Does anyone have any experience with the KaBoats? Looking to get an inexpensive dinghy that I can store easily when not needed, and will keep us dry while using it.
KaBoat
- Thread starter Fly By Night
- Start date
Yup, I love my kaboat. I have the 12', two seat model which holds 2 adults plus a dog or gear comfortably. It keeps us dry enough, but we don't go very fast in it with a 3 hp on it.
PROS:
Judy B
PROS:
- It's small to stow and lightweight, Because it has a high pressure inflatable floor, rather than floor boards or a shell, it's very light weight compared to other options. It's around 45 pounds. Easy to drag it onboard.
- It's easy and quick to deflate and roll up. Packing it up takes less than 5 minutes. We just pull the seats out and roll it up.
- When stowed, it's about 4' feet long and 2.5' in diameter, or less (That's just a guess, I'd have to go measure it.)
- It takes us 5 minutes to inflate the 12' model with a manual pump that came with it. The bigger models may take a few minutes longer.
- The high pressure floor is stable enough to stand up. You can even stand and paddle, like a sup.
- The 4 short fins on the bottom track nicely and it's very easy to paddle (or row).
- The standard width seats one person per seat. It's not quite wide enough to seat two per seat (though we've done it for short distances. You will probably get wet.
- The hand pump that comes with it works well. We bought an additional "upgrade" but we prefer the one that came included.
- Durability and Quality. The valves work very well. The seams are holding up without leaks for the past two years. It came with a spare valve and a nice patch kit in a floating container.
- We use a Torqeedo Traveller 1003 electric outboard, which works beautifully with it and weighs only 29 pounds. The Torqeedo is very easy to stow and move around, because it breaks down into two parts, each of which can be carried in one hand.
- The aluminum and plastic oars are serviceable, but they heavier than our kayak and SUP paddles, so we leave the oars at home.
- The zipped storage bag is starting to rip at the seams after two years.
- Paddling works very well, but rowing is a little crowded on the 12' model You must keep your knees down low or else you'll hit your knees with the handles.
Judy B
