Has anyone out there tried an inflatable kayak? I'm interested in using one as an occasional dingy (most my cruising grounds has launch service) and for making short provision runs.
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Sean
stearns kayak
This inflatable runs for about $500. I've seen it on the website. I'm interested in how they work as well.
This inflatable runs for about $500. I've seen it on the website. I'm interested in how they work as well.
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mike
spartan inflatable
I bought this one for $99. Left it half inflated in the back of my pick-up it filled up with slushy-snow then froze, dried it out in front of a space heater and it melted before I had a chance to use it. I have yellow plastic coated concrete in my garage, makes a great concrete seal.
I bought this one for $99. Left it half inflated in the back of my pick-up it filled up with slushy-snow then froze, dried it out in front of a space heater and it melted before I had a chance to use it. I have yellow plastic coated concrete in my garage, makes a great concrete seal.
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Geo
Advanced Elements
Advanced Elements has a great inflatable kayak with a partial fram. A friend of mine bought one last year and loves it. I'm buying one as soon as our lakes thaw. Check their web site for info. Priced at about $365.00
Advanced Elements has a great inflatable kayak with a partial fram. A friend of mine bought one last year and loves it. I'm buying one as soon as our lakes thaw. Check their web site for info. Priced at about $365.00
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Warren
Innova make a good kayak...
We have two Innova inflatables - one two man, and one single. They are easy to inflate and pack away (they come in dry bags that can be used as backpacks). The two man has a rudder making it easy to maneuver. Check them out at WWW.REI.COM. (Lots of good information there. They also sell the Advanced Elements.) W
We have two Innova inflatables - one two man, and one single. They are easy to inflate and pack away (they come in dry bags that can be used as backpacks). The two man has a rudder making it easy to maneuver. Check them out at WWW.REI.COM. (Lots of good information there. They also sell the Advanced Elements.) W
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Herb
I Have a Stearns two man
I have the stearns two person model and it works great. very easy to fill, stable as a kayak is going to be and it is covered with a fabric like cover to protect the inflation chambers. It has three inflation chambers so with a leak you can still run for home. Pricey at abut $400.00
I have the stearns two person model and it works great. very easy to fill, stable as a kayak is going to be and it is covered with a fabric like cover to protect the inflation chambers. It has three inflation chambers so with a leak you can still run for home. Pricey at abut $400.00
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Jeff
Sevylor Diveyaks
Sevylor, the toy company? Yes, they actually make some very high quality inflatables as well as the toys seen at Walmart. On a whim, I bought my Sevylor Diveyak XK2020 on clearance at West Marine for about $500 and was quite impressed with its construction. It looks like a skinny Zodiak, comfortably holds two, and even takes a small outboard or trolling motor. Its big problem is that the center mounted dive hatch causes extra drag and water comes up the edges of the hole making it a wet boat. I solved this by making a fiberglass insert that overlaps the hole to replace the floppy hatch. If I had to do it again, I would buy one of the sit-on-top models. Here's a link to someone that sells them, but you could probably find a better price elsewhere (check WM clearance):
Sevylor, the toy company? Yes, they actually make some very high quality inflatables as well as the toys seen at Walmart. On a whim, I bought my Sevylor Diveyak XK2020 on clearance at West Marine for about $500 and was quite impressed with its construction. It looks like a skinny Zodiak, comfortably holds two, and even takes a small outboard or trolling motor. Its big problem is that the center mounted dive hatch causes extra drag and water comes up the edges of the hole making it a wet boat. I solved this by making a fiberglass insert that overlaps the hole to replace the floppy hatch. If I had to do it again, I would buy one of the sit-on-top models. Here's a link to someone that sells them, but you could probably find a better price elsewhere (check WM clearance):
how easy is it to get in and out
how easy is it to get in and out of a kayak from the swim platform of a rocking boat? Are they ridgid enough so you can step into them? I would love to hear from someone who has experience with using a kayak as a tender.
how easy is it to get in and out of a kayak from the swim platform of a rocking boat? Are they ridgid enough so you can step into them? I would love to hear from someone who has experience with using a kayak as a tender.
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Adam
Advanced Elements
My girlfriend and I have two advanced elements kayaks on our boat. They work great, they are clearly not as fast as our hard shells, but they are a lot easier to fit on the deck! Great product, it takes about 15min to set-up. They paddle like a real kayak and are super stable; they even take an optional spray skirt for rough water. REI has them and right now you can get them 20% off.
My girlfriend and I have two advanced elements kayaks on our boat. They work great, they are clearly not as fast as our hard shells, but they are a lot easier to fit on the deck! Great product, it takes about 15min to set-up. They paddle like a real kayak and are super stable; they even take an optional spray skirt for rough water. REI has them and right now you can get them 20% off.
inflatable kayak
I bought a Sevylor SVX-200, and have paddled it quite a bit with both one and two people. it is very stable, handles heavy people plus some gear, and I have used it over rocks and in class II whitewater. It was a good purchase for the money. Weight is about 50# and folds to large suitcase size.
I bought a Sevylor SVX-200, and have paddled it quite a bit with both one and two people. it is very stable, handles heavy people plus some gear, and I have used it over rocks and in class II whitewater. It was a good purchase for the money. Weight is about 50# and folds to large suitcase size.
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Dave
Stearns work fine for me!
William - I cruise 1-2 weeks each year on a pretty small boat so space is a big factor. I bought a couple of Stearns inflatables and love them. They inflate in less than 5 minutes with a foot pump and they deflate to a small package in less than a minute. They are durable and can be used on lakes and even shallow rivers. I wouldn't recommend taking them on heavy duty rapids but the bottom is made of a pretty rugged rubberized material which can deal with shallow rivers. I played around with them in 1-2 foot waves around a small island on Lake Michigan last year and they were very stable. They are not as smooth through the water as a fiberglass kayak, but they work great for the purposes to which I put them which is as a dingy for one person, and for tooling around anchorages and exploring. In addition, they are not that expensive. I bought the single person kayak's for $220 each after a couple of Boat US/West Marine discounts on them. They are normally $299, but I think Boat US has them for $249 right now. As compared to my inflatable rubber raft, which takes 25 minutes to inflate and 10 minutes to deflate, and which takes up twice the space (Ok, a 4 person raft was probably not the best choice), these are a lot easier to deal with. My buddy even takes his on the plane with him when he charters in the Carribean (he puts the oars in an old flexible golf bag cover). Overall, I have no regrets from buying the Stearns kayaks. ;D Dave s/v Hakuna Matatta O'Day 222
William - I cruise 1-2 weeks each year on a pretty small boat so space is a big factor. I bought a couple of Stearns inflatables and love them. They inflate in less than 5 minutes with a foot pump and they deflate to a small package in less than a minute. They are durable and can be used on lakes and even shallow rivers. I wouldn't recommend taking them on heavy duty rapids but the bottom is made of a pretty rugged rubberized material which can deal with shallow rivers. I played around with them in 1-2 foot waves around a small island on Lake Michigan last year and they were very stable. They are not as smooth through the water as a fiberglass kayak, but they work great for the purposes to which I put them which is as a dingy for one person, and for tooling around anchorages and exploring. In addition, they are not that expensive. I bought the single person kayak's for $220 each after a couple of Boat US/West Marine discounts on them. They are normally $299, but I think Boat US has them for $249 right now. As compared to my inflatable rubber raft, which takes 25 minutes to inflate and 10 minutes to deflate, and which takes up twice the space (Ok, a 4 person raft was probably not the best choice), these are a lot easier to deal with. My buddy even takes his on the plane with him when he charters in the Carribean (he puts the oars in an old flexible golf bag cover). Overall, I have no regrets from buying the Stearns kayaks. ;D Dave s/v Hakuna Matatta O'Day 222
WM kayaks and canoes
I called the manufacturer, can't remember now whether it was Sevylor or Stearns, to find out about UV resistance on the WM inflatables. While the woman couldn't say if it was, she said their use as a cheap dinghy, esp in warm climates, was well-known to them and not unusual. Maybe the 303 sun protectorant stuff for constant use?
I called the manufacturer, can't remember now whether it was Sevylor or Stearns, to find out about UV resistance on the WM inflatables. While the woman couldn't say if it was, she said their use as a cheap dinghy, esp in warm climates, was well-known to them and not unusual. Maybe the 303 sun protectorant stuff for constant use?
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Rich
Advanced Elements
If you're interested in a serious piece of equipment that just happens to deflate for storage then I'm with Geo in suggesting the Advanced Elements line (see link below). I'm not an experienced kayaker and it didn't take long to figure out the inadequacies in my Sevylor (no spray skirt, too much flex, no Boston valve on the floor, etc.). The Sevylors may be the most fun you can have with $100, but I checked out the Advanced Elements line at a local Kayak shop and was very impressed with the rigidity and details such as the hard shell rudders. The 2-person model looked like a good choice for a couple to keep on board...
If you're interested in a serious piece of equipment that just happens to deflate for storage then I'm with Geo in suggesting the Advanced Elements line (see link below). I'm not an experienced kayaker and it didn't take long to figure out the inadequacies in my Sevylor (no spray skirt, too much flex, no Boston valve on the floor, etc.). The Sevylors may be the most fun you can have with $100, but I checked out the Advanced Elements line at a local Kayak shop and was very impressed with the rigidity and details such as the hard shell rudders. The 2-person model looked like a good choice for a couple to keep on board...
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