is comparable to an ABS boat. Again, this surprised me, for when I looked at the assembled kayak before I launched, I thought, “This boat looks slow. It’s going to flex in the water.” But if there was a slight flex, it did not slow down the boat to a noticeable degree.
The boat is very responsive to your paddle strokes and feathering and is easy to steer, but at just 28 pounds, it is not recommended for windy conditions or even moderate chop.
Gear Storage
Oru markets the Beach LT Sport as suitable for fishing, and it is, but not if you carry a lot of gear. Most fishing kayaks, even small ones, have at least a small front hatch for storage. In the Oru cockpit, your storage is either behind the seat or, less effectively, in front of you between your knees. This leaves something to be desired but is not a deal-breaker. For a briefcase kayak that weighs just 28 lbs, you need to make a few minor sacrifices.
But considering the weight capacity of 300 lbs (ie, plenty of carry potential) some sort of storage feature built into the frame, or added post-assembly, would be highly appealing.
There is an integrated rail system where you can mount accessories including fishing rod holders and camera gear. The adjustable gel cushion seat system provides flexible comfort for long days on the water. And the adjustable footrest is well-designed and allows you to dig in and lean forward for extra power in your strokes.
In conclusion, the Oru Beach LT Sport is a thoughtfully designed niche boat for those who don’t have the space to store or transport a regular kayak. And if you’re traveling and want to bring your own boat, an Oru should be the first choice. This is strictly a recreational boat; it isn’t for long trips or challenging conditions. (For example, since the hull isn’t self-bailing, if you took in any significant water you’d need to pull over and dump it, or use a hand-operated bilge pump. But on the upside, smaller amounts of splashed-in water will channel under the floorboard, so you won’t be sitting in water.)
An Oru holds one major advantage over a conventional kayak: You can sling it over your back and carry it on a bike (or in a backpack with your PFD and collapsible paddle). What other boat is that portable?
Oru makes seven styles of folding kayaks.
You might also like:
Check the ML Podcast!
